Kratom Strains

Red Thai Kratom: Benefits, Dosage, & Safety

One of the most popular strains of kratom is known as Red Thai kratom. As the name implies, this variety is grown in Thailand and has red-colored veins.

Red Thai provides many of the same benefits that you can expect from kratom, with a particular focus on the relaxing and anxiolytic effects.

This article will cover the benefits, dosage, and potential side-effects of the red Thai kratom strain.

Written by Nigel Ford
Last Updated 12 months ago

Nigel Ford

Medical Herbalist

Nigel is a certified herbalist, avid kratom user, and one of the leading members of our Kratom Vendor Review Board. 

What Is Red Thai Kratom?

Red Thai kratom is grown in Thailand.

There is some debate about what leads to the different ‘colors’ of kratom strains. If you’re familiar with the kratom plant, you’ll probably notice that different strains come in different hues of green.

Some strains are darker than others, and some have a red tinge. Some believe that the difference in colors is a result of the harvesting process.

The common belief is that red vein kratom is harvested later in the season when the veins of the leaves turn red. However, our correspondence with Indonesian and Thai kratom growers suggests that this isn’t the case.

There are also white vein kratom strains and green vein kratom strains.

The growers that we’ve contacted explain that the difference in color is actually a result of the fermentation process. This fermentation process leads to chemical changes in the kratom plant.

The most important chemical change is the conversion of kratom’s primary alkaloid, mitragynine, into 7-hydroxymitragynine.

Mitragynine is a stimulating alkaloid. It’s responsible for most of the stimulating and focus-boosting benefits of kratom. However, when kratom is left to ferment in the sunshine, mitragynine converts into 7-hydroxymitragynine.

7-hydroxymitragynine is more relaxing than stimulating. As the kratom ferments, it also turns red.

According to the farmers we’ve contacted, this is the main reason for the difference in effects and appearance of red, green, and white kratom.

Kratom leaf and flower.

What Does Red Thai Kratom Do?

Red Thai kratom is known to have a higher concentration of 7-hydroxymitragynine than Green Thai kratom. As such, you can expect it to be a bit more relaxing.

However, kratom has the unique property of providing different benefits depending on the dosage that you’re using.

There are several active alkaloids in kratom responsible for its effects.

Some alkaloids are agonists. Agonists stimulate the activity of a receptor. When a receptor is stimulated, it causes a change in the associated cell.

Other alkaloids, however, are antagonists. These do the opposite: they deactivate the receptor.

Kratom has a complex profile of agonists and antagonists. The interplay between these compounds is believed to be the cause of the different effects that you’ll experience at, say, a two-gram dose compared to what you’ll feel at an eight-gram dose.

Regardless, here are some of the benefits that you can enjoy when using Red Thai kratom.

1. Relaxation & Sleep

Kratom can be stimulating in lower doses.

However, it’s also known for being a strong relaxant. Red strains like Red Thai are known to produce more relaxing effects due to the higher amount of 7-hydroxymitragynine.

Check out the best kratom strains for sleep & relaxation.

2. Pain Relief

One of the most popular uses of kratom is for pain relief.

Red strains are more effective for this purpose, and many people have reported being able to stop using pain medications thanks to kratom.

3. Reduction in Stress & Anxiety

Kratom is not only physically relaxing. It can also be fantastic for helping to relax the mind.

This makes it a fantastic tool to use after a long or stressful day at work. It can also be a useful tool for assisting you while you work through the root cause of your anxiety.

4. Fighting Opiate Withdrawal

The alkaloids in kratom work on the body’s opioid receptors. This means that kratom can be useful for helping people manage opioid withdrawal symptoms to more severe opioids, like heroin or fentanyl.

Remember that, while kratom might be useful for helping to fight withdrawal symptoms, this is because it’s an opioid in itself.

If you use kratom at high doses for a long period, you can also end up addicted to it (though to a much lesser extent than synthetic opioids).

5. Increased Focus

While people tend to use green and white strains to boost their focus, certain red strains, like red Thai, can also be useful.

Using a lower dose of Red Thai kratom can produce a notable increase in focus for a couple of hours before the relaxation sets in.

Alleviates insomnia. Red strains are great for helping you unwind and relax at the end of a long day. This makes them very useful for people who struggle with insomnia.

Best Places to Buy Red Thai Kratom

Thanks to its sedating and anxiety-relieving properties, Red Thai kratom has had a high demand on the market over the last few years.

If you are looking for high-quality Red Thai kratom powder, you can easily find it at VIP Kratom and Kona Kratom. These two vendors figure at the top of our list of trusted kratom suppliers so you can buy with total peace of mind.

Aka GMP Certified yes
Pricing $40.00 — $125.00
Verified Vendor

VIP Kratom

4.85 / 5
Ranked 4 out of 190 vendors

Red Thai Kratom Dosage

The dosage of kratom leaf you’re going to want to take depends on what sort of effects you want.

Dosage for Stimulation & Focus

Red kratom is not always recommended for stimulation and focus since it’s more relaxing. However, kratom’s unique properties provide stimulating benefits at lower doses.

If you want to use Red Thai kratom to improve focus during the day, you’ll want to use somewhere between one to three grams of the supplement. If you use much more than that, the relaxing and sedative qualities outweigh the stimulating effects.

Dosage for Relaxation & Pain Relief

If you want to use Red Thai kratom for relaxation, you’ll want to use a slightly higher dosage than you would for focus.

The dosage range for relaxation is somewhere between two to eight grams of the supplement. Sensitive people may want to err on the lower end of this dosage.

And remember that most people tend to experience relaxation after the initial stimulatory effects of kratom wear off. This means even if you’re using a lower dosage for focus, you’ll probably find yourself quite relaxed afterward.

Side Effects of Red Thai Kratom

While Red Thai kratom has many benefits, there are also some things to be aware of. No supplement is without side effects, especially when used at high doses or for long periods.

1. Kratom Wobbles

If you’re taking very high doses of kratom, then you’re going to overwhelm your body. Much like high doses of caffeine can cause the jitters, high doses of kratom can cause the wobbles.

The wobbles are an uncomfortable sensation similar to vertigo. You may feel dizzy or slightly nauseous. The best way to avoid this is to find your ‘sweet spot’ dose and avoid going above that.

2. Dependence & Tolerance

Kratom contains several alkaloids that work on opioid receptors. This means that they can lead to physical dependence if you use them all the time.

Avoid using kratom every day. If you do, make sure that your doses are small. This will minimize the chance of becoming dependent on the herb.

3. Constipation

Kratom is also known for its ability to slow the digestive system. This might actually be considered a benefit if you struggle with IBS or diarrhea.

However, the average individual may experience constipation as a result of using too much kratom. Again, this side effect can generally be avoided if you’re using reasonable amounts of kratom and separating your doses throughout the week.

In addition, drink plenty of fluids and eat a lot of fiber.

4. Dehydration

Kratom is a very astringent herb. It’s also a diuretic. This means that it makes you urinate more often, in addition to producing a drying effect throughout the body.

Make sure that you drink lots of water when you use kratom. This will prevent both dehydration and constipation.

Similar Kratom Strains

If Red Thai doesn’t sound like the perfect strain, but you think it sounds nice, don’t worry. There are plenty of similar strains you can choose from.

Red Maeng Da Kratom

Red Maeng Da is one of the most popular kratom strains.

Maeng Da generally refers to a plantation’s most potent strain. You can expect Red Maeng Da to provide an intense initial effect followed by serious relaxation and relief.

Red Bali Kratom

Red Bali kratom is a go-to strain for people who are looking for pain relief and relaxation.

While Red Bali may provide some moderately stimulating effects in low doses, it’s almost exclusively used for relaxation and relief.

Green Thai Kratom

If you’re looking for a more stimulating strain of kratom, you may want to consider using Green Thai.

Green Thai is grown in the same region. However, it has not undergone the conversion process, which turns mitragynine into 7-hydroxymitragynine.

This means that it will be more stimulating than Red Thai kratom. This makes it a more useful daytime strain.

Final Thoughts: Red Thai Kratom

Red Thai kratom is a fantastic supplement for people who are interested in improving their anxiety and managing pain.

While Red Thai kratom can be stimulating in low doses, many people find it more effective for helping to fight pain and discomfort. It’s also a good strain to use before bedtime as it helps to relieve anxiety.

If you think Red Thai kratom could be for you, don’t hesitate to get in touch with a kratom vendor to see if you can buy some.