
Kratom
{Thang, Krypton, Kakuam, Thom, Ketum}
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Dose and onset
How? How Much? When? For how Long?
These are important considerations. The way you consume kratom can vastly impact the experience. The same applies to the dose taken, and even then the effects from a given dose of kratom will vary depending on many factors such as your weight, gender, metabolism, and tolerance from previous use. Read our section on dosing for more information.
How you take Kratom matters...
From the least to the most harmful way.
Eating or drinking
Dried leaves can be chewed, but because the texture is dry and tough, the leaves are commonly crushed into a powder for easier ingestion. Kratom has a strong taste, therefore, the powder is mixed with sweet liquids like fruit juice or milk. Alternatively, Kratom powder can be added to foods like yogurt or applesauce.
The ‘toss and wash’ method is also quite popular. More info on this method can be found here.
Infused
Commonly, Kratom is infused in hot water. Many claim that both the euphoric and mood boosting effects of kratom are enhanced with this method in comparison to taking powder. This is because of the rapid digestion and absorption of Kratom alkaloids. However, it is thought that the pain relieving properties of Kratom are reduced.
Capsules
Others prefer to take kratom in the form of pills or capsules, much like other supplements. This is a safer option as dosing is more controlled.
Smoking and snorting
You should avoid snorting or smoking kratom because both methods increase the speed at which the drug reaches your bloodstream, making it more addictive and thus increasing the risk of overdose and death. These methods may also damage your nose, throat and upper respiratory system. Damage can range from a nosebleed to a respiratory tract infection or even blood clots in the lungs.
More information on the various ways to consume kratom can be found on The Kratom's user guide.
Kratom dosage
When it comes to dosing, it is important to note that Kratom has an uncommonly broad range of effects, meaning it acts in different ways depending on how much you take of it.
- 1 to 4 grams can produce subtle, stimulant effects.
- 4 to 6 grams can produce analgesic, stimulant or sedative effects.
- 6 to 8 grams can produce strong analgesic or sedative effects.
- 8 or more grams can produce very strong analgesic and sedative effects, which can be really dangerous and are not recommended.
Kratom extract (oral dosage)
- Threshold: 1g
- Light: 1-2g
- Common: 2-4g
- Strong: 2-6g
- Heavy: 5-8g
Kratom tea (infused)
- Threshold: 1 g
- Light: 3 g
- Common 5 g
- Strong: 10 g
- Heavy: 11+ g
When do the effects of Kratom kick in and for how long?
The START time below is when you will usually begin to feel the effects of kratom from the time when you first take it. DURATION is roughly the length of time you will experience the effects, after which the effects will start to wear off and you might start to feel the comedown effects.
Kratom has a wide range of effects, depending on the dosage. At small doses, it’s a stimulant and at larger doses it acts as a sedative. The stimulatory effects may be shorter than the sedative ones, as the stimulatory effects tend to appear faster and fade earlier.
- START: 10-15 minutes
- DURATION: 2 - 4 hours
- PEAK: 1 - 2 hours
- AFTER EFFECT: 3 - 6 hours
References: The Kratom User's Guide; www.erowid.org
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