Posted by The Kratom tree is a troublesome sapling to grow to maturity; it requires constant attention and very specific conditions over a long period of time to remain healthy. In many ways, it is simply not a newbie botanist’s recommended undertaking. In much the same way, the herb that grows on it, the Kratom leaf, is a confusing and decidedly versatile herb that cannot be taken at face value, for what people find valuable in the Kratom leaf at a glance is not going to be the limits of the Kratom leafs capabilities, and the downsides with consistent use are not to be scoffed at, either.
That said, simplifying Kratom’s use cases and strain differences is generally a straightforward task: identify the main three strains and their respective differences. While accomplishing this task won’t reveal the variations on said strains, such as Maeng Dae variants, it will make the fundamentals of the Kratom leaf become apparent and reveal why it’s widely regarded as one of the more versatile herbs of today.
The Three Main Strains
White, Green, and Red: these three strains are ordered from youngest to oldest and makeup the three main strains of Kratom Product found on markets. The strains’ most obvious differences stem from their color from which they are named after, though these difference matter little. The real ‘meat’ of the issue lies within the Kratom strains’ alkaloid profiles. All Kratom leaves are made up up of two main alkaloids; MIT and 7-OH. MIT is primarily responsible for providing users with Kratom’s famous energizing effect, while 7-OH gives users a subtle hint of euphoria and relaxation.
These vastly different effect profiles for two alkaloids that are always present in Kratom leaves explain why the herb is so versatile. In terms of strain, the ratio of MIT to 7-OH changes depending on the age of the leaf. White Kratom, which is the most youthful strain available, has a very, very low amount of 7-OH relative to other strains, and will provide users with a massive hit of energy when ingested thanks to the high amount of MIT.
Green Kratom is made up of a more balanced mixture of the two alkaloids; the MIT still gives a strong kick of energy, but the higher 7-OH ratio makes the energy a little less aggressive and a little more relaxing, although the amount of 7-OH in Green Kratom is still small enough that users who ingest low amounts of Kratom in the morning (between 250 milligrams to 1 gram) will probably not feel any effects from the 7-OH anyway.
Red Kratom is the strain with the highest ratio of 7-OH to MIT available, and has the reputation for being the one strain of Kratom that users might consider taking past noon, as it can function fairly well as a sleep aid if taken in high enough dosages. While we don’t recommend users consume high levels of Red Kratom (so as to avoid the unhealthy nature of too much 7-OH), we recognize that this article concerns itself with the more newbie-friendly Green Kratom and will leave the subject of Red Kratom at: not recommended for new users, nor in dosages above 4 grams.
Green Kratom Uses
Given Green Kratom’s balanced alkaloid profile, it has garnered the reputation for being perfect for users who are new to Kratom. Our recommendation is to absolutely avoid purchasing the product (or any variant) from in-store locations such as grocery stores or gas stations and instead buy a small amount of specifically green, youthful Kratom from a trusted vendor in the form of pill or powder.
Taking the pill is easy, but if you do buy powder, simply mix 250 – 500 milligrams of it with some water or milk (great for taking the energy factor down a notch) and see how you react. For many people, that small dosage is more than enough to get the benefits of Kratom without overdoing it and will suite them just fine, but if you find yourself yearning for more, feel free to up the dosage to whatever you’re comfortable with. Although, we should state that going over ten grams in a single sitting will absolutely cause massive health issues, and approaching 5 grams will increase the 7-OH presence (even in Green Kratom) enough to have it’s effect profile become dominant. Thus, we recommend keeping the dosages below 2-3 grams for reduced health risks and a lower dependency profile (which Kratom is absolutely guilty of having.)