Speciosa Guide, Author at Speciosa Guide

How to Take Kratom: What You Should and Shouldn’t Do

January 12, 2021 by Speciosa Guide 2 Comments

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 or information that you can trust.

We’re on a mission to make useful quality information on kratom 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 kratom, 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 two. It has both stimulating and soothing effects. So, you can expect mild pain relief, increased energy, and calm focus.
Yellow kratom is also rather moderate with effects that are close to those of green and red vein.

In addition to those, you may also come across extracts, resins, and blends like Trainwreck kratom. We generally do not recommend those to new users because their dosage can vary or be imprecise and effects may be unpredictable.

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, especially if you are looking for energizing effects.

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. This will prevent you from buying large amounts of kratom that you may not like.

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. 1 gram may be even better as you can always add more if you have not reached the desired effects. 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 to 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 the herb will depend on its composition and body fat percentage. So, if you’re an athlete or have a very low body fat percentage, we advise you to start with half of the suggested and gradually word out what your body responds to best.

Other factors such as whether you are taking your kratom on an empty or full stomach can also influence how your body responds to a dose. You will likely feel faster and more intense effects if you take kratom on an empty stomach. This, however, can be too much for a new user. Taking your dose with a little food can result in smoother effects.

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 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 (like the one below) for less than 20$.

0.01g Digital Pocket Scale

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. Magnesium supplements may help too.

Don’t rely on taking laxatives as they also can seriously dehydrate you if you don’t drink enough water. If you absolutely need a laxative effect, 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 or reduce your dose 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 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.

Rotate kratom 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 with a new strain you have never tried before, it’s best to do so on a day that you’re off or don’t have any important business to tend to.

If you don’t know how your body will respond to kratom or a specific vein or strain type, don’t take kratom before you drive.

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 or CDC 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 it 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 in the same way you would develop tolerance to coffee.

Kratom tolerance manifests in the need to take a larger dose of kratom to experience the same results you had 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 rotating strains are some ways in which you can do so.

3. Buy a Large Bulk without Trying a Sample First

Knowing 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, it’s best to avoid driving after taking kratom. 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 on a full stomach may also not be the best idea. Your body will take much longer to digest the food and your dose, resulting in slower and less pronounced effects. So, wait until 30 min or an hour have passed after a meal before you take kratom.

Alternatively, you can take kratom with a small snack, yogurt, or mix it into a smoothie.

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.

Trainwreck Kratom: A New Potent Strain or a Hoax?

January 8, 2021 by Speciosa Guide Leave a Comment

Something new is often considered as something better. So, consumers often flock toward new products. Just think about the latest models of iPhone, PlayStation, or other products. There is never a shortage of buyers, and these products tend to be sold out as soon as the products are out.

However, new isn’t always better. Quite a few highly-hyped releases had miserably flopped. For instance, in 1985, in hopes of beating the growing popularity of Pepsi, Coca-Cola released its “New Coke,” replacing its traditional formula in hopes of beating Pepsi. Consumers weren’t happy, and a few weeks the company went back to its old formula.

Similar flops happened when Amazon intended to release an Amazon phone, Apple tried to release a tablet in the early 90s, long before the public was ready for iPads, Cosmopolitan magazine launched a yogurt brand, and with other products.

As kratom gains growing popularity and demand, we’re seeing an increased supply and a wider array of strains being offered by vendors. One of the newest offerings in a number of vendors’ inventory is Trainwreck kratom which you may have come across.

So, what is Trainwreck kratom and should you be jumping on the bandwagon?

Is Trainwreck kratom a trend like the newest iPhone release or more like the “New Coke?”

Let’s dive in, review the details, and figure that out.

What Is Trainwreck Kratom?

While vendors are rather vague in describing what Trainwreck kratom is, most state that it’s a “full-spectrum blend” or a “full-spectrum strain.” Beyond that, very little additional information is provided.

Vague kratom product descriptions aren’t anything new. Due to the herb not being unregulated by the FDA vendors cannot openly speak about the effects of kratom on the human body or its abilities to help with health conditions. Otherwise, they can get in trouble with the FDA.

However, Trainwreck kratom descriptions are even vaguer than that.

Here are some descriptions that we have found reviewing various vendors that sell Trainwreck Kratom:

Full-spectrum blend or strain
A blend of 11 strains or “all our strains”
More powerful than original kratom strains
Not a kratom extract but a blend of finely ground Mitragyna speciosa leaves
Secret blend, with every kratom vendor having their own signature recipe
Trainwreck kratom has multiple colors such as red, green, yellow, blue, and violet
Trainwreck kratom facilitates a wide array of alkaloids
Good for beginners

We’ll take a closer look at these so that you can make an informed decision if you consider investing in Trainwreck kratom products.

But first…

Where Does the “Trainwreck” Moniker Come From?

“Trainwreck” isn’t a very positive word, especially considering the controversy around kratom. So, why is it used to refer to a supposedly more powerful, well-rounded, and overall better kratom product?

The name is borrowed from the cannabis industry, namely from Trainwreck marijuana.

Trainwreck marijuana is a hybrid strain with a very high THC level (around 18%-26%). Therefore, it is of higher potency than other strains and can lead to very intense mental “highs.”

The Trainwreck marijuana strain was developed in the state of California by crossing Thai and Mexican Cannabis sativa strains with Afghan Cannabis indica strains. The hybrid bled is approximately 65% sativa and approximately 35% indica. So, it’s a powerful relaxant, yet it’s not too drowsy.

According to user reports, this strain is not for a workday or any other day when you need to get things done. It’s for a day off or when you need to wind down. Its effects are euphoric, relaxing, and pain-relieving.

Clarifying Trainwreck Kratom Questions

1. Is Trainwreck Kratom a Strain or a Blend?

Trainwreck kratom isn’t a strain but rather a blend of different strains that each vendor of it mixes according to their own “recipe.” Some vendors state that they mix 11 different strains; others say they mix all their strains.

Kratom blends are not new in the kratom world. In fact, yellow kratom and gold variety are blends. They offer moderate effects akin to those of moderate greens and usually have long-lasting effects.

If we must find an equivalent of Trainwreck marijuana in the kratom world, then it would be Maeng Da kratom. Maeng Da has been grafted from a Thai and an Indo kratom variety to yield a more potent strain. Thus, it has retained the most potent qualities of its strains of origin, as well as is more resilient to weather and pests, potent, and long-lasting.

2. Is Trainwreck Kratom Full-Spectrum?

Vendors that offer Trainwreck kratom blends state that it’s full-spectrum in comparison with other kratom strains.

This is actually improper use of the term.

Similarly to the “Trainwreck” moniker, “full-spectrum” vs. “isolate” are terms that are borrowed from the cannabis industry. They are commonly used to refer to CDB; however, the term “full-spectrum” is used differently by Trainwreck kratom users.

Isolate CDB is simply a pure form of CBD where cannabidiol, or CDB for short, is extracted from cannabis. It is not the only beneficial compound in cannabis. CBD along with THC are two of the most abundant cannabinoids. Yet, cannabis plants have a minimum of 144 different cannabinoids as well as other chemical compounds such as terpenes and flavonoids.

Meanwhile, full-spectrum CBD includes CBD as well as the other beneficial compounds that are naturally present in the cannabis plant and are removed when producing isolate CDB. Full-spectrum is simply referring to the product being closer to the more natural form of the plant.

The way Trainwreck kratom sellers use the term “full-spectrum” implies that individual strains are not full-spectrum. This, however, is not accurate.

Kratom is a raw botanical product acquired by grinding kratom leaf matter. No chemical compounds are removed during the process, making each individual strain full-spectrum. Non-full-spectrum or isolate would be, for instance, pure mitragynine or 7-hydroxymitragynine extract.

Alkaloid composition differs between different strains; that’s true. However, referring to blends as full-spectrum is inaccurate as each pure strain is full-spectrum.

Blends are not full-spectrum. They are simply blends that present a different versatile combination of alkaloids. Blends only contain a combination of strains, not each and every strain of kratom that exists, and that combination would differ from one Trainwreck kratom blend from another. As a result, referring to these blends as full-spectrum is misleading and inaccurate.

3. Is Trainwreck Kratom More Potent than Individual Kratom Strains?

We would be very cautious with descriptions such as “more powerful than other strains.” If that is truly a blend of kratom strains, it should be just as potent as the other strains.

If Trainwreck kratom is more potent, then that would imply that it contains something other than kratom. It can be a sign of a kratom extract, but that’s not what the descriptions state. Moreover, some vendors actually write that their blends contain pure kratom powder only, not extracts.

Using a blend would be no different than mixing kratom strains yourself, and that alone would not make them more potent than the individual strains. The blend would simply have a different combination of alkaloids that you are exposed to at any given moment if you take individual strains.

4. Does the Blend Contain Different Colors?

This claim would be partially true. If a vendor mixes different stains, they may indeed combine different vein types. So, their blend would actually contain red, green, and white vein kratom and perhaps also yellow or gold kratom. Nonetheless, since each vendor has their own secret recipe, we cannot actually confirm that.

Yet, we did come across a vendor stating that their Trainwreck kratom powder is of different colors. That, however, is rather disturbing.

Kratom powder, regardless of the vein type, is green. That’s because the leaf matter is always green. It’s the veins and stems that have different colors, but they are removed before the grinding process. The shade of green may vary between different strains, but the powder is still green, regardless of the vein or strain type.

Therefore, you shouldn’t expect a rainbow-colored powder. That would imply that there is something other than kratom in it, modifying the color.

Another statement we found read that the brand’s Trainwreck kratom is full-spectrum because it “combines varieties of colors such as red, green, blue, yellow, and violet, thus facilitating a wide range of alkaloids.”

This, too, is a rather disturbing description. While Trainwreck blends would indeed offer a wide range of alkaloids and yellow kratom exists as a blend, there is no blue and purple kratom.

There used to be a brand that had a product called Blue Kratom extract, but that is an individual product, not an actual type of kratom. Meanwhile, purple may be a reference to resins as they have a dark color that can have a purplish hue. Nonetheless, there is no such thing as blue or purple strains.

If the brand is mixing kratom extracts in their Trainwreck blend, it must be explicitly clear about dosage. Extracts are rather tricky to dose and can easily lead to side effects or up your tolerance if not taken adequately.

5. Is this Blend Good for Beginners?

Since there is no standard formula for Trainwreck kratom, each vendor can decide on their own, and we suspect that some may be mixing in extracts to make their bend more potent, there is no solid answer to whether this blend would be suitable for beginners.

Whether Trainwreck kratom is good for beginners would depend on the composition of each vendor’s specific bend. Nevertheless, we generally do not recommend blends to beginners.

As a botanical product, kratom and even its different strains can interact differently with each user. It is usually a better approach to experiment with tried and tested pure strains first if you have no experience with the herb. This will allow you to know how you react to different strains as well as what the right dosage for you is.

What Do Users Say about the Trainwreck Blend?

Since this is a new product, finding reviews for it on product pages is not easy, at least at this time. However, there are some comments on Reddit. Here’s what we were able to gather:

“$20 an ounce is a train wreck in itself. I see that it was a blend but still waaaaaaaaayyyyyy to much money.” Another person agreed with this comment stating that it’s a third of what a split kilo would cost.
“…we’ve tried blends. It depends. It’s a toss-up whether it’ll be good or rather, that you’ll get desired effects from a blend.”
“Mixing a bunch of strains doesn’t mean it’s better. Stop paying the shop price they are just ripping you off. You can get much better kratom for a 5th the price.”
“It was alright. Nothing spectacular”
“Eh, couldn’t tell the difference between this and a plain Maeng Da tbh.”
“I’m pretty curious as to the whole “11 strain blend” thing. To me, this either means they’ve actually taken some of pretty much every strain, or it’s a jumble of leftovers. I guess I’ll find out…”
“I used to make crazy blends. 5+ strains, multiple vein color, etc. What I found was less than average burns most of the time. I now rarely mix more than two strains. Others chimed in with similar results when this was brought up.”
“Tried it, about 5 grams and it actually did hit harder than the same dose of what I normally take.”

From the comments we were able to find, only one person stated that the mix was more potent than the same amount of kratom they would normally take. While this could speak in favor of the Trainwreck kratom blend, this may also indicate the poor quality of kratom that this person usually takes. Low-quality kratom is not uncommon; so, this comment could go either way.

Other commenters pointed out that the blend is very expensive or not that effective. One person even expressed their doubts about whether the blend is actually a well-crafted blend or simply a mix of leftovers.

Do We Recommend Trainwreck Kratom?

We personally are dubious about Trainwreck kratom products. Brands use lots of powerful wording to sell their products, and a lot of it is misleading and inaccurate.

Moreover, without seeing the actual composition of a product such as the strains used along with their percentages, we cannot state more. Therefore, we would not recommend Trainwreck kratom to our readers.

However, if you do choose to buy Trainwreck kratom blends, make sure that you trust the company selling those.

Have you tried Trainwreck kratom? We would love to hear what your experience with it has been.

Can You Smoke Kratom and Weed Together

December 29, 2020 by Speciosa Guide Leave a Comment

Humanity has been relying on plant medicine long before modern medicine existed. Practices such as Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine are still popular to this day, and alternative healing methods such as Naturopathy and Homeopathy are gaining growing popularity.

While modern medicine saves lives and provides treatment for serious health conditions, a growing number of people are realizing that there is more to medicine and healing than just pills.

Thus, many turn to plants and plant medicine. After all, numerous medications are still being synthesized from plants.

Mitragyna speciosa or kratom and Cannabis, better known as marijuana or weed, are some of the plants that provide relief from pain, stress, anxiety, inflammation, improve mental processes, and much more.

Despite their controversial nature, more and more people are realizing the beneficial effects and minimal side effects of these beneficial herbs.

While both are beneficial plants, kratom and weed have plenty of differences that set them apart. Yet, it can be beneficial to combine kratom and marijuana. The latter can even serve as a kratom alternative in certain cases.

The most popular way of using weed is by smoking. So, if you would like to experience the beneficial effects of both, you may be wondering if you can smoke kratom and weed together.

Let’ explore the differences between the two herbs and see if that’s a good idea.

What’s Kratom and How Does It Work?

A tropical tree from the coffee family of plants, Mitragyna speciosa or kratom is native to Southeast Asia, namely Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Myanmar, and Papua New Guinea.

The kratom tree has large leaves that are rich in a variety of alkaloids. Mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine are the two primary alkaloids, with the latter being around 13 times more potent than morphine.

Kratom alkaloids act on the opioid receptors in the brain in a similar way to opioids. While there is much controversy around kratom due to that, kratom does not recruit opioid receptors in the exact same way as opioids do. As a result, kratom provides potent analgesic effects, yet is no more addictive than coffee.

Due to its effect on opioid receptors yet very low abuse and addiction potential, kratom can help overcome opioid addiction. For a long time, user reports were the only proof of a successful outcome. However, currently, studies on kratom alkaloids are being carried out in the University of Florida College of Pharmacy and the team working on the study has come up with promising results.

Alkaloid concentration varies in kratom leaves due to various factors. Therefore, there are three natural types of kratom and each of them provides unique effects.

Red vein kratom is soothing, relaxing, and pain-relieving whereas white vein kratom boosts energy and mood and improves focus. Green vein kratom has a bit of both and offers moderate pain relief and relaxation as well as increased energy and focus.

What’s Weed and How Does It Work?

Marijuana or weed is actually a group of three plant species: Cannabis sativa, Cannabis ruderalis, and Cannabis indica. Cannabis plants are native to Central Asia and were later introduced to Europe, Africa, and other parts of the world.

In ancient times, natives may have used cannabis for its psychoactive properties in ceremonies. However, the most popular use was medicinal. In addition to that, hemp which is another strain of Cannabis sativa with no psychoactive properties was grown as a durable form of material, used to develop clothes, shoes, ropes, and more.

Cannabis contains beneficial compounds called cannabinoids. There are over 120 different cannabinoids in cannabis plants. As it is with kratom, experts are unsure about the exact properties of each. However, most properties are attributed to the two most-well-known and common components: CBD and THC.

CBD and THC have the same chemical formula, yet their atoms are arranged in a different way, granting each cannabinoid different properties and effects on the body. Both compounds interact with the body in different ways.

THC is psychoactive and intoxicating, making you “high.” It binds to cannabinoid receptors in the brain, primarily CB1 and CB1. CBD is psychoactive and non-intoxicating. It doesn’t bind with CB1 or CB2, yet the exact way of how it interacts with the body is not yet known.

THC is addictive while CBD is not, yet various studies point out that THC may have more effective therapeutic properties.

Similarly to kratom, weed can reduce pain. However, it is more effective for inflammatory, nerve and similar forms of pain whereas kratom is great for chronic pain.

Can you Smoke Kratom and Weed Together?

It is not a good idea to smoke kratom and weed together. While you will get the beneficial effects from weed, kratom will simply burn not providing the results you expect.

Let’s take a look at why that’s so.

Cannabinoid acids that raw cannabis plants contain have an extra molecule – THC is actually THCA and CBD is CBDA. These extra molecules render their beneficial properties inert. To release that extra molecule, cannabis leaves need to undergo a heating process called decarboxylation.

Decarboxylation converts THCA into THC and CBDA into CBD. Without it weed is ineffective.

If you smoke weed, this heating process occurs in real time. If you choose edibles or other products that contain THC or CBD need to undergo a heating process during their manufacture to become effective.

While kratom tea is the most common way to take it, it is not necessary to get the beneficial effects of kratom. You can consume kratom as is. In fact, locals in Southeast Asia used to simply chew the leaves. Heating simply potentiates the effects of kratom.

Yet, kratom does not require as high of a temperature as weed does to be potentiated. You simply need to simmer the tea. Smoking or vaping kratom would expose it to four or more times higher temperatures which would burn kratom and its alkaloids without providing beneficial effects.

If You Can’t Smoke Kratom and Weed Together, How Can You Combine the Two

While you shouldn’t smoke kratom and marijuana, that doesn’t mean you can’t combine them. There are various ways of consuming both.

You can make kratom tea, toss and ash, mix kratom with juice, yogurt, or smoothies, or even take capsules if those work for you.

Smoking isn’t the only way to consume weed. You can also get edibles or bake goods with weed.

So, instead of going for a smoke of kratom and weed, you can:

Smoke weed and drink kratom tea or smoothie
Have kratom tea with a weed muffin or brownie
Mix kratom with yogurt or milkshake and take some cannabis edibles
Toss and wash kratom and smoke weed

As you can see, you have plenty of options. Just make sure that you don’t smoke kratom and weed together.

Have you tried combining kratom and weed? Which is your favorite method?

7 Outstanding Benefits of Kratom for Seniors

December 22, 2020 by Speciosa Guide Leave a Comment

The majority of kratom users are young or middle-aged. While there are many ways in which they can benefit from this beneficial herb, there are also numerous benefits of kratom for seniors. The herb can provide support for a variety of health issues as well as significantly improve their quality of life.

What Is Kratom?

Native to Southeast Asia, kratom or Mitragyna speciosa is a tree that has leaves with beneficial properties. That is due to a high concentration of alkaloids in them.

The herb has a minimum of 25 alkaloids and 40 total chemical compounds, all of which have unique beneficial properties. However, the most prominent of those are two alkaloids – mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine.

Mitragynine is an alkaloid with stimulating, pain-relieving, anti-tussive, and other effects. It’s also the most abundant alkaloid in kratom, making up about 60% of the total alkaloid content.

Meanwhile 7-hydroxymitragynine is found in much lower quantities, yet it’s exponentially more potent than mitragynine. The most prominent effects of this alkaloid are potent pain relief and opiate withdrawal relief.

In fact, kratom interacts with the same receptors in the brain as opioids do, yet it engages those receptors in an entirely different way, resulting in very few and minor side effects if kratom isn’t taken properly.

7-hydroxymitragynine is about 13 times more potent than morphine but doesn’t cause addiction or respiratory depression as opioids do.

Due to these properties, kratom for seniors can be a natural alternative to opioids with fewer risks and side effects.

Let’s take a look at how you can use kratom for the elderly wellbeing.

Kratom Benefits for Seniors

1. Potent and Efficient Pain Relief

As seniors tend to experience pain due to various ailments, health issues and conditions, pain relief becomes important. Kratom can provide effective and potent pain relief that seniors would normally need to purchase a wide range of medications for.

The pain-relieving potency of the herb changes based on the type of kratom you select. Red vein kratom for seniors can be the most suitable if they require strong pain relief. This vein type is also relaxing and can be sedative, thus being more suitable for the evening and nighttime.

Therefore, green vein strains can be a better option during the daytime. While their pain relief is more moderate and less intense than that of red vein strains, it’s more energizing in nature.

2. Increased Energy

Another popular use of kratom is additional energy. Mitragyna speciosa is in the same plant family as coffee. As a result, it provides similar effects – increased mental and physical energy – and can serve as a substitute for coffee.

While white vein strains are the most potent in this regard, whites tend to be a bit too much for novel users. Therefore, green vein kratom for seniors could be more suitable. It provides additional energy. However, if taken in proper doses doesn’t make one anxious or jittery just like coffee does.

3. Stress and Anxiety Relief

Kratom has relaxing properties which can help seniors to relieve stress and anxiety. Moreover, kratom can do so in addition to pain relief and other benefits without requiring seniors to purchase additional medication.

As with pain relief, red vein kratom is strongest in terms of stress and anxiety relief. However, green vein strains are potent in that regard too. They are more energizing, yet they also provide relaxation at the same time. So, unlike coffee, you will feel energized, yet calm at the same time.

4. Improved Focus and Cognition

Green vein kratom for seniors can be beneficial to improve their focus and concentration. Since this variety makes you energized as well as calm, you can expect a very calm focus and fewer distracting thoughts.

5. Better Sleep

Kratom can be beneficial for seniors to improve their sleep in various ways. Since seniors tend to sleep fewer hours and sleep more lightly, Mitragyna speciosa can help them get better rest.

Red vein strains are best for the evening and nighttime. They have relaxing and sedative qualities and can last up to eight hours. Thus, kratom can help seniors to fall and stay asleep.

That doesn’t mean that you are missing out on sleep benefits if you take green vein kratom. If you take it regularly and at relatively the same time, it can help you regulate your sleep cycles, stay active and energetic throughout the day, and be tired and ready to go to bed in the evening.

6. Relief of Depression Symptoms

It’s not uncommon for seniors to experience depression, and kratom can also help with that. Its mood-boosting and energizing properties can provide the positivity and energy needed to get up from the bed and get through the day.

7. Improvement of Overall Wellbeing

People who opt for kratom generally tend to develop healthier eating and lifestyle habits. Lowered stress levels can help manage a variety of health conditions such as heart disease and diabetes.

The herb can also suppress the appetite which can lead to less snacking in between meals. This can make kratom helpful for seniors who struggle with their weight in addition to other health issues.

Final Words

While kratom is legal in most of the United States, the world of kratom is primarily unregulated. The FDA does not regulate kratom and only four states in the United States (Nevada, Utah, Arizona, and Georgia) regulate it with the Kratom Consumer Protection Act at this time. The lack of regulations leaves plenty of room for bad players.

Therefore, when buying kratom for seniors, you must be extremely cautious and only opt for vendors that are trustworthy and properly test their products in third-party laboratories.

Are there seniors in your life for whom kratom could be beneficial. How do you think it could help them the most?

The Different Types of Kratom and Their Effects

December 15, 2020 by Speciosa Guide Leave a Comment

You may have been wondering what the different types of kratom are. Especially if you are new to kratom. There is a wide variety of strains available on the market, and things can get confusing. So, let’s break that down.

Most frequently, kratom is classified by color. There are three main types of kratom: red-vein, green-vein, and white-vein.

But kratom comes from the leaves of the same tree, you may think. Aren’t they all green? Yes, indeed, however, the colors refer to the stem and veins that run through these leaves.

If you look at the kratom leaves, you’ll notice that their stems and veins are a slightly different color. It means a different chemical composition, and, as a result, different properties.

What Causes the Different Kratom Vein Colors?

While some believe that there is such a thing as a red-vein, green-vein, or a white-vein tree, that’s not actually true. All three vein colors can grow on the same tree in a very similar way to bell peppers. Green, yellow, and red bell peppers can all be on the same plant and are simply at different stages of ripeness.

The different vein colors are the result of how kratom leaves grow and develop. Different strains thrive in different conditions and develop different alkaloids. Their properties will depend on factors such as soil content, the location of the leaves on a kratom tree, sunlight exposure, as well as the rain and dry period ratio, and the maturity of leaves.

These qualities are further amplified by kratom processing methods. Or, more specifically, by the conditions in which it’s dried. Farmers usually keep the exact process secret. But, we’ll give you a little sneak peek into what happens on the inside.

During the grinding process, farmers remove the stems and veins. So, the powder that you buy is purely the leaf matter. Yet, there are a few kinds of coarser kratom that does contain the stems and veins. It’s a matter of preference, but some users like the latter more.

Red-Vein Kratom and Its Effects

Red-vein kratom is generally the most popular by users and the most widely sold. It’s mainly due to the fact that it generally yields larger harvests. It also tends to be the kind that receives the most sunlight.

Its leaves have red strains and veins, and leaves have higher 7-hydroxymitragynine and lower mitragynine content than other varieties. Farmers dry it outdoors in direct sunlight or indoors under UV light lamps and also longer than the green and white varieties.

Red-vein strains are most widely known for their powerful sedative effect. They have the potential to relieve pain, stress, and anxiety. Red vein strains can also help one to fall asleep, which can be useful for people who suffer from insomnia and other disorders that may negatively affect sleep.

Nonetheless, varieties such as Red Sumatra can provide uplifting, mood-enhancing effects. Especially if used in smaller doses. So, make sure to look into individual strains, especially if you have never used them before.

These are some of the most popular red strains:

Red Bali
Red Maeng Da
Red Thai
Red Horn
Red Borneo
Red Kapuas

White-Vein Kratom and Its Effects

White vein kratom earns its name due to the white, or more so pale green, color of veins and stems. Its leaves receive less light than the red vein or green vein variety. As a result, it has the highest mitragynine and the lowest 7-hydroxymitragynine content out of all types of kratom.

Farmers primarily dry this variety indoors with no exposure to light.

White strains are best known for their stimulant and mood-enhancing properties. It can help you boost focus and concentration. Those who suffer from depression or stress can benefit from white vein kratom as well because it can energize and lift one’s mood. However, they need to be taken carefully and with moderation.

Quite a few users don’t recommend starting off with white strains if you are completely new to kratom. Instead, they suggest starting off with red or green strains and easing into the white ones.

Here are a few of the most popular varieties of white-vein strains:

White Maeng Da
White Horn
White Borneo
White Bali
White Kali
White Kapuas

Green-Vein Kratom and Its Effects

Green vein kratom comes from leaves that have green veins and stems. These are also the leaves that get moderate exposure to sunlight. Farmers dry the leaves indoors with little light and afterward also outdoors. Usually, only for a very short time.

Green vein strains provide a balance between the red and white vein varieties. If red strains primarily have sedative effects and white strains – a stimulating effect, then green strains have both. Yet, they are not as intense in potency, but rather somewhere in between. Both their mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine levels are moderate and in between those of red and green vein strains.

These are some of the most popular strains for this variety:

Green Maeng Da
Green Horn
Green Malay
Green Borneo
Green Kali
Green Bali
Green Kapuas

How About Yellow-Vein Kratom?

Well done, you’ve noticed that something is missing! Indeed.

Although red, white, and green strains are the most common types, there’s also the fourth type of kratom – yellow kratom. And it’s been rapidly gaining popularity.

It’s not yellow vein kratom because no such thing as live kratom leaves with yellow stems and veins exixts. Instead, this variety is known as yellow kratom.

This usually refers to blends, fermented, or differently dried varieties. This can be a green and white mix that’s fermented or a red and green mix that’s fermented. Yellow kratom can also be a red-veined variety that’s been dried longer or fermented. It can also be the green and white strains that have been dried outside rather than inside. But yet again, farmers keep the exact process to themselves.

As per its effects, yellow strains produce effects that are close to, yet slightly more potent than green strains. It also tends to last longer.

Here’s our pick for yellow strains:

Yellow Bali
Yellow Vietnam

Which Types of Kratom are Best for You?

The types of kratom that suit you best would depend solely on you, your needs, and situation. If you’re looking for a strong sedative or pain-relieving effect, then red strains may work better for you. If, on the contrary, you want to feel more energized, then white or green strains may be your type.

But, if you aren’t quite sure or are looking for a bit of both, you can start with green or yellow strains.

We’ve put together a quick quiz to help you find out which kratom would be the most suitable for you. Check it out here.

What are your favorite types of kratom, and why? Is there a type that you haven’t et tried but would like to? Feel free to leave your answer in the comments section below.