When you purchase kratom, you are interested in receiving an effective and potent product. One that is definitely going to achieve your desired results.
In addition to making sure you purchase it from a reliable vendor whom you can trust, there are natural substances that can even further enhance the potency of your kratom.
These can make your dose stronger as well as help it last longer. Plus, these are healthy substances on their own. Therefore, you can reap additional health benefits.
Why Do You Need Kratom Potentiators?
Using kratom potentiators can mean that you can take a lower dosage, yet receive the same results. This way you will be less likely to develop kratom tolerance.
Your kratom batch will also last longer, which means that you’ll save money in the long run.
Kratom potentiators can make kratom last longer than usual and may also help it to kick in faster. You’ll be able to experience the results sooner and for a longer duration of time.e
If you are taking kratom daily and have already developed tolerance, you won’t need to increase your dose to potentiate kratom effects.
This will lower the chance of you experiencing kratom side effects because of increased dosage.
What Can Enhance the Potency and Length of Kratom Effects?
You’ll easily find many of these in your cupboard. Or by simply paying a visit to your local grocery or health food store.
Below are 10 kratom potentiators of our choice. We’ve also included our favorite picks for some of these potentiators in case you’re looking for suggestions.
1. Hot Water
Using your kratom with hot water (which is simply making kratom tea) can increase its potency.
Note though that most plant-based alkaloids are heat sensitive. Therefore, avoid using boiling water.
Instead, you can mix kratom in hot water. Turn the heat off after the water boils, let the bubbles settle, and then pour it over your kratom.
Alternatively, you can let you kratom powder or leaves simmer. You can achieve it by turning down the heat after the water boils. There will still be bubbles, but they’ll be much smaller and there will be less of them.
2. Citrus Fruits
Are you taking orange juice or grapefruit with your breakfast? Then we have great news for you.
Citric acid found in grapefruit, oranges, lemons, and lime is another kratom potentiator. It can make your kratom dose stronger and have kratom effects last longer. There are several ways in which you can take it.
Firstly, you can mix kratom powder with grapefruit or orange juice. You can also drink a glass of orange or grapefruit juice after you take kratom, for instance, if you prefer the Toss and Wash method. Or you can add a slice of lemon to your kratom tea.
In addition to the above, citrus fruits are rich in Vitamin C. This can boost your immune system, prevent colds, and help your body absorb iron better.
3. Tea
While some users prefer making kratom tea that only contains kratom (along with some sugar and lemon), others prefer mixing kratom with other teas.
There are a few different options for you and each has its own unique effects. These two are our favorite:
- Chamomile Tea. It has a mild and pleasant taste and can help you to calm an upset stomach and relax. Use it in combination with the slow strains, such as red vein kratom, to achieve more relaxation and be able to get to sleep easier and faster. People who use chamomile tea as a kratom potentiator report feeling effects for a much longer period of time. Check out our kratom and chamomile tea recipe.
- Green Tea. A powerful antioxidant on its own, it can give your kratom dose an extra energy kick. It’ll work best with faster strains like green and white vein kratom. Make sure not to brew your green tea too strong as it tends to be rather bitter. Be sure to buy high-quality loose leaf tea. Same as kratom, not all green tea is the same. Avoid using tea bags as they primarily contain tea dust rather than actual leaves and therefore will result in the lowest quality of tea.
4. Coffee
A number of users like mixing kratom with coffee to potentiate their dose. Coffee and kratom together can increase your focus and alertness and give you an extra energy boost.
You can brew them together or take them separately. Some users even Toss and Wash kratom with coffee. That depends on your personal preference. Make sure you drink plenty of water as both can dehydrate you.
Yet, we do not recommend everyone to do that, especially if you’re less experienced and taking lower doses of kratom. Kratom and coffee both come from the coffee family. You may become overly agitated and jittery.
Alternatively, you can take coffee as a kratom substitute on days that you’re not taking kratom.
5. Valerian Root
It is a herb used for sleep issues, as well as managing stress and anxiety. A number of kratom users like to use it as a kratom potentiator.
Taken together with slow strains of kratom, it can enhance its relaxing, sedative, and pain killing effects.
You can take valerian root pills or tincture, as well as steep valerian root tea and mix it with your kratom dose.
6. Watercress
An aquatic leafy green vegetable that grows near streams and streams, watercress is rich in vitamins and minerals. For instance, it contains more Vitamin C than oranges and more iron than spinach.
It can prevent colds and even some types of cancer. Watercress can also improve cardiovascular, eye, brain, and bone health among other benefits.
Some users report that taken as a kratom potentiator, it can make the effects last longer. For others, it also intensifies kratom effects.
Watercress is available in supermarkets, health food stores, and online. You can buy fresh watercress (that you can make a salad with), dried watercress, as well as watercress capsules.
7. Cayenne Pepper
Cayenne pepper is a type of chili pepper that’s moderately strong and is used in spicy dishes. It has numerous benefits for the digestive system and can help to improve kratom absorption.
Users report feeling a faster come-up and more potent results from their kratom dose. Yet, it does not affect the duration of kratom as much as citrus fruits do.
You can mix some cayenne powder with kratom or take cayenne capsules. Use it sparingly if you can’t tolerate spicy foods well.
You may experience uncomfortable burning stools after taking larger amounts of cayenne. Eat fiber-rich foods and hydrate yourself well to avoid that.
8. Turmeric
A plant of the ginger family, turmeric is a bright yellow spice and one of the main ingredients in curry. Turmeric also acts is a kratom potentiator.
Turmeric improves kratom absorption. It also enhances the strength and length of kratom effects and can help reduce kratom tolerance.
Mix turmeric powder with your kratom powder to boost its effects. Start by adding a small amount first and gradually increasing it up to a teaspoon with your dose.
Apart from potentiating kratom, turmeric has a number of other health benefits. It has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
Turmeric can also improve cardiovascular and gastrointestinal health, reduces cholesterol, and can even help in preventing cancer.
To experience all those in addition to the kratom effects and benefits, add a pinch of black pepper to the mix. Black pepper increases the absorption of turmeric.
9. Cat’s Claw
Cat’s Claw is a powerful herb with anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, and pain-relieving benefits. It can also help with various gastrointestinal disorders.
Taking Cat’s Claw together with kratom can intensify and prolong its effects. Avoid taking it though if you’re on blood thinning medication or if you have a surgery scheduled in the next two weeks.
10. Magnesium
Magnesium is a go-to kratom potentiator for many users. It can aid with kratom tolerance and relieve constipation that kratom causes.
Magnesium is a beneficial substance on its own. It’s excellent for managing diabetes, calcium absorption, and bone health. It also can help if you’re fatigued, relieve headaches, migraines, and anxiety.
Many people are magnesium deficient so supplementing your kratom dose with magnesium can be a great way to combat that.
However, you may want to avoid it if you suffer from diarrhea. It may also turn to be rather pricey if you take magnesium supplements.
Instead of taking magnesium pills, you can make a smoothie from magnesium-rich foods, for instance, leafy green vegetables, bananas, raspberries, figs, and avocados, and add kratom to it.
Taking regular Epsom salt baths is another way of exposing yourself to more magnesium.
Conclusion
Just like kratom, all these are natural substances. Therefore, effects may slightly vary by person.
If you choose to take kratom potentiators, make sure you’ve taken kratom alone before it and know how exactly your body reacts to it. Don’t start by using both at the same time.
By doing so, you’ll have a better idea of what exactly what needs to be modified If you aren’t experiencing the desired results or not feeling well.
Make sure you check out the uses and side effects of each of the kratom potentiators to make sure you can take them. Talk to your physician if necessary.
Are you taking any of the kratom potentiators that we’ve mentioned above? Do you have any other tips on how to potentiate kratom? Please, share them with us. While more discoveries are made about kratom, there is yet much to find out.
Just bought extracts and am upset that they have done nothing..usually one is enough.Two down and still nothing..only take them once a month so tolerance isnt an issue.
Hello Janice, sorry to hear that. Have you experienced the same with kratom powder? To be honest, we prefer powder over extract.
I sometimes drink a small glass of milk after I Toss & Wash my Kratom to help potentiate it. I’ve also used Organic Coconut Oil- just a teaspoon after my Kratom dose (Coconut Oil has several added health benefits as well!) And I’ve been told that Honey is a great potentiator.
Thank you for sharing this Cari.
I’ve also heard that Kratom is fat soluble, so some ppl eat something fatty right after their dose? I personally haven’t tried this tho
Kratom is insoluble in water, yet, for now, there is conflicting information on whether it interacts well with fat. Fat does, however, slow down the absorption of kratom; so, some people with sensitive stomachs feel better if they have some food. Hopefully, we’ll get more studies on kratom and its beneficial properties soon.
I have a different problem, I started kratom with exstracts the brand opms and did everything I wanted but very exspensive and now I have a very high tolerance I switched strains so I don’t get stagnant strain but wish I stayed away from the opms gold and the shot are even stronger thought I took a perk 30 honestly
Hi,there’s so many types of magnesium. Which magnesium is best to potentiate a kratom dose with? Thank you
Hello Staci and thanks for reaching out to us. You can try magnesium citrate supplements that you have available in your area. It’s also good to add magnesium-rich foods to your diet such as green leafy vegetables, whole grains, nuts, and seeds. Many people in the west are magnesium deficient so that could benefit you in multiple ways.
Natural Calm is great its pure ionic magnesium citrate created from a high absorbable proprietary blend of citric acid and magnesium carbonate. It comes in flavors or plain and are completely organic supplement powder.
That’s a great one. Thank you for the recommendation!
I agree 100% on this. I’ve been using Calm for quite while now. I use half a gram about half an hour before my dose. I truly believe it not only stretches out your dose but I also swear by it’s anti-anxiety properties as well. I have no doubt this is the best magnesium supplement to take, i swear by it. Blessings.
i have found that drinking energy drinks will increase kratom
Thanks for sharing it with us, Jonathan! Energy drinks are usually rich in caffeine so that would result in effects similar to those after taking coffee.
Jonathan, I do recommend it be a organic and natural energy drink and not one fuel by fake sugar and other harmful ingredients. This can cause inflammation and do more harm than good. A nice Organic bold coffee with Coconut creamer (I have found) does an awesome job with Red or Green Kratom!
Hello Matt, that is an excellent point. Thanks for sharing,
This is an incredible guide, thank you for doing this! I have really been enjoying adding a bit of lime juice and cayenne pepper to my kratom/hot water mixture ever since I read this a few weeks ago and there have been several direct and indirect benefits I have gotten from potentiating my kratom!
1. The mixture tastes BETTER than kratom/water by itself, believe it or not (to me anyway!). And it masks the leafy kratom taste.
2. My doses are more potent, and last longer!
3. This caused me to start taking smaller doses.
4. In turn, I save money by taking smaller doses!
Everyone who takes kratom even semi-regularly should try potentiating!
Thanks again!
Hello Christian,
Glad you enjoyed our article and that we could help. And thank you for sharing your suggestion! Both lime and cayenne have great additional health benefits.
And we absolutely agree with your points!
Just mixed green hulu powder in chamomile tea. Very pleasant feeling. Trying different strains and brands. Used maeng da white and green but find hulu last longer and has more energy than green. Anyone try mixing with apple cider vinegar? Powder dissolves quickly. Its bitter so only use couple tablespoons.
Hello Sean,
Thanks for sharing your experience. We actually have covered kratom chamomile tea in another post – Kratom Tea Recipes.
Feel free to check the other recipes in case you find something else that you like. And let us know how you like them!
Grapefruit Juice….
Most definitely 🙂
Please be careful with grapefruit juice if you are taking any prescription medications for any health issues. Grapefruit may make Kratom more potent, but can also dangerously affect other medications. Please be sure and avoid it if you are taking statins, antidepressants, immunosuppressants and more. (I’m an RN that takes Kratom)
Thanks for the advice, Michelle.
I take Zocor for cholesterol. Why can’t I use grapefruit?
Hello Lynette, here’s a source you may find useful: https://www.amjmed.com/article/S0002-9343(15)00774-3/pdf
No matter what I do, all kratom just makes me sleepy. I miss the mood lift I used to get. I guess I should take a long break from it. I’ve been using it every day since December 2018.
Hi Kari,
If you’ve been taking kratom daily, you may have developed kratom tolerance (you can view this post on it). Often, when people take kratom for a long time, they develop tolerance. As a result, they start taking a larger dose to get the same effects.
Have you been needing a larger dose than when you started? Are you taking a larger dose than before? Are you taking the same strain? You may try rotating strains or taking a break form kratom.
I take anywhere between 1-2 Teaspoons about 1-3x a day. (I don’t have a scale to get exact gram measurements) So everyday is different. I used to take about 4-6 Teaspoons a day and now I’ve started lowering my doses to see if that helps and it kind of has. Everyday I take a different strain and rotate between 3-4 vendors. I’ve noticed if I take a 5hr energy shot before hand I won’t be as sleepy. I’d still like to talk myself into taking some days off but I just love the feeling certain strains give me. What brand and/or mg. would you recommend for the magnesium? Thanks.
Hello Kari,
Natural Caml is a favorite of many and we take the recommended daily dose.
We also recommend using a sensitive digital scale as it provides a more accurate dose. Those are inexpensive and you can find them online and in local stores.
Can anyone give me an idea of the ratio of turmeric and black pepper they use per dose and whether taking it a half hour prior is better or just mixing it in with their dose? Thank you in advance…
Hello Joe,
The generally recommended ratio of black pepper needed to bring out the benefits of turmeric is 1:4. That would be 1/4 teaspoon of black pepper for 1 teaspoon of turmeric. 1/2 gram of turmeric is recommended for a single dose. So, that would be 1/2 g of turmeric and 125mg of black pepper powder.
We personally prefer taking that together with kratom.
I take electrolyte powder within an hour of taking Kratom sometimes. I’m sure the magnesium helps as stated above but I feel like the powder as a whole works well.
I take Calm too but it hasn’t helped much with constipation. Someone suggested taking psyllium husk…..I still need to try that.
Thanks for your input Brandy.
Make sure to drink plenty of water and add food rich in fiber to your diet as that can help to relieve constipation too.
I wondered if Cayenne pepper was a potentiator. I always felt the effects after eating franks red hot. Lol! Would you recommend mixing turmeric, cayenne and black pepper at all with it. Seem like that would make a healthy combination.
I use kratom for pain relief and depression.
Hello Kristie,
Yes, it’s possible to take all three of them together. Or you can alternate between cayenne pepper and turmeric and black pepper mixture.
However, keep in mind that cayenne does not serve as a replacement for black pepper, so, for maximum benefits, you should not take cayenne and turmeric alone.
Great article! Thanks for the tips.
Thank you Christy!
Awesome info on how to potentiate kratom! I like using magnesium in small doses and I also take with orange juice.
When I feel like I’m building up a tolerance, I take a break and take Akuamma extract. Has anyone else tried Akuamma? I tried the whole herb first but the 20x extract works better for me.
Hello Kevin, thanks for your feedback on kratom and Akuamma. We actually have included it as one of kratom alternatives for when you may need to take a break from kratom in an upcoming post. So, that’s a great suggestion.
I’ve never been able to get kratom to work for me, except maybe a little pain relief. I’ve switched vendors, strains, tried potentiators, everything! I’ve heard it can not work for women during their periods so I’m wondering is it something hormonal? I had a total hysterectomy, so I’m trying estroven, hoping once I balance out it’ll start working. I’m desperate to feel it’s effects!
Hello Tricia,
We’re sorry to hear that. However, we would need more information to be able to give you more thorough advice, for instance:
1. What kratom effects are you expecting? Pain relief? Energy? Relaxation?
2. What strains have you tried and what vendors have you bought them from? Even if you have tried various vendors, you may still have chosen poor-quality vendors.
3. What strains and what dosage have you tried?
4. Are there any other conditions that you have? Any other medication or supplements that you take?
We’ve heard of women feeling tired despite taking kratom; however, in general, there are many women who experience positive effects with conditions such as endometriosis.
Looking forward to more input from you.
So I have been taking Kratom for almost a year now and really do love it! But I’m starting to feel like I don’t notice it to work on me any more. I have lowered my doses and drink orange juice with my Kratom . I know maybe I need a break too. 🤷🏽♂️
Hi, Nick. It’s always beneficial to take regular breaks to keep tolerance low as it allows your body to eliminate the alkaloids buildup. Please check out a post on kratom tolerance for more information. Just type “kratom tolerance” in the search bar.
Just wondering how many “additives” one can reasonably pile on to one’s daily dosing schedule. Currently taking kratom with tumeric/curcumin/ginger/bioperine capsules as well as chelated high-absorption magnesium tablets. I take the supplements first with a swig of an energy drink (diet; diabetic), wait about a half hour for them to get a head start on dissolving first then toss-and-wash the kratom. Cannot stand grapefruit so no worries there. However I’m considering orange juice for an acid bath instead of energy drink; does orange juice carry the same contraindications for prescription meds (diabetes, HBP)? Have always heard no grapefruit with meds but not the same with oranges or orange juice. Does our resident nurse and/or doctor have an answer for me on that?
Hello Rondo, as long as you do not overdo the recommended daily amount for any of them, you should be fine. Keep in mind that curcumin is a naturally occurring compound in turmeric, so don’t overdo it. too much turmeric can upset your stomach.
As per orange juice, it can interact with certain medications and prevent them from absorbing properly. It would be best if you consulted your physician about the specific medication that you are taking.
Moreover, since juices are stripped of fiber that plants have, they tend to have high glycemic index (GI). Certain commercial juices may have sugars or sweeteners. So, if you drink orange juice, it’s best to drink it freshly squeezed.
All wonderful suggestions. I personally wouldn’t drink energy drinks with kratom or at all for that matter. But that’s just me. I take my kratom everyday. I take red dragon. Have been for about 6 years. I am bipolar with psychotic tendencies and I swear by and will fight over my kratom. Lol. I have a daily ritual. I get up and make a cup of coffee while I get my dose ready. I put turmeric in mine. I’ll put just a little coffee in it as it comes out of the machine as to mix it up good and then I always pour a little alkaline water in it to cool it off enough to toss and wash. Then I’ll gargle a few times with the alkaline water to get it all down. And recently I have started eating a mango for breakfast, and it seems to keep the warm happy feeling going longer. The turmeric is the warm feeling as well. But the alkaline water seems to make it last longer and better. For me, all that works much better and I feel better than taking antidepressants and such like I did in the beginning before I found kratom. So kratom, turmeric and alkaline water and a shot of coffee is my formula. (Note, these are my results that work for me, I do not recommend or advise anyone who is taking bipolar medications to stop just because you read this. That could be very dangerous and was not the intent of this post. ) thanx. Stay safe y’all
Hello Jason, thanks for your feedback and sharing your experience with kratom.
Can you provide a source for this information (kratom potentiators)? Is there some kind of study you can point to? There seems to be very little real knowledge (scientific research) surrounding kratom. A link to any kind of study would be greatly appreciated.
Hello Tom, sadly there indeed is very little scientific research on kratom, in general. That’s due to kratom being relatively new in the west and the controversy caused by the authorities. Those are preventing many researchers from being able to extensively study the herb. If the FDA’s intent to ban kratom would take effect on a federal level, this would prevent researchers from being able to study kratom at all. Currently, we do not yet know the full potential of kratom, its alkaloids, and other beneficial compounds present. Therefore, there are also no (or at least none to our knowledge) scientific studies that would test their interaction with other compounds, herbs, and similar.
However, NIDA (the National Institute of Drug Abuse) has shown interest in kratom in a positive way. So, it has funded 2 grants worth nearly $7M to the University of Florida College of Pharmacy to investigate kratom and its alkaloids and determine whether they can be used to overcome opioid addiction. Though millions of kratom users testify that it indeed has helped them, there are no studies yet to effectively disprove the claims that kratom is a dangerous substance. Such studies could also change the overall reputation on kratom, making it much easier to study. So, we may expect studies on kratom and its potentiators in the future.