Summary: Kratom may help with chronic pain, especially in higher doses. Since effects vary by strain, product type, and individual biology, users should start low and gradually increase their dose. Red strains are most often used for pain relief, with 5–15 grams of powdered kratom commonly recommended.
Key Points:
- Kratom Effects: Low doses are stimulating; higher doses offer pain relief and relaxation.
- Strains Matter: Red strains are preferred for pain; green and white are more energizing.
- Starting Dose: Begin with 5 grams of powder or the product’s suggested dose.
- Adjust Slowly: Increase by 0.5–1g as needed to find effective pain relief.
- Product Variance: Extracts differ by manufacturer—follow label guidance and adjust as needed.
Kratom has a wide range of uses, from recreational to functional. Some people use kratom simply because they enjoy its effects, while others turn to it for help with issues like pain management.
While kratom is not an FDA-approved drug for pain relief, many users believe it’s effective in helping them manage chronic pain. And, because kratom is legal for adults to purchase in the vast majority of the US and is inexpensive, it’s an increasingly popular option.
Let’s take a closer look at what kratom is, then focus on finding the right kratom for chronic pain dosage.
The Basic Facts on Kratom: What You Need to Know
Kratom is the common name for a substance that comes from the mitragyna speciosa tree, a plant native to Southeast Asia that is part of the coffee family. Kratom is made by processing the leaves of this tree. This can happen by turning the leaves into a fine powder or extracting the active ingredients from them and making pills, liquids, and other preparations.
Kratom has a long history of use in certain areas where it natively grows. People in parts of Southeast Asia have long used kratom to give themselves more energy, manage pain, reduce persistent coughs, and relax, among other uses. These users often chew mitragyna speciosa leaves or brew them into a tea.
As is the case with some other psychoactive substances, like hemp and cannabis, mitragyna speciosa contains many active components. Harvard Health Publishing points out that these many components are a key reason behind kratom’s variety of effects.
Because of the variety of psychoactive chemicals in kratom, its effects vary significantly. Peer-reviewed research on kratom is limited, but user reports give us some valuable insight.
Users often report that smaller doses have more stimulating and uplifting effects. Higher doses, meanwhile, have more opiate-like effects, offering pain relief and a sense of euphoria. So, a kratom for pain dosage would be on the higher side, while a kratom dosage for increased energy would be on the lower side.
It’s vital to understand that kratom dosing, and the effects that result from its use, can vary significantly from one product to the next. Because of the many preparations, products, and active components within kratom, it’s not as easy as saying a specific dose in grams will always produce one effect or another.
So, finding the right kratom dosage is often dependent on choosing a specific product, or range of products from a specific brand, and taking some test doses to find what works on the individual level. We explore the concept of kratom dosages for pain more thoroughly later on in this blog.
Kratom Legality
Kratom is legal across the vast majority of the US. Only a few states (Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Wisconsin) have current or recent bans on its sale and/or possession.
Some of these states have recently introduced bills to allow for the sale of kratom with restrictions on marketing, age requirements for purchase, and other rules.
Additionally, some municipalities have put local bans or restrictions in place on Kratom use. However, most people in the US can legally purchase and use kratom.
Kratom Dosing for Chronic Pain: A Guide to Doses, Strains & More
There is no single serving size or dose that will always be the perfect kratom dose for pain. There are several variables related to kratom that mean the right dosage can change across different strains and products, as well as be affected by individual factors.
In terms of strains, user reports tell us that there are likely differences between the three major types of kratom:
- Red strains have more opiate-like effects, although they can still produce the uplifting and energizing results seen with other strains.
- Green and white strains lean more towards energizing and uplifting effects, although they can produce a relaxing and pain-relieving influence as well.
Product and personal differences are also crucial to recognize. On the kratom product side, there are many different formulations that range from kratom powder (powdered leaves) to shots and pills that contain some or all of the extracted active ingredients in kratom.
Personal biology also plays a role, including metabolism, body composition (body fat percentage), differences in how individuals process kratom within their bodies, and more.
According to the peer-reviewed Journal of Pain, pain management is the most common reason for daily kratom use. Additionally, a majority of users found it effective for that purpose. So, how much kratom for pain relief should you use? How can you tell what a good dose actually is?
A high dose is generally preferable to a lower dose when it comes to kratom for chronic pain. When using powdered kratom leaves, the common suggestion is to aim for a dose of 5-15 grams. Remember that doses of 1-5 grams are more commonly associated with stimulating effects.
If you’re new to kratom powders, whether it’s bulk powder, capsules containing powder, or tea made from powder, start with either 5 grams or the recommendation made by the manufacturer on the product label.
Then, increase slowly, by a half-gram or gram at a time, if that dose isn’t enough for you. The overall goal is to find the smallest dose that effectively addresses pain on the individual level.
For extract products – pills, shots, and other preparations that have further processing than only drying and pulverizing leaves – it comes down to the strength of the specific product.
There isn’t a standardized potency scale or similar reference that all manufacturers use. So, the right kratom for chronic pain dosage can vary, especially between different product categories and different manufacturers.
If you prefer these extract products, it’s best to start with the manufacturer’s suggested dose, then work your way up if you find that recommendation doesn’t address pain.
While it takes a little trial and error, this approach is the simplest way to find the right kratom for chronic pain dosage in light of the major variation between different products and strains.
Exceptional Kratom from Delta 8 Resellers
Find the very best kratom products from leading manufacturers, right here at Delta 8 Resellers. Check out our kratom products today!
