Posted by The kratom plant has been extremely useful beyond simply herbal teas made from the whole leaf steeped in hot water or dried and powdered kratom taken either in a beverage or chased with one. Not only are there variations on products containing kratom, but there are also 7-OH, Oxonol, and Pseudo products available today that show off the best effects kratom has to offer. Those effects come when certain alkaloids get isolated into standalone extracts and then purposed into shots or other product forms.
So when you’re in the market for botanicals that support your wellness lifestyle, you have to do some research. Not only do you need to look at the effects of each, but how they fit into your life and suit your goals. Get the scoop here on all of the effects of kratom, 7-OH, Oxonol, and Pseudo.
Kratom: Sustained Energy and Focus or Relaxation
If you’re looking for versatility, kratom is your botanical. Choose between low doses for energy, mild euphoria, sociability, and focus, moderate doses for focus and clarity, or high doses for relaxation, calm, and pain relief. One of your main options will be to decide between mitragynine (MIT-dominant isolate) or full-spectrum kratom, but here’s the thing: Most kratom products focus on mitragynine, the primary and dominant alkaloid in kratom leaves.
The other option is full-spectrum kratom, and it’s a whole different ballgame. It’s more complex, but also more potent, and therefore for experienced users. However, generally speaking, mitragynine partly binds to mu-opioid receptors for the mild-to-moderate opioid-like effects at moderate and high doses, but also gives energy at low doses like a stimulant does.
This nature-derived product, often in capsules, has up to 40 different alkaloids including mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH), so read the following about 7-OH as well to get the complete picture.
Pros:
- Versatile; for energy or relaxation
- MIT or full-spectrum options
- Alternative to coffee or OTC pain relief medications, and less risk of GI upset than 7-OH
- Longest-lasting and most precisely-dosed in capsules, with greater potency in shots for experienced users
Cons:
- Dose-dependent effects
- Nausea, constipation, appetite suppression, and (when used regularly) tolerance and withdrawal symptoms
- Banned in some states, with city-specific bans
7-OH: Profound Pain Relief and Sedation
Another primary alkaloid within kratom leaves is 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH), but it’s present in tiny amounts. So when you get full-spectrum kratom, you are enjoying the effects of 7-OH in addition to mitragynine and several other alkaloids. But when you get a 7-OH product, you are enjoying 7-OH all by itself. You might think it’s similar to kratom, but it’s a whole other level.
The difference is that when you take high doses of MIT or full-spectrum kratom, the 7-OH within it contributes to mild to moderate pain-relief. 7-OH offers even more pain relief because that’s mainly what it does besides causing euphoric feelings and sedation or even – for some people – a burst of energy. Also, you can take small doses of 7-OH as opposed to high doses of kratom for pain relief, and it’s even more potent.
Pros:
- Isolated 7-hydroxymitragynine alkaloid extraction for pain relief at any dose, and at smaller amounts than MIT or kratom
- Euphoric feelings and sedation
- Some people get an energy boost
- Alternative to traditional opioids that’s a naturally-occurring alkaloid compound
- Chewable tablets for long-lasting and steady effects vs. quick, short-lasting but stronger shots
Cons:
- Less balanced effects than full-spectrum kratom; more opioid-like and less mood-brightening and stimulating
- Risk of respiratory depression, constipation, tolerance, and physical dependence
- Not legal in all states
Oxonol: Light, Smooth Pain Relief with Clarity
One enhanced kratom alkaloid product is Oxonol, a 7-OH alternative that relieves pain without putting you to sleep. It has a gentle onset, a smooth and light feeling with euphoria and mental clarity, and a somewhat shorter duration than 7-OH.
The word “Oxonol” refers to a unique enhanced alkaloid blend rather than just one concentrated alkaloid. In comparison to 7-OH and Pseudo, it’s unique and has subtler effects. It mostly binds to mu- and delta-opioid receptors, with less affinity for kappa.
Pros:
- Fast, smooth onset that’s not overwhelming or sedating
- Steady, smooth, clean support and slow-fading effects with no crash
- Less risk of respiratory depression and other adverse effects than 7-OH, like sedation and nausea
- Chewable tablets make for precise dosing
- Legally compliant across the U.S.
Cons:
- Might not be as lasting for chronic or severe pain; less potent at mu-opioid receptors than 7-OH or Pseudo; milder analgesia and euphoria
- Might cause unwanted feelings of detachment for some people
Pseudo: Grounding, Heavy Pain Relief That Lasts
Mitragynine pseudoindoxyl is also known as Pseudo, and it refers to the metabolite and derivative of mitragynine, which converts to 7-hydroxymitragynine in the liver. It’s structurally related to both but has unique receptor behavior that’s also different from that of Oxonol. That’s because it’s a potent mu-opioid receptor agonist but also blocks delta-opioid receptors.
In other words, it relieves pain and sedates but avoids adverse effects like tolerance, physical dependency, and withdrawal symptoms. Like 7-OH and Oxonol, Pseudo is for experienced users. It’s more potent than morphine and 7-OH.
Pros:
- More potent than morphine or 7-OH
- Heavy, grounding, and relaxing feeling without sedation
- Strong pain relief and euphoria, longer-lasting than Oxonol
- Less risk of adverse effects than 7-OH
- Chewable tablets for steady onset and long duration
Cons:
- The margin between therapeutic and adverse effects is narrower than with kratom
- Counts as a kratom alkaloid, so it might not be legal everywhere in the U.S. where kratom and kratom alkaloids are banned
A Vendor That Has It All
In store for a botanical that fits seamlessly into your lifestyle and actually works? You could shop around at different vendors that offer either botanical product, but Real Botanicals carries all of them. Since 4 botanical products are possible all from one plant, it makes sense to choose a vendor that not only directly manufactures each, but does so equally well.
It’s a smart move to go for small-batch testing and cut out the middleman so you don’t have to worry about your favorite product going out of stock. Choosing Real Botanicals gives you an advantage in assurance that each is made with the highest quality control for safety and consistency. You also get efficacy, potency, and purity whether you choose the holistic full-spectrum kratom or the concentrated alkaloids of 7-OH, Oxonol, or Pseudo.
Check out “Comparing Kratom With Other Herbal Supplements.”
See “Kratom and Men’s Wellness.”