Kratom belongs to the coffee family and is found on a tropical evergreen tree that is native to Southeast Asia. Traditionally, people have consumed kratom by either chewing its leaves or brewing it into teas. As the use of kratom has spread to Europe and the United States, more people are consuming kratom as a powder.
When you harvest kratom at the right time, it contains the maximum amount of alkaloids in its leaves. In fact, alkaloids are what give kratom its many benefits. The two main alkaloids in kratom are mitragynine and 7-a-hydromitragyine. Both interact with the receptors in your brain. Small doses produce a caffeine-like effect, while larger doses produce a sedative-like effect. In larger quantities, kratom can be used for pain relief or as a stress reducer.
The Effects of Kratom
One study showed that a few grams of dried leaves gave people a feeling of euphoria, which they felt within 10 minutes of taking the dried leaves. This sense of euphoria lasted for about an hour and a half. When larger doses were taken, users experienced a sedative effect, which lasted for hours.
Why Do People Take Kratom?
While Southeast Asia uses kratom for medicinal effects, such as a cough suppressant, an antidiarrheal, or an intestinal deworming agent, its uses have expanded due to its alkaloid properties. Here are some other ways people use kratom:
• Pain relief: Kratom’s 7-a-hydromitragyine alkaloid attaches to the opioid receptor in the brain. This receptor is the same receptor that is stimulated by any pain medication. Kratom can help manage severe physical pain.
• Improved focus and alertness: When taken in small doses, kratom acts as a stimulant, much like coffee. It can alleviate fatigue and increase alertness.
• Antimicrobial properties: Kratom’s antimicrobial properties can help relieve fungal and bacterial infections, such as digestive tract infections.
• Anti-inflammatory effects: Kratom is an all-natural way to reduce inflammation in your body. Essentially, it acts as a muscle relaxant.
• Reduces anxiety: In a study of 2,798 people who were using kratom, 67% people used it to reduce anxiety and 91% of people used it as a pain reliever.
• Bronchodilation: Kratom can help with bronchodilatory effects. This means it can help open up your airways, making it easier to breathe.
• Antioxidant effects: Kratom also has antioxidant properties. Antioxidants help the body fight off harmful chemicals called free radicals.
What Are the 4 Ways You Can Make Kratom Stronger?
The standard dosage of kratom is 2.5 grams. This is equivalent to about one teaspoon of kratom powder. Because kratom has sedative effects when taken in large quantities, it’s important to stick to the standard dosage.
However, there are ways to make kratom stronger. This is known as “kratom potentiation,” and you essentially achieve this by adding different herbs or botanicals to enhance its effects. If you’re looking for some kratom potentiators, here are some to try.
1. Grapefruit
Grapefruit contains compounds called furanocoumarins that can help enhance kratom and other medications. In fact, the interaction between grapefruit and some medications is sometimes referred to as the “grapefruit effect.” How does grapefruit do this?
The furanocoumarins in grapefruit block the action of the CYP3A4 enzyme, an enzyme found in your intestines. The CYP3A4 typically metabolizes drugs, herbs, and medications, but when blocked it can no longer metabolize kratom as fast. Instead, kratom enters your bloodstream and stays there longer. This increases the effect of kratom and extends its relaxation effects.
In addition, because kratom’s metabolism is slowed down by the grapefruit, more of its alkaloid compounds enter your bloodstream and reach your opioid receptors. This can result in better sleep or deeper states of relaxation.
Since grapefruit increases the potency of kratom, you may need to take lower doses to achieve the same effect. This is beneficial as it can help reduce any side effects that may come with higher doses. Mix kratom powder with 8 ounces of grapefruit juice, and stir well.
2. Chamomile Tea
Chamomile tea is a relaxant that can help improve your sleep and your digestion. When you combine chamomile with kratom, the two herbs will complement each other, giving you different layers of relaxation. For example, chamomile targets the body and digestive system while kratom targets the brain’s opioid receptors. Both achieve relaxation in different ways. When you mix them, you can achieve a more wholesome and longer-lasting relaxation experience. Both chamomile and kratom are also stress reducers, and when used together, they can help the body in times of high stress with their calming effects.
Mixing chamomile with kratom may reduce some of the bitterness that you may experience by taking the powder or eating the leaves by themselves, too. It can be a perfect bedtime drink. Mix your chamomile/kratom tea with a dash of lemon juice or a bit of honey for added sweetness.
3. Caffeine
Caffeine is a great pick-me-upper every morning, and it works synergistically with kratom. If you want an extra boost of alertness and focus, mix a little bit of powder into your morning cup of coffee. The synergistic effect can also help improve your cognitive function, improve your mental stamina, and increase your ability to handle stress.
Caffeine also helps extend the effects of kratom. Since both kratom and caffeine act as stimulants, the double effect of taking both leads to longer-lasting benefits.
Caffeine may enhance the absorption of kratom as well, which can help make kratom stronger. By mixing caffeine with kratom, kratom gets delivered to your bloodstream more efficiently. Caffeine also makes kratom more accessible for the body to use.
If you want to increase your focus or need to stay alert for a while, add a standard dose of kratom to your morning cup of coffee.
4. Freezing Kratom
One of the best ways to potentiate your kratom is to freeze it. You can freeze it with your juice and have it as a popsicle or freeze it into ice cubes.
When you freeze kratom, you preserve its nutrient contents. The alkaloids in kratom may degrade a little with traditional drying methods. Freezing, however, helps lock in its nutrients, ensuring that you get more of them when you consume it.
More importantly, however, is that freezing kratom breaks down the plant’s cell walls. This action releases the alkaloids faster when you consume them, making them more accessible for your body to absorb. Once you break down the plant walls, the bioavailability of kratom increases. This simply means your body can absorb a greater amount, and you’ll feel the effects better.
You can freeze kratom by mixing it with grapefruit juice, lemon juice, or even chamomile tea. Combine two teaspoons of juice with half a cup of water and one dose of kratom. Freeze this paste for a minimum of 30 minutes. When you’re ready to consume it, remove the paste from the freezer, let it thaw, and combine it with your favorite drink.
Conclusion
Kratom is a natural herb that offers many benefits. Although most people use it as a pain reliever, it can also help ease anxiety, increase alertness, and even help with some medical issues. Besides the kratom potentiators mentioned above, you can also try others, such as turmeric, cayenne pepper, and apple cider vinegar. Experiment with different potentiators until you find one that suits your lifestyle.