The trend of using alternative herbal medicine is the new trend in the world. For the world, Kratom is one of the best medicinal and recreational herbal supplement which has multiple uses. It helps to attain stress relief, sedation, and euphoria to the highly efficient pain relief properties.
The state of well-being leads to happiness which is a precious effect. The chemical alternatives are very damaging to health, and most of them are illegal.
In this situation, a product like Kratom wins not just the situation but the heart too. It is a perfect fit for everyday health problems and personal motivational booster. The best nootropic which is helpful for all professional persons.
The alternatives of Kratom are usually chemical based drugs. There is less likely to form a herbal alternative which is equivalent to Kratom by all means. There are a few options which are helpful for providing similar effects.
In what way Kratom can help?
Kratom has a botanical name of Mitragyna speciosa. The native of Southeast Asia, this plant is a part of local herbal medicine for some problems. Mainly famous as a potent pain killer, Kratom has an exceptional reputation as a therapeutic as well as a recreational tree. (ref)
As a nootropic agent, it helps to build high concentration, focus, and confidence. The self-motivation is helpful either for personal grooming and semi-medicinal effects like opiate withdrawal.
What are the best alternatives to Kratom?
Kratom is not the only herbal fix for these effects. There are some other plants which have important compounds to provide the Kratom like effects. The herbal remedies are most common for the benefits like pain control and stress relief.
The status of Kratom is no doubt far above all these herbs. There are various comparable alternatives which provide some beneficial effects. The following are the closest alternative options to Kratom. Each one of these has its particular properties. A reader can read and analyze them for the selection to use. However, the effects of these alternatives are not a complete replica of Kratom.
1) Mitragyna Javanica
The first and foremost name to consider as a Kratom replacement is Mitragyna javanica. The word Mitragyna in its name shows that it shares the same genus and family with Kratom. It somehow looks similar to Kratom too.
The reason why Mitragyna javanica is common is that it helps to relieve pain. This pain control is similar to Kratom but less potent. The difference in Javanica and Kratom is among the alkaloids. Kratom has high amounts of mitragynine and 7 Hydroxy mitragynine in it. On the other hand, javanica has a unique compound called mitrajavine in it.
Mitragyna javanica has the proper quantity of 3-isoajmalicine in it. Unlike Kratom, it doesn’t have ajmalicine in it which gives stress control effect. That is the reason Mitragyna javanica has no role in managing stress levels.
As a mild substitute of Kratom, javanica can help especially the new users. Javanica is not that powerful as Kratom; it can’t even induce sedation and euphoria. It explains why Kratom has higher popularity than it. But for people who don’t want sedation and euphoria along with pain control, Mitragyna javanica is a good choice.
2) Akuamma seeds
Akuamma is the common name of Picralima nitida which is a native tree of Western Africa. The seeds of this plant are the reason for its fame. The seeds share a prominent status as a treatment for various problems such as diarrhea, malaria, muscle contractility, pneumonia and chronic pain syndromes.
Kratom and Akuamma seeds both share these medicinal properties. Like Kratom, Akuamma seeds are also opiate receptor agonists. It binds to all three types of receptors, i.e., MU, Kappa and Delta opioid binding sites.
The anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect runs through this opioid receptor binding which is the same mechanism of action as of Kratom. The alkaloids of Akuamma seeds are however different; they include akuammidine, akuammine, akuammicine, akuammigine and others.
The primary effects of Akuamma seeds which help in routine are relaxing and stimulating properties. It is also helpful for minor pains. The effects are dosage sensitive but less sensitive than Kratom. In the case of overdosing and side effects, Akuamma seeds have no lethal effect. In the worst-case, they may end up with nausea, stomach upset, dizziness and vomiting.
3) Mitragyna hirsuta
Another popular name for the genus Mitragyna is Mitragyna hirsuta. It is commonly famous as Kra Thum Knok, a close cousin of Kratom For the reason that it shares the same family with Kratom, there are some striking similarities among these two by effects.
Mitragyna hirsuta is rich in 7-hydroxy-mitragynine and mitragynine which are two important alkaloids of Kratom. The quantity of the may vary in both species, but the effects are similar. It shows opiate like effects which help to control the blood pressure and provides sufficient amount of oxygen to all body cells especially the brain.
Another property is that Mitragyna hirsuta is a powerful antioxidant that brings the health status of the user overall. It is either available as a supplement or herbal tea, and the user can select anyone of his own choice.
4) Tianeptine Sodium
Tianeptine Sodium is one of the top alternatives of Kratom by Reddit threads where users share their personal experiences. It is common as “coaxial” which is an anxiolytic.
There is no sedative effect of Tianeptine sodium.
It is a potent agonist which attaches to the MU and Delta binding sites. It is less likely to connect at Kappa receptor sites. This attachment with Delta and Mu receptors is responsible for inducing euphoria and sedation.
It is not a wise idea to combine Kratom and Tianeptine sodium. Both of these are powerful compounds which make a high risk of cross tolerance. In the case of individual users, Tianeptine sodium is a good option.
5) Alcohol
A known herbal alternative of Kratom is alcohol. Despite being famous as only a recreational drink, alcohol is completely legal to get in almost all the leading countries of the world. Alcohol replicates the recreational effects of Kratom.
It shows a sense of goodness and overall happiness which makes the user forget about the worries of life.
It is comparable to the sedation and euphoric properties of Kratom. It relaxes the nerves and provides a temporary solution for anxiety and panic attacks. It reduces minor pains and induces euphoria.
Talking about the odds, alcohol is damaging to the liver. We can say that it is also dosage sensitive like Kratom and overdosing alcohol can bring up many health complications.
6) Kava Kava
Kava Kava is the best remedial solution which is comparable to Kratom. It is native to Western Pacific regions where it is famous as “the root of happiness.” It is used to make kava tea which is as common as black tea or coffee.
Kava is one of the best stress relieving herbal compounds that are available in multiple forms like Kratom. For example, it is available in powder, tea, tincture, and pills form. The best usage of Kava is for treating stress, anxiety, fatigue, irregular sleeping cycles and muscular tensions.
Like Kratom, it helps to ease the withdrawal symptoms which promotes calmness and peace of mind. It is best to use anxiety patients as an alternative to chemical drugs.
The sedation of Kava and Kratom is almost the same. It is one of those options which offer calming effects ending up on sedation, similar to Kava. For this reason, they also help to regulate the irregular sleeping cycles and particular issues like insomnia.
Lastly, it is one of the best herbal nootropic solutions. Like Kratom, Kava assists in various cognitive activities but the mechanism for it differs in Kratom and Kava. Kava uses GABA receptors instead of opioid receptors. Sometimes it works on the dopaminergic receptors to which adds pleasing effects like ecstasy into the user benefits.
7) Combretum quadrangulare
Combretum quadrangulare grows multiple regions of the world mainly in Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Thailand. Combretum is a small plant which grows by the sides of rivers and lakes.
The dry leaves of Combretum quadrangulare are available for certain home remedies. The primary effect that it produces is stimulation, but it doesn’t have opiate like properties. It helps against the muscular pains, only minor. Its role as an anthelmintic agent is quite prominent.
The sedation and euphoria are very mild in the case of Combretum quadrangulare. The side effects are only minor, i.e., dizziness. Still, it is illegal in Thailand, but it is readily available in many other parts of the world.
8) Salvia divinorum
Salvia divinorum is a psychoactive plant which is popular for its analgesic effects. The efficiency of these effects is low in comparison with Kratom, but it is a good alternative to moderate effects.
It attaches to the opioid receptors along with dopaminergic receptors. This mechanism initiates euphoric feeling which is similar to Kratom. Salvia divinorum is an alternative to Kratom, but no one should mix these two. Instead of enhanced effects, a cross-tolerance is more likely to take place.
9) Marijuana
Marijuana is famous for a negative reputation. The legal challenges somehow make the status of marijuana suspicious. It has recreational and medicinal effects that are not legal in many parts of the world.
Marijuana treats the chronic pain cases which resemble the analgesia by Kratom. It also shows some sedative and euphoric effects that are less intense than Kratom.
10) Lactuca serriola
Lactuca serriola is the wild opium lettuce which is a natural hypnotic agent. It has a sedating effect which is along with potential pain relief. It is a proven treatment for ulcers and other stomach related problems.
It is also good to sleep regulators which also plays a role to maintain hormonal balance in women. It treats some health issues from asthma, insomnia, cramping, pain, priapism, urinary tract infections, circulatory problems and much more.
Like Kratom, Lactuca serriola is available in powder, supplement, tea or dried leaves forms. It is rarely available in oil form which has remedial benefits against atherosclerosis.
11) Nymphaea caerulea
Commonly called blue lotus, Nymphaea caerulea is another natural euphoric compound which has aphrodisiac and sedative effects. It is similar to Kratom using its results;
It has the ability to make the mood better, provide mental relaxation and enhance concentration. The plant has a psychoactive compound Apomorphine which helps to achieve all these effects.
Final thoughts on Kratom alternatives
Kratom is by far one of the rare plant strains that offer numerous health benefits altogether. All these options are similar to Kratom but they don’t exactly show the same effects. For only one particular effect, any of these alternatives can help.
Moreover, these substitutes are less powerful than Kratom. For a person who doesn’t want a highly reactive herbal solution, any of these options will be beneficial.