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Although kratom has been used for many centuries in leaf and powder form, kratom extracts have only recently become an alternative way of taking kratom. Yet, they’ve been rapidly gaining popularity over the past decade and are become more frequently available in physical as well as online stores.

What Are Kratom Extracts

Kratom extracts are potent concentrated forms of kratom. The most common way of making kratom extracts is by brewing kratom powder or crushed leaves to evaporate most of the liquid. This results in a thick and dark paste, which contains the concentration of the active compounds found in kratom.

The result is a concentrated form of the beneficial herb in much smaller, yet more powerful quantities.

Types of Kratom Extracts

Kratom extracts don’t just come in liquid form. In fact, there are different types. The three primary kratom extract varieties are:

• powder extract,
• tincture, and
• resin.

Powder Extracts

Kratom powder extracts are the most popular and most widely available. They are highly potent, easy to make, and store.

You can use kratom extract powder in the same way you would use regular kratom powder. However, you first need to measure your dose accurately because extract powders are concentrated and will require a much smaller dose.

Tinctures

Kratom tinctures are extracts in liquid form that you can take using a dropper. There are full-spectrum kratom tinctures that provide a well-rounded experience that is similar to that of kratom leaf powder.

However, you can also find 7-hydroxymitragynine tinctures that focus specifically on pain relief. Keep in mind that your experience with them may be different from what you will experience with a full-spectrum tincture of kratom leaf powder.

You can take kratom tincture directly under your tongue as you would CBD oil.

Resins

Kratom resins look like dark and glossy lumps that resemble tar. They can be pressed into bricks or pies, which make resins easy to transport and store. Resin bricks are usually much larger and can be cut up in smaller pieces.

There are several ways in which you can take kratom resin. First, you can cut it up into smaller pieces and make kratom tea. You can also smaller dose-sized pieces of in the same way you would swallow kratom capsules.

Kratom Extract Advantages

Many kratom lovers opt for kratom extracts because of a variety of benefits that come with their use:

1. Small Potent Doses

Kratom extracts are compact forms of kratom; therefore, you need much smaller amounts to achieve desired effects. This can be particularly useful if you dislike the taste of kratom powder or have a hard time getting it down.

2. Convenience

If you buy kratom powder in bulk, storing it requires quite a lot of space. Smaller size requires less space for storage. This makes kratom extracts very convenient to store and transport. Kratom extracts can also be more convenient if you plan to travel with kratom. (Make sure you check kratom legality in your destination before you travel with kratom.)

3. Faster Absorption

When it comes to liquid kratom extracts, your body does not need to break them down and can absorb them much faster. Therefore, you can expect much faster effects. Keep in mind that kratom and CBD do not work in the same way; so, you will need to take regular doses to keep experiencing the effects.

Kratom Extract Disadvantages

Nonetheless, there are also a few disadvantages that come with the use of extracts:

1. Higher Price

Kratom extracts need additional processing, which takes time, resources, and manpower. Therefore, you can expect to pay a steeper price for extracts.

2. Higher Risk of Taking an Incorrect Dose

Since kratom extracts are very concentrated, it is important to measure your dose extremely carefully. That’s because overdosing kratom becomes more likely. This can result in kratom side effects and unpleasant experience, especially if you take fast or moderate strains in the morning to help you handle important tasks.

Not all kratom powders are the same, and their potency can vary depending on many factors. As a result, the same amount of powder from a different vendor or during a different season can have completely different potency.

The same principle applies to kratom extract powders through because of their concentration the correct dose can be even harder to measure.

3. Doesn’t Work for Everyone

Despite being convenient and expensive, kratom extracts don’t always work. The kratom community frequently describes kratom extracts an “unreliable” or a “waste of money.” They suggest sticking to kratom powder instead.

4. High Risk of Kratom Tolerance

While many state that kratom extracts have the same potential of raising tolerance as raw leaf powder, many also claim that kratom extracts raise tolerance and taking kratom powder after them makes it less effective.

5. Higher Risk of Adulteration

Independent laboratories that test kratom products state that it’s more frequent for them to see adulterated kratom extracts rather than powders. Kratom extracts are frequently sold in head shops, gas station, and similar physical locations that are frequently associated with a higher risk of buying low quality, contaminated, adulterated, fake, or improperly advertised kratom.

Understanding Kratom Extract Potency

You’ll see kratom extracts labeled with a number followed by an “x,” e.g., 5x, 10x, and 15x. Contrary to popular belief, that doesn’t represent the potency grade.

So, 15x extract doesn’t mean that the extract is 15 times more potent than raw kratom powder. Instead, it signifies that 15 grams of kratom leaf matter were used to produce 1 gram of the extract.

Therefore, it is important to carefully measure your kratom dose as it is easy to take an overly high one and end up experiencing kratom side effects.

It is generally advisable not to choose extracts that are higher than 20x. That’s because it requires longer processing time, which may not preserve all the alkaloids.

Kratom Extract Dosage Tips

When you take kratom extracts, you need to calculate your dose accurately. So, if you take an extract that is 10x, this means that each gram of the extract is equivalent to 10 grams of kratom leaf powder. Therefore, if you usually take 8 grams of kratom of raw powder, you should take 0.8 grams of the extract.

Once, you know what your dose should be, use a sensitive digital scale to measure it accurately.  Since the extracts are so concentrated, you may easily take a dose that is too high or too low, and it can be challenging to determine what you did wrong and what to do to avoid that in the future. Because of this reason, extracts may not be the best choice for kratom beginners and inexperienced users.

Kratom Extract Powder Dosage

Kratom powder extracts can be the hardest to measure. This occurs because there are many different varieties of kratom all of which can have different concentrations. Therefore, you may need to accurately calculate your dose each time, especially if you take different strains.

Examine the packages of kratom extracts as they should contain the information on the concentration as well as dosage measuring tips.

Kratom Extract Tincture Dosage

Kratom tinctures come with a dropper, and, usually, they also have guidelines for how much the dropper contains and how to dose them accurately. Properly dosing potent tincture can be challenging therefore, always start with a smaller dose and gradually increase it until you reach your desired effects.

Kratom Resin Dosage

Out of the different types of kratom extracts, resins are the most consistent in terms of potency. Nonetheless, we still recommend using a sensitive digital scale as an excessive kratom resin can result in kratom side effects.

Have you used kratom extracts? Which do you prefer and why? Do you think extracts are superior to raw kratom powder? Why or why not?

You’ve surely noticed that vendors are making a bigger effort on emphasizing kratom lab testing. They usually display their test results in an easily accessible section on their website.

Have you ever wondered why that’s happening and why kratom lab testing is important? Let’s find that out.

The Importance of Kratom Lab Testing

Lab Testing Can Verify Kratom Quality

If you’re taking conventional medicine, you are always getting the same product. Conventional medicine is developed in laboratories and the content of every single pill or dose is going to be identical. It may vary if the medicine is further developed or enhanced, but, for the most part, nothing changes.

In the case of botanicals or herbal supplements such as kratom, every batch may be slightly different. There’s nothing wrong about it, it’s simply nature.

There are multiple factors that can affect the content of kratom and other herbs. These can be:

• soil content,
• the amount of sunlight that it receives,
• availability of water and soil moisture,
• season,
• fertilizing, natural or artificial,
• the amount of pollution,
• the way kratom is harvested,
• type of processing, and
• length and manner of storage.

All of these can alter kratom quality and composition. Lab test results will be able to show the exact concentration of alkaloids in each batch and prevent low quality kratom from reaching consumers.

Skilled and experienced lab technicians can tell if kratom has been properly dried and handled as well as if it’s still potent and good for consumption.  They are even able to recognize an incorrectly labeled strain.

This allows vendors to detect any kratom that isn’t going to deliver optimal results and prevent it from reaching the end user.

Kratom Lab Testing Ensures Your Health and Safety

When it comes to most botanicals, companies that intend to sell them as supplements, cosmetics, food or similar need to comply with a number of regulations set by the FDA.

In the case of kratom, there are no regulations that would control its quality. As a result, any product, no matter whether it’s genuine or safe, could technically be on the market.

That puts kratom users at a risk of exposure to different infections, bacteria, and harmful substances.

In the past, the FDA has claimed that kratom isn’t safe for consumption and has caused multiple deaths. When in actuality it isn’t kratom, but rather what comes with it. Kratom in itself is as safe and addictive to use as common substances like coffee.

So, by not regulating kratom, the FDA actually puts kratom consumers at a great risk. This makes kratom lab testing and vendor willingness to do so even more important.

These tests can detect any contaminants or harmful substances that may be present in kratom. Some of the most common ones are:

• salmonella,
• E. coli,
• fungi/ yeast,
• mold,
• different types of viruses and bacteria,
• coliforms,
• heavy metals such as cadmium, lead, mercury, and arsenic, and

It Helps Detect Fake Kratom

Any industry that brings in money is going to attract criminals who are going to want to take advantage of that. Kratom is no exception.

While there are many vendors who have strong morals and deeply care about the wellbeing of their customers, there are also fake kratom vendors and suppliers.

They profit by putting on the market kratom that is fake, adulterated, expired, or illegally acquired. Their products often have cheaper prices to attract customers.

To avoid choosing a fake kratom seller, search for information and proof of kratom lab testing on their website. If you cannot find any, it’s best not to risk and invest your money into their products.

What Should You Look for in Kratom Lab Test Results

1. How Recent Kratom Lab Testing Is

First of all pay attention to how recent kratom lab test results are. Kratom usually is the freshest for 1-3 months and every imported batch needs to be tested.

Therefore, if lab tests are much older than that, it could mean that the product is older or the new bathes may not have been tested.

Of course, it could also mean that the vendor simply has forgotten to update test results. If you have any doubts, feel free to contact the vendor and inquire about the batch that you are interested in.

Reputable kratom sellers will care about servicing their customers in the best way possible and will care about answering your questions. 

2. Make Sure the Company Data Matches

Since more and more vendors display their kratom lab testing results, fake companies will also want to replicate that to trick the potential buyers. Some copy tests results from other brands.

Therefore, check if the company data on the results matches the data available on the site. Make sure data for different batches isn’t identical. That would mean that a report has been stolen and altered digitally.

3. Whether the Lab Is Independent

You wouldn’t trust a company that does its own in-house testing, right? So, look for vendors that use third-party independent labs. That will ensure that lab test results are legitimate rather than altered by the vendor.

Feel free to also check out the lab online to make sure it is real.

4. Each Strain and Batch Needs to Be Individually Tested

Note that different strains can be grown or harvested by different suppliers. Because of that, each of them needs to be tested for pathogens and contaminants separately.

If you’re buying Red Bali, the test results need to be for that specific batch of Red Bali. Results for Green Maeng Da won’t work.

How Does Kratom Lab Testing Work

The process is rather simple and straightforward. Kratom vendors draw small samples of each batch and each strain that they receive from their supplier or distributor. They may even draw multiple samples from bigger batches to ensure that results are accurate.

They send these samples to a lab which then run them through a number of tests.

Don’t be alarmed if test results indicate a small amount of, for instance, yeast or mold present in the batch. Since kratom is a natural substance, this is absolutely normal. However, bacteria such as salmonella and E. coli should be absolutely absent.

Once, kratom testing is complete labs send test results back to the vendor who then can display them of their website.

What Happens to Kratom that Does Not Pass Kratom Lab Testing?

If that happens, reputable vendors discard this specific batch of kratom because it is not safe for use. If the vendor states that they do so, know that they genuinely care about their users. Having their kratom tested negative means huge financial losses for them.

Do you pay attention to kratom lab test results? What do take into consideration?

Due to a growing number of problems associated with traditional medication, an increasing number of people seek alternative means of coping with a variety of conditions. CDB and kratom are growing in popularity, and you have noticed an interest in kava growing alongside them. Kava and kratom bars are popping up in multiple locations.

While there are similarities between both herbs, they are not one and the same. Let’s take a look at kava vs. kratom to see what the right herb for you is.

What Is Kratom?

Kratom, or Mitragyna speciosa, is a tropical tree from the coffee family native to Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, and other Southeast Asian countries. For centuries, locals chewed kratom leaves to increase their energy while working as well as help with a variety of health conditions.

Nowadays, people primarily use kratom powder and, less frequently, kratom capsules and extract as a means of relieving different kinds of pain, stress, and anxiety.

Kratom has three different vein colors and a variety of strains. Depending on the type of vein and strain, as well as the dose, kratom can have soothing, stimulating, or moderate effects.

What Is Kava?

Kava, or Piper methysticum, is a shrub native to the western Pacific Islands, as well as some locations in Polynesia and Micronesia.

Kava is a part of the pepper family, and people use its root because of its sedative, euphoriant, anesthetic, and psychotropic properties. In addition to those, indigenous people also use it in religious and cultural rituals.

Kava vs. Kratom: The Similarities

Relaxing, Euphoric, and Stimulating Effects

Both kava and kratom have relaxing effects and help ease stress, anxiety, and aid with sleep. Kratom effects depend on its dosage; therefore, to achieve relaxing effects, one needs to take higher doses. Slow strains, such as reds, are best for relaxation.

Users of both kava and kratom state that kratom helps them stop mental chatter, which helps them feel more at ease.

Kratom and kava both aid with sleep issues such as insomnia as well as improve mood.

Their relaxing and euphoric properties can also aid with social anxiety. People report feeling more confident and being more talkative in social settings.

Both kava and kratom can also provide stimulating effects. Smaller doses of kratom can be stimulating, while larger doses of kava taken during a short period of time can be stimulating. Some less experienced users report feeling stimulation during their first times of taking kava.

Products

Both kava and kratom are sold primarily in raw powder form, which is made into tea. Some vendors also offer capsules and extracts in addition to raw powder.

Side Effects

The use of kava and kratom can result in side effects. You may experience nausea, vomiting, and other gastrointestinal problems if you take an inappropriate dose of either one of them.

Kratom can cause constipation, especially if one does not consume enough liquids. Since it is from the coffee family, kratom can have similar withdrawal effects that can occur after regularly taking coffee. Those, however, are mild and nowhere near to those of opioids.

One should also take adequate breaks between kratom doses to avoid developing kratom tolerance. This occurs because kratom alkaloids can build up in the body if taken more often than the body can eliminate them.

Kava does not develop tolerance. However, high consumption can potentially be extremely damaging to the liver. Therefore, moderation is important.

Buying Precautions

Kava and kratom aren’t approved by the FDA, and both are raw herbal products. Therefore, it is important to carefully select a vendor for either one of the products.

Kava vs. Kratom: The Differences

Origins and Growth Conditions

While kratom and kava are both tropical plants, their origins are slightly different. Kratom is a tree that is indigenous to Southeast Asia, whereas kava is a shrub native to the Western Pacific Islands, Polynesia, and Micronesia.

Both plants love humidity; however, too much sunlight can be harmful to kava. That’s because kava is a type of understory crop, a plant that thrives beneath the canopy of trees. When it comes to kratom, more sunlight usually develops red vein leaves, while leaves that get less sunlight usually develop green or white stems and veins.

Active Components

Kratom owes its beneficial properties primarily to its two main alkaloids – mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine. However, that’s not all there is to kratom. The currently limited studies show that kratom has at least 25 alkaloids and at least 40 total beneficial compounds.

Kratom alkaloids interact with the same areas in the human brain as opioids; however, kratom alkaloids engage the opioid receptors in a different way. They mimic the effects of opioids resulting in pain-relieving effects but bind with them in a way that does not cause addiction or respiratory depression. Therefore, kratom is frequently used as a pain reliever and a substitute for opioid prescription medication.

On the other hand, kava doesn’t have alkaloids. Instead, it has kavalactones. There are at least 18 kavalactones in kava root, yet six of them are responsible for about 90% of the effects of kava.

Kavalactones interact with the limbic system of our body. It’s the area of our brain that is responsible for emotions, arousal (stimulation), and motivation.

Pain-Relieving Effects

Kratom has strong pain-relieving effects. In fact, 7-hidroxymitragynine is around 13 times more potent than morphine. Because of that, people use kratom to deal with strong chronic and other types of pain as well as an alternative to opioid prescription medication.

Meanwhile, kava is primarily a relaxant. Therefore, it can ease muscle soreness and tension, such as after an intense workout. However, it will not be effective for chronic or any other type of strong pain.

Grind

While both herbs come in powder form, there is a difference between the types of grind.

Most kratom powder is ground into a fine micron powder. You can use it to make kratom tea, mix it with water juice, yogurt, or other drinks, as well as Toss and Wash. There is also a variety of Bali Kratom, named Classic Bali, which is a courser grind, traditionally made by hand.

Kava, however, has two types of grind – medium and micron. The medium grind is slightly courser and prepared similarly to kratom. Micron grind is also referred to as instant kava and can be mixed with liquids such as water and orange juice.

Tea form is believed to be the more effective form of both.

Preparation

People take kava and kratom in tea form.

There are different ways of taking kratom, the most effective being kratom tea. Heat activates kratom alkaloids, given that it is moderate. To prepare kratom tea, one needs to simmer their dose of kratom powder for about 20 minutes. Check out our detailed guide on how to make kratom tea here.

While kava tea is the most common way of taking kratom, its preparation method varies.

Traditionally, one should place kava powder in a mesh bag, submerge it in water, knead that for about 10-15 minutes, and discard the kava pulp when the drink is ready. Kava bars usually use a mechanism that has two hydraulic plates that squeeze the bag that contains the kava root powder.

Legality

Kava is in a slightly more advantageous legal situation than kratom. While some countries around the world prohibit its use, it is not banned in the US. Kratom, however, is illegal in six states in the United States as well as in various cities and counties.

A variety of kratom vendors use that as an argument for choosing kava over kratom. Nonetheless, given the fact that the effects of kava and kratom are not exactly the same, that is not an accurate statement. Kratom is frequently villainized by the authorities due to its potency in relieving pain and the few side effects associated with it.

Kava vs. Kratom: The Verdict

Kava and kratom are both natural and extremely beneficial. However, their effects aren’t the same; therefore, one cannot take them interchangeably and expect the same results.

If relaxation, relief from stress and anxiety, and better sleep are what you are looking for, then trying both can be a good idea. Yet, if you would like to get potent pain relief, then kratom is your herb.

Have you tried both kava and kratom? Share your experience with these herbs with us.

We frequently receive questions about traveling with kratom. That is not surprising given that kratom legality is not the same everywhere in the world.

Kratom is an extremely beneficial herb that helps people manage pain, stress, depression, anxiety, improve their sleep, quit prescription opioids, as well as boost their energy levels, focus, and concentration.

Therefore, it’s understandable that kratom lovers would like to maintain their improved quality of life not only in their day-to-day life but also when they travel. This leads to a variety of questions, such as:

• Is it legal to travel with kratom to certain locations?
• Can you travel with kratom on a plane?
• Should kratom go in the checked-in or carry-on luggage?
• Can you take kratom on your travel abroad?

We frequently answer people’s queries on traveling with kratom and decided to finally gather our answers in a single post.

Is It Legal to Travel with Kratom in the United States?

As long as kratom is legal in your destination, you should be able to travel with kratom without any issues. There is no federal kratom or kratom alkaloid ban in the country; however, certain states and municipalities across the United States have banned kratom.

In 2016, there was an attempt to ban kratom nationwide and list kratom as a Schedule I drug along with substances such as LSD, heroin, Ecstasy, and marijuana. This would have made traveling with kratom illegal. Yet, due to activism from kratom supporters, this did not happen.

Nonetheless, several locations across the country ban kratom. The states where kratom is illegal are:

• Alabama
• Arkansas
• Indiana
• Rhode Island
• Vermont
• Wisconsin

In addition to those, kratom is also illegal in:

• San Diego, CA
• Sarasota County, FL
• Jerseyville, IL
• Alton, IL
• Several counties and towns in Northern Mississippi.

So, you can travel with kratom to locations where it is legal. However, we strongly advise against traveling with kratom if it’s in your destination. Doing so can put you in jeopardy and spread negative information about the herb, giving kratom ban advocates more ammunition.

Always Check the Legalities before Traveling

We strongly advise that you check the legalities right before you travel to avoid any unexpected developments. That’s because there is pending legislation in a number of other states. Things can change overnight, and we may not be able to update the information above right away.

So, please refer to the following posts below:

• Kratom Legality in the Different States in the US
• Kratom Legality in the World including the United States (please refer to the comment section as some of your questions may have already been answered)

You can also find information on current and past kratom bills in the United States here. Keep in mind though that this source will only include bills that cover the entire state. Any legality issues regarding cities and counties will not appear there.

Is It Traveling with Kratom Abroad Legal?

This question, however, is not as easy to answer. The legality of traveling with kratom depends on each individual country’s legislation which you should check or inquire about before you travel there.

Though be careful. While it would make logical sense to assume that kratom is legal if it’s not banned, keep in mind that the popularity of kratom is a lot higher in the United States than it is in other countries around the world.

Due to multiple reasons, we can’t provide a definitive list of all countries where kratom is illegal. Nonetheless, below are countries that have either banned kratom and the entry with kratom there may be problematic:

• Australia
• Brunei
• Cambodia
• Colombia
• Denmark
• Finland
• Germany
• Indonesia
• Ireland
• Israel
• Italy
• Japan
• Jordan
• Laos
• Latvia
• Lithuania
• Malaysia
• Myanmar
• New Zealand
• Philippines
• Poland
• Romania
• Russia
• Saudi Arabia
• Singapore
• South Korea
• Sweden
• Thailand
• Turkey
• United Arab Emirates
• United Kingdom
• Vietnam

Once again, the list above is not exhaustive and it’s best to check the legalities right before you travel.

When in Doubt, Keep Kratom at Home

We know that it may not be the most optimal choice in terms of your wellbeing; it could keep you out of potential trouble with the law enforcement officials in foreign countries. Make sure to quit kratom or taper off at least a few days prior to your travel. This will make it easier for your body to adjust.

Many countries have very limited or no knowledge about kratom. So, they wouldn’t have the procedures or procedures needed to identify that what you’re carrying is kratom rather than something else that may be illegal in that specific country.

While in the United States you’re considered innocent until proven guilty and officials cannot detain you without a case, other countries do not necessarily function in the same way. You risk being detained, and charges can be severe. So, it’s best to avoid legal problems altogether.

Last but not least, what should you do at the airport if you choose to travel with kratom? Should you put in your carry-on or checked-in luggage?

How to Travel with Kratom

To avoid any potential issues, place kratom in your checked-in luggage. Even if kratom is legal, TSA officials may not be familiar with it and suspect that you are carrying something illegal. This can cause delays, or, in some countries, may even cause you to be detained.

Checked-in luggage is not likely to be checked during layovers. Nevertheless, if you have a layover in a country or state where kratom is illegal, it’s best not to have it with you regardless.

Pack kratom in its original unopened packaging. This will make identifying it much easier.

Have you ever traveled with kratom? Where did you travel? How did it go?

For the past few decades, the number of people who benefit from kratom has increased significantly. Currently, several million people use it to relieve persistent chronic pain, anxiety, stress, and depression, boost their energy levels, improve focus, and more.

Kratom has a rather controversial reputation due to the lack of regulations and regular warnings from the FDA and other institutions.

Another beneficial yet even more controversial herb is marijuana. Despite that, a growing number of people use it to benefit from its numerous positive effects.

Marijuana can serve as a kratom alternative. However, what if you would like to mix kratom and marijuana? Is that a good idea? And what should you expect?

Kratom and Marijuana Mix: Should You Do It?

Yes, it is possible to mix kratom and marijuana, and many users report experiencing positive effects. Many describe the effects of kratom and marijuana as:

• Awesome,
• Relaxing,
• Heaven, and
• Blissful experience.

While both kratom and marijuana have potent pain-relieving and relaxing properties, they target different kinds of brain receptors and relieve different kinds of pain. Therefore, it is possible to gain a wide variety of effects if you mix the two. The kratom community also refers to the mix as safe.

However, you should consider a few things to avoid any adverse side effects.

Tips to Keep in Mind When You Mix Kratom and Marijuana

Start on Days with No Obligations

If you have no experience mixing kratom and cannabis, don’t attempt that on a day when you have obligations such as appointments or deadlines. The potency of effects can vary when taken together, and it can depend on a variety of factors such as your metabolism, body fat percentage, and more.

Lower Your Doses

Various users report feeling that kratom potentiates marijuana. Many also say that large doses of marijuana can overpower kratom. Therefore, make sure not to exceed your regular doses, or even take a little less than your usual doses.

You can always up your doses if need be.

Take Kratom and Marijuana Separately

Most users who mix kratom and marijuana advise taking them separately, preferably about one hour apart. They generally experience the best effects of both when drinking kratom tea first and smoking marijuana or taking edibles an hour later.

Doing so allows you to experience the full effects of kratom first and then gently introduce marijuana on top of that.

Keep in mind that the effects of cannabis edibles may last longer. Your digestive system takes a longer time to process cannabis, and you experience the effects of marijuana much faster when you smoke it.

Avoid Driving

Marijuana contains THC, which has psychoactive properties. As a result, it can affect your coordination, judgment, and reaction time, all of which are necessary for safe and responsible driving. Therefore, avoid driving on days you use marijuana.

Drink Plenty of Water

Marijuana and kratom both dehydrate you. Thus, mixing both without proper hydration can lead to constipation, headaches, and wobbles.

Make sure to drink water rather than soda. Many sodas contain caffeine that can dehydrate you even more.

Avoid Kratom Extracts

Most kratom on the market comes in micronized powder form. It’s usually the most affordable option as it doesn’t require additional resources or labor. However, you can also get access to kratom capsules and kratom extracts.

Many kratom lovers prefer capsules due to their ease of use and the possibility of discreetly and easily transporting them. Many kratom vendors offer products that are not very palatable, and capsules help you avoid that.

When it comes to extracts, however, they can be more convenient. Nonetheless, calculating the correct dose can be challenging. Moreover, due to their highly concentrated form, it’s easy to take a dose that is too high. This can lead to negative side effects and kratom tolerance.

Since it’s best to take lower doses of kratom and marijuana when you mix them, it’s best to avoid kratom extracts and stick to kratom powder or capsules instead. Keep in mind that because of the coating, capsules may take longer to dissolve, and the effects may not be as potent.

Do Not Smoke Kratom

Raw marijuana contains THCA, a compound that is not psychoactive. You need to apply heat to release THC. Therefore, you need to smoke, vape, or cook cannabis.

Heat can potentiate kratom, yet it’s not necessary for you to experience its beneficial effects. Moreover, too much heat can actually destroy kratom alkaloids. Therefore, you should simmer kratom tea rather than boil it.

When smoking, the temperature is even higher, which means that you are more likely to waste kratom rather than experience its beneficial effects if you smoke or vape it. So, don’t smoke kratom and weed together.

Have you mixed kratom and marijuana? How did you do it? What was your experience with both herbs like?

CBD and kratom are both effective means of treating chronic pain and other conditions. The popularity of both has been growing significantly over the past years, yet kratom remains a lesser-known and more controversial herb.

Because of the beneficial properties of both substances, you may be wondering which, CBD or kratom, would better suit your needs.

While CDB and kratom may seem similar, there are differences between the two in a variety of aspects such as the way they interact with the body on a molecular level.

What Is CBD?

CBD or CBD oil is short for cannabidiol, a substance found in cannabis plants. It’s one of many cannabinoids that are uniquely present in cannabis plants. Unlike marijuana, CDB is not psychoactive.

The substance that causes the psychoactive properties in marijuana is THC. However, CBD is non-psychoactive. Therefore, it does not produce a “high” one can expect from marijuana.

CBD can be produced from medical marijuana plants and hemp, another plant from the cannabis family. Most of the CBD available for sale comes from hemp. There are a few reasons for it.

While hemp has THC, it’s present in very low quantities. Therefore, hemp is non-psychoactive. Help is also much easier and cheaper to produce. It does not require heat and high-voltage laps that marijuana plants cannot survive without.

Hemp plants can grow in moderate climates. They grow fast and require less water and can be grown in more sustainable conditions that, for instance, corn.

This makes hemp CDB much easier, faster, and cost-efficient to produce. In addition to that, hemp plants are very versatile in use. You can make fabric, shoes, and ropes from hemp. Beauty and personal hygiene products such as sunscreen and soap are becoming more popular. So is hemp milk, a plant-based substitute to regular dairy milk.

CBD comes in liquid oil form and can be infused with a variety of substances such as lemon, peppermint, cinnamon, and even chicken.

What is Kratom?

Kratom is a plant from the coffee family that is indigenous to and only grows in Southeast Asia. It’s most frequently is sold in the form of fine raw powder. Kratom farmers produce it from dried kratom leaf matter. Nonetheless, you can also find kratom extracts and resin.

Despite frequent false claims kratom is not psychoactive and does not result in a high. In smaller amounts, it produces coffee-like effects. However, in higher doses, it relaxes and relieves pain.

7 Differences between CBD and Kratom

CBD and kratom can both be extremely beneficial; however, the differences below can help you determine which is the better option for you.

1. Legalities

While both a rather controversial, CBD does have more approval from the public as well as the government. CBD is legal across all 50 states as long as it contains less than 0.3% of THC. CBD from hemp still contains traces of THC, though it is not nearly enough to produce a “high.”

CDB products are not approved by the FDA. However, the FDA has approved one pharmaceutical drug that is marijuana-based.

Kratom, however, is less-known and less accepted. It is also not legal in all states. A number of states, as well as counties and cities, have banned it. Nonetheless, other states have chosen to keep kratom legal but regulate it with KCPA (Kratom Consumer Protection Act).

2. The Active Ingredients and their Effects

CBD and kratom both have active ingredients that result in their respective beneficial effects.

The active ingredient in CBD is cannabidiol. Research has identified more than 65 pathways and targets of CBD. In contract with THC, CBD does not bind with cannabinoid receptors, Instead, it affects them indirectly through various non-cannabinoid channels and receptors.

CBD activates receptors that allow it to manipulate body functions such as inflammation, pain perception, and temperature. It also increases the levels of anandamide, a brain lipid that binds to cannabinoid receptors. This allows it to mimic the effects of cannabis-derived drugs and affect the brain’s pleasure response and motivation.

Kratom, on the other hand, contains at least 25 different alkaloids and 40 active compounds. Yet, studies on kratom have been limited and the actual number of alkaloids and active compounds may be much higher.

The two most potent alkaloids in kratom are mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine. They bind to opioid receptors in the brain, but in a different way than opioids. Kratom alkaloids also affect the levels of serotonin, dopamine, and GABA.

3. Effects

While CBD and kratom can both provide relief from pain, anxiety, stress, and depression, slight differences apply.

CBD has many different effects. Nonetheless, the most popular ones are:

• stress relief,
• anxiety relief,
• inflammation reduction,
• better sleep,
• joint pain relief,
• arthritis relief,
• substance withdrawal, and
• epilepsy and treatment.

Some sources also indicate the effectiveness of CBD for cancer treatment.

In addition to the above, CBD can be used for pets and in cooking, such as bakery.

In the meantime, kratom can help with:

• chronic pain relief,
• anxiety relief,
• stress relief,
• PTSD relief,
• depression relief,
• relaxation,
• euphoria,
• fibromyalgia,
• mood enhancement,
• improved focus and concentration,
• more productivity,
• more energy,
• better social skills, and
• more self-confidence.

4. Methods of Use

The most popular ways of taking kratom are by steeping a tea from it or toss-and-wash method. The latter involves swallowing the dose of kratom and washing it down with liquids such as orange juice.

You can also add kratom to smoothies and yogurt.

In most cases, kratom tends to be bitter. Therefore, there are people who prefer to take kratom capsules. Those can be bought online or made at home.

CBD comes in various forms. While CBD oil tincture is the most popular one, there are also gummies and other edibles, capsules, vapes, as well as balms and creams for topical use.

CBD oil tincture is taken sublingually. This means that you need to apply drops of the CBD oil tincture under the tongue. You can also apply CBD tincture to food.

Because you usually take much smaller amounts of CBD than kratom and tinctures can be infused, people find it to be easier to take than kratom. CBD is also easier to take in public. It’s much easier to remain discreet by taking CBD oil or edibles.

If you’d like to know if you can mix kratom and CBD, check out our post “Is Taking CBD and Kratom Together a Good Idea?”

5. Time and Duration of Effects

Kratom effects are fast. You can start experiencing them rather quickly – within 10 minutes after ingesting, and they’ll be the strongest within an hour.

The duration of kratom effects will depend on each particular strains. Many last for 4-5 hours; however, with some, you’ll experience kratom effects for up to 8 hours.

In the meantime, CBD is slow-acting and you should take it as a regular supplement. You should take it consistently. This will allow your system to get used to it and produce the desired effects.

Therefore, kratom can be a better option for someone who is looking for instant effect whereas CBD would be better for someone looking for a continuous duration of effects that become more prominent over time.

6. Tolerance

With kratom, it is important to take adequate breaks between doses and rotate strains. Otherwise, it is possible to develop kratom tolerance.

CBD does not develop tolerance. As a matter of fact, it can actually produce the opposite effects – reverse tolerance. Once your body has gotten used to CBD, you can lower your dose yet experience the same effects for a period of time.

7. Side Effects

Most kratom side effects result from taking it improperly. This can happen is you take a dose that is too high, or do not take the necessary measure to avoid tolerance.

The most common kratom side effects are:

• nausea,
• dizziness,
• vomiting,
• dry mouth, and
• constipation.

However, these are easily treatable and avoidable.

With CBD, most users report side effects such as:

• tiredness,
• dizziness,
• dry mouth,
• vomiting,
• nausea,
• changes in appetite and mood, and
• diarrhea.

Nonetheless, CBD and kratom are both non-addictive and non-psychoactive. Nor do they produce serious side effects that some pharmaceutical drugs have.

Have you tried CBD and kratom? What has your experience been? Do you prefer one over the other?

Pain can be debilitating and drastically decrease the quality of one’s life. It can make even simple tasks agonizing. Therefore, merely quitting pain medication is not an option for many people.

With numerous issues and side effects, as well as abuse and overdose instances associated with prescription pain medications, an increasing number of people seek alternative pain medications.

Kratom is the answer to relieving pain for millions of people.

What Is Kratom?

Kratom, or Mitragyna speciosa, is a tree of Southeast Asian origin. It thrives in the hot and humid tropical climates of Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand.  You can also find it in Vietnam, Myanmar, and Papua New Guinea.

The leaves of kratom trees have beneficial properties. In fact, according to the limited studies on kratom that we have now, kratom has at least 25 alkaloids and 40 beneficial compounds.

The two main alkaloids are mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine. The latter is approximately 13 times more potent than morphine. These two alkaloids make kratom an alternative solution for pain management.

Types of Pain and Common Treatment Methods

Not all pain is the same. There are different kinds of pain and health conditions associated with pain.

Generally, you can classify pain into two categories – acute and chronic. Acute pain is temporary. It occurs suddenly and lasts for a short period of time. On the other hand, chronic pain is long-term. If you experience pain for longer than six months, then, most likely, it’s chronic.

Often, chronic pain is the result of nerve damage. Acute pain can sometimes develop into chronic pain.

Chronic pain can be either inflammatory nociceptive, or neuropathic. Inflammatory nociceptive pain happens after an injury to the muscles, bones, skin, tendons, joints, or visceral organs. Meanwhile, neuropathic pain results from injury to your nervous system.

Severe acute pain and chronic pain require potent treatment methods. Therefore, doctors often prescribe opioids as they are considered to be the strongest.  Yet, pain, especially chronic pain, can resist medication, and as it increases, people tend to up their opioid dose.

Despite past claims that opioids are not addictive, they are. Sadly, the number of overdoses and deaths caused by opioids is steadily increasing.