Posted by You’re going to a party or to hang out with your friends, and you know there’s always alcohol. You don’t want to partake, but you also don’t want to miss out on the fun of socializing. If only there was something that could lower your inhibitions without being overwhelming, and make you feel comfortable with no unexpected and undesirable after-effects.
Good news, alcohol alternatives exist. Even better – some are specifically made for people just like you, who want a controlled experience for social settings that still relax you, but feeling better than if you were drinking. Not under the influence, and no worry of a nasty crash or a hangover.
You might want to check out kratom and other botanicals the next time you’re wanting an alcohol alternative that’s not a non-alcoholic beverage. Let’s dive into them to learn how they work on you in social settings where other people normally turn to drinking for similar effects.
Kratom
If there’s one botanical that can function for almost any situation, it would be kratom. Some people enjoy powder, but capsules are the best way to take them in precise doses, and they’re not messy. Whether you enjoy dancing, gaming, or a more chill cafe gathering, kratom could work for either social setting.
Dose-dependent effects:
- Low doses: Energy, focus, and stamina for high-energy activities
- Moderate doses: Calm, mild euphoria, and relaxation for most socializing
- High doses: Euphoria and sedation for chill time indoors
Kratom and Kava
The alternative option to kratom on its own is kratom and kava. This product comes as a shot because of the kava in it, another botanical and nootropic that’s been a go-to for bonding people and promoting calm and stress relief. The shot has concentrated kratom and kava that’s super-fast to take effect, whether you’re looking for last-minute relief or are preparing to mingle later on.
Kava by itself is somewhat intoxicating, but it’s more like the light buzz you get from alcohol without any slowing down, just good vibes that last. Do you know of any two things that work well on their own, but when they’re together, they work even better by enhancing each other? That’s what kratom and kava do — they have a synergistic effect.
Effects:
- Low kratom, moderate kava: Gentle energy and focus with calm, cool, and collected feelings for confidence and productivity; best for daytime use or high-energy nighttime use
- Moderate kratom, moderate kava: Relaxed clarity, optimism, and vitality with no jitters; best for late afternoon and evening use
Also, with these kratom and kava shots, you get additional ingredients that make for an ideal formula. Consider also the ashwagandha, l-theanine, and GABA for making sure you don’t get the jitters or drowsiness but blissful balance in relieving anxiety and boosting your mood instead.
7-Hydro
On the stronger side of botanicals is 7-OH, also known as 7-Hydro. It stands for 7-hydroxymitragynine, a minor alkaloid within kratom leaves. 7-hydroxymitragynine is also a metabolite of mitragynine, the primary and predominant alkaloid in kratom. You can usually find 7-OH chewable tablets for precise, steady dosing, or 7-OH shots for an extra-powerful emotional lift and body high.
If you’re experienced in botanicals and are ready for something more potent than kratom, 7-OH is related but unique. Consider 7-OH to relax you and set the scene for feeling comfortable in social settings where people normally drink to fit in and let loose. You don’t have to worry about spending a lot of money on alcohol to get similar effects and then face an aftermath that’s inconvenient.
Effects:
- Powerful euphoria and sedation even at low doses
- Controlled effects that won’t fill you up or overwhelm you, unlike alcohol
Mushrooms
For a botanical that’s utterly unlike kratom, kratom and kava, and 7-OH, there’s mushrooms. Specifically, psychedelic mushrooms – the legal, non-psilocybin kind. I’m not talking about the amanita products, either. These mushrooms aren’t actually mushrooms at all, but an advanced, precise formulation that works on the same chemical messengers in the brain.
They’re even preferable to the real thing because they’re made explicitly for microdosing, rather than going into a hallucinogenic trip for who knows how long. That control in your experience makes all the difference both in comparison to tripping as well as drinking.
Effects:
- Focus and energy with good mood, great for demanding activities or socializing with introspection
- Ability to see different perspectives and have better memory and thinking, unlike alcohol
Deciding Which Alcohol Alternative Will Serve You Best
To choose the best alcohol alternative for you, consider your current experience in these botanicals. Think about the effects you want to achieve and how the effects of each botanical will mesh with your social setting. I personally like to try out a botanical by myself at home to see how it works when I’m comfortable in a controlled environment. But they can work just as well at home or in any other situation where you would otherwise drink, or there’s alcohol and you need an alternative.
You’ll also want to consider different vendors, ideally one that offers kratom, 7-OH, mushrooms, and more. If you want a manufacturer-direct botanical vendor that’s a pioneer in quality control, check out Real Botanicals.
See “Natural Botanicals for Wellness: Mushrooms, Kratom, Kava Compared.”