Posted by Kratom is an herb mixed into teas that provides the user with a strong sense of energy and, if taken in higher dosages and in specific aged strains, can even give the user the exact opposite effect; a sense of deep calm. Kava, inversely, makes the user more sociable and relaxed, and does so without giving its user any sense of “edge” that you might associate with alcohol or other recreational drugs. Since these two herbs generally have conflicting profiles, it stands to reason that, naturally, people are going to want to combine them. Here is how you do that responsibly.
Understand the Differences Between Kratom and Kava
It might be a rather boring point to go over for people who already know their stuff, but approaching a new experience with herbs from the perspective of safety before fun is going to always help users come out ahead. For Kratom users, the story is a very simple one: combine a normal brew’s dosage of Kava with your normal mixture of Kratom and enjoy yourself.
For Kava users, somewhat confusingly, the issue is a manner of bridging the gap between the relative safety associated with Kava and the considerably more risky Kratom profile. This is something that cannot be done. And that is to say, just because you’re combining Kava, a low-risk, easy-going herb with Kratom, a higher risk, complicated herb, does not mean that you’re lowering the risk altogether. If you wouldn’t choose to consume Kratom without Kava, you shouldn’t be willing to consume Kratom with Kava. The two do not change one another’s effect profiles in any significant way.
If you’re wondering what those effect profiles are, then consider Kratom: in youthful Kratom leaves, which are packaged under the strain names “Green” and “White” most often, the alkaloid profile of the Kratom is such that you’re getting an extremely low dosage of 7-OH, an addictive alkaloid that induces an opiate-like effect on it’s user. Instead, what youthful Kratom leaves offer is something akin to strong coffee: energy and the sense that one’s mood has been perked up. The addictive qualities of youthful Kratom leaves, while not unnoticeable, are minor when compared to it’s older cousin.
Speaking of which, aged Kratom leaves, often packaged as Red Kratom, are essentially the exact opposite of its White and Green cousin strains. This strain has a higher ratio of 7-OH to other Alkaloids, and this creates that opiate-like effect that’s been mentioned prior. 7-OH has a highly addictive profile, and will gives its users a sense of calm and euphoria. In many countries, the alkaloid, which sometimes comes packaged by itself as a sole product, is being tampered down with legal bans and regulations, which makes Red Kratom, often but not always, an intrinsically legal-focused herb on top of a health one.
Of course, all of that was quite the mouthful to simply say that Kava users who are under the impression that Kratom is just another walk-in-the park herb that functions similar to coffee are under a misconception. But as long as a Kava (or Kratom) user understands that Kratom should usually be consumed in dosages of no more than a couple grams at a time and with youthful strains such as Green and White, combining the two shouldn’t be a problem. In fact, the demand for such a thing is high enough to warrant some vendors to create their own pre-mixed Kava and Kratom drinks for their customers, which might be worth taking a look at if you’re in the market for such a thing.
Yes, But How Do you Combine Them?
The way you brew Kratom at home is (usually) by mixing powdered Kratom with either water or some other preferred beverage and giving is a grand ol’ gulp. The way you brew Kava at home is (usually) by putting around three tablespoons of Kava into a strainer bag and then putting that strainer bag into hot / warm water for about ten minutes (which you then follow with a big ol’ gulp.)
To combine them, simply do both of these things. (Make your kava tea, then combine that kava tea with between 200mg to 2grams of your favorite Kratom Strain. Cheers!)
You might be interested in “Kratom and Other Botanicals As Alcohol Alternatives.“