As Kratom gains popularity, new methods for ingesting it are popping up, and one of them is smoking. Nowadays, more and more people are choosing to smoke Kratom over other methods of consumption. However, it’s important to understand the risks associated with this method. In this article, we’ll delve into why smoking Kratom safe and explore alternative methods for consuming this herb. By understanding the dangers of smoking Kratom and exploring safer options, you can make informed choices about your Kratom use. So without further ado, let’s dive in.
Can You Smoke Kratom?
Traditionally, local Southeast Asians liked to chew Kratom leaves or brew them into tea. Smoking Kratom isn’t really popular in the areas where Kratom originated. Since bedrock Kratom powder is incredibly dense, smoking is not as simple as you may think. To make Kratom cigarettes more smokeable, the powder is combined with other herbs.
What Happens When You Smoke Kratom?
When you smoke Kratom powder, it might not work as well because the special compounds in Kratom, called alkaloids, might break down. One of these alkaloids, called mitragynine, is what gives Kratom its energizing or calming effects, depending on the type of Kratom and how much you take.
A study in the Journal of Analytical Toxicology found that Kratom alkaloids break down more when exposed to certain levels of acidity and heat. When you smoke, the temperatures can get really high, ranging from 350 °C when you’re not puffing to about 800 °C when you take a drag. At these temperatures, mitragynine breaks down pretty quickly, within about six hours at 75 °C.
Why Is Smoking Kratom Not Healthy?
When Kratom is smoked, it enters your bloodstream more quickly, which increases the danger of addiction. Smoking Kratom has immediate effects since the substance is absorbed directly into your bloodstream with oxygen and quickly crosses the blood-brain barrier.
Shop Our Third Eye Kratom Collection
Smoking Kratom exposes you to further short- and long-term risks, including harm to your nose, throat, and upper respiratory system. It is additionally alleged that the extreme heat produced by smoking may destroy the effective alkaloids, making it impossible to determine what dose you have taken. This can raise the risk of taking excessive Kratom because you don’t know how much to ingest.
Effects Of Smoking: Both Short And Long Term
As with other substances or tobacco, smoking Kratom increases the risk of cancer and Lung disease. Since Kratom leaves have a high tar content, smoking them releases toxins into your lungs. Let’s take a look at a list of all side effects associated with smoking Kratom:
- Respiratory problems
- Lung Cancer
- Kratom Tolerance
- Cardiovascular effects
- Irritation of Mucous Membranes
Is Smoking The Only Way People Use Kratom?
There are a lot of safer ways to take Kratom that you can consider as an alternative to smoking Kratom. Let’s discuss all of them in detail.
Powder Kratom
Although there are other ways to consume Kratom, powder of Kratom remains the most common form of the herb. This is because it is the quickest way to introduce the drug into your body. Simply measure out the desired amount and swallow it as quickly as possible. Follow this up with water or another liquid. Here are some methods to consume Kratom.
Toss And Wash
Toss-and-wash is the most popular method of Kratom consumption among die-hard Kratom users. Simply swish the dose down your throat after measuring it. Drink your favourite non-carbonated beverage next. Although it is not essential, some people choose to whisk the powder into the beverage to mix it. If you are new to Kratom or toss-and-wash, divide your dose in two.
Some individuals find this unpalatable and prefer to brew a drink instead. Furthermore, while many people find it straightforward to take powder, others may struggle to swallow a lump of powder fast or avoid choking on it.
Add Kratom To Food
Many people who are new to Kratom discover that it works best when consumed with food. Taking Kratom on an empty stomach might cause nausea, so eat a snack or a full meal first.
Adding kratom powder to your favourite foods is one of the finest ways to consume it. Muesli, muesli and yogurt are some of the dishes that go well with the herb.
However, some meals do not mix well with the powder, particularly if you use too much of it. In this situation, start with small doses and gradually increase until you observe the desired results.
Brew Tea
To begin, grind the fresh leaves to a powder. To guarantee appropriate breakdown, dissolve the powder in phases by adding boiling water. After it has dissolved, add more water and bring the liquid to a boil. Reduce the heat to a simmer and allow the liquid to cook for 10-15 minutes. After the mixture has reduced to a thick syrup, strain out the leaves and serve the tea hot.
Capsules
Kratom capsules are the simplest form of consumption. It’s simple to get the appropriate dosage, and you won’t be able to taste the Kratom. However, when taken as a capsule, the substance takes longer to function. Capsules tend to be more expensive than powder. Meanwhile, the powder works faster, but it is difficult to correctly quantify the dose. The strong flavour can be overwhelming for some individuals, but there are ways to reduce it.
If you decide that capsules are best for you, you should generally begin with a low dose and work your way up as needed. Because the effects are dependent on your body weight, tolerance, and other individual characteristics. The following dosages are only guidelines.
Energy – 1-2 capsules
Relaxation: 3-4 capsules
Relief from discomfort – 4 to 5 capsules
Kratom Extract
For individuals who do not want to deal with the plant’s powerful aroma in powder form, Kratom extract is a popular option. Extracts are more concentrated than direct, undistilled compounds due to the distillation process. Here are some tips for using Kratom extract.
- Brew the extract in tea or mix it with juice, the same as you would with powder. You can also put a few drops on your food or drink.
- Drops can also be given sublingually, which is known as “sublingual administration.”
- Begin by adding only a few drops at a time to test your tolerance levels. You will not need to take as much of this extract to reap the benefits because it includes more alkaloids than other methods of consumption, making it more effective.
Final Word
To wrap things up, it’s really important to understand just how risky it can be to smoke Kratom. Doing so has serious potential side effects. Instead of going down that route, why not check out other ways to take Kratom? Experiment with different methods to see what works best for you, and once you find one you like, stick with it.