Are you wondering, ‘Does kratom actually work?’ Well, that is an open-end question because it obviously depends on why you are taking kratom whether it will work. However, the black and white answer is – yes, kratom does influence your body’s responses but the extent varies between strains.
Table of Contents
What is Kratom?
Kratom is derived from an all-natural evergreen plant that has been used for centuries in parts of Southeast Asia. The active components found in the plant are two alkaloids referred to as 7-hydroxy mitragynine and mitragynine. Both have very powerful opioid agonist properties that are indisputably effective when ingested.
How Does Kratom Actually Work?
As many as fifteen million people in the United States use kratom. Many are seeking a natural alternative treatment for pain management. The alkaloid mitragynine affects both the body’s mu and kappa opioid receptors. However, please be aware that mitragynine might have similar opioid effects but it is structurally different than common narcotic drugs. Its effects on your opioid receptors are very gentle and mild. You’ll experience no severe side effects as you do with opioids.
Kratom Vein Color Matters
If you visit an online kratom store, you’ll discover that there are many types of kratom to choose from. They are divided up by the plant’s leaf vein colors which appear as green, white, or red. The various colors have different effects on your body because they contain different levels of alkaloids.
- Red-Vein Kratom: Without a doubt, any avid kratom user will tell you that red-veined kratom is exceptionally potent. It offers mood-lifting and discomfort-relieving reactions when you use it.
- White-Vein Kratom: The white-vein kratom varieties are very energizing and uplifting. They even help to improve your focus so are a favorite to start your day using.
- Green-Vein: With the green-vein varieties the effects vary and fall somewhere in the middle between red-veined and white veined plants.
History of Kratom
The indigenous populations of Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand have regularly turned to kratom for centuries as a holistic medical treatment. Many who perform strenuous labor use the plant to ease pain and boost their energy so they can keep performing their back-breaking jobs. Also, locals have used it as a local anesthetic. Others take kratom to help ease a bad cough or overcome intestinal issues (diarrhea is believed to respond well to kratom).
Uses of Kratom
Historically, they would gather the kratom plant’s fibrous leaves to chew on. The body rapidly absorbs the alkaloids and they would then spit out the leaf debris within a few minutes. Also, they brew the kratom leaves like a tea to enjoy a hot cup while relishing the health benefits. Many within the various countries regularly drink kratom tea every morning in much the same way that the rest of the world uses coffee. In the evening hours, they gather with their friends and enjoy kratom tea as a social drink.
- Pain killer
- Energy booster
- Anti-depressant
- Anti-leukemic
- Mood enhancer
- Anti-malarial
- Immune system stimulator
- Anti-inflammatory
- Drug withdrawal relief
- Blood sugar stabilizer
Additional Benefits of Kratom
All-natural kratom is brimming with antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals that are valued to improve the user’s health.
Using Kratom for Pain Relief
Kratom is an herbal supplement that is regularly used to cope with pain. Opioid based pain killers are highly addictive and deadly if taken in excess. Kratom is a natural option that does curtail the body’s perception of pain, so you suffer less. Unlike kratom which has few (if any) side effects, synthetic pain killers tend to have a very long, dangerous list of side effects.
Many are turning to kratom to treat the following forms of pain effectively:
- Backache
- Arthritis
- Headache or migraine
- Neck soreness
- Muscle strain
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Broken bones
- Burns
- Scrapes
- Damaged or torn muscles
- Neck strain or soreness
- Chest pain
- Scoliosis
- Abdominal soreness
In addition, there are other painful conditions that benefit from kratom use.
Strains for Pain Relief
Both 7 hydroxy mitragynine and mitragynine work together to relieve pain. They activate the body’s opioid delta receptors which are what respond to the body’s pain sensitivity. If you want to discover, ‘Does kratom really work?” then you should pick very potent strains of kratom to make use of the potency of the alkaloids. Without a doubt, some strains stand out from the rest due to their alkaloid makeup.
Here are several strains that work well for pain relief. Ideally, pick ones with brilliant red veins for the most potency.
- Bali
- Borneo
- Indonesian (Indo)
- Maeng Da
Mood Stimulation
Mental strain can take a toll on your mood but kratom does offer the promise of relief. You might feel depressed and lack energy. Sure, you could make an appointment to go see your doctor and obtain a prescription for anti-depressants, but they have so many side effects that you balk at the idea. In fact, they often leave you walking around in a fog and unable to enjoy life. However, kratom has long been treasured due to its ability to stimulate the mood.
Historically, life in Southeast Asia was not always easy. Many struggled seven days a week to earn enough to eat through backbreaking labor. There wasn’t very much to be happy about in such circumstances. However, kratom was able to provide great inner peace and even create a sedative feeling that inspires safety. Of course, all mood stimulation effects vary between users and are highly dependent on the strain that you use.
If you want to use kratom to balance your mood, then you’ll want to find a well-balanced strain that has an acceptable percentage of alkaloids. Kratom refreshes your mood and is almost like hitting reboot. You instantly start to feel better. Also, you’ll feel far more motivated and ready to face the world. Your emotions will undergo a lift that helps smooth your mood out.
Relieving Depression
Depression can roll over a person for no apparent reason. Also, you might feel overcome with feelings of sadness. Maybe you have lost your enjoyment in life. Is it hard to get out of bed and perform daily functions? Of course, if your depression is severe then you need to see your physician as soon as possible, especially if you have fears that you might harm yourself.
Kratom has been shown to be highly beneficial at easing depression. You’ll also feel instantly motivated.
Strains used to ease depression include:
- Thailand (Thai)
- Maeng Da
- Malaysian (Malay)
The common leaf colors are green and white when you want to relieve depression.
Green vein kratom is the most common strain used to ease depression.
Anxiety Relief
You might suffer from anxiety for a variety of reasons. Perhaps you are a soldier returning from active duty but plagued by Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
Effective strains for anxiety include:
- Borneo
- Indo
- Bali
Borneo appears to not only help anxiety but also ease restlessness.
Using Kratom for Drug Withdrawal
As we explored in the first part of this article, kratom helps relieve pain and affects the mood. However, the plant can also help a person deal with drug withdrawal, especially from narcotics. Also, using kratom during withdrawals helps to ease the often-horrific physical symptoms experienced by those trying to get clean from drug use. In many ways, kratom eases the physical effects of drug withdrawal so that the person can finally get on their way to sobriety.
When trying to overcome drug withdrawal symptoms use:
- Maeng Da
- Bali
- Maeng Da
- Borneo
- Indo
As a result of its potency, the vein color should be red and vibrant. Therefore, very strong.
Kratoms Effects on the Body’s Immune System
Users of kratom have long valued the plant supplement for its immune system boosting abilities. The plant’s alkaloids are known as immunostimulants which strengthen the body’s immune system response. As a result, users often turn to kratom to shorten a cold, the flu, or reduce a fever. Also, kratom provides the extra boost that your immune system needs to stay healthy during cold and flu season.
The four main types of alkaloids found in kratom that are immunostimulants include:
- Mitraphylline
- Isorhynchophylline
- Isomitraphylline
- Isopteropodine
Borneo and Malay are often favored for boosting the immune system.
Understanding the Effects of Kratom
There are many strains of kratom, and their potency is dictated by their alkaloids. However, whichever strain you pick, rest assured that it is potent and effective. Also, you’ll need to learn about the different strains to determine which effects you want. Kratom is categorized under its three effects: stimulating, sedating, or moderate effects.
You’ll experience the following:
- Improved social interaction abilities
- Increased libido
- Energy boost
- Better cognitive function and mental awareness
- Balanced appetite
- Greater alertness
Likewise, if you increase your dosage, then you will start to feel opiate-like effects that last for several hours.
- Pain management
- Calm feeling
- Cough relief
- Improved mental state
- Helps reduce the symptoms of opiate withdrawal
You should always avoid taking a large dose of kratom. You could experience sedation and unconsciousness. Ideally, you should start out with a low dose and then gradually work your up. Similarly, remember that some types are more potent than others.
When asking, ‘Does kratom actually work?’ the answer is yes to varying degrees. As you can see, the strain type matters significantly and so does the dosage.
Thank you so much for this article, it is very in-depth. I’m really interested in natural medicine, but have never heard of this product before, sounds really interesting. Do you think this would be a useful replacement for coffee? I love my morning hit but am looking for something else that could give me a burst of energy without the usual jitters…
Hey there. We have written an article on the best type of strain based on customer feedback that has been replaced with their morning coffee. It also discusses the differences between the two.
Here’s the blog post below:
Kratom and Coffee: How Different Are The Two? – My Kratom Club
Hi, interesting information. Can children use it as well?
Thank you Rehina for taking the time to leave your question.
Kratom is not to be used by children or anyone under the age of 21.
Adults with any type of condition and/or taking medication are strongly advised to consult their physician prior to using kratom.
Hi, thank you for let me read your newest article. This is such amazing information. Every time I saw something ref Kratom word makes me feel so eager to assimilate and collect everything I can.
Does Kratom works, I can say that I have no doubt that work and I certainly said bcs I believe that this plant have such an amasing qualities and attributes. And even without any consuming I deeply believe in its efficiency bcs of the alkaloids found in kratom are immunostimulants and all body will benefits from it.
I have I believe same old question from where in UK or Europe can I buy Kratom, the Maeng Da pls? Thank you 😊 many blessings 🙏
It definitely seems like a much better option that your typical chemical pain killers from the chemist as precribed usually by your General practitioner. As far as the Opioid side of things goes, I see it says that the side effects are much less than with regular opioids but what is it’s addictiveness? Can this be addictive?
Kwidzin it is great to see that you are browsing multiple pages of our site and asking important questions.
The short answer to your question is yes.
However, if taken responsibly it has shown to be more beneficial than a problem based on our customer feedback and findings from the American Kratom Association.
Everyone is different when it comes to dosage so we provide a general dosage guide to follow for beginners and for those needing a refresher of what a responsible kratom user should take.
Please see the guide below:
https://mykratomclub.com/krato…
In addition please take a look at another article we took some time to write which discusses kratom and addiction.
https://mykratomclub.com/6-rea…
It’s a lot of information to take in with the two referenced articles but really takes a deep dive into fully answering your questions and providing a good understanding of addiction and how to approach the proper responsible dosage of kratom.
Over the years we have attempted to write about every subject we feel is important along with answering customer questions such as those you have asked us.
Our entire library of information can be found at https://mykratomclub.com/blog/
Kratom is truly a miracle plant. The benefits far outweigh the risks of taking it and it is better for your health to use natural pain killers than other drugs. I will definitely be looking into this super healer more closely and I like the fact I can drink it as a tea!
Thanks, Janine for taking the time to comment.
We have nearly 200 articles on the kratom topic.
If interested check out some articles on our blog at the below link:
Blog – My Kratom Club
Cheers!
Hi there! Absolutely enjoyed this dope post about kratom. It was a very educational experience reading your article because before I found your post, I had little knowledge of what kratom was and only heard about it throughout the internet. I’ve never used kratom before but the benefits you listed such as treating pain , energy boost, and improvements in mental health has made me curious to try kratom for myself. What kind of products does kratom typically come in? Oils, Leaves, Liquids?
Hi Gabriel.
It is always nice for us to read comments from visitors that they enjoyed viewing our articles and found them to be helpful. 🙂
It is important to us that we provide as much knowledge as possible about kratom and overall and the best kratom products available, what to look out for.
Kratom is available in the raw powder form, in gelatin capsules, and in the form of a kratom extract.
Those that use the powder make tea, smoothies, and other drinks to enjoy the supplement.
The capsules are the most popular as they can be taken places conveniently and are consumed quickly and more easily than the powder.
The kratom extract liquid shots is a process where the alkaloids from the kratom are extracted from the powder creating a liquid that is the most potent form of the herb.
We wrote an in-depth article that discusses the different ways to take kratom and you can read it HERE.
I think we went a bit above and beyond in answering your question about the different forms of kratom available but want to be sure we provide the best and most up-to-date information.
Let us know your thoughts in the comment section on any of the other blogs.
Thanks, Gabriel!
Wow thanks for this in depth article! I had only ever read about Kratom in relation to festival recovery and drug withdraw and had no idea it had all these other benefits. With all of these benefits, it’s a good thing this plant is legal. I hope it will be kept that way, as marijuana itself, starts to become legal. Thanks for sharing.
Good day, I’m pleased to meet you. I have gone through the post you provided, and I find it to be very important, educative and interesting. Well, I had never come across or heard of Kratom before so I learned a lot about it; its history and its benefits. I’m thrilled by how it can be used to treat pain. This is helpful, thanks for sharing.
This is a very educational post on does kratom actually work. It was interesting to see how many health uses it has and the effects you might experience. It is very reassuring to see that it is far less addictive than narcotics.
I have been wondering how does kratom compare with marijuana or CBD? Do they work in similar ways, or are they completely different?
Line, happy you asked.
The article below should help:
https://mykratomclub.com/krato…
Your post really opened my eyes as I have never heard of Kratom before, being an RN and licensed acupuncturist. I definitely will save your site because I may be able to incorporate it into my practice when I work as an acupuncturist and herbalist. Thank you for giving me one more way to help patients with their pain and other issues.
Kratom is a product that we don’t know or use in my country. Reading your article, I learned a lot about its benefits, and it seems a great solution regarding various pain relief and mood stimulation. I know that I can buy this product online, but I have a question. Do you recommend consulting a doctor about starting it as a pain relief product? For how long can I take it to improve my health and have less pain from arthritis?
Thank you for this article.
Alketa
Hi Alketa.
Your taking the time to ask a couple of questions is great and we love to answer them for those with similar questions and browsing the comments.
1) Yes consulting a doctor prior to using kratom is best
2) Arthritis is a condition that customers have stated they have had positive results from taking kratom on a daily basis in a responsible manner.
Please take a look at our kratom dosage guide to learn more:
9 Steps for the Perfect Kratom Dosage – My Kratom Club
Thanks again for your questions and thoughts Alketa. 🙂
Very informative article on how kratom works and why people use it.I find it fascinating how long the herb has been around in Southeast Asia. Good to know that if the products are used responsible it can benefit you and most won’t create a dependence like other things. Definitely interested to learn more.
Thanks, Miseal for your comment and yes the energy benefits of kratom have been used for over 2 centuries in Southeast Asia. It is important of course to take kratom responsibly. Check out our dosage guide HERE if you are interested.
I have never heard of Kratom so your article is very informative but I would be a bit reluctant as to the potential of getting addicted to it. I am not convinced that taking it on a regular basis is not having any effects which cannot be regulated easily. Is there anything to prove that it is not harmful?
Hi Angleika.
Appreciate you taking the time to leave your thoughts.
Kratom is an all natural supplement which means that the FDA does not regulate the products nor are they tested by the government.
Nobody has died from just taking Kratom.
We always recommend never mixing natural supplements with any other medications without consulting your physician.
The best information available is the millions of people taking the supplement without significant symptoms and all the feedback of how Kratom has changed their lives.
– MKC
Someone had mentioned Kratom the other day but until then I’d never heard of it. It sounds like the various strains of Kratom can provide relief for many different ailments. It’s amazing that it brings the same type of relief as opioids, which we all know are highly addictive and deadly, without being addictive. I’m curious how you chose the brand that you’re selling over the others out there. Thanks!
Thanks a lot for sharing with us this amazing article about Kratom and all the useful explanation given here.
This herbal supplement is very useful and for me the biggest benefits are that it treats damaged or torn muscles. Because I go to the gym for almost 6 years, this supplement would help me a lot in recovering from heavy workouts but also avoiding injuries.
This is the first I am hearing about this product. It caught my interest because for several years I suffered from depression and anxiety disorders. I hardly slept well and was given medication to ease the conditions. The problem was that I have never been one to like the dependence on drugs and the doctor told me that I would be on his prescription for a very long time. This detailed description of the various strains of Kratom tells me that this is what could have helped me at the time. When one has depression and anxiety, the solution lies in working on yourself over a long time, but in the instant you need relief. It has to be one with little or no addictive qualities. Thank you for this introduction.
Hey! ,and please can children take Kratom ?
Normally , everything about Ever green plants are generally good an example could be Kratom
I understand Kratom vein colors really matters and some of their colors includes :White, Red and green and various colors contribute in affecting your body response , because they contain different alkaloids and that’s really good
That’s really good blog about Kratom and your everything is in alignment of your Title and nice job
Hi Isaac,
Thanks for stopping by.
We do not recommend children take Kratom.
This supplement is best used for pain, anxiety, depression, energy, and mood elevation.
Hopefully all of these things children do not need.
If your children need any sort of treatment please reach out to your physician as the doctor knows best. 🙂
– MKC
As one who is learning more and more how Eastern medicine can benefit, and usually with fewer side effects, I was glad to stumble upon your article. Very informative, as many of my goto otc pain medication affects my kidney, sometimes harshly. And I currently only have one working kidney. I had turned to CBD oil, as it is now legal in BC Canada, and do not necessarily see the positive effects I had hoped for. General overall back pain and inability to relax and sleep soundly are my main concerns. It does seem this is a product for me to look into more closely. Hopefully, available in Canada?
Hi Leona,
Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment. Happy you found us!
CBD does work well for pain but we have received more postitive feedback from Kratom overall
Be sure to check out all of the articles we have on the site by clicking HERE.
You can really learn a lot about Kratom as we have worked very hard to put together a large amount of information on the subject.
We also just wrote an article that compares Kratom to CBD.
Check it out HERE and let us know what you think.
– MKC
Thank you so much for sharing this excellent article. To be honest, before I came across this article, I never heard of Kraton yet. I learned so much reading your highly informative article, thank you for sharing this with us. It seems like there are lots of benefits Kratom can be used for. I will bookmark this page and recommend my husband to use this as a pain relief for his sore back, he may benefit from it. Do you know of it has any side effects while using Kratom. Kind regards Jude
Hey Jude!
Thanks for stopping by.
Side effects are very mild but it is always good to know all the facts.
Nausea, headache, and general stomach sickness can happen.
If taken per our general Kratom Dosage Guide you can find by clicking HERE you should not have little to no side effects.
– MKC
Thank you for this post. It is extremely informative and very interesting. I will definitely consider trying Kratom to help me with my back pain. It has so many use and a large array of potential for many illness and health issues. It is almost unbelievable! It seems like there is none to few side effects other than unconsciousness if you take too much?
Thanks!
Hi Olivier.
The side effects are for the most part mild.
It is always best to ask your physician prior to taking any natural supplements to be safe.
– MKC
Hi,
I personally prefer natural remedies to prescription medications. I like the idea that kratom can be used as an anti-depressant, energy booster and anti-inflammatory. I know a lot of disease, and pain is due to inflammation. Did not know there were different types of Kratom to treat different ailments. Depression, anti-anxiety, drug withdrawal and many more. You have definitely got me sold on this product, through your research and honest approach. I do have your site bookmarked, as I find it presents value to me.
Thank you,
Michael
Thank you for your post. It is useful for me. I have back pain and my doctor suggest me to take medicine. I don’t like the idea and would like to try natural ways of relieving my back pain. I did some research, but don’t find the optimal one for me.
Here comes your article. It is what I am looking for. Kratom is derived from an all-natural evergreen plant that has been tested being safe.
As you mentioned that there are 15 millions people in the US who use Kratom. I think that these 15 million people could not be wrong. I am definitely going to try this. Could I ask you where can I buy this?
Thanks Anthony.
Happy Kratom might help.
You can purchase Kratom and local head shops.
You can also purchase Kratom on our site and look at the product descriptions prior to purchasing.
Check out our store when you get the chance.
mykratomclub.com/shop
– MKC
I am so glad that I came across your site, you have given a detailed account of the uses and benefits of Kratom. I am still learning about Kratom, even though I have been using it over the last few months. Finding indepth articles seems to be quite difficult, certainly ones that gives a more detailed overview of the different types and strains.
I came across Kratom whilst loking for a natural pain relief product for my wife, who suffers from chronic pain in her hands. Although the results were excellent, she struggled with the taste, so had to have it with yoghurt and there’s only so many yoghurts you can eat in a day. Having looked though your store, I notice that it’s available in tablet form, which I didn’t realise. That might be a viable alternative to the powder.
I’m surprised I haven’t tried Kratom yet. While each persons’ experience may be different, I know at least that Kratom does work! I have many friends who use it regularly and, with great results.
I’ve heard tale of a few people using too much of it but, isn’t that the case with so many things? Too much caffeine, alcohol, over the counter meds, prescription meds, too much unhealthy processed foods! The list is endless. Everything in moderation is my balance and, I think Kratom would be a nice addition to my weekly routines.
I never read about the different varieties and their veins and potency levels before today! I don’t know about your other readers but, I could always use some anxiety relief. With the state of things right now another solid immune booster and, overall well-being enhancer is what my internal doctor has ordered!
Wow, this must be one of the most interesting and niche sites I have seen. I am very interested in herbal and alternative remedies and thought I knew a few but until I discovered your site, I had never heard of Kratom before. An alternative remedy that works for pain management. Fascinating to learn that it has South East Asia origins. I do believe the time of antibiotics (I know pain killers are not anti-biotics but it’s the general point I am making) has reached the end of the road, this may well be what the world needs for pain relief now. And it appears to have so many other advantages too. The risk of addiction is clearly something that needs to be guarded against, but managed carefully, I am sure it is, as you describe.
It also seems to have some impressive applications in terms of helping people kick a drug addiction too. And it boosts your immune system. Impressive.
I like the way you have describe Kratom. It’s a terrific site, I have bookmarked it for future reference as it may be something I can recommend to friends.
Hello, Very interesting this article about Kratom. It seems to be a choice for many amnesias that caused pain in our bodies. You suggest starting in a low dose, but how to increase the dose in continuation, must consult a doctor or increase the dose when I still have pain. Please, can you tell me if there is a limitation regarding the age of the user? Can a kid or a pregnant woman use the Kratom?
Hi Alketa.
We definitely do not recommend children under the age of 18 taking Kratom nor while pregnant.
It is always best to run taking any natural supplements by your doctor prior to use.
We aren’t doctors but we do love to share as much information about this amazing plant as we can. 🙂
– MKC
I have pain in my legs at night, especially when trying to relax and go to sleep. Currently taking two different prescriptions for pain. I will have to look into the Kratom solution and discuss with my doctor. Will the Kratom interact with diabetes medication resulting in spike? See that it used as an energy booster as well that is a plus.
Hey there Jannette.
That’s a great question and one that is best to ask your doctor.
Everyone is so different.
Thanks for stopping by and let us know what your doctor thinks if you get the chance to stop by again.
– MKC
Really interesting this Kratom plant, never imagine something like that.
Good website, very informative, I will like to try it, the environment is very friendly, I like the alternative soliútions that the plant offers like a therapy, I hope all goes well and you get lots of attention.
However, we still illegal in many places, another fight to make.
Good luck.
Aref
Well! I believe that we all have our opinions but I can say definitely yes that Kratom works greatly because I have used it before and I would not deny how shocked I was to see it work. Also, I have friends who makes use of it too so, I believe it works perfectly okay. Thanks for the post
Hello
Your article is so amazing. I am happy to read this article. If you fell Mental strain it can take a toll on your mood but kratom does offer the promise of relief. My brother uses this product and he told me this is a great product.
Your article is very important and informative. I am sharing this article with my friends. Best of luck for you and your website. Keep posting this type of article.
Thank you
Thank you for this great overview article on Kratom. I come from Malaysia and didn’t know what Kratom was until reading your article. In Malaysian language, we call it “Sirih” and I do remember seeing an old lady chewing on these while she was manning her “peanut stall”. She would chew on the leaves and then spit it out just as you said. Quite frankly it looks absolutely disgusting as it will be all red… ugh… Anyway, I never knew these had such pain reducing, mood affecting properties, so its great to know especially I can feel my joint pains coming more now. Making them and drinking them as tea does sound like a good proposition and I will certainly try to look this up – although I am not sure if I can get this in Australia where I live now.
Hey Steve.
Very happy you can see the potential.
Unfortunately Australia is one of those places where Kratom is not legal.
We hope that the government soon see the benefits of this amazing plant.
– MKC
Your guide is very helpful for everyone. Mental strain can take a toll on your mood but kratom does offer the promise of relief. You might feel depressed and lack energy. Sure, you could make an appointment to go see your doctor and obtain a prescription for anti-depressants, but they have so many side effects that you balk at the idea.
Thank you Harish for taking the time to leave your thoughts.
– MKC