What Is Kratom?
Kratom is a traditional Southeast Asian herb from the Mitragyna speciosa tree. In lower doses, it produces stimulant-like effects, akin to coffee. In higher doses, it acts on opioid receptors to create analgesic and sedating effects, making it the latest trend in legal highs.
What Does Kratom Do?
Kratom contains a plethora of bioactive compounds called alkaloids, which can interact with receptors in your brain and body to create powerful bioactive effects. The most important active compounds are called mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine. Mitragynine is present in the highest concentrations, although 7-hydroxymitragynine is significantly more potent.
These compounds interact with opioid receptors in the body to produce opioid-like effects. Except, because kratom isn’t technically an opioid, it is still legal and accessible.
Compounds in kratom may also interact with other biochemical systems such as serotonin, dopamine, kappa-opioid, and norepinephrine receptors.
Kratom Effects
Effects of kratom can depend on a multitude of different factors, including the dosage, the strain, the method of administration, and the user. Kratom is most commonly used to:
- Boost physical energy
- Boost mood
- Boost alertness
- Relieve pain
- Induce relaxation
- Induce euphoria
- Treat opioid withdrawal
How Long Does Kratom Last?
You can usually expect kratom to kick in within 5-15 minutes. Effects may last for several hours, peaking at about 2-4 hours.
Of course, this may vary depending on the dosage, the strain, the method of ingestion (see some options below), and the metabolism of the user. For a more detailed dosing guide, check out this article: How Much Kratom Should I Take?
Kratom may also linger in your system even after the acute effects have disappeared. To learn more about how kratom shows up on a drug test, check out his article: Will Kratom Show Up On A Drug Test?
What Are The Benefits Of Kratom?
When used appropriately and responsibly, kratom may actually have many therapeutic benefits. These include:
- Better mood
- Less frequent or intense pain
- Alertness
- Relaxation
- Creativity and motivation
Be sure to observe the appropriate cautions, follow dosing instructions, and do not mix kratom with other substances, to ensure a safe and positive experience.
How To Consume Kratom?
Traditionally, south Asian natives consumed kratom by chewing on the leaves, brewing as a tea, or by smoking. Nowadays, there are much easier (and more palatable) ways to consume kratom. Kratom can be enjoyed as a shot, in tablet or capsule form, as gummy candies, or as a powder. These products are carefully formulated in suitable dosages, often with additional ingredients to create a synergistic or balancing effect, making for a safer and more consistent experience.
At Gold Dragon, we carefully curate our favorite products from the most reputable brands. Here are a few of our favorite modern ways to consume kratom:
- Extract shots
- Tablets
- Capsules
- Gummies
- Powder
Extract Shots
Kratom extract shots are usually formulated to contain between 140-150 mg of mitragynine, the primary active compound in kratom leaves. (You’ll often see mitragynine abbreviated as “MIT.”) We offer products from Koi Kratom, Rave Kratom, and Mystic Labs in various flavors and formulations.
These shots are often formulated with additional ingredients that work in tandem with kratom alkaloids. For example, one of our favorite shots contains a combination of kratom, kava, kanna, gaba, and caffeine. These ingredients provide synergistic and balancing effects to kratom.
For example, kanna is a traditional South African herb used to promote a general feeling of happiness and well-being. Similarly, kava is a traditional beverage native to the Pacific Island, known to induce calming effects. GABA is the principal inhibitory neurotransmitter, but is also available in supplement form. Together all of these supplements can create a calming effect which helps to balance the stimulating effects of kratom and caffeine.
Caffeine is obviously our favorite cultural energy-booster here in the west. Although kratom in small doses is used similarly to the way we use caffeine in the West, you don’t technically have to choose between the two.
Reviewers have called kratom shots a “secret weapon for busy days.” The combination of ingredients is satisfyingly potent – and you may in fact only need to take half the shot. We do recommend with kratom (as with all drugs) that you “start low and go slow.” In other words, start at a low dose and only increase slowly if necessary.
Tablets
If you want a kick of kratom without the gimmicks and flavors, you can choose tablet or capsule form. While tablets can contain higher concentrations of bioactive compounds, capsules tend to dissolve more evenly in your digestive system leading to improved absorption. Tablets can also be halved to reduce dosage.
We sell maximum strength kratom tablets from Rave Kratom. Each tablet is formulated to be the equivalent of 6-7 raw kratom leaves, or 100mg of active alkaloids – with 80% of those being mitragynine. Tablets can be chewed, dissolved under the tongue, or swallowed.
Capsules
Capsules are essentially the same as powder, but they have been encapsulated into a pill form – so you won’t need to worry about mixing them into a drink. You can simply swallow them whole as you would a vitamin.
Each capsule contains 100mg of kratom extract powder, which amounts to 80% mitragynine and 0.1mg of 7-hydroxymitragynine. 7-hydroxymitragynine is another bioactive alkaloid in kratom, with even greater potency than mitragynine – although it is naturally present in much lower concentrations. The remaining content of the extract is comprised of other alkaloids, thereby preserving the benefits of the whole plant – not just the benefits of an isolated compound.
We sell multiple strains of kratom capsules from JustKratom, so you can experience the effects of different strains of kratom. Some strains may have more calming effects, while others are more energizing, and others offer better pain relief.
Powder
If you prefer to mix kratom powder into your favorite drink, we offer all of the same JustKratom capsule strains in kratom powder form – so you can easily choose your dosage and your beverage.
Gummies
Bring back the candy! Taking kratom doesn’t have to feel like taking medicine. We sell kratom gummies from Happy Hippo, Kraken Kratom, and Rave Kratom.
If you like to mix up your formulations, Rave Kratom has gummies formulated in a 1:1 ratio of kratom and another extract, such as kava, kanna, or caffeine. Traditional plant extracts such as kava and kanna will create a calming effect to help balance out the stimulating effects of the kratom. Caffeine will have a synergistic effect with kratom to give you even more of an energy boost. Plus, they all come in different delicious flavors, like sour grape (kava), strawberry lemonade (caffeine), and cherry limeade (kanna).
How To Buy Kratom
Now that you have a rough lay of the land, you’re ready to start browsing. Here are some things you’ll want to consider when shopping for kratom products:
First and foremost, be sure to source all of your products from a reputable source with third-party testing. At Gold Dragon, we have already curated our favorite products from dependable brands, so that safety is no longer a concern for you.
Second, consider how you’d like to consume kratom. Do you prefer a gummy, a tablet, a capsule, a powder, or a shot?
If you choose powders or capsules, you can experiment with different strains of kratom, which may create different effects on your body.
Gummies and shots are often available in fun flavors. But if you choose a powder, you can always mix it into your favorite drink – and then you can technically have any flavor you want. These two options are also available in various formulations – they come combined with other extracts such as kanna, kava, gaba, and/or caffeine. See which formulation works best for you.
Finally, tablets are no-fuss and no mess. Skip the flavors and get straight to the good stuff.
For even more purchasing tips, you can always check out this article: How To Buy Kratom
If you have any questions about kratom or our other products, please don't hesitate to contact Gold Dragon Kratom for a free consultation. Happy shopping!
