Kratom vs CBD: Which Is More Effective?
More and more people are leaning into plant-based wellness and natural alternatives for holistic wellness support. Interest in nutraceuticals and adaptogens is only continuing to grow, leading people to incorporate new supplements into their daily regimens.
Both kratom and CBD have developed large followings for their effects and benefits, which have a lot in common.
If you’re wondering whether to use kratom or CBD, here’s what you need to know about what they are, their effects, their benefits, and their safety. Make an informed choice about your wellness.
What is Kratom?
Kratom is a bushy plant native to southeast Asia. It’s essentially the botanical cousin of the coffee plant, and the natives of the region used it just about the same way. The locals generally dry and harvest kratom leaves and use them to make tea.
Outdoor workers would go straight to the source, plucking and chewing kratom leaves throughout the day to enjoy a quick energy boost.
Unlike tea and coffee, kratom does not contain caffeine. The plant is rich in naturally occurring compounds called alkaloids that have very similar effects to caffeine when consumed in small doses.
People will sometimes lump kratom and tea into the same category, but they’re fundamentally nowhere near the same thing. They simply produce similar effects when kratom is used in very small doses.
When consumed in larger doses, the effects of kratom radically change from a mild stimulant to a sedative. When ingested in larger doses, kratom is absolutely nothing like tea. Its effect profile is similar to prescription pain medications like morphine.
What Is CBD?
CBD, short for cannabidiol, is not itself a plant. It’s a compound that naturally occurs in several plants. The cannabis family of plants, including hemp, naturally contains a lot of cannabidiol.
Cannabinoids also occur in foods like kale, black pepper, and broccoli. The cannabinoids in these plants are present in very small amounts, and you’re unlikely to experience the effects the same way you would from hemp.
CBD can also come from other natural sources. At Peels, we make our CBD by using a proprietary process to assemble the aromatic compounds of orange peels into bioidentical CBD.
CBD is unique. Its effects can be similar to those of valerian tea, melatonin, or post-workout supplements. The list of effects is too broad to draw a direct comparison.
How Does Kratom Work?
Most of kratom’s effects come from two compounds: mitragynine and 7-α-hydroxymitra-gynine. These compounds work with a class of the brain’s opioid receptors called the mu receptors. These receptors work to change the way the body feels and operates.
When substances like kratom bind to these receptors, the changes can cause feelings of euphoria or heavy sedation. They also trigger the brain’s reward system. When you use kratom, your brain begins to associate kratom with pleasure or relief.
How Does CBD Work?
CBD works with your body’s endocannabinoid system. The endocannabinoid system consists of countless receptors throughout your brain and your body, and it plays a role in many of your most important functions.
The body makes some of its own cannabinoids to stimulate the system and power it to provide support. Your system is also receptive to cannabinoids from outside sources, like CBD.
CBD will interact with these receptors throughout your body to inspire them to perform their intended functions. CBD is a lot like fuel for your endocannabinoid system’s engine. When you give the system CBD, it can work a little better.
What Are the Effects of Kratom?
In very small doses, kratom can produce an energizing effect. Some people report feeling jittery or irritable.
People rarely use kratom in small doses. People who use large doses of kratom will become intoxicated, and the effects are likely visible. They often have difficulty with coordination and often cannot speak coherently.
The most commonly reported side effects of kratom are nausea, vomiting, dizziness, loss of muscle coordination, blurred vision or “seeing double,” or becoming heavily sedated for prolonged periods of time.
What Are the Effects of CBD?
CBD works to support your body’s natural homeostasis. Many people find that CBD helps them to relax and enjoy greater mental clarity. People use CBD to ease emotional and physical tension. It’s also popular for helping to promote better sleep.
CBD is not a drug or a sedative. It doesn’t make you drowsy or produce feelings that your body wouldn’t otherwise be capable of achieving independently. It influences your body to work in a more balanced manner.
CBD isn’t intoxicating. It won’t get you high. You won’t experience a loss of coordination or a dulling of your senses when you use CBD.
Many athletes use CBD while they train because they find the sense of calm clarity makes it easier for them to reach their fitness goals. They don’t have any difficulty with motor skills or proper form as a result of using CBD.
Side effects associated with CBD use are very rare. They sometimes include nausea, but the nausea is usually a result of the carrier oil used to make CBD oil drops. Some people report feeling sleepy with high doses of CBD.
Is Kratom Legal?
Kratom is banned in Canada, most of Europe, and most of South America. There are no federal regulations for kratom in the United States, but many states have enacted bans on kratom.
Is CBD Legal?
CBD is legal throughout most of the world, including the entire United States on a federal level. Suppose the CBD is derived from a cannabis plant (rather than a hemp plant or another plant source). In that case, it’s legal for medicinal cannabis patients to use in their states or legal for all adults in states and countries where recreational cannabis use is legal.
Is Kratom Safe?
Kratom is not regulated and is generally not recognized as safe. Because there are no quality or safety standards for kratom, there’s no way to tell if the product you’re purchasing is accurately labeled or if it may contain contaminants. The lack of standards combined with the heavy effects of kratom should be taken seriously.
It’s possible to overdose on kratom. There is no officially recognized safe dose.
Is CBD Safe?
CBD is generally recognized as safe for most people. There has never been a fatal overdose of CBD recorded, and the upper threshold for safe daily use is usually cited as 2,500 mg daily. This is substantially more CBD than anyone would ever take to obtain effects, and it would be cost-prohibitive to use that much CBD per day.
Although CBD products are not required to be lab tested for safety and purity, many companies elect to do so anyway. There are a wealth of labs throughout the country that specialize in cannabinoid testing. Companies display their lab test results for every batch of their products.
Is Kratom Addictive?
Kratom can be highly addictive, which is one of the main reasons it’s illegal to use in so many places. Because it works in a way similar to opioids, it may boast the same addictive potential as opioids.
It may be potentially more dangerous than opioids due to the fact that any adult can buy kratom at any time in whatever amount they choose without a prescription or medical oversight. This often leads to serious abuse.
Is CBD Addictive?
CBD is not known to be addictive in any way, even when regularly used in high doses. If a daily CBD user were to discontinue using CBD, they wouldn’t experience any withdrawal effects. It’s safe to stop and start CBD at any time.
Kratom vs. CBD: Which Is Better?
In the battle of kratom vs. CBD – CBD is the clear winner. The potential for abuse, addiction, and overdose with kratom combined with its lack of adequate safety data takes kratom out of the running. It’s never a good idea to use kratom.
If you’re experiencing a serious medical issue, such as poor sleep health or moderate to severe discomfort, don’t use kratom as a natural alternative. Go to your doctor and discuss a course of natural management for your condition. Kratom is more like an opioid drug than a wellness aid.
Don’t trust shady supplements billed as alternative medicine. You never know what you’re going to get. Anyone who tells you that something is medicine you don’t need a prescription for is selling you something that has the potential to severely damage your health or endanger your life.
The safety of CBD has been well documented. CBD can sustainably be used indefinitely as a holistic wellness aid without any serious complications. CBD is a gentle boost to your body, and your body is prepared to receive and use it.
Peels is safe, effective, and ready to become a part of your wellness ritual.
Sources
Mu opioid receptor: a gateway to drug addiction | PubMed
CBD: Safe and effective? | Mayo Clinic
Kratom | Overdose Prevention Strategies