The Top Tips for Kratom Beginners
If you’re new to kratom, there’s a good chance you’re already feeling overwhelmed by all of the strains, product types, and industry language. There’s a lot of nuance and complexity when it comes to kratom products, and it’s important to cultivate your experience carefully. If you don’t know where to begin, or if your first experiences with kratom were less than optimal, these tips from industry leader Kratora are here to provide a bit of expert guidance.
What Is Kratom?
Kratom is a natural botanical derived from the plant mitragyna speciosa, an evergreen tree that grows natively in Southeast Asia. Some of the best kratom in the world comes from Indonesia, specifically the island of Bali, although kratom has also been known to grow in places like Thailand, Vietnam, and Malaysia.
Kratom has been popular in that region for thousands of years. Traditionally, people in the region have chewed the kratom leaves or incorporated them into teas for therapeutic, medicinal, or even religious purposes. Kratom was virtually unknown in the Western world until the Vietnam war when it was introduced to U.S. soldiers and ultimately brought stateside.
Today, kratom leaves are commonly ground down and sold as powders, capsules, or concentrated extracts. Depending on the strain, the user may feel relaxed, energized, motivated, focused, soothed, or relieved (though more research is still needed). Kratom’s effects come from its alkaloids which are active compounds known to have a physiological impact on the body. Kratom has about 40 known alkaloids, the most abundant of which are mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH).
The Top Kratom Tips for Beginners
If you’re new to kratom, there are a few golden rules you should follow in order to ensure an optimal experience. Some of these rules can be taken with a grain of salt, but in general, they should help you to avoid a lot of the pitfalls that plague new kratom users.
1. Start With Kratom Capsules
There are a lot of kratom products on the market: capsules, powders, liquid kratom, kratom gummies, kratom teas the list goes on. To simplify your experience when looking for kratom for sale, capsules work best. They contain the same natural powder that you would get in a bag of kratom powder, but the kratom is already measured precisely for you. You don’t have to measure or prepare anything, and there’s no mess.
2. Opt for a Green-Vein Strain
Kratom products are commonly distinguished by their vein color. Red-vein kratom is relaxing and soothing; white-vein kratom is energizing and motivating; green-vein kratom falls in the middle and gives you a balanced profile with the best of both worlds. Green kratom is usually a great place to start because the effects are less intense and you can discover a richer blend of sensations. However, if you’re hoping to achieve a specific benefit, you can also purchase a red strain to relax or a white strain to take on the world. Just start low and slow, and take it from there as you learn how this affects you.
3. Avoid Gas Station Kratom
Use caution when buying kratom. Because kratom products aren’t regulated, there are some seriously poor-quality and even dangerous products on the market. By shopping online, you can do your homework more easily and ensure that your products are properly vetted. Make sure that the kratom you buy is third-party lab-tested, and research the brand to ensure that that the company has an excellent track record for offering pure, ethically sourced kratom. Buying online is also a great way to save money, as online products are typically sourced straight from the manufacturer with no middleman.
4. Avoid Extracts
Kratom extracts have become very popular, but they’re recommended for experienced users only. When you buy an extract, you’re getting a concentrated product with effects that are multiplied. The alkaloids have been stripped from the leaf via dissolution and sold as a concentrated liquid (or reintroduced into other kratom powder) with more potent effects. If you use a kratom extract as a beginner with no experience, you may feel uncomfortable side effects or have a less pleasing experience overall. It’s best to start with the basics.
5. Know Your Strains
Arguably the most confusing thing about buying kratom is making sense of the various strains: Maeng Da, Malay, Indo, Bali, Thia, Viet, Sumatra. What does it all mean? In most cases, the name refers to the strain’s original country of origin (with a few exceptions; for instance, Maeng Da is a Thai strain that translates to “pimp-grade”). If you’re not sure where to begin, there are a couple of ways you can go. First, find a vendor that offers samples like Kratora’s kratom variety packs, so you can sample a few different strains and decide which ones you like best. Alternatively, you could just start with a tried-and-true favorite: Maeng Da and Bali are considered two of the best. Ultimately, though, the differences between strains are subtle. You’ll notice more pronounced differences when choosing between the different vein colors.
6. Know the Laws
The legal status of kratom is quite literally all over the map. Before buying online or carrying kratom with you, it’s a good idea to check your local laws to ensure that there are no prohibitions in place that might get you into trouble. Currently, kratom is legal to buy and possess in 44 states (the exceptions being Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Wisconsin, as well as Washington DC). In some cases, kratom is restricted at the county level. For example, it’s illegal in Sarasota County, Florida, as well as San Diego, California. So just be sure to do your research ahead of time.
7. Be Careful About Mixing Kratom With Other Medications
Kratom is extremely well-tolerated on its own, but it has been shown to have negative interactions with certain other medications. Specifically, it doesn’t seem to play well with drugs affecting the central nervous system, including antidepressants, barbiturates, benzodiazepines, and opioids. Kratom should also never be mixed with alcohol. If you’re currently on any prescription medications, talk to your doctor before incorporating kratom into your routine.
Get the Most From Kratom
If you want to get the most from kratom, these tips from Kratora should provide a solid foundation. For your first time, it’s best to enjoy kratom at home at a time when you don’t have any immediate responsibilities. Then, once you understand how it affects you, you can incorporate it more confidently into your daily routine as you tackle your job and other obligations.
Kratom can be very enriching for a lot of people, but it helps to start on the right foot. Before long, you’ll be a seasoned expert providing kratom tips to other people!
