Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa) is an evergreen tree native to Southeast Asia. The natives of the region use it for medicinal and recreational purposes. Kratom can alleviate pain, help improve sleep, boost energy and focus, and more.
One particular effect of kratom is that it can improve your mood — from a mild buzz to outright euphoria. Here, we’ll go over the doses, the strains, and the best combination to achieve this effect.
How Does Kratom Improve Your Mood?
There are two factors to consider when using kratom to improve your mood — strain and dosage. Strains vary in alkaloid content, and kratom’s effects are dose-dependent, meaning they vary based on how much you take.
The cause of every kratom effect comes from the alkaloids it contains. Mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine are the two most important compounds in kratom. The first one is responsible for kratom’s stimulating effects, and the second for its sedating ones.
The alkaloid in charge of improving your mood is mitragynine, thanks to its affinity for your brain’s dopamine and serotonin receptors. Those two neurotransmitters regulate your mood, and kratom activates them by binding to them.
If you need the best kratom to improve your mood, look for strains high in mitragynine. And to do this, you’ll need to know the different vein colors of kratom.
Best Vein Color for Improving Mood
Kratom comes in three primary vein colors — green, red, and white. You’ll also find yellow, gold, black, etc., but these come about through processing methods.
This classification indicates the composition of any particular strain, specifically telling you whether it has more mitragynine or 7-hydroxymitragynine.
Red kratom is high in 7-hydroxymitragynine, making it less than ideal for mood. White kratom is high in mitragynine, making it the best for stimulation, but it can be too strong and cause anxiety in some people. Green kratom has a good alkaloid balance and milder effects.
Ultimately, white strains are best for mood, but they’re highly energizing and can be overwhelming. You can probably get by using less kratom. Green strains are still stimulating but more well-rounded, providing a little bit of everything kratom offers.
Best Kratom Dosage for Improving Mood
Kratom is a dose-dependent substance — low doses stimulate, improve focus, and provide feelings of euphoria, while high doses are sedating, calming, and offer pain relief.
We recommend a dosage between 1-4 g of kratom to improve your mood. This number is approximate, as the effects depend on your weight, tolerance, and the strain you take. Start low and work your way up to find the correct dose. Our dosage calculator can help.
Best Strains to Improve Mood
Vein color is only one of the ways to classify kratom; the other is by strain. This classification usually refers to the place of origin of the strain, e.g., Borneo Kratom comes from Borneo Island.
Strains differ in the effects they can provide. Here are our favorites for improving your mood.
- White Maeng Da — This strain is a favorite of the kratom community. It’s potent and one of the best at improving your mood. It may cause euphoria.
- White Malay — This strain is one of the best at energizing and boosting your mood while the extra energy lasts.
- White Sandai — This strain will boost energy, like coffee, and improve your mood and productivity. It’s a great supplement to take to start your day.
- White Ketapang — This rare strain is one of the most potent. It will boost your energy and give you euphoria. It’s worth trying out if you can find it.
- White Borneo — This strain is a classic. It gives you a decent energy boost and can work as a coffee substitute.
- White Horn — This strain is rare and potent. It induces a euphoric state that may last up to three hours.
- Green Maeng Da — The green variety of Maeng Da is also potent but more balanced. It has long-lasting effects and produces a state of well-being.
- Green Vietnam — This strain offers subtle effects that are attractive for those using it before work. You won’t notice you took anything, but your mood will rise organically.
- Green Malay — This strain will make your day better in an indirect way. Instead of raising your good energies, it will decrease your stress and induce calmness.
- Red Bali — This is the only red strain on our list. It won’t stimulate you too much but will soothe you and grant you a peaceful good mood.
The Downside of Using Kratom for Mood
Of course, nothing is perfect. There are some things to be aware of before using kratom for any reason.
1. Kratom Is Addictive
Kratom can be addictive, just like anything else that makes you feel good.
The herb is an atypical opioid and can generate physical and psychological dependence, though it’s nowhere near as addictive as regular opioids. You won’t become addicted to it by taking it every once in a while. Addiction appears with heavy use sustained over time.
Addiction is relevant as we’re discussing kratom to improve your mood. The dosage for raising your spirits is low, but people looking for this effect may be trying to combat depression or burnout. If you take kratom too often, you will develop a tolerance.
When you develop kratom tolerance, you will need higher doses to achieve the same effects, making addiction more likely. You can avoid building a tolerance by taking a few days off from kratom every week and then a whole week off once a month.
If you’re suffering from depression, please seek medical help. Kratom can only assist you so far.
2. Kratom’s Side Effects
Kratom does have side effects, though these are most common with higher doses. Still, it’s good to be aware of them, even though using it for mood usually means smaller amounts.
If you find these to be an issue, try using less next time. These effects subside quickly as the herb moves through your system.
Here are kratom’s most common adverse effects:
- Anxiety
- Constipation
- Dehydration
- Dizziness
- Headaches
- Heart palpitations
- Itchiness
- Nausea
- Vomiting
3. Drug Interactions
Kratom interacts with many medications, so check with your doctor before using it. It can be hazardous to mix it with opioids, tricyclic antidepressants, benzodiazepines, and stimulants. Beware of these interactions if you’re already prescribed something for energy or mood.
Best Kratom Vendors In 2023
Buying your kratom from trustworthy sources is essential to ensuring a safe experience. The American Kratom Association has developed a program outlining the best practices for obtaining high-quality kratom. All of the following vendors subscribe to it.
1. Kona Kratom
Kona Kratom
Kona Kratom is our top-rated vendor for many reasons. Their substantial list of strains is one, and their competitive prices are another. Above all, the consistently high quality of every product they offer makes them a vendor always worth recommending.
They perform several processes to ensure this consistency. They hand-pick their farmers in Indonesia, run their kratom through third-party lab tests, and even try their products themselves. Give them a shot; they’ll refund your order if you dislike it.
2. VIP Kratom
VIP Kratom
VIP Kratom has the strictest quality standards in the community and is famous for returning entire batches that don’t meet them. Their strains are potent, pure, and our favorites by far. They make this list because their kratom is the best on the market.
Still, this vendor offers a limited number of strains, which can be a disadvantage if you’re looking to try different varieties. However, their steep prices are worth paying for the outstanding quality that makes these products last longer than other brands.
3. Star Kratom
Star Kratom
Star Kratom has an apt name, as this vendor is a rapidly rising star in the kratom market. Despite being newer than the other vendors on this list, they are already one of the best. Their high-quality products, accessible prices, and fast shipping are all reasons for this.
This vendor is perfect for customers hoping to buy top-shelf kratom at a lower cost. Star Kratom offers bulk ordering options, which are much more accessible in the long run. Orders over $29.99 get free shipping, so your order will likely arrive cost-free.
4. Kats Botanicals
Kats Botanicals
This versatile vendor sells botanicals and merch instead of limiting itself to kratom. And despite that, their kratom is still of top-shelf quality. They apply this versatility to kratom, offering it in many forms, like powder, capsules, gummies, tinctures, etc.
There’s a lot of demand for their products, as the thousands of reviews on their website show. Kats Botanicals ships domestically and internationally. They are a solid vendor with competitive prices, good quality, and many strains to offer.
5. Austin Organic Village
Austin Organic Village
This vendor is new to the kratom community, having started their business in 2017. Since then, they’ve become a key kratom seller in the country and offer some of the lowest prices. We can assure you the quality of their products is good.
Austin Organic Village offers bulk orders from ten kilos up to five hundred. If you change your mind, they’ll refund your unopened product for up to thirty days after ordering it. Their customer service is friendly, so send them a message if you have any doubts.
Summary: Best Kratom for Good Mood
Kratom can significantly improve your mood, but not every strain will do. White strains are potent mood boosters, but you must use the proper dosage. Higher doses of any strain have sedating effects, so taking between two and four grams can improve your mood.
If you’re looking for kratom to improve your mood, relieve pain, or get an energy boost, we recommend the top three vendors on our list. Kona Kratom, Star Kratom, and VIP Kratom offer safe and unquestionable quality products at affordable prices.
