Doesn’t it seem like a good night’s sleep is always a step ahead of you? You might have tried everything—-from sound machines and rigorous bedtime rituals to sleeping pills and everything in between—but you just can’t seal the deal with Mr. Sandman.
If it seems like you’re at the end of the line, you may have one more option: kratom. Kratom is a natural substance that causes a variety of physiological sensations, including, for some people, drowsiness. Plenty of folks have successfully treated their insomnia with over-the-counter kratom products.
Knowing which vein color, strain, and amount of kratom to take for insomnia can be a little confusing. Below is our rundown of the best kratom for sleep and advice for using kratom on your terms.
What is Kratom, and How Does it Work?
Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa) is an evergreen plant that grows in Thailand, Malaysia, Cambodia, Indonesia, and other Southeast Asian locales. The leaves of the kratom plant contain a number of compounds called alkaloids that interact with various opioid receptors in the human body.
That’s right—we said opioids. Mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine, the two main alkaloids that produce kratom’s pharmacological effects, are similar to morphine and Oxycodone. They don’t bind quite as tightly as most opiates and opioids, though, which is why kratom only acts as a partial agonist on opioid receptors.
Local populations have long used kratom for a variety of purposes, both medicinally and recreationally. Many of kratom’s early adopters noticed it eased physical pain, which is why it caught on fairly quickly with manual laborers. As we’ll explain further down, though, kratom’s effects fit roughly on a spectrum from stimulating to sedating.
How to consume kratom
Just like there’s no wrong way to eat a Reese’s, there’s not really a bad way to consume kratom. However, unless you have a palate for bitter, earthy, and grassy flavors, you may want to find a kratom drink or food item (like gummies) that agrees with your taste buds. Kratom tea is a popular consumption method that has also been used in religious and spiritual ceremonies.
Modern kratom use is heavily associated with capsules, as this option makes dosing easy and consumption convenient. Another way to consume kratom is by drinking flavored extract shots, which often contain concentrated forms of mitragynine.
What does kratom do to the body?
Okay, let’s get down to brass tacks. When you consume kratom, the two main alkaloids start binding to mu-opioid, delta, and kappa opioid receptors. These receptors play a huge part in regulating our pain sensations, mood, bodily temperature, breathing, and pleasure/reward pathways in the brain.
There’s also some evidence that kratom interacts with the body’s serotonin receptors. Serotonin is a noted feel-good chemical that helps us, well, feel good when our mood takes a dip. The entire pharmacological mechanisms of kratom are not understood, and scientists are seeking more research on the topic.
Kratom Effects & Potential Benefits
The effects of kratom are largely dose-dependent. Lower doses (less than five grams, usually) are known to have primarily stimulating effects, while larger doses (five grams or more) can help users relax, mellow out, and get some shut-eye.
Kratom can help people feel:
- Physically energized
- Focused
- More sociable
- Relaxed
- Relieved from pain
- In a better mood
- Sexually aroused
- Drowsy
- Reduced opioid withdrawal symptoms
- Euphoric
Those all sound pretty great, right? We’re not here to burst your bubble, but you should know that kratom also carries a number of potential side effects. You can reduce the chances of experiencing unpleasant kratom effects by starting with a very low dose (one gram or less) and slowly increasing subsequent dosages until you find the amount you’re most happy with.
The most common physical side effects reported by users include:
- Itching
- Profuse sweating
- Nausea and vomiting
- Constipation
- Loss of appetite
- Dizziness
- Tremors
- Seizures (rare)
- Hallucinations (rare)
- Confusion (rare)
- Liver problems (associated with chronic, heavy kratom use)
Can you get addicted to kratom?
Yes, it seems that long-term kratom use (more than a month of everyday use) can result in dependence, tolerance, and even addiction. Over time, the opioid receptors kratom binds to can downregulate, meaning they become less sensitive to kratom. As a result, users must take larger doses than they used to in order to achieve the same effects.
Taking regular tolerance breaks is key to avoiding kratom addiction. These breaks give your receptors a chance to return back to normal. Your body will thank you!
What is the Best Kratom for Sleep?
That’s a difficult question to answer, as everyone experiences kratom differently. A five-gram dose of a certain red kratom product, for instance, might make one person energized while another user might feel drowsy and uber-relaxed.
That said, red kratom might be the better bet for sleep. White kratom is more associated with energy and stimulation, and green kratom often gives users balanced effects.
The Best Kratom Strain for Anxiety: Top 5 Picks
We’ve evaluated every kratom product on our site—we have a lot—and have chosen a wide array of offerings that we think can help you get honk-shooin’ in no time.
- Red Maeng Da
- Green Malay
- Green Maeng Da
- Red Bali
- Red Indo
1. Red Maeng Da
Red Maeng Da kratom provides surprisingly balanced effects while retaining the potency you’d expect from red kratom. Many people use it to alleviate physical pain and improve their mood, but it may not make you sleepier than other items in this article.
Featured Product: Red Maeng Da Kratom Powder
Powder is a great way to introduce yourself to the world of kratom. You can measure out the precise dosage you want and place it in culinary creations of your choice. This particular product from JustKratom is effective at melting away stress.
2. Green Malay
Green kratom is all about balance, and that’s exactly what you’ll get with Green Malay products. Lower doses can help you boost your mental clarity to make it through the workday, and higher doses are known for making users relaxed and a little drowsy.
Featured Product: Green Malay Kratom Capsules
What’s more convenient than taking capsules? They make for easy dosing and save you from kratom’s bitter flavor if that’s your thing. Green Malay may have longer-lasting effects than other strains of green kratom, which is exactly what you need for quality sleep.
3. Green Maeng Da
Green Maeng Da is another versatile kratom strain. Like its cousin, Red Maeng Da, you can expect balanced and dose-dependent effects.
Featured Product: Green Maeng Da Kratom Capsules
Capsules, capsules, capsules. We really like this product from ELF Kratom, which is sure to make you feel relaxed and focused at lower doses. It might take up to six hours to take effect, though, especially if you take it with food.
4. Red Bali
Do you want pure red kratom? You’re going to get it with Red Bali. It’s got all the relaxing and sedating effects you could ever want to help you nod off to sleep.
Featured Product: Red Bali Bliss Extract Shot
If you want something a little flavorful but don’t have time to mix powder with drinks, an extract shot is the perfect product. A little bit goes a long way, so start verrrrrry slowly. That’s easier said than done with its tasty fruit punch flavoring.
5. Red Indo
Everything’s a lot right now, isn’t it? We know you’re tired of staring at the ceiling for hours every night. Intense relaxation is what you’ll get with Red Indo kratom. At higher doses, you might even experience euphoria.
Featured Product: Red Indo Reserve Kratom Capsules
These Red Indo reserve kratom capsules from JustKratom feature premium plant material and pack 0.5 grams of kratom powder into each dose. Pop one or two into your mouth before bed to enjoy waves of relaxation and bliss for hours to come.
How to Use Kratom for Sleep
Ready to try using kratom for sleep? Here are a few important tips to keep in mind to ensure you have the best possible experience.
- Choose the right dose. While some kratom strains are better for sleep than others, any kind of kratom can produce sedative effects at high enough doses. That means that regardless of your product, you’ll want to aim for the higher end of the recommended dosage range.
- Start low and slow. Even though a higher dose of kratom might be necessary to feel fully relaxed, it’s still important to remember that too much kratom can also be problematic. Start with the smallest possible dose, then work your way up with time to find an ideal range that meets your needs without causing side effects.
- Keep a journal. A great way to learn how different kratom strains and doses affect you is by keeping a kratom journal. Log the product and dose you take, then jot down your feelings after a few hours to get in touch with how your products impact your body.
Discover the Best Kratom for Sleep, Relaxation & More at Gold Dragon
Whether you’re looking for kratom powder, capsules, extract, or something else entirely, you can find what you need here at Gold Dragon Kratom. With plenty of strains and leading brands to choose from, we have all the essentials that a kratom lover could look for.
Shop our full kratom collection to find the best kratom for sleep based on your needs. Not sure where to get started? Still have questions about using kratom? We’ve got you covered. Reach out to our team at any time for support or to receive a free consultation!
