Kratom Strains And Effects
Updated Nov 11, 2021
Written By: Mark Andrews
Countless people across the world are learning about kratom in 2020. With so many strains, its important to understand which strain is right for you. Unlike synthetic opioids, kratom’s chemical composition is complex, and the effects of this composition are dynamic.
Its main alkaloids are mitragynine, paynanthine, speciociliatine, and the more minor 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-HMG). Kratom’s neurochemical complexity is echoed in its physiological effects.
It is generally understood that at low doses (< 1 gram), kratom “can boost energy and enhance mood,” whereas at higher doses kratom is sedating, and may have anxiolytic qualities.
The following table serves as a comparative base for some of the most popular strains of kratom on the market.
Click on any strain below to find more information:
Ground Leaf Strains
| Strains | Effects | Dosage |
|---|---|---|
| Bali | An ideal balance of pain relief and energy boost. Bali works somewhat differently than a traditional red kratom. Bali helps achieve a gentle energy boost while maintaining the pain relief expected of a red. Euphoric and the most classic opiate like among the strains of kratom. | 1/2 – 3 teaspoons |
| Maeng Da | Energizing and stimulating with pain killing effects. Maeng Da takes the normal pain relieving properties of a red strain and adds a nice energetic kick because of it’s specific alkaloid properties. | 1/2 – 3 teaspoons |
| Red Bali | Similar to Bali with some red characteristics. This is a known as a versatile strain. | 1/2 – 3 teaspoons |
| Red Vein Thai | Similar to Bali with a more classic red strain effects. | 1/2 – 3 teaspoons |
| Red Vein Kali | Sedating and more classically opiate like. Red Kali is a more traditional red kratom offering pain relief & relaxation. | 1/2 – 3 teaspoons |
| Red Indo | Similar to Red Kali and many other traditional strains. Red Indo is a more tame red vein strain and is often touted as ideal for mild pain relief and relaxation. | 1/2 – 3 teaspoons |
| Green Indo | Balances pain relief and energy boosting qualities. The combination of alkaloids in Green Indo creates a longer lasting milder effect although there is not as high of a concentration of alkaloids as SGM. | 1/2 – 3 teaspoons |
| Green Malay | This original variety of Malaysian Kratom is well known for its mood-lifting, energizing effects. | 1/2 – 3 teaspoons |
| Green Vein Kali | A stimulating strain which also has painkilling attributes. Green Kali delivers a strong boost of energy without sacrificing any of the sought after pain relief effects. It is know for have a higher potency than Green Indo. | 1/2 – 3 teaspoons |
| White Vein Kali | More euphoric or dissociating. White Vein Kali is a milder white strain known for its energizing qualities – when compared to Red Vein Kali – while still containing notable pain relief qualities. . | 1/2 – 3 teaspoons |
| White Vein Thai | White Thai may be the most stimulating of all white strains. There are however less pain relieving attributes than a red vein strain or a strain similar to Bali as a trade off. | 1/2 – 3 teaspoons |
| White Vein Indo | Similar to Red Indo which is best known for its pain relief attributes. However White Vein Indo differs from the calming Red Indo by bringing a euphoric dissociative kick with it. | 1/2 – 3 teaspoons |
| White Borneo | Known as a uniquely high quality white strain of kratom. It has known for its long lasting, energizing effect. | 1/2 – 3 teaspoons |
| Super Green Malaysian | Known for its unique ability to combine the characteristic pain relieving properties of a red strain with the energy and euphoria boost of a white strain. SGM also has some of the longest lasting effects of any kratom with smooth delivery due to the high concentration of alkaloids. | 1/2 – 3 teaspoons |
Kratom Extracts
| Strains | Effects | Dosage |
|---|---|---|
| Ultra Enhanced Indo | Most euphoric of the extracts and works well for reducing social anxiety. UEI manages to contain a full range of effects including pain relief & relaxation with a slight energy and mood boost. | 1 gram or less (if mixed with powdered leaf) |
| Gold Reserve Extract | Powerful extract made by applying highly concentrated kratom alkaloids back to natural kratom leaf. Gold Reserve is a highly potent extract providing a blend of stimulation and pain relief while providing full body relaxation with a notable energy boost. | 1 gram or less (if mixed with powdered leaf) |
| ISOL-8 Extract | ISOL-8 is an outlier and has caffeine like stimulation. ISOL-8 uniquely focuses in on the energy and stimulating effects of kratom while other extracts generally bring out a broader range of effects. | 1 gram or less (if mixed with powdered leaf) |
| Ultra Enhanced Red Kali | This extract is made by blending pure alkaloids from Red Vein Kalimantan leaf with high quality Red Kali leaf. This is not made with semi-synthetic chemicals but only all natural kratom leaf alkaloidal extract. | 1 gram or less (if mixed with powdered leaf) |
| Natural Enhanced True Thai | Made from taking a 90% pure alkaloid extraction of Thai Kratom and reapplied to a Green Vein Thai leaf. This extract is a high potency version of classic Thai kratom strains notable for a mild energy boost with significant pain relief & relaxation effects. | 1 gram or less (if mixed with powdered leaf) |
| Natural Enhanced White Sumatra | Created by taking a 90% pure alkaloid extraction from white vein kratom and mixing it with White vein leaf. This reformulation results in a more potent version of white vein kratom with significant pain relief and relaxation effects. | 1 gram or less (if mixed with powdered leaf) |
Hey jenn, the euphoria isn’t what you’d expect it is more of a sense of well being it is pretty much a reliever of anxiety and makes you overly content to do thongs… People take it in certain countries before work everyday just for that fact alone you are almost a nicer and better person especially since the pain is dulled… But I would get super indo and Bali both start around 3 grams also mix the two and try it that way. But it depends on suppliers a lot have garbage and ull need 20 grams do your research don’t just buy from a place without plenty of feedback and the best of luck to your.. Or look above 🙂
I am a little concerned about feeling good about doing thongs. As a Male I do not think it’s attractive.
I need help with the dosage to start out with for Maeng da Kraton for Pain, Fatigue and Depression, as I do not want a Euphoric effect at all, that’s not what I am going for. I suffer from Fibromyalgia and have a hard time even getting through a normal 8 hr work day, let alone every day life stuff that needs to be done, Dishes, laundry, shopping, ect … I am warn out 2 hrs after I get out of bed. Again, I do not want a euphoric effect, just relief from my pain and some energy to get through my day. Thank you so much, Jenn
To be very blunt and honest, a strict diet, at least (20) minutes of exercise in the morning, and a proper sleep schedule does wonders to boost your energy naturally (kratom is natural…..but you should understand what I mean).
The above recommendation is a much better alternative to taking kratom to boost your energy.
You don’t want to use maeng DA for pain. Its an extremely euphoric strain. Red vein such as Bali is The best for pain. With less euphoric effects. Start out around 3 grams(magic starting number) and work up from there
Hi Jenn 🙂 I feel you all too well so had to comment to you. I have Fibro and AS with of course the lovely fatigue, pain and depression that comes with it soooo much fun so thought I’d give you my .02 on it. Been using Kratom for almost 3 years for it
Maeng da is ok for pain ect but meh only when I can’t get Super Green Malaysian for day time and Bali strain for night or off work days. Alot of people seem to like the Red Vein Thai for pain haven’t tried any in a while so don’t really remember. White Vein seemed to aggravate or do nothing for pain at all but gave me energy.
Then it’s hide in the bathroom at work and Toss and Wash because no one knows I’m sick and I don’t want to answer the whole “Why in the world are you Eating Dirt?!” 🙂
Can you tell me which one is best for pain? I need to replace the morphine and hydrocone we are taking.
For pain I’d go with a premium Bali or red vein.
What about consumption via capsules?
caps are a good masker of taste but hard to find the right dose. some people can take 4 caps and not feel a thing (even extracts). it also depends on the size of caps. weighing out the dose is very important. with every bag or bottle of kratom start off small then work your way to the PROPER dose. when i say every bag or bottle i mean EVERY BAG OR BOTTLE. the same bag/bottle of kratom you get will be different not just in weight but in how well the kratom performs.
also useing caps will take longer for the kratom to take effect just like any pill form anything. the quickest way is powder the strongest way is powder…all in all powder is the way to go.
trust me i hate powder it taste like crap. I like to take pepperoni (big slices) and put the powder in the middle of it and roll it up like a burrito…the pepperoni is very slimy and mixes well with kratoms cinnamon like texture (still dry even when wet)….also holding your breath allows you not to taste anything..breath from your mouth. (IT SEEMS LIKE A PROCESS BUT ITS NOT I PROMISE LOL)
I’d like to mention something about ‘breathing through your mouth’. If you have a fat mound of kratom sitting on your tongue, or ‘rolled inside a pepperoni’ like you’ve mentioned, I’d like to recommend against breathing through your mouth.
My first few experiences toss and washing were horrible because I breathed in and powder flew into my throat/lungs. It was terrible.
You can ingest Kratom by mixing it as well – but being that I’ve been using kratom for a couple years to combat intolerable pain at the recommendation of doctors – I can day that I recommend against it. Depends partially on what kind you have, but I’m telling you it can be Horrendously bitter. I’ve thrown up just from drinking this stuff mixed with just water. It’s easier to toss and wash. I have a strong stomach too – I was prescribed extremely high doses of hydrocodone and then some time later oxycodone and then hydromorphone later after that – I never got so much as a stomach ache from these. I have a strung stomach. So I mean that – feel free to test your bounds man but it sucked. There were many times where sure I didn’t feel even slightly sick. But the capacity of bitterness was there my friend.
I mix with water and drink. I only use about 3/4 of a cup, stir and drink. I then add a bit more water and repeat the process until there’s none stuck to the cup.
It was pretty gross at first but I’m at the point where it doesn’t even bother me at all.
3/4 of a cup to 2-3 tsp that is.
The way I take my kratom is I mix about 3-4 grams of kratom powder into a cup of orange juice while using a straw, afterwards I re pour another half cup of OJ to get the rest of the kratom chunks that sticks on the side of the cup. Probably the best way to bare the taste. Also, works effectively well.
I read a lot
Toss n wash, make a tea, mix with yogurt, use in place of hops when making.beer. there are all kinds of methods, and most dosages depend on the quality of the vendor.
Be responsible. This doesn’t need more bad attention on the news. With drugs like alcohol tobacco and a world of otc poisons you’d think Kratom would.be deemed safe, beingthat not a single person has died from Kratom alone.
Well what is Borneo then?
Borneo is essentially Bali. It was previously shipped through borneo ports which is why it is sometimes referred to as such
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As far as taking down the powder goes, why not dump it into a water bottle with a little water, shake it, and down it as fast as you can?
because NOPE
I wouldn’t mix with water.. The taste it’s not to pleasant..
Basically. The only method I use is to take powder, put it into a small (like Guayaki energy shot) glass bottle, add a bit of lemon juice and fill mostly with hot water, then shake shake shake. Add a bit more water to make it pourable and the drink it with a bit of juice. Chase with hot tea (add cayenne and/or black pepper to potentiate) and it’s on.
I just mix about 10 grams of kratom powder with about 12oz of orange juice and shake it until it’s completely mixed in, then I drink half the bottle at a time. Very simple, the OJ is really healthy (I use the Simply Orange brand, the kind with calcium and vitamin D in it), cheap, and it doesn’t taste half bad this way. The acidity and tangy quality of the OJ make it a good cover for kratom’s bitter taste.
My girlfriend thinks it’s gross, but I just take a tea spoon of Kratom, tilt my head back, and dump the powder in my mouth. I grab a water bottle, take some water in, and swoosh it around like mouth wash and then swallow. Really not bad at all, it tastes like tea! (at least the Maeng Da that I have does.
I like to mix it up in a bowl with honey until it becomes a paste then just spoon it down with a glass of water. There is no danger of inhaling the fine powder (which if anyone has accidentally done will know how uncomfortable that is!).
TOSS AND WASH WILL MAKE YOU BARF!!!
That’s for sure I tried that with about a tsp washed it down with juice and it came back up right away finished the rest of it in an energy drink it’s tolerable Venom mango
Wimps! Toss and wash is only for grown ups. You kids stick with your juice. And when you’re all grown up you can ditch the juice and do the simple toss-n-wash!
I agree fully. I breath through my mouth after, so I I don’t taste the remnants. Toss n wash the easiest way.
I find that this is by far the best method with powder, just use juice or a juice blend, preferably something citrusy. I’m a weirdo, I like the taste of kratom powder. maeng da red is by far my favorite. I can take it with water, milk, lick the tablespoon, it’s all good to me. However as I described before, citrus juice shaken in a blender bottle is by far the most approachable and taste removing method. I have a fair tolerance to opiates, so 1 heaping tablespoon does me perfect with the maeng da red. Maybe a little cannibis an hour or two later…..money.
Mixing…I like to mix the powder in almond milk or chocolate almond milk and use a drink mixer to stir. Very easy to take in just a few ounces.
If this site is truly dedicated to providing legitimate science about kratom, then please make this above information scientific. Depending on the vendor, 1 tablespoon of kratom could weigh anywhere from 6 to 12 grams, which is a tremendous difference in dose. Also, you may want to consider a disclaimer warning new users that this information is only relatively accurate and potency will always vary from vendor to vendor. It is presented here as being facts with no sources. Kratom is a drug and should be respected as such, everyone who uses this substance needs to use digital scales and measure their doses by the gram.
As a student of science and a lover of kratom, I just had to vent these frustrations. If you want to be taken seriously as an “authority,” (PS authoritative is a word meaning that you rule with an iron grip, not that you are an authority on a certain subject) then use scientific notation and cite your sources. =)
Good response. The effects of Kratom should not be based on a “he said – she said” or “rumor has it” type communication; fox news does that for everyone.
Except it doesn’t say tablespoon, it says teaspoon. I highly doubt you can fit 6-12 grams of kratom on a teaspoon without it spilling everywhere.
A teaspoon is a scientific culinary measurement known to be 4.2 grams.
I think you may be confusing the weight form of ounces with the volume form of fluid ounces and then converting to grams. A teaspoon is a measure of volume. A gram is a unit of measure of mass. Density of the material influences the conversion factor from volume to mass. Which is what the OP was saying. When he said a tablespoon could hold 6-12 grams, he’s implying that the density varies depending on the vendor. A teaspoon of vegetable oil would weigh less than a teaspoon of water, which would weigh less than a teaspoon of mercury.
I’m not 100% on your though process, and am too lazy to verify that a teaspoon is 0.15 fluid ounces, but if that’s true, water would be closest to the 4.2g per teaspoon you stated, as it is almost a 1:1 ratio of grams to ml (density), meaning the conversion factor from fluid ounces to mass ounces would be unity.
I verified that it’s actually 6 teaspoons in 1 fluid ounce. Which means there is 0.167 fluid ounces in a teaspoon.
Awwww….come on. I just want to know how much to put in my tea tonight to sleep proper. Crickey, I’m not Sheldon Cooper(reference to television character for the brainy acts), so I’m going to guess- uh, a whole bunch but not too much that I don’t have some for tomorrow. There solved. Thanks guys!!!