Many Americans that suffer from chronic pain are opting out of pharmaceuticals and taking natural pain relievers like kratom instead. Kratom users contend that kratom is just as effective as an analgesic as many prescription opiates on the market and are not as dangerous/unhealthy for you. Kratom has been used for centuries by the locals in many southeast Asian countries where the plant grows naturally. In SE Asia, locals have historically preferred chewing the kratom leaves. However, there are many ways that kratom can be taken. Here are 7 different common ways that kratom is taken.
Kratom Capsules
This is easily the most convenient method. No messy powder. No leaves. Kratom capsules are usually a little more expensive than kratom powders unless you opt to make the capsules yourself.
Mix With Grapefruit Juice/Orange Juice
This appears to be the most common method of ingestion. The strong taste of grapefruit juice and orange juice helps mask the bitter, and quite honestly, yucky taste of kratom powder. Grapefruit juice is also said to be a potentiator that can make the effects of kratom more pronounced. The key is to mix the juice and powder until all the clumpy powdered is dissolved. This will make the drink much more pleasant to consume.
Kratom Smoothie
Also a very common method of ingestion, mixing kratom into a smoothie is a tasty way to enjoy kratom. Popular smoothie flavors are chocolate and strawberry. Yummy!
Yogurt & Kratom
Mixing kratom into yogurt is a unique and relatively tasty way to consume kratom. The texture is a little…different…but yogurt is excellent for masking the bitter taste of kratom.
Kratom Tea
Add the kratom leaves or powder into about 1 liter of water and let it boil for 10-15 minutes. Then add a cinnamon stick. Let the tea simmer for about 10 more minutes or until your concoction has calmed down and is no longer bubbling. If you used kratom leaves, pour the tea through a strainer into a bowl and put the leaves back in the pot for another round of boiling water. After the leaves have been strained a second time, they can be discarded. If you used kratom powder you do not have to do a second pot of boiling water. Add some ginger root and a sweetener of your choice. Experiment with different sweeteners, roots, and herbs to find the taste that you enjoy the most! This option is fairly time consuming and some of the alkaloids in kratom are lost in the process which can result in varying potencies, but this option is fairly tasty.
Coffee & Kratom
Both substances provide great energy so some may find the mixture a bit too energizing, but many Americans enjoy a mixture of the two in the morning to get their day started with a boost of energy. Mix your kratom powder with a cup of hot coffee and it should almost instantly dissolve due to the heat.
Chew Kratom Leaves
You can always chew the leaves of the kratom plant just like the local populations in Asia. However, this is not a healthy option for your gums and teeth in the long term and we recommend going with one of the other methods we have listed for you.
Kratom is currently legal in 45 out of 50 states in the United States and can be purchased at your local smoke shop, herb shop or online from a number of online vendors. The Kratom Connection has written an excellent guide on the topic of where to buy kratom if you are interested in trying kratom but not sure where to start.
Photo by KY Kratom 