Blog Post

Kratom is often compared to coffee, which makes sense given that both plants are part of the same family and can provide similar boosts of energy. But its effects are also commonly described as opioid-like.

Coffee and opioids are obviously very different from one another, though. So how can kratom possibly be compared to both at the same time?

One fascinating aspect of kratom is the extremely wide-ranging, “bi-phasic” nature of its effects. This term refers to its tendency to induce different effects at low and high doses. Mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine are the two primary alkaloids responsible for kratom’s effects, and their concentrations in the plant vary depending on the dose.

Along with dosage, let’s examine all the factors believed to contribute to the diversity of kratom’s effects.

In addition to its two primary alkaloids, kratom contains more than 40 other alkaloids, each with varying affinities for different receptors in the brain and body. This includes not just opioid receptors, but also other receptor systems such as adrenergic, serotonergic, and dopaminergic receptors. These complex interactions may account for its diverse effects across different individuals.

Many suggest that different strains of kratom have varying effects, often attributed to differences in alkaloid content depending on the region where the kratom is grown as well as other environmental factors and different drying or processing methods. However, the scientific research on this topic is lacking, and there currently isn’t clear evidence supporting the concept of distinct strains having consistent alkaloid compositions and effects.

With that said, kratom leaves do come in different vein colors which users certainly associate with specific experiences. For instance, red vein kratom strains are generally thought to produce more sedative and pain-relieving effects, making them popular among individuals seeking relaxation and relief from chronic pain. On the other hand, white vein strains are often considered to be more stimulating, providing a boost in energy and cognitive function. Green vein strains are said to fall in between, offering a balanced combination of both stimulating and sedative effects.

As we learned in kindergarten, every individual is a unique snowflake. Therefore, each person’s body chemistry and tolerance vary, which can influence how they respond to kratom. Factors such as genetics, metabolism, and overall health can contribute to the variation in effects experienced by different individuals.

Certain genes that influence drug metabolism can impact how quickly a person’s body breaks down kratom alkaloids. This can lead to variations in onset time, intensity, and duration of effects. Genetic differences in opioid receptors can also impact how people experience pain relief, mood enhancement, and other effects.

What may be a stimulating dose for one person could lead to sedation in another. This variability highlights the importance of starting with a lower dose and gradually increasing as needed to find the optimal balance between kratom’s stimulant and sedative effects.

Regular kratom use can lead to tolerance, requiring higher doses to achieve the same effects over time. This can complicate the understanding of kratom’s effects, as long-term users might experience different results than new or occasional users at the same dosage.

Strategies that some users recommend to potentially help mitigate kratom tolerance include:

• Dosage Rotation: Avoid taking the same strain or vein color of kratom consistently. Instead, rotate between different strains and vein colors to give your body a chance to experience a variety of alkaloid profiles. This can help prevent your body from becoming too accustomed to a specific set of alkaloids.
• Moderate Dosages: Start with lower doses of kratom and only increase the dose when necessary. Higher doses are more likely to lead to tolerance. Finding the minimum effective dose can help reduce the rate at which tolerance develops.
• Dosing Schedule: Establish a schedule for using kratom and avoid using it daily. For example, you might use kratom a few times a week with breaks in between. This intermittent usage can help prevent rapid tolerance development.
• Tolerance Breaks: Periodically take breaks from using kratom altogether. This allows your body’s receptors to reset and can reduce tolerance levels. Tolerance breaks can vary in length, but even a few days to a week can be beneficial.
• Healthy Lifestyle: Regular exercise, adequate sleep, proper hydration, a balanced diet, and stress management can contribute to your body’s ability to respond to kratom more effectively.
• Vendor Quality: Purchase kratom from reputable GMP-certified vendors (like Elate Brands!) who provide high-quality products. The alkaloid content and overall quality of kratom can vary greatly between suppliers.
• Listen to Your Body: Pay attention to how your body responds to kratom. If you notice diminishing effects, it might be a sign that your tolerance is increasing. Adjust your usage accordingly.

Kratom’s effects can be influenced by other substances a person is taking, both pharmaceutical and recreational. Combining kratom with certain drugs, such as opioids or stimulants, could potentially enhance or alter its effects.

Not only do these interactions lead to unexpected and unpredictable results, but they can also be dangerous. As research has shown, the risk of overdose death is over 1,000 times greater for opioids than for kratom alone. So kratom is safe when taken as directed on its own. But in the relatively few cases where kratom was associated with a lethal overdose, the user either had other drugs in their system or a preexisting health condition, or both.

Therefore, it is always extremely important to avoid combining kratom with other potentially dangerous substances.

A person’s mood or mindset, along with their physical setting and surroundings, can impact the perceived effects of kratom. Stress levels can also have an influence, as can personal expectations, which can act like a placebo effect to produce the results anticipated by the user. Also, the potency of kratom products can fluctuate widely due to differences in processing and preparation methods. Only use a GMP-certified vendor to ensure the quality and consistency of your kratom.

Kratom’s remarkable ability to produce both stimulant and sedative effects adds to the allure of this ancient herb. The interactions between mitragynine, 7-hydroxymitragynine, and other alkaloids at different doses create a dynamic range of experiences for users.

Whether seeking an energy boost or pain relief, make sure to educate yourself about proper dosing, strain differences, and potential interactions.

Kratom’s effects may be complex, but when it comes to which kratom supplier you can trust, the answer is simple: choose Elate Brands!