Taking Supplements With Kratom
What Supplements and Vitamins Can You Take With Kratom?
While many people take kratom as a supplement itself, whether in capsule or as kratom tea, they're often not sure about what other supplements you can take with kratom.
Did you know that some supplements combined with kratom can aid its effects? Different supplements can interact with kratom in various ways. Some supplements can potentiate kratom or make it last longer, while others may help with side effects.
Here's a guide on supplements to take with kratom, as well as supplements you may want to avoid when consuming kratom (remember to always ask your doctor before starting a supplement, since it may interact with other medications you take).
Supplements for Relaxation
If you take kratom for relaxation, as a sleep aid, or to reduce anxiety, there are supplements that can potentiate the relaxing effects of kratom.
Ashwagandha
Ashwagandha is an adaptogen herb that has been used for centuries in Indian Ayurvedic medicine and in North Africa. It's well-studied, and research has provided evidence for its many health benefits. It contains alkaloids that relieve stress and reduce cortisol, reduce inflammation, promote muscle growth, and promote concentration. Taking ashwagandha with kratom can promote well-being, relaxation, and low stress.
Lavender
Lavender oil is one of the most popular essential oils, due to its ability to promote relaxation, enhance mood, aid anxiety and depression, lower blood pressure, reduce nausea, and aid menstrual cramps.
Lavender oil works to create anxiolytic and antidepressant-like effects by acting as an antagonist on the NMDA-receptor as well as reacting with GABA receptors. Taking lavender oil with kratom can aid the relaxing and anxiety-reducing effects of kratom.
Chamomile
Chamomile is relaxing and sedating, making it a powerful natural sleep aid. It can also help with nausea, which can be a side-effect of kratom. Taking chamomile with red kratom strains can increase your relaxation, and it can also help you relax after you've been energized from white kratom strains. It may take about four weeks of regular chamomile use to have a noticeable change in quality of sleep.
CBD
Taking CBD with kratom can promote physical relaxation, stress relief, and anxiety relief . Taking CBD with red kratom can promote the most calming effects; taking CBD with green kratom strains can alleviate stress and promote positive feelings, and taking CBD with white kratom can keep you alert without feeling restless.
Use a lower dose of CBD and kratom than you usually would when taking them together.
Supplements for Energy and Focus
Kratom is more energizing in lower doses, especially with green strains and white strains. If you're taking kratom to combat fatigue or improve focus, here are some supplements you may find useful.
L-Theanine
L-Theanine, also known as L-γ-glutamylethylamide, is a natural amino acid found in green tea, and mushrooms that can provide physical relaxation without reducing your energy levels. It also acts as a nootropic, enhancing your focus and cognitive function.
L-Tyrosine
L-tyrosine is one form of the amino acid tyrosine. L-Tyrosine helps the body produce thyroid hormones, melanin, epinephrine, norepinephrine, and dopamine. Taking L-tyrosine with kratom can boost the neurotransmitters in the brain, creating mental alertness and reducing fatigue. It can reduce the sedative effects of red kratom strains and larger kratom doses, but it enhances the energy of small doses of kratom.
Supplements to Potentiate Kratom
If you take certain supplements with kratom, there are some that can interact in a way that can make the effects of kratom last longer or feel stronger. This can be helpful if you are managing higher levels of pain.
Turmeric/Curcumin
Turmeric, a member of the ginger family, is common in curry powders and mustards, and often used in supplements. Curcumin is an ingredient in turmeric that reduces inflammation. It's also linked to other benefits such as improved cognition, and has antioxidant properties.
Many turmeric supplements have black pepper or cayenne pepper in them, which enhances the bioavailability of turmeric. Look for turmeric with these agents for the best results.
Taking turmeric with kratom can slow down the metabolic breakdown of kratom alkaloids, making it last longer. This can increase the effects of kratom, but it may be overwhelming for some, so start with small doses.
Citrus/Grapefruit
Taking citrus with kratom is not only a good way to make the effects of kratom last longer, but drinking kratom in orange juice, grapefruit juice, or as a tea with lemon or lime can make it taste better. In addition to the antioxidants and vitamin C present in citrus, drinking the juice with kratom can promote a healthy digestive system.
Valerian Root
Valerian root is a flowering plant that has been used in medicine in Europe and Asia for centuries to help with things like sleep and anxiety . It's believed to help anxiety by interacting with the brain's neurotransmitter, GABA. If you have trouble sleeping from pain or anxiety, taking valerian root with a red strain of kratom can help promote relaxation and tiredness. It's not a good idea to take valerian root during the daytime if working or driving.
Supplements To Reduce Side Effects of Kratom
Some of the most common side effects of kratom are loss of appetite, nausea, constipation, and sweating. Many of these side effects are easy to avoid by careful dosing of kratom and making sure to get adequate hydration.
Ginger Root
Ginger is an ancient component of traditional Eastern medicine known as a powerful anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-nausea medication. When getting used to a new kratom strain or when you take too much, you may feel nauseous. Taking ginger root before or with kratom can help prevent an upset stomach. If you make kratom tea, try including ginger and lemon for a range of benefits.
Magnesium
The mineral magnesium is known to relieve migraine headaches, PMS cramps (especially with vitamin B6), and can help fight depression. Taking magnesium with kratom can help prevent pains associated with PMS, and can also help you maintain a better electrolyte balance to avoid dehydration. Chelated magnesium is the most bioavailable form of magnesium, but magnesium glycerophosphate is one of the magnesium varieties that's helpful for treating constipation.
A Few Things To Consider
It's a good idea to become familiar with how kratom affects you, what serving size works best for you, and what strain of kratom you like before adding supplements. If you start off with supplements and kratom, you may experience effects that are stronger than needed.
In addition to taking supplements, getting exercise (even just 30 minutes of walking) and plenty of water are important when taking kratom since it's a diuretic. If you do drink caffeinated beverages or consume any other diuretics, it's important to keep track of your water intake and assure that you're getting enough water and electrolytes.
If you have any questions, always consult your doctor.As more research is done on kratom as a supplement for wellness, more people are considering taking it
Mitchell Cohen, M.D. is Board Certified doctor specializing in Orthopedic Medicine and Spinal Surgery. Graduated from Hahnemann University in Philadelphia, PA with a degree in Human Physiology (1983) and subsequently achieved his medical degree in 1987 from Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. Dr Cohen did his Surgical Residency at the University of New Mexico in 1992 as well as a Spine Fellowship in 1993. Dr. Cohen has published the following medical journals: "Biomechanical Efficiency of Spinal Systems in Thorocolumbar Fractures" (1993), "Kaneda Anterior Spinal Instrumentation" and "Spinal Fusion Stabilization amongst many others. View Dr Cohen's Twitter Page.
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