Author: Damian Gorbunov

You may have purchased your very first batch and wondering how to take kratom to reap the best results.

And even if you’ve been taking kratom for some time now, knowing what you should and shouldn’t do can make the results even better.

While the popularity of kratom and the amount of information available on it is growing, sadly there’s lots of misinformation too. And it may be hard to find exactly what you’re looking for.

We’re on a mission to make useful quality information easily available. Therefore, we’ve put together this guide to help you know what exactly you should and shouldn’t do when you take kratom.

How to Take Kratom: What You Should Do

1. Choose Which Kratom is Best for You

Kratom comes in four different vein colors. Three of them, red, white, and green, are natural, while the fourth one, yellow vein, is achieved through a different type of processing.

• Red vein kratom is often called “slow”. Its effects are soothing, relaxing, and analgesic. It’s excellent for pain relief, relaxation, dealing with insomnia, stress, and anxiety.
• Some call white vein kratom “fast”. That’s because it’s energizing and uplifting. It’s great to increase energy and productivity as well as improve the mood.
• Green vein kratom is a moderate midway between the above. It has both stimulating and soothing effects which will depend on the amount of kratom that you take.
• Yellow vein kratom is also rather moderate with effects that are close to those of green and red vein.

Kratom possesses its qualities depending on the concentration of the alkaloids that it contains. This can vary according to the place and conditions in which kratom grows as well as the vendor.

Because of that, there may be differences between different strains of each vein. An example is Red Bali and Red Sumatra. While both are red strains, Red Sumatra is more invigorating while Red Bali is the most popular relaxing strain.

Pay attention to the qualities of each individual strain and choose what offers the effects that you’d like to feel. Keep in mind that when you get started, moderate strains can be a better fit for beginners.

Some vendors offer samples that you can order if you’d like to try kratom. You can start with those to see which kratom works best for you.

2. Know How Much Kratom to Take

The effects of kratom can vary depending on what dose of it you take. You can use the breakdown below as a guideline:

• 2-4 grams is the amount that can result in stimulating effects. We advise you to start with no more than 2 grams at the beginning. 4 may be too strong and you may achieve soothing and sedating effects instead. Yet, it may be suitable for more experienced kratom users.
• 4-6 grams is the dose to achieve pain-relieving and soothing effects. Once again, we advise beginners and those who are less experienced with kratom to go for 4 grams only, as anything above it can be sedating.
• 6-8 grams would result in soothing, euphoria, pain relief, and may even put you to sleep. Note though that this may be too strong for some users. In general, we advise you not go over 8 grams.

Whatever effects you’d like to achieve, we advise you to always start with a smaller dose and gradually build up to achieve the desired effects.

Keep in mind that your body’s ability to absorb kratom will depend on its composition and your body fat percentage. So, if you’re an athlete or have a very low body fat percentage, we advise you to start with the half of the suggested and gradually word out what your body responds to best.

3. Measure Kratom Accurately

While it may seem easy to simply take a spoon and eye your dose, we strongly advise you to not do that. Depending on how much you put into it and how fine the powder is, the amount can greatly vary. You can take a completely different amount of kratom every time.

By measuring and taking the wrong dose you can achieve different results and may even experience kratom side effects.

But that all can be easily avoided if you measure your kratom dose accurately.

To do that, invest in a digital scale. One with a 0.01-gram sensitivity scale. A regular kitchen scale won’t be as sensitive. You can easily get one at a local store or online for less than 20$.

Knowing exactly how much kratom you take will also allow you to accurately track your kratom intake. If you start experiencing kratom side effects, this can help you pinpoint exactly what is causing it.

4. Stay Hydrated

Some kratom users may experience constipation after taking kratom regularly for an extended period of time. To avoid that, make sure you drink plenty of water.

Reduce or cut out sugary and caffeinated drinks as these may further dehydrate you. Also, include plenty of fiber-rich food into your diet such as fresh fruit, vegetables, wholemeal bread, brown rice, and similar.

Don’t rely on taking laxatives as they also can seriously dehydrate you if you don’t drink enough water. If you absolutely need, include foods into your diet that have a laxative effect. Some examples include prunes, oat bran, flax seeds, chia seeds, kiwi, and kefir.

Coffee also has a laxative effect. Yet, you may not want to resort to it if you are taking the stimulant strains of kratom.

5. Keep Your Kratom Tolerance Low

It is possible to develop kratom tolerance, especially if you take the same strain of kratom for prolonged periods of time. However, there are ways to make sure that does not happen to you.

First of all, do not take kratom every day. Take a few days a week off. Preferably if they are in a row. That will allow your body to reset and get the alkaloids out of your system.

Mix strains instead of always taking the same one. Normally, you’d want to mix greens or whites with reds. Take a different train a few times a week, but avoid taking more than two strains on a single day.

6. Start Taking Kratom on Your Days Off

From personal experience, we know that each individual body can react differently to different strains and amounts of kratom. Therefore, if you’re completely new to kratom or you are starting to use a new strain, it’s best to do so on a day that you’re off or don’t have any important business to tend to.

The reason for that is that you likely will go through some trial and error until you discover what works best for you. And until you do, this may help you avoid any unpleasant situations.

How to Take Kratom: What You Shouldn’t Do

1. Take Substances that May Interfere with Kratom

While kratom is safe, mixing it with other substances may not be. As a matter of fact, the deaths that the FDA attributes to kratom are actually caused by other substances. Not kratom itself.

Sadly though, because of their activities against kratom, there are limited studies on it and the use of other substances with it.

Therefore, there are a few that we advise you to stay away from while you take kratom. These include drugs and alcohol.

If you take prescription medicine, ask your physician if it is safe to take together with kratom or mitragynine, one of the kratom’s most potent alkaloids.

2. Take the Same Strain Every Day

Some users discover a strain that they really like and take it on a daily basis as they would any other supplement. However, it’s not the best approach to how to take kratom as it’s easy to develop tolerance this way.

Kratom tolerance is the need to take a larger dose of kratom to experience the same results that at the beginning. That will require you to use more kratom and spend more money.

Taking the same strain every day is the fastest way to developing tolerance. Though, it can be avoided by simply making small changes in how you take kratom.

As described above, taking days off and mixing strains are some ways in which you can do so.

3. Buy a Large Bulk without Trying a Sample First

How to take kratom properly is one thing, how it interacts with your body is another. As a natural substance, taking the same dose of the same kratom strain can produce slightly different effects in different people.

For example, some take green vein to gain extra energy while others feel more relaxed after it.

The only way to know how exactly your body will respond is by actually trying it.

So, instead of buying in bulk right away, try samples and smaller packages first. Don’t be afraid to experiment with a few different strains to see which one gives you the results that you want.

4. Drive

Even if you are taking the stimulating strains of kratom, it’s best to avoid driving. At least until you have established your dose, know how your body reacts to kratom and how long its effects last.

If you’re taking the slow strains, we advise you to not drive altogether. Kratom may relax you so much that you may become sleepy thus risking falling asleep when driving.

And even if you take the fast strains, you may become sleepy when kratom effects begin fading.

5. Take Cheap Kratom

How to take kratom isn’t the only thing that matters. It’s also the quality of the kratom you take.

While cheaper prices are often viewed s bargains, don’t treat kratom the same way. Instead of a bargain, go for quality.

The reason for that due to the FDA’s moves against kratom. Despite being legal, kratom isn’t regulated.

That means that there are no standards that vendors need to adhere to in order to be allowed to sell kratom. Eventually, it all comes down to what each vendor values and cares about.

And some vendors care about their profits more than they do about the users’ health. That results in importing low quality, fake, or contaminated kratom.

To avoid purchasing bad or fake kratom, carefully choose whom you buy it from. Read through reviews and customer testimonials. Check their website and what content they have on it. What do they care about?

Is their kratom fresh? Is it tested for contaminants? Does it seem like they know what they are talking about? Can you trust them?

If anything feels off, it may be best to move on and look for another vendor.

If you’re looking to save some money, instead of choosing cheaper kratom look for vendors that source their kratom directly from vendors. Their kratom will be cheaper, but not because of lower quality. They will not deal with a middleman who would be charging extra thus making the kratom retail price go up.

6. Take Kratom on an Empty Stomach

From personal experience, we advise you to take kratom after having some food in your stomach. At least until your body gets used to it or you know that it does not bother you. Otherwise, kratom may upset your stomach and you may not feel your best.

Taking kratom with food may also not be the best idea. So, wait until 30 min or an hour have passed after a meal before you take kratom.

Do you have any useful tips on how to take kratom? Is there something else that should be avoided? Feel free to share them in the comment section below. 

Your choice of how to store kratom will affect how long it lasts, how potent it is, as well as how strong the results are.

Kratom owes its effects to its alkaloids, primarily mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine.

While studies on kratom are limited, several sources suggest that the mitragynine in kratom gradually turns into another substance. It’s called mitragynine pseudoindoxyl. It is believed to have low or no painkilling properties and might even act as an opiate antagonist.

How Long Does Kratom Last 

Generally, kratom retains maximum freshness for up to three months. If stored correctly, it’ll maintain most of its freshness for 6-12 months.

Once 12 months have passed, kratom will retain most of its potency, yet it’ll become dryer and will start to gradually lose its quality. The drier kratom powder gets, the less pleasant it’ll become to ingest.

How long your kratom will last will also depend on how fresh it is when you purchase it. The longer it’s been kept in storage by its vendor and distributors, the less it is going to last.

Kratom Storage Tips 

1. Buy Fresh Kratom from a Reliable Vendor 

The quality and freshness of your kratom will depend on the vendor that you purchase it from. The sooner the vendor ships and the more frequently they stock up, the fresher their kratom is going to be.

Many vendors work with a middleman. They buy kratom in bulk from someone else who sources it and then resell it to individual users.

This process lengthens the time from when kratom is harvested and processed and when it reaches the user. The longer this time is, the sooner it’ll lose its potency.

To avoid that we advise you to buy kratom from vendors who import it directly from the source and do not use a middleman. That will ensure that your product will reach you sooner, will be fresher, and you’ll be able to store it longer without losing kratom potency.

Therefore, take your time to research vendors carefully.

Check the information available on the vendors’ websites, yet don’t rely on that alone. Kratom isn’t regulated by the FDA, so there are no set standards that vendors must adhere to. Much depends on their individual values and motivations.

Read through user reviews as well to get a more accurate view of the vendors. You can also look through kratom forums, and even post your own questions on vendors that you are interested in. Many users also discuss kratom related topics on Reddit.

2. Buy the Right Amount of Kratom

There’s no need to buy kratom in large bulk if you won’t be able to use it up within the maximum of three months. Especially if you’ll be the only person using it.

Don’t buy a larger amount of kratom simply because it’s cheaper. You may save money, but you may end up with kratom that’s not as potent as it could have been.

Start by purchasing smaller amounts at first and gauge how much you use in one, two, or three months. Then, depending on how fresh your vendor’s product normally is, you’ll know how much you need to buy to ensure that you’re using the freshest and the most potent product.

3. Store Kratom in Airtight Containers

Moisture and oxygen are the two main reasons for kratom going bad.

Even a few drops of water can make your kratom perfect environment for mold to start growing. If that happens, it’s best to get rid of the entire batch as it all can be contaminated.

Kratom is an organic substance. Therefore, it exposed to oxygen, it can become stale.

To prevent both of these from happening, store kratom in airtight plastic or glass containers. You can use zip log bags, sturdy Tupperware dishes, or airtight glass jars.

You can remove air from ziplock bags by partially zipping it up, placing a straw in it, and sucking the excess air out. Avoid placing the straw too close to the kratom powder or you may suck it in as well.

If you’re using Tupperware or glass jars, there will be some air left after closing them. Because of that, choose the right size for the amount of kratom that you have so that it contains as little air as possible.

4. Store Kratom in Small Containers

Placing all of your kratom in a single container may seem the easier route to take, but we advise you not to do it. Constantly opening this container can deteriorate the product.

Instead, store a few days’ supply of kratom in small containers or zip-lock bags (make sure to get the air out of them). That will help your kratom stay fresh and keep its properties and potency longer.

5. Store Kratom in a Cool Dark Place

Frequent changes in temperature and direct sunlight can also deteriorate kratom. That’s why it’s best to store kratom in a cool place away from direct sunlight.

A storage room would be best, but if you don’t have one, there’s no need to worry. You can also store kratom in a cupboard.

Choose one that does not get sunlight during certain parts of the day. Don’t store kratom near ovens, heating systems, dryers, or similar devices that may cause the temperature to rise and drop quickly.

Some users like to store kratom in the fridge. If you choose to do so, make sure it’s in an airtight container. This way air or moisture won’t damage it and it will also not be affected by strong smells.

6. Label the Purchase Date on Kratom Containers 

Once you store kratom in an airtight container of your choice, place a label with a purchase date on it. That will help you remember when exactly you bought it and have a better idea of how long it’ll last.

Can You Store Kratom Tea?

If you are busy, you may be interested in brewing kratom tea beforehand and storing it for later use. That is possible too.

You can store prepared kratom tea for up to a week before it starts going bad. Some kratom users even freeze it. If you decide to store kratom tea, brew it first. Then, transfer your tea to airtight containers.

Make sure to use plastic ones if you want to freeze it and leave a fifth of the container empty. That is because liquids expand when frozen and a tightly filled glass container can explode.

Watch Out for Signs of Deterioration

Once you have properly stored all your kratom, check it for signs of deterioration as you use it. These can be mold, a paler color, or a weaker scent. If you notice any of those, it may be a good idea to buy a new batch instead. Though, when mold starts forming, it’s best to immediately discard the entire amounts of the container.

How do you store kratom? How long do you usually store it for? And what’s your favorite storage method?

Let’s face it, kratom isn’t cheap and, depending on the dose you need, a month’s supply can cost you quite a bit. Therefore, some users may be tempted to choose a cheaper product.

Sadly, it may not always the best route to take, because you may end up getting fake kratom.

So, if you suddenly discover your kratom not working and you’ve ruled out all the possible reasons for it being kratom tolerance, chances are that you’ve purchased fake kratom.

Why You Shouldn’t Buy Cheap Kratom

Imagine that you want to buy a designer watch. You would have a basic idea of how much it would cost. And if you see anything considerably below that price yet with the designer logo on it, you’d immediately suspect that it’s a knock-off.

The same principle applies to kratom.

It costs a certain amount of money to buy kratom from suppliers and import it. So, if the retail price of kratom if low, that means of the below:

1. It’s fake kratom,
2. It’s fake kratom mixed with expired kratom,
3. Kratom is mixed with other substances, and even if they are harmless that is not what you agree to pay for and it won’t deliver the desired results,
4. It’s old or contaminated kratom that’s repackaged and labeled as fresh,
5. It’s illegally acquired kratom that likely hasn’t passed safety control.

In either one of the cases, it’s not a good idea to consume it. Especially because kratom isn’t regulated.

The FDA is advocating a kratom ban. Even though kratom is legal right now to sell, buy, and possess kratom in the United States, there are no regulations that would control the imported product.

Kratom quality control comes down to individual vendors, their values, and code of ethics. While many vendors test each batch of kratom that they receive for contaminants and other harmful substances, not everyone does that. Simply because they aren’t accountable to anyone else but themselves.

What makes this even worse is that because there are no regulations, there is also no punishment for not selling genuine quality kratom. So, the one who suffers from all this is the end user.

Buying fake kratom is not only a waste of money but can even be dangerous.

Here are some of our tips on how you can avoid buying fake kratom.

How to Avoid Buying Fake Kratom

Do Your Research on Kratom Vendors

If you’re new to kratom or are looking for another vendor, don’t just choose the first vendor whom you come across.

Take your time to check them out. A genuine kratom vendor will have a website and may also sell kratom in online marketplaces such as Amazon and eBay. Their prices should be matching regardless of where the products are sold.

If you can only find the product on eBay and it’s selling for a really cheap price, this cheap kratom is likely fake kratom.

A legitimate seller should have a website. They should display information on kratom lab testing and have an easy way of contacting them. A reliable vendor will also likely have reviews or testimonials from satisfied clients.

Don’t go Crazy over Cheap Kratom and Discounts

Kratom usually stays fresh for up to three months after purchase. Stored properly, of course. If kratom vendors have a product that will expire soon, they may offer discounts.

They do so because if they follow ethical practices, they need to discard the expired product. Depending on the quantity that can mean huge losses of money.

By purchasing a product that is going to expire soon, you do not risk your health. You simply need to consume your batch soon to gain optimal effects. Therefore, we advise you not to buy kratom in bulk once it’s discounted.

If it seems that discounts are rotating, or simply put, different products have discounts at different times, then it’s likely that they sell genuine kratom. In this case, not everything they have in store will be discounted.

If, however, all their products have discounts, discounted products seem to never change, or their prices are considerably lower, it may be best to take the safe route and avoid these vendors altogether.

Check Reviews and Customer Feedback

Reviews are crucial for any vendor to make sales. As a matter of fact, 63% of users are more likely to buy a product from vendors who have reviews.

This means that legitimate vendors are going to want to display buyer reviews to boost their sales. Good vendors will also respond to customer feedback, even the negative one. Because even that forms an opinion about their brand, and a legitimate vendor will want to make sure this opinion is good.

Check if the vendor sells their product in online marketplaces as well. While vendors can control their reviews on their own site, marketplaces such as Amazon and eBay do not allow that.

Many kratom users also use Reddit and kratom forums to talk about their experiences with different vendors.

Check all these out to get a more thorough insight on vendors.

If there are no reviews at all or they seem to be fake or inconsistent, something may be off. Avoid vendors if you aren’t completely sure of them.

Contact Kratom Vendors if You Have Any Doubts

When in doubt, search the vendor’s website for contact information or customer support.

While not all vendors will have a customer support feature, legitimate ones will have a contact form or contact information easily available on the site. They will also try to respond to queries quickly.

However, if you cannot find any contact information or they do not get back to you, the vendor may either be fake or not care about servicing their customers in the best way possible. We advise you to look for another vendor in either one of the cases.

Watch Out for Someone Copying Existing Kratom Vendors

When something or someone is successful, there will be copycats who will recreate everything exactly in the same way as the original brand. Remember the knock-off watches that I mentioned before? Same can happen to kratom.

Fake vendors can recreate a website and the company’s branding in the same exact manner.  They will have a slight tweak in the URL that you may not notice if you aren’t being very attentive at that moment.

They will sell kratom for much cheaper prices that users will be attracted to because they’ll think they are purchasing from the real brand.

To make sure that does not happen to you, make sure to carefully check the URL of the website. Is it exactly the same as it always was? Is the site secure? A secure site should have “https” in front of the domain name, not “http”.

Make sure to check all that before you process any payments.

Know Where Your Kratom Comes From

Kratom is native to Southeast Asia, namely to Thailand, Malaysia, Myanmar (Burma), Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea.

Kratom’s scientific name is Mitragyna Speciosa. However, there are other plants in the Mirtagyna family that aren’t real kratom.

While it may look the same, fake kratom will not have the same concentration of alkaloids. It won’t be as effective, and may even cause unpleasant side effects.

With slight exceptions, most of the kratom currently comes from Indonesia and the island of Borneo that is divided primarily by Indonesia and Malaysia.

So, if you happen to come across a product that isn’t from there, it is highly likely that it may be fake kratom.

Stop Using Kratom if You Suspect that Something Is Wrong

And last but not least, keep in mind that you will be the one suffering if you purchase fake kratom. Make your health and wellbeing a priority and always take the safe route when choosing kratom and a vendor.

Have you ever bought fake kratom? How did it happen? What do you do to avoid buying fake kratom?

 

 

 

If you take kratom for some time, you may develop kratom tolerance. It’s one of the most common reasons for kratom not working.

When it happens, your body becomes less sensitive to the plant. And the dose that you normally take does not deliver the same results.

Thus, to get the same effects as before, you need to take a larger dose. While it may seem like a good solution, it is not optimal in the long haul.

A larger dose means that you’ll go through your kratom reserves a lot faster. And will need to order it more frequently. That will require you to spend more and more money over time.

The good news is that kratom tolerance is preventable and also reversible. So, even if you have already developed it, you can easily get over it.

But, before we get into how to do it, let’s first look at why that happens.

Alkaloids Cause Kratom Tolerance 

Kratom has a number of different alkaloids that contribute to its medicinal properties. Two of the main ones are mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine.

Mitragynine is primarily responsible for kratom’s pain-killing and stimulating properties. Meanwhile, 7-hydroxymitragynine causes pain-killing, relaxing, and stimulating effects.

The two alkaloids are also the main ones causing kratom tolerance to develop.

When you take kratom, its alkaloids interact with the brain receptors. That usually happens within 10-30 minutes after you take your dose, but this time may vary with some strains.

That is when you’ll feel kratom kick in.

When alkaloid concentration reaches a certain amount, your brain begins to down-regulate these receptors. It does so to regain balance.

Kratom alkaloids don’t leave the body the moment you stop feeling the effects. Instead, they remain in your system for approximately 24 hours.

So, if you take kratom regularly, you don’t let alkaloids leave your body completely. Because of that, there is always some amount of them in your system.

Your brain knows that, and it keeps regulating the receptors to continuously find balance. Over time that develops into kratom tolerance.

How Can You Prevent Kratom Tolerance

1. Take the Right Dose

To make sure that you’re not taking more than you need, ingest the right dose that your body requires.

You can do so by first determining what your perfect dose is. Always start with the lowest amount. It’ll usually be 2-3 grams for most strains or even less if a specific vendor’s kratom is very strong.

You may experience kratom effects or not feel anything at all. If the latter happens, gradually up your dose until you feel the desired results.

When you know what the right dose for you is, carefully measure the amount of kratom that you intake each time. We recommend using a sensitive digital scale instead of eyeing your dose with a spoon.

Depending on what size the spoon is and how much you load onto it, the amount of kratom in it can drastically vary. So, you may be taking a lot more than you actually need.

2. Keep Track of Your Kratom Intake

The surest way to developing kratom tolerance is taking it whenever you feel like doing it. The problem with such an approach is that you’ll be ingesting kratom irregularly and even multiple times a day.

Some users end up taking as much as 30-50 grams of kratom powder a day. If that’s where you’re at, you definitely suffer from kratom tolerance.

This way you’ll be constantly adding a new kratom dose without letting the existing alkaloids leave your system. Alkaloid levels in brain receptors are never the same. They will fluctuate depending on how long ago you took your dose.

Along with alkaloid concentration, the intensity at which your brain will try to self-regulate will also vary.

It’s best to take a new dose when both of these are low. This way you’ll be allowing enough time for your body to reset.

To ensure that you avoid sporadic kratom intake times, keep track of the doses that you ingest.

You can do it via a journal, a mobile app, or any other means that works for you. Select the best time depending on your needs and the strain that you’re taking and stay consistent.

3. Take Magnesium Supplements

You may already be familiar with kratom potentiators. But, there’s one that we’d like to point out.

Magnesium.

Magnesium is effective for both – increasing the potency of kratom as well as lowering kratom tolerance.

Remember the receptors that were responsible for developing kratom tolerance? Magnesium is saturated in antagonists for these receptors and can help to keep them balanced.

4. Do Not Take or Limit Your Intake of Kratom Extracts

According to multiple users, kratom extracts can quickly develop tolerance. Or, they can make users immune to kratom powder, especially if taken for a long time.

Another problem with extracts is that you will need to calculate each dose. Kratom doses are normally measured in grams of kratom powder. That means that you’ll need to know how much kratom powder you would need in grams. Then, you’ll need to calculate that taking into consideration the strength of the extract.

This makes doses of kratom extracts hard to measure. And you can easily take a much larger dose than your body actually requires.

5. Rotate Kratom Veins and Strains

Kratom tolerance is most likely to develop if you’re continuously taking the same strain. To avoid that, many users suggest rotating vein colors and strains.

Since each of them will have a different concentration and potency of alkaloids, your body will have a harder time getting used to any one of them. Users also report feeling more sensitive to each of the strains if they rotate them.

If you’d like to do this, select a few strains with similar effects that would deliver the results that you need. Then, create a schedule of what days you’ll be taking each of them on.

Keep in mind that different strains will have different potency and alkaloid concentration. Therefore, you will likely need to take a slightly different dose for each strain.

6. Take Days Off

Kratom tolerance develops if you allow for kratom buildup to occur. This can happen if you aren’t allowing enough time between your doses for alkaloids to leave your system.

An easy way of preventing tolerance from happening and is not taking kratom every day.

Allow one or two days between each kratom dose. That will let your body expel the alkaloids that it has accumulated. It will also help you keep your kratom sensitivity low.

What If You Already Have Developed Kratom Tolerance? 

The best and the fastest way of lowering kratom tolerance is taking a break. How long of a break you’ll need, will depend on your individual body and how strong your tolerance is.

Time off will give your body time to remove the alkaloids that it has accumulated and reset. As a result, your tolerance levels will go down.

Observe how your body is feeling. When you feel recovered and any side effects are gone, try taking your initial dose of kratom again.

And most importantly, assess why tolerance developed in the first place and what you can do to prevent that from happening again in the future.

Have you ever experienced kratom tolerance? Why did that happen? What did you do to overcome it? Perhaps you’ve discovered your own tricks for preventing and lowering kratom tolerance?

Kratom use has many benefits for our health. And, though less common, it can be used in other ways than just internally. Kratom can be very beneficial in beauty products due to its exfoliating, antibacterial, and moisturizing properties.

One of its topical uses is kratom soap.

Commercial soaps are loaded with chemicals and leave residue behind. Our bodies absorb all that. Store-bought can irritate or dry the skin and clog the pores.

Kratom soap, on the other hand, is organic and can benefit your body in a myriad of ways. You can purchase it in kratom-specific online stores, but you can also make it at home.

You can use it to wash your face or hands, as well as in the shower or when taking a bath.

The Benefits of Kratom Soap

1. Exfoliates the Skin

Kratom powder adds texture to the soap which is excellent for removing dead skin cells in a natural way. Exfoliating on a regular basis can prevent dead skin cells from clogging the pores and causing acne and other skin conditions. Your complexion is also likely to be much brighter.

2. Antibacterial Effects

Because of the alkaloid composition, kratom has antibacterial properties. Together with its exfoliating properties, kratom soap can improve the condition of one’s skin.

3. Moisturizes the Skin

Kratom soap is also excellent for moisturizing the skin. This can be especially beneficial in drier or colder climates or during. You can also enjoy these benefits of kratom soap in the colder months of the year.

4. Improves the Condition of the Skin

Because of its properties, kratom soap can help with a variety of skin conditions such as acne, blemishes, and dryness.

5. Pain Relief

Pain-relieving kratom effects won’t be as strong as when, for example, drinking kratom tea. You also won’t be able to relieve pain by simply washing your hands. Yet, taking a bath with kratom soap can indeed provide mild pain relief and relaxation according to users.

It can be especially effective for muscle pain and tension.

6. Better for Your Body

As mentioned above, kratom soap is organic as opposed to commercial store-bought soaps. In the past, it was believed that our skin acts as a barrier between our bodies and the environment. However, we now know that it absorbs products that we put onto it.

Therefore, all the harmful substances that beauty products contain eventually end up in our bodies. While you may not notice the difference after a single use, they can build up in our bodies and damage our health over time by, for instance, disrupting our hormones.

Kratom soap that you purchase from equality vendor or make yourself, will contain natural and organic ingredients. As a result, you will not only prevent loads of chemicals from entering your body but also provide other beneficial kratom effects.

7. More Environmentally Friendly

Another perk of using Kratom soap is that it’s better for the environment. Commercial soaps and body washes come in plastic bottles. These take on average 450 years to decompose. Some bottles need even as long as 1000 years.

Bottle caps and lids are harder and, thus, need longer. As a result, we’re producing much waste by using commercial body products.

If you make kratom soap at home, you won’t have to use all that plastic. You can simply store it in a container or wrap it in some paper.

What Strains Can You Use to Make Kratom Soap?

The same principle applies to kratom soap as they do to other uses of kratom. Slow strains will be more relaxing and pain-relieving while fast ones will provide energizing kratom effects.

Red Bali, Thai and Maeng Da strains do seem to be the most popular ingredients among vendors offering kratom soap. This is likely due to their many benefits and wider availability.

What You’ll Need to Make Kratom Soap

To make kratom soap, you’ll need equipment and ingredients. Let’s start with the former.

Before starting to make kratom soap, locate the following:

• a scale (you can use the one that you normally use to measure your kratom powder dose),
• a pair of rubber gloves to keep your hands safe,
• safety goggles to protect your eyes from fumes when you use lye,
• glass bowls or jars to mix lye and water
• wooden spoons or spatulas for mixing,
• blender,
• molds or boxes to shape the soap (you can use silicon muffin trays or cooking pans too),
• old newspapers (optional) to protect surfaces from lye spills,
• parchment paper (optional) to line your kratom soap molds,
• vinegar (optional) to neutralize lye spills.

The ingredients that you’ll for approximately 2 large bars of kratom soap need are as follows:

• 1-2 teaspoons of kratom powder of your choice (more powder will make your kratom soap more exfoliating),
• 40 g 100% lye,
• 100 g water,
• 250 g organic extra virgin olive oil,
• 50 g organic coconut oil,
• Shea butter (optional)

Feel free to use a soap calculator to scale the ingredients

Some other ingredients that you can try are:

• dried chamomile, lavender, jasmine, or other flowers,
• essential oils of your choice,
• lemon or orange zest,
• lemongrass,
• oatmeal,
• turmeric,
• ground coffee,
• brown sugar.

You can also use any other dried herb that you have available. In case you have fresh herbs, allow a day for them to dry.

The Process of Making Kratom Soap

1. First, take the precautions. Lye can be dangerous if not handled properly. Put on your gloves and safety goggles. Lay out newspapers to protect the surface.
2. Pour the water into a recipient that is able to handle heat. For instance a glass jar or bowl.
3. Mix lye into the water. This will produce fumes, so make sure not to breathe them in. To avoid the fumes, you can even do this outside. Let the mixture cool down making sure that no pets or children can access it.
4. Mix the oils together in a glass bowl or jar. Use one that’s big enough for other ingredients as well.
5. Once the lye and water mixture has cooled down, mix it into the oils.
6. Use a blender to blend it all together. Watch out not to make a mess in the process. Doing it in the sink, for instance, could prevent a lot of mess.
7. One the mixture reaches the consistency of mayonnaise,
8. Mix in kratom powder and any other ingredients that you’re using.
9. Pour the soap mixture into the molds. You can use bigger molds such as cake molds and then cut the kratom soap up into smaller pieces.
10. Leave the mixture in the molds for at least 24 hours. If after unmolding your kratom soap still seems too soft, you can leave it for a few more hours. However, don’t leave for too long as it may become very hard to cut.

If at some point lye gets on your skin, wash it with plenty of water. Use vinegar only if you need to remove lye from surfaces.

Have you ever tried kratom soap? How was it? What are your favorite ingredients to put into kratom soap?

Kratom can help with all sorts of medical problems, from insomnia and ADHD to pain relief and depression, to name just a few.

There are different ways in which you can consume kratom. Many people like to take it in powder form, but there are also those who prefer tea form.

But to a number of people, the pure taste of kratom is too hard to take when it’s in powder form, which is why they opt for kratom capsules.

The Benefits of Kratom Capsules

By taking kratom capsules, there is no bitter taste and the intake is very simple. All you need to do is take a capsule and water it down like a medicine tablet. Also, the measuring process is much simpler.

Furthermore, what so many people love about kratom capsules is the fact they can carry them anywhere they go.

If you want to consume powder kratom while away, it may be problematic, especially when in public places where you can’t properly measure and prepare your kratom. But with a kratom capsule, you won’t have to worry about that.

You also won’t have to inhale powder debris. The debris can be very unpleasant, especially if you have an easily irritable nose. But a kratom capsule takes care of that.

So, it’s clear that kratom capsules are a great way to use kratom. But can you make these capsules at home? Absolutely. Here’s how you can do it best.

Before You Begin

Choose the Type of Capsules

First of all, you will need the appropriate receptacle. For this, it’s the capsule case, or empty capsule, whichever term you prefer. There are two types you can choose: gelatin and vegetarian capsules.

A great number of users go with gelatin capsules. There are a couple of reasons for this.

Gelatin capsules are quite affordable and available in all kinds of colors and sizes. On the other hand, gelatin comes from animals, so vegans can’t use it. If you’re a vegan, make a note of that.

Gelatin capsules can also upset your stomach if you take large doses of kratom.

Another problem with gelatin capsules is that they are not suitable for liquid kratom products. They can keep powdered kratom, but when it comes to kratom tincture, for example, they are of no use.

On the other hand, vegetarian capsules provide a great alternative. They are slowly becoming the most popular type of capsules on the market and they are great for keeping kratom tincture.

They are made of hypromellose, cellulose, and purified water.

What’s great about vegetarian capsules is that they are non-GMO, gluten-free, and without any chemicals or preservatives. They are also Halal-certified, and they dissolve in the stomach quicker than gelatin capsules.

Choose the Size of Capsules

Capsules come in different sizes depending on the amount that fits in them. Usually, 5 different sizes are available:

• 000 – 1 gram of kratom per capsule
• 00 – 0.735 grams of kratom per capsule
• 0 – 0.5 grams of kratom per capsule
• 1 – 0.4 grams of kratom per capsule
• 2 – 0.3 grams of kratom per capsule

Make sure you choose the right capsule size. If you use smaller capsules, you may need to swallow a larger number of them.

And, if you are using a capsule filler, make sure your capsule trays and capsules are the same size.

Gather the Other Tools

In addition to the capsules, you can use a capsule filling tray or a capsule filling machine. I’ll refer to it as capsule filler for easier reference.

This is not mandatory, but it will definitely make the whole process a lot simpler for you. So, if you have some more money on the side, be sure to invest it in a capsule filler.

Also, you will need a tamper or a similar tool to help you pack the powder down. Depending on what product you choose to buy, it may already have a tool for that.

You will also need a scale, to measure the exact dosage. We recommend using a milligram sensitive scale. A less sensitive may not be as accurate or may not even pick up smaller amounts at all.

And finally, get a pair of latex gloves. It’ll make the process easier and prevent kratom from staining your hands. Latex gloves are also more hygienic than the other types.

The Process of Making Kratom Capsules

The actual process of making kratom capsules is fairly simple.

First, measure and prepare the amount of kratom powder you need for each capsule. It’s very important that you do this before you start any work. It will facilitate the whole process. Use a table or desk with a clean, smooth surface.

Open up each capsule and start pouring the powder. Once you finish, use the tamper for the part of the capsule you just filled. Then, put the shorter part of the capsule back, and that’s it. Just make sure that the whole capsule is full of powder before you close it.

Also, it’s very important not to rush things. You need to take your time and spend as much as you need in order to get the job done right. If you rush it, you only make a mess and spill the powder over, missing the capsules.

It may be a bit tedious and time-consuming, but it is worth the effort.

If you invest in a capsule filler, you’ll be able to speed the whole process up and save yourself some time. Capsule filling trays have slots for up to 100 capsules and you’ll be able to make a large batch of them in minutes.

In addition, if you choose the right size of capsules for your needs and pack them properly, you won’t need to measure the amount of kratom for every one of them.

It may be a good idea to weigh an empty capsule and a filled kratom capsule to be completely certain of the exact amount of powder than it holds.

Worth Remembering When Making Kratom Capsules

Kratom capsules have many benefits, but they have a few drawbacks too. They are easy to use, but they do have a delayed effect. Powdered kratom will usually take effect within 10 to 30 minutes, but capsules need a bit more time.

You have to take into account the capsule material, which should first dissolve.

Some users advise poking tiny holes in each capsule to speed up the dissolution process. This will allow your body to absorb the kratom much faster and you will feel the effects much sooner.

Others, however, argue that poking doesn’t actually do anything. It’s best to try and see for yourself and that will depend on each individual body and its specifics.

Have you ever made kratom capsules at home? Did you use a capsule filler? How did it go? Feel free to share your experience and tips with us. 

You may have found a few kratom vendors offering kratom plants for sale. Fresh kratom would be nice to have. The question is – how do you grow kratom plants? And most importantly…

Can you grow a kratom plant?

Yes, indeed, you can grow a kratom plant at home. You don’t need to be a professional kratom grower, but you do need to know a few things to do that successfully.

Let’s start with the basics.

Kratom Plant Information

Kratom, or Mitragyna speciosa, plant is actually a tree. It’s indigenous to Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, and other Southeast Asian countries. Therefore, kratom plants thrive in a tropical environment with exposure to plenty of sunlight and humidity.

Kratom trees are evergreen. Mature trees usually reach 82 ft or 25 m in height and their trunks can be up to 3 ft (nearly 1 m) wide. Kratom leaves are dark green and have a glossy surface.

Mature leaves can be anywhere from 5 to 8 in (14-20 cm) long. That’s approximately the size of an average male hand.

Is It Legal to Grow a Kratom Plant?

In the United States laws address the use of kratom rather than growing it. That’s because growing kratom for sustainable use in the U.S would be difficult or even impossible. Kratom is a tree and needs space to grow. However, weather circumstances are not the most beneficial.

Therefore, we’d advise you to use your state laws as a guideline. If kratom is legal in your state, there should be no problem with you growing one at home. If it isn’t, we’d advise you against doing that.

How to Grow a Kratom Plant at Home?

While kratom trees aren’t hard to take care of, they are hard to propagate. There are two approaches to doing that – by using seeds and cuttings. Let’s take a look at each in more detail.

Growing Kratom Plants from Seeds

Kratom trees flower and produce pod heads filled with seeds. Each pod head contains an average of 50 seeds. Seeds are how kratom trees propagate. The quality and freshness of the seeds are paramount as it can determine whether your plants will thrive or not sprout at all.

The sooner you start germinating them, the higher your chances of getting your own kratom tree.

Choosing Kratom Seeds

If you’d like to grow kratom trees from seeds, make sure that they are fresh. By “fresh” we mean “FRESH.” These kratom seeds need to be as fresh as possible, or they’ll simply not sprout. Ideally – a few days fresh. Correction – a few days FRESH.

Therefore, first, ensure that you’re purchasing kratom seeds from a trustworthy vendor. If you don’t, you risk paying for old seeds and wasting your time trying to grow them.

Vendors from the source, that is, kratom farmers in countries where kratom is indigenous too would be ideal. However, certain risks are involved when purchasing from them. So, if you doubt or can’t trust them, don’t risk buying from them.

Secondly, use expedited shipping to ensure that the seeds get to you as soon as possible and do not spend a long time in transit or warehouses.

Finally, get seeds in bulk. Even in optimal climate, many won’t survive. The larger the amount of seeds you have, the higher your chances of getting a few kratom plants that are strong enough to grow into trees. Optimally, every 5-10 seeds should yield a plant though that’s not a guarantee.

Germinating the Seeds

To germinate the seeds, you will need nitrogen-rich soil and keep it moist. Make sure it has good drainage as you don’t want to flood your plants. It can also cause fungus, which can kill the young kratom plants.

While the seeds are germinating, they do not need much light. In natural circumstances, the soil, inside which these seeds would be, would be in the shade of the adult trees.

When you start seeing your seeds sprout, keep them in warm regulated temperature. Avoid exposing them t the cold or draught as they can die from that. Covering the plants to create a greenhouse effect can be useful for this stage.

As your kratom plants grow and develop, they become sturdier and more resilient. So, you won’t need to watch them as closely.

Growing Kratom Plants from Cuttings

An alternative option is to grow kratom plants from cuttings. A cutting is a clipping of a live plant that can be used to propagate it. In the case of kratom, you’d break off a leaf or a twig and keep it in water, moist soil, or moss until it starts growing roots. Covering them, for instance, with a plastic bag can help retain heat and moisture and, thus, help the plants grow.

This method will be much faster than growing kratom from seeds. Once the clipping has developed roots, it’ll be able to start growing new leaves. Seedlings, on the other hand, can take a few years to reach acceptable maturity. That’s when they become much easier to take care of.

It is also when farmers can practice grafting and work on new varieties of Mitragyna speciosa.

Make sure to keep an eye on your cuttings though. Heat and moisture are good for budding kratom plants. However, it’s also an excellent environment for mold and fungus, which can easily kill your fragile plants.

Which Method Should You Choose?

Honestly, none. Unless you are willing to invest a decent amount of time and effort into figuring out how to properly grow kratom plants, growing a kratom tree from the start may not be worth it. You would either need quick access to freshly harvested kratom seeds of getting your hands on a kratom plant to get a few cuttings.

Nonetheless, that does not mean that you can’t have your own kratom tree. The highest chances of you getting a kratom plant that survives are to buy a fully rooted kratom tree from trusted vendors in the United States.

To produce them, vendors keep mother trees which they make cuttings from. Then, they take care of propagating them. Once the new plants are fully rooted and approximately 8-12 inches tall, they offer them for sale. Sometimes, you may even get detailed instructions along with your plant on how to provide the best circumstances for it to thrive.

Additional Tips on How to Grow a Kratom Plant

Once you have a kratom plant that’s fully rooted and healthy, it becomes relatively easy to take care of. However, you should always keep in mind that it’s a tropical plant and needs certain conditions to grow optimally.

Below are a few tips which can help you be a happy owner of a happy kratom plant or a few:

• Keep the soil moist. Once your plant has fully rooted, it won’t need much drainage. It’s generally hard to overwater it. Yet, try not to flood it either as too much water can cause it to rot.
• If you live in a location that has an arid climate, you may want to invest in a humidifier. That will be able to provide the humidity of a tropical rainforest that kratom loves.
• Provide plenty of light. Both natural and artificial light can work. If possible invest in High-Intensity Discharge lamps or bulbs. Farmers growing indoor crops typically use these. They dissipate light differently from regular bulbs and provide better conditions for kratom plants. Keep in mind that you should put them quite high up as they may be too intense for your plant.
• Kratom plants can grow rather tall, so make sure you have a proper space for it.
• Prune your tree regularly. “This will encourage it to grow in a bushy structure rather than tall. Thus, you’ll have an easier time keeping the tree indoors.
• Kratom plants need their nutrients. Therefore, make sure the soil is nitrogen-rich and fertilize it regularly.
• Keep bugs away from your tree. You shouldn’t use any pesticides or harsh chemicals. If you plan to use the leaves, you’ll end up consuming all that. A great natural alternative is neem oil. Bugs hate it, but it’s practically non-toxic to humans, mammals, and birds
• Provide ventilation. According to some kratom farmers, wind, even artificial from a fan, helps to produce stronger kratom plants.
• Your plant doesn’t need light all day long. Do your best to mimic the tropical environment that kratom loves. However, there are nights in Thailand, Indonesia, and other Southeast Asian counties. So, you should turn off the lamps at night and, if necessary, use another source of heat instead.

When Can You Harvest?

We know, we know, you’re eager to reap the results of your hard work.

It’s best to harvest kratom leaves when your tree is close to full maturity. That can take about five years. This will yield a higher concentration on alkaloids. However, you do not need to wait for your tree to flower. Your plant will be able to develop alkaloids regardless.

Since the potency of kratom alkaloids depends on external circumstances, harvesting in late fall may be best to yield stronger leaves. You can use both fresh and dried kratom leaves, though the effects you get may differ.

Are you ready to try growing your own kratom tree? Perhaps you’ve already tried? Or maybe you are a kratom farmer who knows tips and tricks on how to grow healthy and happy kratom plants? We’d love to hear from you in the comment section below.