Kratom and CBD oil are in a battle for the title of “Which psychoactive is best for everyone?” and there’s no clear winner, so we’ll sort out what each of these substances are, how they work and what they can both offer the end-user.
What is Kratom?
Kratom is a psychoactive stimulant taken from the leaves of the kratom tree, which grows in many countries in Southeast Asia. Kratom is known as a stimulant, as most of its strains and substrains offer this effect, but other strains – such as red kratom – offer a sedative effect. Kratom contains two main chemical components which form it’s a psychoactive component – mitragynine and 7-Hydroxymitragynine, these appear throughout the kratom family but will vary in quantity, depending on the strain.
Kratom is harvested by local farmers and either ground into a powder, encapsulated and sold as such, or in a rarer liquid form.
The powdered and encapsulated forms of kratom are the most popular ways to take the substance. Many people will mix the powdered form of kratom with a tea or other beverage – some people drink kratom with citrusy juices such as orange juice or lemonade, as the citrus fruits act as an accelerator for the effects of the kratom. Capsules are the easiest option as they can be taken with food or drink and are easily portable and come in exact grammage amounts, rather than having to do the measuring for oneself.
What is CBD?
CBD or Cannabidiol is a derivative of the hemp plant, and while it is an essential component of marijuana, CBD itself does not cause a ‘high’. In order to achieve the ‘high’ one experiences, you must mix CBD with THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol). CBD is most commonly used in medical marijuana – a term used to refer to elements of marijuana that are used for medicinal, rather than recreational purposes. CBD can be used to ‘treat’ many things, from anxiety to pain relief for chronic pain sufferers. CBD is also very effective as a sedative.
CBD comes in similar forms to kratom – it can be swallowed or mixed with a drink as a liquid, or it can be taken in capsule form. One of the other ways to administer CBD is by mixing it with THC and creating a cigarette-esque ‘joint’. This will offer the joint effects of both CBD and THC, so be sure to keep an eye on the content levels of both components when making your purchase. If a high, mixed with medicinal qualities of CBD is what you seek, then this might be an option for you. If you’re not interested in the ‘high’, then choose the other options for ingesting CBD.
What are the effects of kratom?
The effects of kratom vary widely depending on the type of strain that one takes. There are three main types of kratom:
Green kratom is one of the mainstays of the kratom market. Green kratom is often touted as being the most popular strain on the market. This is due to the fact that it is often harvested when the kratom leaf is at peak maturity, owing to the strength of this strain. Green kratom is best known as a morning mood enhancer. It aids in getting you up and at ‘em during the course of the day and also has properties that combat drowsiness, aid in pain relief and chronic fatigue – at higher doses.
White kratom is often touted as being the best type of kratom for those who are new to the substance, as it has a balanced effect. If taken in the morning, white kratom has been shown to improve mood, alertness and generally perk one up in the morning. At night, white kratom has the opposite effect, it mellows and calms one’s nerves and has been shown to help those struggling with sleep. It is less effective at the latter than red kratom, however, but it provides a middle of the road option for those who are new to kratom.
Red kratom is one of the most potent strains of kratom on the market for those looking for a sleep aid. Because red kratom is harvested late in the kratom maturity process and dried under UV light by industrial kratom growers, it has a higher mix of mitragynine and 7-Hydroxymitragynine than it’s mainstay counterparts and offers the end-user an intense experience of relaxation and sleepiness. This makes red kratom the perfect choice for anyone looking to enhance their good-night’s-sleep.
What are the effects of CBD?
CBD has a variety of effects and uses. Most commonly, CBD is used in medical marijuana to combat ailments such as chronic pain. It is prevalent among individuals with chronic conditions such as cerebral palsy or multiple-sclerosis to ease the pain they feel on a daily basis. CBD has also been used to alleviate anxiety and depression symptoms. There’s also evidence that CBD helps to alleviate the symptoms caused by chemotherapy and that CBD has anti-cancer properties itself.
How are they similar?
CBD and kratom have similar psychoactive properties, specifically in the field of pain alleviation and their use by sufferers of chronic illnesses, such as anxiety or depression. They are also administered in a similar way and share a similar legal status, depending on where you live.
How are they different?
Kratom has a complicated legal status, whereas CBD is much more obtainable and legal in certain US states. Kratom theoretically has a much broader field of application than CBD, though there’s plenty of crossover.
Where can you buy CBD?
Unlike kratom, CBD enjoys a much more fluid legal status, which makes it infinitely more easily attainable. It is legalized, taxed and regulated in certain US states. CBD can be found in any licenced cannabis store and can also be found online.
Where can you buy kratom?
Due to its current complex legal status, kratom is only available through online sellers, who sometimes buy directly from the harvesting farms. If you’re interested in making a purchase of kratom, contact us directly. We’ll be able to guide you through the process of choosing which type is right for you, and in what dose.