Posted by Whether or not 7-OH in Kratom is safe depends entirely on how it’s being ingested, in what quantities, and for what purposes. While 7-OH can be a dangerous alkaloid to ingest by itself for some, if not many, people, thanks to its addictive qualities, 7-OH in Kratom is generally very, very weak in presence and simply adds a calming effect to a Kratom mix if anything at all.
This means that 7-OH, when specifically talking about the alkaloid as it pertains to Kratom, is absolutely safe presuming the ingested amount of Kratom is within safe limits (less than 10grams is the generally agreed upon maximum dosage.) But things can get a little tricky when talking about Kratom and 7-OH in the same space because the two things are not generally understood very well.
Kratom and 7-OH
Most people who have done even a little digging around will know that Kratom sports trace amounts of 7-OH within its alkaloid makeup. 7-OH, acting on its own, produces an effect not unlike opiates: it’s calming, and can put its user into a state of deep relaxation. 7-OH within Kratom, usually, is so lacking in abundance that it does almost nothing at all, and certainly nothing noticeable.
Of course, this is because the vast majority of Kratom’s genetic makeup is lauded for its energizing effects. Indeed, the vast majority of Kratom consumption around the world has, for the lifetime of the herb’s usage, been for its ability to stimulate the user. In pragmatic terms, one might say that Kratom was South-East Asia’s alternative to coffee for farm-hands and the like.
It’s important to remember that although this is true for all strains of Kratom, the younger the Kratom leaf, the more energizing it’s effects are. If you’ve ever been perusing a vendor’s Kratom listings, you might have noticed that the vast majority of listings that are advertised for morning or afternoon brews are overwhelmings “White” or “Green” Kratom strains. Indeed, and as you might have guessed, that is because these two common strains are very, very young Kratom leaves.
These young Kratom leaves sport very small amounts of 7-OH and, thus, have a greater percentage of alkaloids that create an energized feeling within the user. While it isn’t fair to call these younger strains entirely safe, as they still exhibit addicting properties against some users, the problem might be thought of as something akin to a more serious coffee addiction, and is entirely avoidable and can be properly managed to avoid issue in the very first place.
What About Aged Strains?
This is where we have to be very careful when calling 7-OH in Kratom “safe”. The reason 7-OH is a safe substance within those aforementioned young strains is because those strains contain very little of it. When you get to more aged Kratom strains, such as “Red” Kratom, you begin to delve into a culture of Kratom consumption that becomes increasingly interested in the consumption of 7-OH.
The older a Kratom leaf becomes, the more 7-OH it produces. Red Kratom, when consumed in moderate to small amounts (less than 5grams, generally) is still not going to give it’s user enough 7-OH to make them feel the opiate-like effects. However, going over that amount (less than 10grams, more than 5), probably will.
As you might come to find, Red Kratom is consumed in higher amounts specifically for this reason, often times. And it is here that things can become dangerous. The opiate-like effects, for experienced users without a history of addictive behavior and a proven record of self-control, can be useful for inhibiting pain experienced for injuries, winding down after a particularly trying night, or, simply, not used at all by taking aged Kratom strains in smaller dosages to retain the herbs energizing effects.
In situations like these, the amount of 7-OH being ingested can absolutely be dangerous. As one might guess, the opiate-like effects don’t stop at creating a deep sense of calm within the user. The effects also extend to the commonly seen addictive qualities and an increased tolernace, which can lead users to needing more and more aged Kratom to ingest enough 7-OH to get their fix. Eventually, these users begins taking more than the maximum recommended amount of 10grams, and some massive problems arise.
In short, yes, 7-OH in Kratom is a safe herb when used responsibly and, generally, when used for energy. Though this is absolutely not true when discussing 7-OH in aged Kratom that is ingested in amounts greater than (roughly) 5grams. At that point, the 7-OH becomes like any other substance and can vary in its level of danger depending on how, why, and by whom the substance is administered.
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