Kratom News - Get the Latest Updates and Alerts on Kratom

Kratom Study: Insights from John Hopkins Kratom Study

July 28, 2020 by Speciosa Guide Leave a Comment

Kratom studies are scarce. As a result, finding reliable and unbiased information on the herb is relatively hard. Many sources refer to kratom as a dangerous drug, and there have even been efforts to ban it on the federal level.

While kratom is legal in most states in the US, many locations are still debating its legality and reviewing options for either banning or regulating it.

Since kratom still remains unregulated in most areas, the risk of it being contaminated or adulterated remains rather hard. This has led to unfortunate instances such as the CDC attributing nearly 100 deaths to kratom, when, in actuality, most cases had other substances present and others had inconclusive results or prior health issues.

Luckily, more studies are being done, which will hopefully shed more light on kratom, its alkaloids, and its effects. One such study was led by John Hopkins University School of Medicine.

But, first off…

What Is Kratom?

Kratom, also named Mitragyna speciosa, is a tree indigenous to the jungles of Southeast Asia. The leaves of this tropical tree are rich in alkaloids and other highly beneficial compounds such as flavonoids and polyphenols.

Mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine are the most abundant of the kratom alkaloids and attribute most of its properties.

Kratom has a variety of effects that depend on the vein type and strain, as well as the dosage that you take. In small doses, kratom has energizing and cognition-enhancing effects. However, in higher doses, it becomes a potent analgesic with sedating and relaxing effects.

Mitragyna speciose alkaloids affect the same regions in the brain as opioids. Therefore, many mistakenly refer to kratom as an opioid. While 7-mitragynine is around 13 times more potent than the pain-relieving drug morphine, kratom 8-Factor analysis has proven that Mitragyna speciosa does not have the same dangerous abusee potential.

The Basics of the John Hopkins Kratom Study

John Hopkins University School of Medicine conducted this study using a survey. It examined the responses of over 2,700 respondents who take kratom. 61% of them were female, and the median age was 40. 84% of all respondents had some form of a college education.

Their purpose was to determine the effectiveness of kratom as well as whether its use has less harm than opioid use.

While the results of this kratom study were purely anecdotal, considering the fact the lack of scientific research on the herb, it is still a highly beneficial scientific insight into Mitragyna speciosa.

The Results of the John Hopkins Kratom Study

The kratom study performed by John Hopkins University found out the following:

91% of respondents found kratom effective for pain relief,
67% of all respondents found the herb to be effective for anxiety,
65% found it effective for depression,
41% of respondents were taking kratom for opioid withdrawal,
87% of those taking kratom for opioid dependence found it effective,
35% of respondents who took kratom for opioid addiction reported being off prescription opioids or heroin for over a year.

In addition to the beneficial effects of Mitragyna speciosa, the study also looked at its side effects. The respondents had to complete a Substance Use Disorder checklist as part of the survey. The results found the following:

Fewer than 3% of all respondents had moderate to severe kratom use disorder,
Fewer than 10% met the criteria for mild kratom use disorder,
5% of respondents experienced kratom withdrawal,
Only 1.9% of responded experienced severe side effects such as irritability, anxiety, insomnia, or depression.
19% experienced mild kratom side effects.

In the meantime, approximately 80% of those taking opioid medication experience at least one side effects. These include dry mouth, constipation, sweating, weight gain, sleep problems, drowsiness, memory issues, appetite loss, sexual dysfunction, nausea, fatigue, dry skin, and dizziness.

Conclusions and Comments from Organizers

Albert Garcia-Romeu, PhD., who instructs psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the John Hopkins University School of Medicine and who lead the team performing this kratom study, commented that the findings of this study do not warrant kratom being categorized as a Schedule I drug. According to him, kratom doesn’t belong in the category.

Moreover, he added that kratom has very low abuse potential and should be explored for medical application as a means of managing pain as well as opioid use disorders.

He also noted that there is a lot of fearmongering due to the opioid-like effects of kratom and the growing concerns and issues caused by the opioid epidemic.

Garcia-Romeu also compared the statistics for opioid deaths and deaths attributed to kratom. He pointed out that in 2017 alone, there were over 47,000 opioid overdose deaths in the united states while, in a relatively similar time period, the CDC attributed nearly 100 deaths to kratom, out of which most had the presence of other substances while others had preexisting health conditions.

Regarding the side effects that kratom use can result in, Garcia-Romeu pointed out that most of that is due to the lack of regulations and standards in the kratom industry. These can result in kratom contamination with dangerous substances or inadequate kratom dosage.

Other Studies on Kratom

In addition to this kratom study, a longer and more thorough study on Mitragyna speciosa is currently in progress at the University of Florida College of Pharmacy. NIDA has granted Christopher McCurdy, the pioneer in kratom studies, and his team nearly $7 million to study the herb.

John Hopkins Kratom Study Takeaways

This kratom study concluded that kratom use is not only significantly less harmful than opioid use but also effective. However, it is crucial to be responsible for kratom and purchase it only from reputable vendors to avoid any contamination. In addition to that, one should be mindful of their kratom dosage and not increase it over time, which can result in tolerance, side effects, and possibly withdrawal.

Are you taking Mitragyna speciosa? Would you agree with the results of this kratom study? How has your experience with the herb been?

Kratom for Cancer Pain Management and More

March 10, 2020 by Speciosa Guide Leave a Comment

Cancer is a disease that affects countless people across the world. Cancer patients frequently suffer from severe chronic pain, and many seek alternative cancer pain management ways.

What Is Cancer?

Cancer is a class of diseases that occurs when cellular changes result in the division and growth of cells that become uncontrollable.

In a healthy body, all cells have a lifespan. Old cells die, giving way to new cells that function much more efficiently. Cancer cells lack this mechanism that tells them to die. Therefore, they keep dividing and do not die. Instead, they accumulate in the body forming tumors and use up the nutrients and oxygen that would otherwise be used by healthy cells.

There are many causes for cancer to develop. These include exposure to radiation as well as chemical and biological carcinogens.

The main risk factors are smoking, heavy consumption of alcohol, excessive body weight, poor nutrition, lack of exercise, and more. Cancer is also more common as people age, and those with a family history of cancer may have a higher predisposition to the disease.

There are also many types of cancer. The most common types are lung cancer, breast cancer, colorectal cancer, prostate cancer, and skin cancer. Lung, colorectal, stomach, liver, and breast cancer claim the largest number of lives.

Cancer is the second largest cause of death in the US. There are nearly 2 million new cancer patients each year in the country, with over 4 thousand patients being diagnosed each day.

Common Cancer Treatment Methods

There are various cancer treatment methods. They focus on treating cancer to enable a person to live a normal life span. However, sometimes, it’s not possible. In such cases, treatment focuses on shrinking tumors or preventing them from further growing. The most common cancer treatments are:

Surgery
Radiation therapy
Chemotherapy
Immunotherapy
Stem cell transplant
Hormonal therapy,
And more.

While in some instances, one treatment method is enough, in many cases, more than one treatment method is needed.

Additionally, modern cancer treatment methods face many challenges, such as difficulty isolating cancer cells. Treatments, such as chemotherapy, can also affect healthy cells.

Therefore, cancer treatments come with many side effects. These include:

Anemia,
Gastrointestinal problems,
Hair loss,
Fertility issues,
Memory problems,
Problems concentrating,
Nausea and vomiting,
Sleep problems,
Depression,
Anxiety,
Pain,
And many more.

Cancer pain is widespread among cancer patients. It is due to cell damage, which can be a result of either the progression of cancer and it causing pressure on bones, nerves, and other organs, or cancer treatment. The most common treatment for that is pain medication, such as opioids.

What Is Kratom?

A tropical Southeast Asian tree, kratom has been used for medicinal purposes for generations. Kratom leaves are rich in alkaloids. Two of them, mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine, are responsible for most of the kratom effects.

Can You Use Kratom for Cancer-Related Pain

Kratom has many beneficial properties. Depending on the vein and strain type of kratom, it can soothe severe pain, relieve depression, anxiety, and stress, improve the mood, improve focus and concentration, and much more.

Therefore, kratom can be a beneficial alternative to traditional cancer pain management methods. Moreover, it can alleviate other symptoms such as depression, anxiety, and sleep issues.

Best Strains of Kratom for Cancer Pain Management

1. Red Bali Kratom

Red Bali Kratom is the most popular, widely available, as well as affordable kratom strain. It is also one of the most long-lasting strains.

Red Bali Kratom has potent pain-relieving properties that can soothe cancer pain. It is also very relaxing and produces strong euphoria. Therefore, it can also boost the mood, aid with sleep problems, and relieve anxiety.

2. Red Vein Thai

Due to high 7-hydroxymitragynine content, Red Thai Kratom is another potent pain-relieving strain. It also has sedating properties that can help relieve sleep-related issues.

3. Red Vein Borneo

This red vein kratom strain has strong mood-boosting properties in addition to offering relief for cancer pain management. Therefore, it can also help those experiencing anxiety and depression.

4. Red Vein Maeng Da

Rd vein Maeng Da Kratom is a potent pain-relieving kratom strain that can be effective for chronic pain resulting from conditions like arthritis and cancer. It also has potent sedating properties and can relieve pain at night.

5. Red Horn Kratom

Red Horn Kratom is a rare strain. The leaves of this kratom variety have horns, and kratom farmers believe that they have higher alkaloid content due to them. Keep in mind that many vendors may mix in unhorned leaves with the horned ones to make more sales using the popular name. So, you should only buy Horn Kratom from reputable vendors to avoid overpaying.

6. Red Vein Sumatra

While most red vein kratom strains have sedating effects, Red Sumatra Kratom is energizing. As a result, it can boost the mood and provide additional energy for days when one may not feel as energized.

Precautions When Taking Kratom for Cancer Pain Management

Keep in mind, though, interactions with other medications, such as cancer treatment drugs, may be possible. None are currently known due to limited studies currently available on kratom. Nonetheless, you should consult your doctor before you start taking kratom for cancer pain management.

The immune system of cancer patients is already compromised. Therefore, if you take kratom for cancer pain management, make sure only to purchase it from a reputable and trustworthy vendor.

Kratom is not regulated in the USA by the FDA. So, kratom powder can become contaminated with substances such as salmonella. Without proper testing, this can lead to contaminated kratom reaching cancer patients.

Moreover, some manufacturers or vendors may add other substances to kratom to enhance its effects. These can be potentially dangerous, too.

Because of that, always make sure that you only buy pure kratom from vendors who lab-test kratom and are based in the states that have passed the Kratom Consumer Protection Act. If your state has not done it, consider online vendors from US states that have the KCPA in place, for example, the Nevada-based Kraoma.

Are you using kratom for cancer pain management? Which strains do you find the most helpful?

Can Kratom Cause Liver Damage?

November 12, 2019 by Speciosa Guide Leave a Comment

Some of the most recent kratom news headlines claim that kratom causes liver damage. However, is that a reason for concern or merely a negatively biased piece of news as 92% of news on kratom.

Let’s take a closer look at the data behind these headlines and examine how accurate they are.

Kratom Liver Damage News Data

WebMD published an article referencing a study that looked at 404 liver damage cases accredited to dietary supplements. The study was led by Dr. Navarro, the head of gastroenterology at Albert Einstein Network in Philadelphia.

The team he led attributed eight liver damage cases that occurred between 2004 and 2018 to kratom. Another professor who reviewed the study referred to this data as “concerning.”

While liver damage is a severe health concern, the article also referenced the FDA’s warnings about kratom and nearly 100 CDC kratom deaths. Both of them have been instances of exaggerated claims.

Dr. Jack Henningfield issued a review of a report on the dangers of kratom pointing out the lack of credible data to back the claims. And out of the nearly 100 CDC kratom deaths, most cases had other substances in the blood in addition to kratom. Nonetheless, regardless of what they were, kratom was referenced as the main issue.

Taking a closer look at this study revealed that all of these eight people were also using alcohol.

According to the American Kratom Association, there are at least 5 million kratom users in the United States. 8 people out of 5 million are 0.00016%, which is an extremely rare incidence. In the meantime, alcohol is the fourth leading cause of death among Americans and the second most common cause of liver cirrhosis.

Kratom and Alcohol

Alcohol is a depressant, and kratom can be both a depressant and stimulant, depending on its type and dosage. While some kratom lovers find small doses of kratom and alcohol enjoyable, it is generally not advisable to take kratom with depressants or substances that are broken down by the liver. These include alcohol. Avoid taking it together with kratom even if you’re willing to quit alcohol.

So, combining kratom and alcohol, especially in large doses, is not advisable. But that does not mean that kratom in itself is harmful and that it can cause liver damage if taken exclusively.

Kratom is not the only substance that you should not take with alcohol. There are various medications that one should not take with alcohol either. These include antibiotics, anti-depressants, anti-anxiety medications, antihistamines, opioid medications, and even over-the-counter pain relievers such as Aspirin and Ibuprofen.

That is not to say that all these medications are necessarily harmful. Not in the least. Mindful usage of them can help people feel better. However, taken in combination with alcohol, they can cause adverse side effects.

And, most importantly, alcohol itself is not a healthy substance.

Other Kratom Liver Damage Studies

We dug a little deeper and found another study that claimed that kratom was associated with rare instances of acute liver injury.

This study admittedly couldn’t determine what exactly caused the liver damage to occur. Yet, it added that kratom is often used in combination with other substances, including drugs of abuse. Therefore, the study concluded that it is not always possible to determine the actual cause of liver damage.

Kratom Intake Advice

Kratom is a raw botanical that originates from Southeast Asia where hygiene standards are low. So, it is not impossible for you to get unpure kratom.

Therefore, we strongly advise any kratom user to be cautious when selecting a vendor. Make sure you choose a trusted US-based vendor who lab-tests their kratom. While importing directly from the source may be cheaper, the potential health risks are not worth the minimal savings that you could make. That is if you are lucky enough to land a vendor who doesn’t want to scam you.

Moreover, keep in mind that any unwise decisions and behavior that you may take can endanger you. It can also put the legal status of kratom and its reputation at risk.

We strongly advise against combining kratom with alcohol or illegal drugs. If you take any prescription drugs, there may be kratom drug interactions. Therefore, it is wise to consult a physician who is not against alternative treatment methods before you add kratom to the mix.

If you would like to transition from opioid prescription medication to kratom for pain relief, optimally, we’d advise you to allow your body to detox from opioids first. This way, you’ll be able to accurately evaluate the effects of kratom and the dose that your body needs.

What are your thoughts on kratom liver damage news? Is it accurate information or not, in your opinion?

Kratom Drug Interactions: What to Avoid?

November 5, 2019 by Speciosa Guide 2 Comments

While kratom is safe if taken in its pure natural form and adequate doses, like any substance, natural or not, it can negatively interact with others.

Most governmental institutions and medical sites claim that kratom intake is dangerous. However, their reports tend to be misleading. Almost all of the so-called kratom deaths are not actually due to kratom but other substances taken alongside it. The rest usually lack valid data.

Sadly, due to the lack of regulations, studies, and trusted, unbiased information on kratom, individuals taking it need to be particularly cautious and informed. Therefore, it is essential to know what drugs and substances can potentially interact with kratom to avoid potential adverse side effects and consequences.

Common Kratom Drug Interactions

Kratom and Prescription Opioids

Kratom and prescription opioids target the same areas in the brain. As a result, the effects of both are similar.

While many label kratom as an opioid because of that, it isn’t actually the case. Despite similar effects, kratom is a plant that belongs to be coffee family. It also does not engage opioid receptors in the brain in the same way that opioids do. Therefore, kratom provides strong pain relief, yet does not cause life-threatening respiratory depression and is about as addictive as coffee.

Because of this, many use kratom to overcome opioid addiction, which is currently plaguing America.

Unfortunately, many take kratom in addition to opioid medication to enhance the pain-relieving effects or avoid opioid withdrawal symptoms. This can be potentially dangerous, especially if one has developed a high tolerance to opioids and is taking low-quality, contaminated, or adulterated kratom.

While taken independently from other substances, kratom causes low respiratory depression that is not nearly enough to be fatal. However, taken with opioids, especially in large uncontrolled dosages, it can add on to the respiratory depression caused by opioids, and that can be dangerous, even if kratom itself wouldn’t be causing it.

To prevent this from happening, we advise not taking prescription or other opioids together with kratom. If you are willing to quit opioids and use kratom to manage your pain, it’s best if you give your body some time to clean itself first and only then start using kratom. Make sure that you only take pure, lab-tested, high-quality kratom from trusted vendors.

Kratom and Stimulants

Generally, we advise not taking kratom together with stimulants such as amphetamines or cocaine as well as herbal stimulants like guarana.

In small doses, kratom can have stimulant effects. Green strains are moderately stimulating, while whites have strong stimulant effects.

Taken with other stimulants, kratom can result in negative side effects such as agitation, anxiety, sweating, and heart palpitations.

When it comes to coffee, it can act as a kratom potentiator. Yet, those new to kratom shouldn’t mix it with caffeine. It’s best to get used to kratom first before experimenting. Moreover, if you take kratom and coffee, you should lower both your dose of kratom and coffee.

More about kratom and caffeine here.

Kratom and Depressants

Common depressants are anti-anxiety drugs, alcohol, and tranquilizers, such as central nervous system depressants. It’s best to avoid such combination as depressant drugs can have a similar effect to those of opioids.

Combining depressants and kratom can result in severe sedative effects and can potentially be dangerous if these doses are excessive, and one takes low-quality kratom.

Combining kratom with alcohol can also result in nausea, vomiting, headaches, and hangover. Therefore, it is not wise mixing them even if you’re trying to quit alcohol.

Kratom and SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors)

SSRIs are a type of mediation used to alleviate depression symptoms. They are most commonly known as anti-depressants.

Kratom interacts with the mu-receptors in the human brain, whereas anti-depressants interact with serotonin receptors. Serotonin receptors and mu-receptors can work together in certain processes; therefore, there may be potential negative consequences when taking both.

While currently, no studies are elaborating on the effects of kratom and anti-depressants taken together and these are only speculations, it’s best to approach this with caution.

Kratom and Medication Changed by the Liver

Our liver breaks down and changes the chemical composition of some medications. Kratom can potentially interfere with the process and slow down the rate at which our liver does that. This can alter the intensity of the effects or side effects of these medications.

This category includes a variety of Cytochrome p450 substrates such as Codeine, amitriptyline (Elavil), desipramine (Norpramin), flecainide (Tambocor), metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol XL), ondansetron (Zofran), risperidone (Risperdal), tramadol (Ultram), indinavir (Crixivan), sildenafil (Viagra),and other.

Since there are many medications in this category, it’s best to consult a physician before taking any prescription medication with kratom.

Kratom and Modafinil (Provigil)

There has been a reported case of a person experiencing seizures and going into a coma after taking kratom and modafinil (Provigil), a drug used to manage sleepiness due to narcolepsy.

It is currently unclear what is causing this to occur; however, other people also have experienced seizures after combining the two, especially after high doses of kratom. Therefore, it is generally advisable to avoid taking kratom and modafinil (Provigil) together.

Final Thoughts

On many occasions, kratom gets the blame when any negative effects occur after mixing it with other substances or drugs. However, that is not to say that kratom would cause any of those by itself.

Therefore, we urge you to make sure that you buy your kratom from a trustworthy and reputable kratom vendor who tests their products in an independent third-party laboratory. This way, you have the highest chance of getting a quality product that’s free of pollutants, adulterants, and other risky substances that may cause negative consequences.

Keep in mind that buying questionable kratom and mixing it with potentially dangerous substances does not only put your health and life at risk, but negatively affects the reputation of the herb.

Are there kratom drug interactions that have we not mentioned, but you believe that the kratom community should know? Let us and our readers know! This can not only help people avoid negative consequences and side effects but also help us keep kratom legal!

Kava vs. Kratom: What’s the Difference?

October 22, 2019 by Speciosa Guide 2 Comments

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

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

What Is Kratom?

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

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

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

What Is Kava?

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

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

Kava vs. Kratom: The Similarities

Relaxing, Euphoric, and Stimulating Effects

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

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

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

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

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

Products

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

Side Effects

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

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

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

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

Buying Precautions

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

Kava vs. Kratom: The Differences

Origins and Growth Conditions

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

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

Active Components

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

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

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

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

Pain-Relieving Effects

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

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

Grind

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

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

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

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

Preparation

People take kava and kratom in tea form.

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

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

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

Legality

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

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

Kava vs. Kratom: The Verdict

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

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

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