Chronic pain is one of the common health conditions that especially afflicts the adult and older population. According to the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report of 2016, an estimated 20.4% of U.S. adults had chronic pain and 8.0% of U.S. adults had high-impact chronic pain.
Painkillers are rarely the solution to these pains. You need something much stronger but safe at the same time. Kratom has come forward as a potential pain-relieving solution.
Kratom is an evergreen plant that belongs to the coffee family. It is native to Southeast Asia and has a plethora of therapeutic effects. It works as an analgesic to alleviate the pain and relax your body.
In this article, we will tell you about the right kratom strains for you and how they can help you. Read on to know more about them.
How does Kratom help in Pain Management?
Kratom is being used as a herbal alternative to various Over-the-counter (OTC) medications to manage pain. It contains Mitragynine, an alkaloid that binds to the opioid receptors in the body. As a result, it produces opioid-like effects including analgesia to relieve the pain.
Other than the opioid receptor activity, Mitragynine also uses Noradrenergic and Serotonergic Pathways to reduce the pain in the user. Kratom also contains low levels of 7-hydroxy mitragynine, another alkaloid that is more potent than Mitragynine. It also has better oral bioavailability than the former alkaloid.
Kratom can relieve the pain in conditions such as:
- Joint pain
- Headaches/ Migraines
- Arthritis
- Neck pain
- Back pain
- Multiple sclerosis
- Minor injuries like broken bones, cuts, torn muscles
- Chest pain
- Abdominal pain, etc.
Best Kratom Strains for Pain Relief
There is a wide array of kratom strains available in the market. These strains are available in form of powders, crushed leaves, and capsules and have a lot of medicinal uses. From back pain, joint pain to headaches, kratom strains provide you relief in every condition without any adverse side effects.
Here are the 3 best kratoms that can help you get rid of the pain:
#1. Maeng Da Kratom
Maeng Da Kratom is a renowned kratom that is native to Thailand. It is also found in Malaysia and Indonesia. The word Maeng Da is literally translated into ‘pimp’ in Thai.
Maeng Da is produced using grafting, a technique where tissues of different plants are combined together to form a new strain. It grows on tall trees in tropical regions. It has three strains that work as a pain reliever.
⇒ Visit the official website of Maeng Da Kratom
This kratom is dark green in color due to the high alkaloid content. It contains alkaloids like hydroxy mitragynine and mitragynine. The powder prepared after crushing the leaves is even darker. It has analgesic and sedative properties.
Red Maeng Da:
This is the most potent strain of Maeng Da. It is dried in sunlight and UV light. Sometimes it is fermented which as a result increases its alkaloid content.
This kratom strain works as an analgesic to release enkephalins, endorphins, and serotonin in the body. It numbs the pain and soothes your body. It is beneficial in treating moderate to sharp pain. Although it has a similar alkaloid content to morphine, it doesn’t cause side effects like dizziness and unconsciousness. The effects of Red Maeng da can be noticed within 15-30 minutes and they last for 5-7 hours.
Here are a few other benefits of Red Maeng Da:
- Relieves Anxiety: Red Maeng Da has anxiolytic properties that calm down your nerves and clear your mind. It interacts with the opioid receptors to relax your mind. It has sedative effects that benefit people suffering from insomnia.
- Helps Manage Opiate Withdrawal: Opioid withdrawal caused symptoms like fever, cramps, and body pain. Red Maeng Da has soothing effects that reduce these symptoms.
- Increased Energy Levels: Red Maeng Da contains alkaloids that boost the energy in the body. This, in turn, reduces nervousness, anxiety, and improves focus.
- Reduce Lower Back Pain or Arthritis: This kratom strain is beneficial in alleviating lower back pain and arthritis-related pain especially in older people. It has compounds like mitragynine and 7-hydroxy mitragynine bind to pain receptors in the body and relieves the pain.
⇒ Buy From the official website of Maeng Da Kratom
Green Maeng Da: Green Maeng Da has calming effects on the body. It also works as a mild analgesic and reduces acute and chronic pain. You can use it for relieving mild to moderate pain. This kratom relaxes you and gives you a decent energy boost. It takes about 10 minutes to kick in and its effects last for 6 hours.
White Maeng Da: This is a fast strain with high alkaloid and flavonoid content. It numbs the pain and is beneficial for individuals struggling with chronic backache, osteoarthritis, etc. It gives you an instant boost of energy and induces a calming sensation. This relaxes the people suffering from pain.
The strain kicks in 15-30 minutes and its effects last for 5 to 8 hours.
#2. Red Vein Bali Kratom
The Red Vein Bali Kratom traces its origin to Indonesia in Southeast Asia. It has around 25 alkaloids in it, the highest as compared to the other strains. It is a powerful and potent strain that provides relaxing effects.
It is known to alleviate chronic discomfort and helps in treating insomnia. It has sedating effects that put you to sleep faster. The Red Bali Kratom also works as an analgesic and provides you a good energy boost.
⇒ Visit the official website of Red Vein Bali Kratom
As compared to the Maeng Da Kratom, its effects are milder but long-lasting.
The effects of Red vein Bali kratom can last for 6 to 8 hours.
- Acts as a Painkiller: Owing to the high amount of alkaloids present in it, Red Vein Bali kratom helps in suppressing the pain in the body. It contains Mitragynine that again binds to the pain receptors to relieve the pain.
- Reduces Anxiety: This kratom strain has opioid-like properties that calm your mind down. As your anxiety is reduced, you are able to concentrate better. It reduces stress and puts you in a better mood altogether.
- Boosts energy levels: Red vein Bali kratom spikes up the energy levels in the body due to its high alkaloid content. It also works as an antidepressant that uplifts the mood and reduces stress.
- Works as a sedative: Chronic pain often makes it difficult for you to sleep at night. Red vein Bali kratom has powerful sedating effects that make you fall asleep. You might have to increase the dosage for this purpose.
⇒ Buy from the official website of Red Vein Bali Kratom
#3. Red Borneo Kratom
As the name suggests, this kratom is harvested from the Borneo island in Southeast Asia. It is mostly situated in Indonesia. The kratom grows along the river banks and has several healing properties.
It has sugar-like consistency and is stronger than Red Bali kratom. It is dark green in color and has mild sedating effects when taken in higher doses. At low doses, the strain has stimulating effects that make you feel energized. It has relaxing properties that help in combating insomnia. It uplifts the mood and calms you down.
⇒ Visit the official website of Red Borneo Kratom
It is a potent pain reliever and works without producing any side effects. It is suitable for beginners. The favorable effects of Red Borneo kratom kick in 5-10 minutes and lasts up to 7 hours.
Relieves pain: Red Borneo Kratom helps in alleviating pain and reduces the discomfort caused due to it. If you take a higher dose of this strain, it may even help reduce chronic pain of arthritis, fibromyalgia, etc. It has a slow and sedating effect but doesn’t cause any side effects like dizziness.
Helps overcome anxiety: If you feel anxious while interacting, then this is the right kratom strain for you. It reduces anxiety and relaxes you to feel confident.
Elevates mood: This kratom gives you a feeling of euphoria. It instantly boosts your mood and elevates your spirits. Once the pain is gone, Red Borneo helps you feel better and makes you feel less anxious.
Helps in Post Traumatic Stress Disorders: PTSD causes anxiety levels to increase, rapid heartbeat, and other symptoms. Red Borneo Kratom works as a stress-reliever and provides soothing effects.
Improves focus: Much like the other kratom strains, Red Borneo kratom helps you focus better by keeping you alert all day. The high alkaloid content in the strain boosts the energy levels and enhances your cognitive abilities.
⇒ Buy from the official website of Red Borneo Kratom
How to take Kratom for Pain Relief?
You can take it in the form of powder, crushed leaves, and even capsules.
Powder: This is the most popular way of taking kratom. It is affordable and its effects kick in early. You can add it to hot water to make tea or the drink of your choice. However, it has a strong taste which makes it less palatable. Also, it is difficult to measure and dose the powder.
You can also take kratom with food such as snacks or a whole meal. If you are a new user, don’t take it with an empty stomach. This may cause stomach discomfort or nausea.
Capsules: If you don’t like the taste of the kratom powder, capsules are the right way to go. They are easy to take and dose. However, they have slow-acting effects and are on the expensive side.
Kratom Dosage for Pain Management
The right dosage of kratom depends upon the type of strain and the severity of your symptoms. Start with the minimal dosage and work your way up.
For pain management, you can take 2-4 grams of kratom. This means either a ½ or full teaspoon. If you are using kratom extract, 0.5 gram should be enough.
Potential Side Effects of Kratom
Kratom is not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration. Therefore, the onus of your safety lies in your hands. You shouldn’t take more than the recommended dosage. This can cause side effects like:
- Nausea/Vomiting
- Dry mouth
- Drowsiness
- Dizziness
- Cough suppression
- Decreases appetite
A dose of more than 15 grams may cause dangerous conditions like:
Seizures, Loss of motor coordination, and even coma.
Kratom dependency: Consuming high doses of kratom regularly can create a dependency on it. As a result, one can build up a tolerance towards it. Once you get addicted to kratom, small doses won’t work for you.
To experience the desired effects, you may have to take a higher dose that can lead to dangerous side effects. This is why it is advised to monitor your Kratom doses and use it responsibly.
How to decide the Right Kratom for Pain?
Each person has a different response to kratom. It is not necessary that if a certain kratom works for your friend, then it will work for you as well. Before you go ahead and click on the buy now, there are a few things you should consider. For instance:
Body composition: It is important to consider your height, weight, and size before choosing the right kratom dosage. Your body should be able to handle the dosage without any side effects.
Physical and emotional health: If you have any pre-existing medical condition or not emotionally well, we’d recommend you to talk to your doctor. They shall let you know if it is fine for you to take kratom given your health status.
Metabolism: This refers to the pace with which kratom is metabolized in the body. It determines how long the effects will last.
Type of pain and other symptoms: Decide your kratom strain and dosage according to the type and severity of the pain you are experiencing. Red vein kratoms are more effective in treating pain symptoms as compared to other strains
Lifestyle: This refers to the type of lifestyle you follow-active or sedentary. It is important to indulge in physical activities to have a healthy kratom lifestyle.
Quality of Kratom: Always invest in good-quality kratom from a reliable vendor. Cheap kratom can cause harmful side effects.
Where to Buy the Best Kratom strains for pain-relief?
Kratom is widely popular in the market. You can find multiple vendors online but it’s better to buy from a reliable source to get the legit products. Many vendors sell fake and bunk products that can be harmful to your health.
You can find a few trusted brands to purchase kratom on the official website of the American Kratom association.
In Conclusion : Should You Opt For Kratom Strains?
If you are thinking of taking kratom for relieving chronic physical and emotional pain, we’d ask you to go ahead. It is a natural treatment that can help you get rid of the excruciating pain. The kratom strains we suggested above are easy to take and are also appropriate for new users.
We recommend you to not overdose on kratom to avoid any adverse side effects.
Start from the lowest dose and increase it as per the severity of the pain but do not go overboard. Wait one or two weeks for the effects before you increase the dosage.
In case you are not too sure, you can always consult your doctor to be on the safer side. They will guide you right through the process.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is Kratom safe?
Kratom is a potent natural product with a wide range of therapeutic effects. Although it hasn’t been officially recommended for medical usage, Kratom can only be harmful when taken in high doses.
Which Kratom strain works better for pain relief?
The red vein kratom strain works best in pain management. It is a potent strain with strong effects to relieve the pain. It relaxes the body and calms your nerves.
Does kratom make you high?
When taken in higher doses, Kratom can have opioid-like effects on your body which may affect your decision-making process. It may cause a feeling of euphoria- a state of pleasure and happiness.
Can I buy kratom from offline stores?
Yes, you can at local vape shops, gas stations, and bars. There are also special kratom shops you can hit. This depends on the kratom laws in your state.
Is it safe to Buy Kratom online?
Contrary to the popular belief, it is much safer to buy kratom online than from a store. You should research about the brand, check out their lab test reports, and read the reviews online before making the purchase.