Posted by The unregulated market of supplements has a lot of variety. Many have recreational uses. However, there are also several products that the health-conscious person can use to better their lives with a focus on balance and wellness.
A number of supplements are available that supposedly have a relaxing or sedating effect. When kratom came into the market, it was followed by formulations of kratom and kava for extra calm and enhanced mood. Non-psilocybin psychedelic mushrooms for better work performance and recreational usage came around the same time. However, each of these supplements have other effects.
If you’re new to either supplement and want to compare them, you’re at the right place. Get ready to learn about the uses and effects between kratom, kratom and kava, and psychedelic mushrooms.
Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa)
A tropical evergreen tree in the coffee family Rubiaceae, kratom is native to Southeast Asia. It has a long history of usage for physical and mental energy, focus, and mood enhancement at lower doses and sedation or relaxation at higher doses. It is an opioid that people commonly use to manage opioid withdrawal symptoms, anxiety, and depression. The main alkaloid in extracts is mitragynine, although full-spectrum kratom alkaloid profiles are also available as a holistic approach that mirrors the plant’s natural chemistry.
7-OH (7-hydroxymitragynine)
Another alkaloid present in kratom leaves, 7-hydroxymitragynine makes up a tiny amount. Aside from full-spectrum kratom, it is also available as a potent extract for pain relief. It is often in usage for management of opioid withdrawal symptoms and deeper sleep but can also enhance focus and alleviate anxiety. Like kratom, it is an opioid, although it’s far more potent.
Kratom and Kava
Sometimes kratom alone is not quite enough, and that’s where the combination of kratom and kava comes in. Kava is an adaptogen, meaning it has many properties for stress relief; it promotes stress resilience by encouraging the body to adapt to stressors. It is used to reduce anxiety and promote calm and relaxation.
Such formulations may have other adaptogens such as ashwagandha, l-theanine, and GABA. However, the main benefits of kratom and kava formulas is energy and mood boosting with calm focus.
Psychedelic Mushrooms
There are two main types of psychedelic mushrooms publicly available at the retail level: Amanita (Amanita muscaria) and synthetic non-psilocybin formulations. Both may be considered nootropic as well as psychedelic since they not only boost cognition but alter one’s perception and information processing. However, it is the non-amanita formulations that are sometimes in usage as “smart drugs,” while amanita edibles can be toxic at high doses.
The active ingredients in amanita are muscimol and ibotenic acid. Muscimol is a GABA receptor agonist, meaning it binds to GABA receptors in the brain and suppresses the central nervous system to relieve stress and produce feelings of euphoria. Ibotenic acid has psychoactive properties due to its ability to bind to glutamate receptors and excite the brain’s neurons.
Synthetic non-psilocybin formulations tend to have 4-hydroxy (4-HO) as the active ingredient. 4-HO is also found in 4-HO-MET, 4-HO-DMT, and 4-HO-DET. It is a tryptamine, or a metabolite of tryptophan; you may know tryptophan as an amino acid present in dairy products and turkey and promotes relaxation and sleep. Tryptamines activate serotonin receptors and also regulate glutamic acid, serotonin, and dopamine in the brain.
Mindless Mushrooms
A product by Real Botanicals, Mindless Mushrooms is a new way to microdose psychedelic mushrooms without psilocybin and without mystery ingredients that could cause sensitive reactions. It is sustainable, since it’s created in the company’s private SC lab, and mirrors the chemistry and effects of psilocybin. What this means for users is that it releases serotonin in the brain, focusing on serotonin 5HT2A receptors that alter perception and information processing. It does not contain 4-HO-MET. And instead of causing visual hallucinations like other psychedelic mushrooms, it shifts mental and emotional perception by stimulating several parts of the brain at once.
Comparison Table
| Criteria | Kratom | 7-OH | Kratom and kava | Psychedelic mushrooms | Mindless Mushrooms |
| Promotes calm | Yes; at moderate to high doses; may cause drowsiness | Yes; can cause drowsiness | Yes, at any dose | Yes | Yes |
| Other effects | Energy and focus at lower doses | Pain relief | Energy and mood enhancement | Psychoactive (alters perception) | Mental performance and sensory perception enhancement; psychedelic |
| Main uses | Energy, focus, and mood enhancement | Pain relief, opioid withdrawal management | Energy and mood enhancement with calm | Recreational, sometimes nootropic | Better mental performance, creativity, and stamina (mainly nootropic) |
| Available forms | Capsules, powder, shots, whole leaf | Tablets and shots | Shots | Chocolate, gummies, and shots | Precisely-dosed chewable tablets, splittable into quarters or halves |
| Legal status | Legal at the federal level, while legality varies by state | Illegal at the federal level, while legality varies by state | (Kava) Generally legal, with state and local regulations and restrictions | (Non-psilocybin) Legal, with some state restrictions; illegal if formula contains illicit ingredients | Legal, with some states prohibiting shipping |
Real Botanicals for Balance and Wellness
Kratom, kratom and kava, and mushrooms can individually promote feelings of calm and relieve anxiety and stress in users. However, they also have other effects and benefits that are unique to each. It is important to consider the chemistry of each to decide which one is best as a supplement for calm.
Whether you’re interested in kratom, kratom and kava, or psychedelic mushrooms, Real Botanicals is a highly trustworthy source. They’re both the vendor and the manufacturer with the most scientific approach possible for simple and precise wellness products that are potent, effective, and consistent. If you want the best quality control and affordability without the fluff, choose Real Botanicals.
Check out “7-OH Tablet vs. Shot, Which is Right For You?“