Posted by When you see the word “synergy,” what do you think of? If it’s that by combining two substances they help to increase each other’s effects, you’d be right. When you take a potentiator deliberately, the goal is to enhance one substance – in this case – a botanical – with another. That’s usually going to be a natural food or beverage so as to avoid negative cross-interactions.
The reason why some people may be interested in potentiators is because they want to make the most out of the botanical they’re taking without looking for another, stronger one. They also avoid risking a higher tolerance. Sometimes, it could be that they’re tapering down or gradually switching to another botanical and don’t want to experience withdrawal symptoms.Potentiators also reduce side effects.
Either way, the goal is clear: Increasing the potent effects and duration of a chosen botanical through consumption. Get the facts on what works well with each major botanical to make it more intense and what doesn’t.
Kratom
The versatility of kratom means that you can use potentiators for either increasing the low-dose stimulation or high-dose sedation:
- Grapefruit juice after your kratom provides an enzyme that makes kratom’s bioactive compounds even stronger.
- Kava adds calm whereas kratom stimulates at low doses, so they’re a wonderful combination that complement each other for a balance of both.
- Spices including turmeric, black pepper, and cayenne also help. Black pepper increases absorption. Turmeric prevents dopamine breakdown, making kratom’s euphoric effects last longer. Consider adding a pinch (a solid, three-finger pinch) of either spice into a cup of kratom tea or with your dose from a kratom and kava shot.
- Cat’s Claw is a nootropic that has alkaloids similar to kratom and can help sustain energy with low-dose kratom.
- Watercress makes the energizing effects of low-dose kratom even more stimulating.
- Black seed oil is a huge favorite among kratom users that is also a nootropic, so it’s great for cognition, besides being a great daily health supplement.
- Valerian is a complement that provides pain relief when kratom cannot (at low to moderate doses).
Kava
Kava has made its way as an alcohol alternative, sometimes in combination with kratom, and often takes the beverage form of a shot.
- Coconut milk has fatty acids that work with the kava root to extract more kavalactones, the active biocompounds, from kava. Steep with kava root tea or add to a kava shot for greater absorption of kavalactones.
- Caffeine provides energy when taking kava.and offsets the slightly intoxicating effects.
- Valerian, catmint, and chamomile each enhance kava’s sedating effects and calm people down for a relaxing night and better sleep.
- Kanna and blue lotus each increase the euphoric effects of kava for calm + slight dreaminess.
7-OH, Oxonol, or Pseudo
Black seed oil works not only for enhancing kratom, but also for 7-OH as well as the 7-OH alternatives Oxonol and Pseudo. All three partly bind to mu-opioid receptors much more strongly than kratom does, so if the usual effects of either aren’t cutting it, consider adding black seed oil. The onset is very quick and can help offset any side effects, like a sluggish metabolism or respiratory depression. Black seed oil can also reduce tolerance from kratom, 7-OH, or Oxonol (Pseudo has the lowest tolerance risk).
Mushrooms
Microdosing these days is easier than ever with non-psilocybin “mushrooms” that work on the same serotonin 5HT2A neurotransmitter with none of the legal risk. Energy, focus, and creativity can be had at lower-than-usual doses thanks to potentiators.
- Caffeine tickles the brain and enhances energy, stamina, and focus.
- Orange juice and lemon juice, as citrus fruits, have acetic acid, which metabolizes mushrooms efficiently and leads to more intense, faster-onset effects.
What About Cannabis?
It’s true that some people use cannabis to enhance the effects or offset certain effects of kratom, kava, or mushrooms. It’s especially risky for 7-OH, Oxonol, or Pseudo because of the combination of stronger opioid-like effects from kratom alkaloids with the psychoactive effects of cannabis. But even with kratom (especially high doses) and kava, cannabis could be overly sedating.
For low-dose kratom and microdosing mushrooms, cannabis could serve to ease into or come down off either. Cannabis can already be incapacitating or anxiety-inducing on its own, though, so tread carefully and stay home if you’re looking to experiment a little.
Botanicals Where Potentiators Are Optional, Not Necessary
Potentiators are a powerful way to increase or complement the effects of botanicals without having to increase their dosage. They’re especially useful for reducing tolerance and offsetting side effects (like nausea) for experienced users that want to make the most out of their regular usage.
You can avoid feeling a need to use potentiators right off the bat if you have premium-quality botanicals. Real Botanicals manufactures their own products and uses a ChromaPure patented technology for extraction and purification in one fell swoop.
Check out “What Are Botanicals?” and “5 Botanical Categories You Ought to Know”