Insomnia, commonly known as sleeplessness, is the most common sleep disorder affecting millions of people worldwide. According to conservative estimates, some 10% – 30% of the global population suffer from some form of insomnia. Some common causes of insomnia include chronic anxiety, persistent pain, unhealthy sleeping habits, disruptions in normal sleep routine, certain underlying conditions, and certain medications.
Now, there are numerous conventional treatments for insomnia, including Doxylamine and Diphenhydramine. While some of these drugs are generally effective, they also tend to leave the user nursing a series of side effects. Fortunately, there are plenty of useful natural sleep aids that you can use to keep insomnia at bay. One such aid is kratom.
What Is Kratom?
Kratom, scientifically known as Mitragyna speciosa, refers to a tropical evergreen tree native to Southeast Asia. The tree is indigenous to countries like Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Myanmar. Kratom belongs in the same family as coffee, which makes it a powerful stimulant. Besides its stimulating properties, kratom also produces opioid effects similar to those of conventional opioid drugs.
The herb is generally described as a partial opioid agonist,’ which simply means that it binds only partially to the opioid receptors in the brain. That might help to explain why, unlike conventional opioids, which bind fully to the brain’s opioid receptors, kratom use isn’t associated with severe risks of addiction and dependency.
Now, one of the many uses of kratom is as a sleep aid. Kratom proponents claim that using the right kratom strains like affordable bulk rates of Maeng Da Kratom can go a long way in relieving some of the most bothersome symptoms of insomnia. But just how true are these claims? The following sections shall attempt to uncover how kratom works to alleviate insomnia and how you can make the most of it.
How Does Kratom Combat Insomnia?
Kratom contains numerous bioactive compounds, the vast majority of which are alkaloids. The two most widely-studied alkaloids in kratom include mitragynine (MG) and 7-hydroxy mitragynine (7-HMG).
When you consume kratom capsules, both primary alkaloids enter your body and interact with various brain receptors. By affecting the brain’s opioid receptors, mitragynine and 7-hydroxy mitragynine play a direct role in alleviating pain, which happens to be the primary causes of insomnia.
It’s also worth noting that kratom contains mild psychedelic effects. The herb can induce euphoric feelings nearly similar to those experienced after consuming significant levels of THC, one of the primary psychoactive compounds. Feelings of euphoria are generally associated with happiness and positivity, which means that kratom capsules can elevate your mood and reduce stress levels.
Again, stress happens to be one of the primary triggers of insomnia. That’s especially true for people with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), whose sleep is often interrupted by nightmares and replays of bad memories. So, kratom’s anxiolytic properties are convenient when it comes to managing anxiety-induced insomnia.
Even better, remember that kratom doesn’t bind fully to the body’s receptors, which means that its euphoric effects are generally modulated. So, the herb can help to relieve stress without leaving the user considerably intoxicated.
What Is The Best Way To Use Kratom Capsules For Sleep?
- Select the right strain
While there are numerous kratom strains out there, not all of them are effective sleep aids. If you’re looking for the best kratom strain to relieve insomnia, you should consider the following;
- Red Thai Kratom – Delivers calming and sedating effects.
- Red Bali Kratom – Both calming and pain-relieving
- Indo Kratom – Another highly sedating kratom strain
- Red Borneo – Like Red Bali, this strain relieves both pain and anxiety, hence insomnia
- Moderate your doses
As a psychoactive compound, kratom is both a stimulant and a sedative. The herb generally produces stimulating properties when consumed in small quantities.
As you increase the doses, kratom transitions from being a stimulant and becomes a sedative. However, it’s important not to increase the doses any further once you’ve achieved your desired results. Note that, like all other herbal extracts, kratom is generally ineffective at very high doses.
Are There Side Effects?
Being a natural, plant-derived compound, it’s intuitive to imagine that kratom doesn’t trigger side effects. However, the herb has been associated with numerous adverse effects, including nausea, vomiting, itching, agitation, muscle spasticity, and abdominal pain. In the case of severe exposure, you may also experience liver problems (which mostly manifest in jaundiced skin), kidney problems (which generally manifest in dark urine), and depression.
However, the good news is that you can reduce the risks of experiencing kratom’s side effects by moderating your intake of the herb. As a general rule, start by consuming low kratom capsules and monitoring your reaction before increasing your doses.
You can also reduce the risks of kratom’s side effects by insisting on kratom products high in mitragynine and low in 7-hydroxy mitragynine. That’s because studies have associated 7-hydroxy mitragynine with addiction and dependency. The saving grace is that mitragynine happens to be the more dominant alkaloid.
Conclusion
Kratom is an effective natural remedy against insomnia. However, the best way to make the most of kratom’s sleep-boosting properties is to choose the right strain and moderate your intake. Also, remember that kratom remains illegal in numerous countries around the world. So, ensure that you can legally access kratom capsules in your jurisdiction before purchasing them.
