Anxiety and depression are becoming common ailments today, thanks to the busy lifestyle, odd working hours, and hectic work schedules.
According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA), nearly 40 million American adults suffer from conditions of anxiety and depression. This is roughly 18% of the adult population.
While these numbers in themselves are huge, a meager 40% of those suffering opt to get treatment.
The reasons are many. Society still doesn’t view either of these conditions as genuine and requiring treatment. Those having these conditions are simply perceived to be weak.
So, what is the workaround then? In this article, we will be examining the efficacy of the use of Kratom to treat anxiety and depression.
We will also discuss some of the best kratom strains that can provide relief from the debilitating symptoms associated with these conditions.
Kratom for Anxiety and Depression:
Before we get into detail about the various strains that are the best to treat anxiety and depression, let us quickly run through a few popular and some unknown facts about Kratom.
- The Kratom tree is scientifically known as Mitragnya speciosa.
- Kratom extract has great medicinal value.
- It was used extensively in traditional medicine in many southeast Asian countries including India and China and most of the Indian Ocean Islands.
- To this day, Kratom is a popular therapeutic ingredient preferred by those local to the areas where Katom is extensively cultivated
- It is a close cousin to the coffee plant though entirely not similar.
- There are many strains of Kratom. The classification is based upon:
- The area of cultivation
- Type of leaf
- Color of the veins on the leaf.
- Each Kratom strain has its own unique characteristics and therapeutic properties.
- In general Kratom strains can provide relief from various conditions such as chronic pain, inflammation, anxiety, depression, insomnia, loss of appetite, etc.
Why Kratom for Anxiety and Depression?
If you have been suffering from anxiety or depression for quite some time or have a chronic condition of either of them, you know how difficult getting the right treatment can be.
Over-the-counter medications, prescription medications, and treatment methods are limited and can be a hit-and-miss at times.
Most of these treatments are also associated with powerful side effects and stop working after some time.
This is one of the main reasons for a growing interest in the role of Kratom in treating various conditions and symptoms that are associated with anxiety and depression without much abuse potential.
How Kratom can Treat Anxiety and Depression?
One of the unique features of Kratom is the presence of compounds called alkaloids.
The concentration of these alkaloids dictates to a large extent, the medicinal properties of Kratom.
Alkaloid levels depend on the presence of Alkaloids in the soil, the nature of the Kratom tree and leaves, and weather conditions such as exposure to sunlight and humidity, where the kratom plant is grown.
Each alkaloid is associated with a different set of therapeutic properties.
Knowledge of these Kratoms and their associated properties can help you decide which Kratom will benefit you the best.
Today, we will be talking about the three best Kratom strains that will help deal with anxiety and depression.
Best Kratom Strains for Anxiety and Depression
#1. Maeng Da Kratom
This is one of the most potent among all the Kratom strains.
It is mostly grown in the forests of Southeast Asia. Extensive cultivation of these strains mostly happens in the tropical forests of Indonesia, Thailand, Hong Kong, Banut, etc.
The origins of this strain are not clear. But it is a well-known fact that the locals and farmers consumed the leaves of this Kratom strain regularly.
The weather in these countries can be quite punishing with hot, humid climates. Long working hours and the punishing climate were quite difficult for workers and locals to handle.
⇒ Visit the official website of Maeng Da Kratom
They started resorting to chewing these leaves to get relief from the body pains that were a result of the long working hours.
Locals also started observing that these leaves improved their alertness and gave them more stamina to carry on with their day. At times, chewing these leaves also brought down fevers and provided relief from common diseases.
Gradually, the locals began to understand the significance of these leaves, and chewing them became a part of their routine.
Maeng Da Kratom contains a blend of highly potent alkaloids. This renders Maeng Da with powerful medicinal properties.
These characteristics make Maeng Da quite popular among users. There is a constant high demand for this Kratom strain.
The name Maeng Da means “Pimp Grade” in the local version. Some say that this naming itself suggests how potent this strain can be.
Types of Maeng Da Kratom:
Every Kratom strain is of three varieties. This classification is based on the color of the veins that run through the leaves. They are red, white, and green.
Based on the place of origin and the color of the vein, there are six popular varieties of Maeng Da Kratom.
They include:
- Thailand Maeng Da:
- Difficult to cultivate and hard to find
- Most expensive and rare among all the Kratom strains
- Indonesian Maeng Da:
- Quick-acting among all the Maeng Da strains
- Acts as a perfect mood booster
- Long term usage can induce relaxation and stimulation effects.
- Malaysian Maeng Da:
- Relatively less potent among the Kratom strains
- Slow acting
- Associated with lesser side effects.
- Acts as a muscle relaxant and a brain stimulant
- Green Maeng Da:
- Improves confidence levels and creates a sense of euphoria.
- Creates hyperactivity
- It doesn’t act fast but the effects last longer.
- Quite helpful in social settings especially for those who aren’t comfortable around people.
- Creates a feeling of overall well-being.
- Red Maeng Da:
- High on alkaloids
- A strong strain that packs quite a punch.
- Quick-acting, powerful and long-lasting.
- Improves attention and focus.
- Great stimulator.
- Works as a pain-reliever, especially for those suffering from chronic pain.
- Excellent for chronic depression. Helps people self-motivate.
- May cause insomnia and panic attacks in newbies.
- Not suitable for those prone to panic attacks
- White Maeng Da
This strain was designed specifically for the farmers and workers who were sweating through the long working hours.
- Helps deal with pain and tiredness that usually affect hard workers.
- Improves confidence in social settings.
- Helps with severe pains, especially of the chronic kind.
- Stimulates, energizes, relieves tension and stress, and renders an overall relaxed feeling.
- Great for end-of-the-day stress relief.
Maeng Da Kratom for Anxiety and Depression:
As we already know, the Maeng strain was grafted specifically to suit the needs of local workers who were exposed to long working hours and harsh working conditions in an extremely humid environment.
The strain in general is highly potent. The therapeutic qualities of Maeng Da can be attributed to the high levels of Alkaloids, especially 7-Hydroxymitragynine.
Some of the therapeutic properties of Maeng Da include:
- Pain relief, especially in chronic pain conditions
- Relief from stress and anxiety
- Relaxation
- Increase in confidence levels
- Boost in energy levels
- Improvement in mood and concentration.
- Acts as a sedative, helping those with chronic insomnia and chronic anxiety.
Maeng Da is the top Kratom choice for those suffering from anxiety and depression. This strain is especially helpful to those who have tried all other forms of medication, have not found any relief, and are looking for alternative therapies to cure severe cases of chronic anxiety, depression, and insomnia.
If you are trying Maeng Da for the first time, you must be careful, as this strain is quite potent. You can start off with small doses, see how it affects you, and then increase the dosage depending on necessity.
Always remember to take the help of an expert or a trained person when starting Maeng Da Kratom for anxiety and depression.
⇒ Buy From the official website of Maeng Da Kratom
Side Effects of Maeng Da Kratom:
Maeng Da Kratom is a strong Kratom strain. Side effects of taking this Kratom include:
- Jitteriness
- Insomnia
- Tiredness.
- Dry mouth
- Constipation
- Lightheadedness
- Indigestion, bloating, etc.
- Dry mouth/Cottonmouth
- Thirst
Overdosing on this strain can cause side effect such as
- Confusion
- Agitation
- Increased heartbeat
- Raised blood pressure.
- Hallucinations
- Seizures etc.
At the end of this article, we will also share some information on the right way to dose Kratom for safe and effective use.
#2. Red Vein Bali Kratom
This strain of Kratom is quite popular for its relaxing and calming effects on the body. It acts slowly when compared to other Kratom strains such as Maeng Da Kratom.
Apart from having relaxing properties, Red Vein Bali Kratom is also prized for its pain-killing and sedative effects.
The red-veined variety of Kratom belonging to any strain is generally potent. This is because the trees grow tall and strong and are exposed to the UV rays of the sun.
This helps in slow and gradual drying of the leaves preserving the alkaloid content much better when compared to the quick-drying that happens on a commercial scale.
⇒ Visit the official website of Red Vein Bali Kratom
Always remember, if you are new to Kratom, using Red vein for the first time may prove risky due to the potency levels. You may want to consider trying green-veined Kratom first before shifting to using Red vein.
Red Vein Bali Kratom is highly potent. This is due to the presence of nearly 40 different alkaloids. Each of these alkaloids provides relief from different health conditions. This makes the Red Vein Bali Kratom one of the most effective Kratoms for alternate therapy.
When taken in the right dose, this Kratom can be quite useful. On the flip-side though, Red Vein Bali Kratom can exhibit opioid-like properties. You should be very careful when using this Kratom strain.
Novices to Kratom should be especially careful when starting Red Vien Bali Kratom. Start with 1 to 2 gm to see the effects of this Kratom on your body.
At low doses, Red Bali Kratom is known to calm you down and relax you, and mildly sedate. The result is that you will experience improved concentration and focus.
At moderate doses, you can experience calmness and a soothing feeling. An improved mood, relaxed mind, and sleepiness are some of the effects of moderate dosage of red vein Bali Kratom.
The effects of Red Vein Bali Kratom include:
- Relief from pain, especially chronic pain conditions.
- Relaxation from stress and anxiety
- Improvement in the mood.
- A feeling of inner peace and calm.
- Improvement in focus and concentration.
- Relaxation of muscles, thus relaxing the whole body.
- Sedation
Dosage:
As with any Kratom strain, the correct dosage for Red Bali Kratom depends on various factors such as your weight and body build, your level of tolerance to the Kratom, etc.
As a general guideline though, the following dosage levels are recommended:
For a mild improvement in energy and moods – 2 to 4 gm
For a moderate improvement in mood and reduction in pain -4 to 6 gm
For chronic pain and sedation – 8 to 10 gm.
Always stay below 10gm. Anything above these levels is considered an overdose.
⇒ Buy from the official website of Red Vein Bali Kratom
Side Effects:
Just like any medications, Red Vein Bali Kratom is associated with certain side effects. Most of these are mild and go away with time and continuous usage. Drinking lots of water will also help combat most of these side effects
Milder side effects include:
- Dry mouth
- Nausea
- Headaches
- Blurry vision
- Constipation
- Diarrhea
- Stomach issues
More serious side effects that warrant stopping use of the Kratom immediately include:
- Hallucinations
- Palpitations.
Both of these side effects may indicate an overdose.
Once these effects have completely vanished, you can restart the Kratom on lower doses to see if they suit you. Then you can continue using this Kratom for anxiety and depression.
#3. Red Borneo Kratom
As the name suggests, Red Borneo Kratom originated and is extensively cultivated in the island country of Borneo.
Red-veined Kratom has a higher concentration of alkaloids which means it is good at providing relief from certain conditions including anxiety and depression.
These particular Kratom leaves are picked from the highest part of the tree which are exposed to lots of sunlight, which means natural sun-drying and higher alkaloid content.
Red Borneo Kratom gives ultimate relaxation to your body and mind. The effects last-long making it one of the more sought after Kratom varieties
⇒ Visit the official website of Red Borneo Kratom
This Kratom strain provides the following therapeutic properties to its users:
- Improvement in mood
- Relief from pain and inflammation
- Euphoria
- Relief from insomnia
- Muscle relaxation
- Improvement in mood and confidence levels.
Dosage:
Red Borneo Kratom is highly potent and hence a minimal dosage of 1 to 2 gm will be sufficient to achieve the desired result.
More experienced users can try experimenting with doses ranging from 2 to 5 mg. The Kratom starts working within a few minutes and the effects range from euphoria to pain relief to sedation.
For this Kratom strain 4 to 6 gm is considered a strong dosage due to its high potency levels.
⇒ Buy From the official website of Red Borneo Kratom
Side Effects:
Like any other Kratom strains, the side effects of this strain include:
- Cottonmouth or Dry mouth
- Headaches
- Dizziness
- Mild insomnia
- Nausea and vomitings
- Diarrhea
- Constipation
- Lightheadedness
Best Kratom Strain For Anxiety and Depression – Dosage guide:
As with any kind of medication, the appropriate dosage is the key to enjoy the full effects of Kratom. While underdosing will lead to no visible effects, overdosing can cause serious side effects that may warrant a trip to the ER.
Zeroing in on the right dosage that is most suitable for you requires trial and error and good guidance from an experienced professional.
The right dosage varies from person to person.
Factors affecting the right Kratom dosage:
- Body Build:
Your height and weight are some of the key factors that affect the dosage of Kratom that best suits you.
A slight build means that a low dosage is enough to achieve the desired effects. the Kratom gets absorbed quickly into your bloodstream, reaches the target areas quickly, and starts giving you the desired effect in no time.
If you are of a bulky build, the Kratom requires more time to enter the bloodstream. The effects show up slowly and you will also require comparatively more Kratom to achieve the required effect.
- Experience with Kratom:
Whether you are a novice/beginner or an experienced user or somewhere in between will decide the appropriate dosage of Kratom.
If you are a novice, you must always start with a minimal dosage which is about 1 to 2 gm.
You must also remember that Kratom takes a minimum of 30 minutes to an hour to start showing its effect. So wait for an hour or two before taking an additional dose.
- Required Effects:
If you are looking for mild relaxation, a mild dose will suffice.
In case you are a chronic sufferer and are looking for powerful relaxing or sedating effects, you can opt for moderate to high doses of Kratom.
Always remember, stick to mild doses if you are new to Kratom.
A seasoned user can opt for moderate to high doses.
Overdosing always leads to unwanted effects. Learning what is best for your particular Kratom variety will help you decide the dosage you must stay within to avoid overdosing.
Deciding on the Right Kratom Dose for Anxiety and Depression:
Finalizing the right dose that is perfect for you can often be tricky and requires a few trial and error attempts.
Too low doses can be ineffective while high doses can knock you off.
Here are a few steps to help you arrive at that magic number dose that will help you get the effects you have always craved.
- Always start with a minimal dose of 1 to 2 gm.
- Wait for about 30 mins to an hour to understand how this dosage is affecting you.
- If you do not feel any change, you can take a repeat dose of 3 to 5gm, wait for a couple of hours and then increase the dosage as needed.
- It is always advisable to stay within a threshold of 10 to 12 gm to be on the safe side.
- Depending on the strain, crossing this threshold can result in overdose and unwanted effects.
- Always take guidance from an expert when starting off for the first time.
- They will help you decide which strain of Kratom will best suit you depending on your symptoms and desired results.
How to take Kratom for Anxiety and Depression:
Different strains of Kratom can be consumed in one of the following ways:
1. Capsule form:
Many vendors sell Kratom capsules for anxiety and depression.
Capsules have a few advantages over other methods of taking Kratom.
Since they come pre-dosed, you needn’t worry about dosing your Kratom properly.
If you particularly dislike the strong earthy flavor of Kratom, capsules mask these flavors for you making it easy to ingest them.
Capsules are a discreet way of taking Kratom too.
They are especially useful when you are traveling.
On the flip side, though, capsules take time to work when compared to consuming them directly.
2. Powder form- Toss and Wash method:
This is a very effective method of consuming Kratom for quick results.
You simply take the required amount of Kratom onto your tongue, take a bit of water, swirl the powder and water together for a couple of minutes and then ingest it.
It gets quickly absorbed when compared to the capsule method.
Alternately, you can also place the powder sublingually for quicker absorption.
This method may not be suitable if you do not savor the taste of Kratom.
3. Powder form – Food Additive:
Many prefer adding Kratom to their smoothies, breakfast shakes, soups, salads, etc.
Some even resort to baking with Kratom powder.
This method is useful when you do not like the taste of Kratom.
Buying Kratom consumed this way may take longer to show positive effects.
4. Powder/Leaf form – Infused tea:
Some may prefer infusing teas and coffees with Kratom leaves or Kratom powder.
This method is perfect for those who want to consume extremely low doses of Kratom and are looking forward to a calm, relaxing day ahead.
All in all, Kratom is an effective option for those struggling with anxiety and depression and looking for alternative therapy options to get relief from the associated symptoms.