Best Kratom Strains to Use For Hangovers
As you’ll learn in the next section, kratom isn’t going to “cure” hangovers, but it can certainly help with side effects like headaches or fatigue.
Here are three of the most effective strains for hangovers:
1. Red Borneo Kratom
If you have all day to recover and want to nip that headache in the bud, you might want to try Red Borneo Kratom. This red-vein kratom strain will help alleviate headache pain and help relax you so you can sleep off the hangover.
Red Borneo is a relatively potent kratom strain, so it’s ideal for treating those particularly bad hangover headaches. Just make sure to couple this kratom with plenty of water and food while you treat the symptoms.
2. White Thai Kratom
White-vein kratom is probably the better choice if you don’t have a headache and just feel drained; White Thai Kratom is a potent white-vein strain worth trying. It will supply an energy boost and some mood-enhancing effects, which go a long way to making you feel less like curling up on the couch so you can go about your day.
White Thai Kratom is a powerful strain that can help you get through your day with a hangover, especially if you have to work or run errands. It can also help mitigate muscle aches and headaches associated with hangovers.
3. Green Borneo Kratom
If you can’t decide between red and white-vein kratom, green-vein is often the best-of-both-worlds option. Green Borneo Kratom is a powerful green strain that offers some of the combined benefits of white-vein and red-vein strains.
Green Borneo Kratom offers a balance of pain relief and mood improvement that work well to treat all hangover symptoms equally. If you’re not sure which hangover symptoms would be best to treat, consider trying this strain.
Can Kratom Help With Hangovers?
Yes, sort of. Kratom can help mitigate headaches and low energy.
While kratom isn’t a panacea for all of your hangover woes, it can lessen the intensity of the most unpleasant hangover symptoms.
1. Kratom Can Help Boost Energy Levels
If you don’t have much of a headache, but your hangover has left you feeling drained and lethargic, consider taking white-vein kratom for energy.
Unlike red-vein kratom, white strains have significant energy-boosting effects and are stimulating rather than sedative. Proponents of white-vein kratom compare its effects to drinking several strong cups of coffee.
Some green-vein kratom strains also have mild energy-boosting effects but generally don’t work as well as white strains.
2. Kratom Can Increase Motivation
The difference between energy and motivation is subtle but important. According to most users, white-vein kratom can absolutely increase your energy levels, but it can also improve your mood, make you more motivated, and help you get up and moving.
White-vein kratom strains are once again the best choice for most people, with some green strains providing a similar but overall less effective motivation boost. Red-vein kratom generally has the opposite effect and is not a good option for enhancing motivation.
3. Kratom May Alleviate Pain
Kratom is a potent pain reliever, making it an ideal weapon against nasty hangover headaches and body aches. Most hangover headaches are caused by dehydration, so you must drink water to rehydrate, even if you take kratom to ease the pain. Kratom can provide fast-acting relief but doesn’t treat dehydration, the underlying cause.
Kratom mimics the effects of opioids, which are some of the most potent pain relievers available. They interact with the body’s central nervous system similarly by interrupting pain signals traveling to your brain, resulting in powerful pain relief for most users.
Red-vein kratom strains are the best for pain relief, but these also are potent sedatives. If you don’t have to be anywhere and have time to sleep off your hangover, red-vein kratom might help you rest more easily by dulling your headache.
If taking it easy isn’t in the cards for you, green-vein kratom is likely a better option. It has analgesic effects like red-vein kratom, but some strains are less sedating, meaning you can still function normally without feeling sleepy.
Risks of Using Kratom for Hangovers
Like many herbs, kratom is generally safe to use if you do so responsibly, but there are some side effects you need to be aware of. Everyone will have a slightly different response to taking kratom, so being mindful of what side effects you may experience is crucial so you can tweak your dose size accordingly.
The most important rule for using kratom safely is to keep your dose size small, especially when you’re just starting. Most people will do fine taking between 2g and 6g, and virtually no one should take more than 10g at a time. An overwhelming majority of people who experience unwanted side effects when taking kratom use large amounts exceeding 10g.
Taking regular breaks from kratom use is a close second rule to follow. If you start to feel fatigued, it can be a sign that you need to take an extended break from kratom. Most people recommend limiting your kratom use to 4–5 days per week and taking at least one week off every six weeks.
If you’re only interested in taking kratom occasionally to manage a hangover, you likely won’t have any trouble with side effects from prolonged regular use.
Below are some specific side effects to watch out for when using kratom to treat hangovers.
1. Addiction
Kratom can become addictive over time, so you must follow a rigid structure and limit your weekly use.
Using kratom four days per week should be the ideal upper limit. Regular extended breaks can help avoid addiction and reduce your tolerance.
Related: Is Kratom Addictive?
2. Dehydration
This one is especially problematic if you’re taking kratom for a hangover since it can actually make your hangover worse. Luckily, experiencing dehydration is rare and usually only becomes a problem when people take large amounts.
Since you should already be consuming a lot of fluids if you’re battling a hangover, you most likely won’t have a problem.
3. Anxiety
Kratom can help anxiety, but it can paradoxically worsen anxiety in some cases, especially when you take doses exceeding 10g. Some strains — mostly white-vein — have stimulating effects that can cause jitteriness and anxiety.
If you’re prone to anxiety, stick to the sedative strains since they’re less likely to increase anxiety and can make you feel calmer and more at ease.
4. Nausea
Most people won’t experience nausea when taking kratom, but some kratom users report feeling sick after taking more than 10g. Nausea is especially unpleasant if you already have an upset stomach, thanks to a hangover, so make sure to limit your dose size. If you stay under 5g, you shouldn’t have any problems.
5. Liver and Kidney Issues
There aren’t many long-term studies on kratom, but some anecdotal evidence suggests that kratom could stress your liver and kidneys. If you have existing liver or kidney conditions or want to be extra careful, you might want to stick to extremely low doses of 2g or less and use kratom sporadically.
6. Dizziness
One of the most common side effects of kratom use is dizziness. Sedative strains are more likely to cause dizziness, as are higher dose sizes of any strain.
Most people report that the unsteady feeling doesn’t last long and disappears when they reduce the amount they take. Once again, keeping your dose low will most likely let you avoid this side effect entirely.
Key Takeaways: Kratom For Hangovers
Kratom can make the day after a fun night much more tolerable, but don’t expect a miracle cure. Different strains have varying effects, making the best choice for you a personal one. The best strain for you will change depending on your hangovers and what you have on your schedule.
White-vein kratom is the best choice if you need some extra energy to get through the day and is perfect for people who need to feel as close to normal as soon as possible.
If you have the luxury of a lazy day to recover, red-vein kratom is probably your best bet. It will often dull your headache and help you relax while you rest.
Green-vein kratom offers a bit of both red and white strain benefits but won’t be as effective at either, making it a less optimal choice for most people.
With proper hydration, rest, and kratom, you can feel better in no time.
