In previous articles, we talked about many things considering Kratom (what it is, what it offers, some historical effects, where to buy, etc.) but all this was in general.
Today we are going to talk about the real deal: different strains. We may have mentioned earlier, that kratom is an attractive plant, not only by its marvelous effects but also because it has many different strains that can offer you a wide range of emotions and different experience.
So what are these different strains and what ones have that others don’t? We are going to provide you with a detailed analysis on this one.
So what’s the difference after all?
The fact is that strains differ by their effects; to be accurate there are three groups of strains:
- Stimulating strains
- Moderate strains
- Sedating strains
Now you can see the general picture: some of them make you feel like Rambo or Superman, other relax you like a Rastaman, and others do a little bit of this and a little bit of that. Let’s hit the details.
Awake the bull in you!
Stimulating strains mostly give you the feeling that you are the king of the world and raise you libido sky high! They make you work more effectively and can turn you into the hero of the day (or night)! The most popular stimulating strains are:
- Thai Kratom
- Maeng Da Kratom
Thai Kratom
Effects:
It is quite difficult to talk about the impact of this strain accurately. The only thing known is that this strain is most stimulating and relieves pain; nevertheless, different people describe different effects: some say that in low doses it has mostly stimulating impact, some say it’s like cocaine with opium, has both stimulating and sedating effects. Well, it depends on you and your mood. It is known that it has a strong analgesic effect and it has a moderate stimulating impact along with a possible mild sedating effect.
Dosage:
A moderate dose ranges from 3 to 5 grams. Effects start within 5-10 minutes and last several hours
Side-effects:
acute side effects can be:
- dry mouth
- loss of appetite (may cause anorexia which may lead to acute weight loss)
- constipation
- insomnia and
- In some cases darkening of the skin.
Be aware:
If your doctor prescribes you drugs which are called “MAO-inhibitors,” don’t combine them with this strain, it can make side effects more acute.
Maeng Da Kratom
Effects:
This is the strain (or one of the strains) which has the greatest stimulating effect. It has a strong stimulating and mood enhancing (which brings euphoria) effect, with a mild sedating effect and a strong analgesic (pain relief) effect.
Add to that, many users’ state that this particular strain acts like an aphrodisiac! This particular strain can be seen as a very strong analog of Thai. So this strain guarantees you are stimulating, pain relief and aphrodisiac effect!
Dosage:
Due to its powerful effects, this strain is recommended to be used in lower doses that Thai: 1-2 grams. The results come within 10 minutes and can last for several hours
Side-effects:
The same effects as Thai can also increase your heartbeat rate
Be aware:
The same as for Thai (don’t use with MAO-inhibitors!). Due to its strong stimulating effect, we do not recommend using it if you have heart issues.
A little bit of this and a little bit of that
Moderate strains can offer you both a stimulating and sedating effect, which mostly depends on your mood and other individual characteristics you can, which can lead to some effects being stronger than other when you use these strains. Of course, it also depends on the quality of the plant delivered to you, what region did it grow in, etc. Let’s take a look at the most popular strain in this category:
Green Malaysian
Effects:
It is one of the most long-lasting strains in terms of effects. It has both stimulating and sedating effects, which depend on the dosage (fewer doses may cause more stimulating effects, more may cause a more sedating effect). Its results are “smoother” than other strains, meaning they are not so strong. Unlike other strains, it has nootropic effects meaning it can strengthen and stimulate memory and concentration. It also has moderate mood enhancing and pain relief effects.
Dosage:
Average dosage is considered 4-7 grams (some state that a moderate dosage is 3-5 grams; again depending on the quality of the plant and your characteristics, such as mood, weight, etc.). Effects begin in 10-15 minutes and last many hours
Side-effects:
Headaches, dry mouth, and thirst are reported as the most common side-effects.
Be like a Rastaman
Sedating strains may give you a very mild or even moderate stimulating effect, but the strong point of these strains is a moderate to strong sedating and pain-relieving effects that makes you chill and feel the harmony around you. The most popular strains in this category are:
Borneo Kratom
Effects:
The effects are mostly euphoria, relaxation, pain relief. It also has a strong mood enchantment effects combined with great stress and anxiety relief effect.
Dosage:
The dosage can vary from 3 to 6 grams, depending on how strong the effect you want to achieve and may last from 7 to 9 hours. The effects start like all other strains: in an average of 5-15 minutes.
Side-effects:
The most common side effects described are ones that remind of opiate side effects: nausea, vomiting, cramping. Some users describe no side-effects.
Be aware:
Don’t drive while using this strain; it can lead to car accidents, as you may lose control of the car and your reflexes will be dull.
Red Bali
Effects:
It has mostly the same results as Borneo, which is euphoria, relaxation, pain relief, and mild stimulation.
Dosage:
The same dosage as Borneo is recommended
Side-effects:
Same as Borneo
Be aware:
Don’t drive
Indo Kratom
Effects:
It has the same results as Borneo and Red Bali, the only difference is that they come with a delay. Mostly sedating, pain relieving, mood modulating with a mild stimulation
Dosage:
2-3 grams dosage is recommended. Effects take place in about 15 minutes and last a couple of hours
Side-effects:
Same as Borneo and Red Bali; nevertheless many users comparing this strain to Borneo and Bali say it has milder side effects that can be rarer than other sedating strains.
Be aware:
Again, don’t drive any vehicles to avoid car accidents.