Kratom Strains

Yellow Horn Kratom: Strain Guide & Analysis

If you’re an experienced kratom user, you’re probably familiar with the terms red-vein, white-vein, and green-vein.

Yellow Horn kratom is a strain in another category entirely called yellow-vein — which is a little bit different than the other groupings.

This variety received a lot of attention as a productivity-enhancing strain, but what is it?

There’s a lot of conflicting information about Yellow Horn kratom on the internet. This article aims to separate fact from fiction, settle the debate, and discuss everything you need to know about Yellow Horn kratom.

Written by Wade Paul
Last Updated 2 years ago

Wade Paul

Founder & Editor-In-Chief

Wade Paul is the founder and editor-in-chief at Kratom.org.

What Is Yellow Horn Kratom?

The name “Yellow Horn” raises two questions: what makes it yellow, and what does the word “horn” refer to?

Yellow Horn kratom is actually a rare variety of white-vein kratom. It gets its yellow color and name from a unique drying process. Yellow Horn kratom growers leave the white leaves in the sun for several days to cure, changing their alkaloid profile slightly and giving them their distinctive hue.

The “horn” part of the name refers to small spikes around the perimeter of the particular white strain used to make Yellow Horn kratom. This spiky strain is significantly less common than unspiked strains, leading some people to assume it’s better and worth more money.

The truth is that it isn’t very different from more common strains. The difference between individual strains is much greater than between a regular white-vein strain and a horned variety.

So, why does it cost more? The answer is simple: supply and demand. Since Yellow Horn kratom is less common, it can fetch higher prices. Additionally, clever marketing has positioned Yellow Horn kratom as an enhanced strain by suggesting that its scarcity is a sign that it’s more valuable. 

Don’t let elevated prices fool you. Yellow Horn kratom offers similar effects as other kratom strains and, while it might be the right strain for you, it isn’t inherently better than other strains.

What Does Yellow Horn Kratom Do?

Yellow Horn kratom is a stimulating and euphoric strain, making it a great option for people looking to improve their productivity and energy levels. Since it’s derived from white-vein kratom, it shares many of the benefits of other white strains, including increased focus, improved cognitive performance, and enhanced memory.

The curing process that gives Yellow Horn kratom its color also changes the alkaloid profile slightly. Alkaloids give kratom its assortment of effects and benefits, so having somewhat different alkaloid concentrations alters the impact.

The biggest difference between Yellow Horn kratom and white-vein kratom is how long the effects last and how intense the experience is. Most Yellow Horn users report feeling more energetic from taking Yellow Horn kratom than taking a white strain. They also describe the feeling they get as being smoother and cleaner, without the shakiness caused by some.

Yellow Horn kratom’s effects don’t last as long as other strains, with an average 5g dose’s effects fading after about 2–2.5 hours.

Yellow Horn kratom is not very sedative, making it a subpar strain for sleep or pain relief.

  1. Energy: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Yellow Horn kratom is one of the best kratom strains for energy. It offers a smoother, cleaner energy boost than many white-vein strains.
  2. Pain Relief: ⭐⭐ Pain management isn’t one of Yellow Horn kratom’s strong suits. Stick with red or green-vein kratom if pain relief is your primary concern.
  3. Sedation: ⭐ Yellow Horn kratom has little to no sedative effects, making it ideal for use in the morning.
  4. Anxiety Relief: ⭐⭐⭐ Even though Yellow Horn kratom is a stimulating strain, it can help people manage their anxiety in small amounts. It isn’t as stimulating as some white-vein strains and can help people relax in the correct dosages.
  5. Mood: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ One of Yellow Horn kratom’s most dramatic effects is on the users’ mood. It provides a sense of euphoria that helps people treat depression and improve their overall outlook.

1. Energy & Mood

Yellow Horn kratom is an excellent choice if you want a stimulating strain that won’t cause jitteriness or worsen anxiety. The slightly altered alkaloid profile makes it less harsh and intense than the most potent white-vein kratom while still providing a significant energy boost.

It’s also good for mild euphoria, meaning it interacts with your body’s endocrine system to increase feelings of happiness. Kratom’s alkaloids mimic the action of your body’s endorphins, the natural chemicals in your body that make you feel good. Because of this endorphin-like pharmacological action, Yellow Horn kratom can be an effective treatment for depression.

2. Cognitive Performance

In addition to feeling more alert, some Yellow Horn kratom users report having an easier time concentrating and feel they obtain an overall cognitive boost. This makes Yellow Horn kratom ideal for taking in the morning or before any tasks that require you to perform at your peak mental capability.

Unfortunately, there aren’t many academic studies on kratom, making most of the evidence anecdotal. However, the anecdotal evidence is hard to ignore, given how similar different users’ descriptions are.

Many Yellow Horn kratom users describe a noticeable improvement in their working memory, focus, and performance on problem-solving and reasoning tasks.

3. Anxiety Support

Most stimulating kratom strains come with the risk of causing anxiety or making existing anxiety worse. Yellow Horn kratom is somewhat unique in that it can help people manage anxiety, even though it’s a stimulating strain.

There are several theories about how Yellow Horn kratom alleviates anxiety. The overall consensus among Yellow Horn users is that its lower intensity and mood-improving action help people feel less stressed.

Yellow Horn kratom isn’t the best option for severe anxiety since it isn’t primarily an anxiety-relieving strain, but it should work well for people with mild anxiety.

Side Effects of Yellow Horn Kratom

Like all kratom strains, Yellow Horn kratom can cause side effects, particularly in large doses above 10g. The ideal kratom dose is 2-5g, where it is unlikely you’ll experience any side effects.

However, each person’s kratom experience is unique, owing to differences in weight, metabolism, and overall biology.

Here are some common side effects you may experience when taking Yellow Horn kratom.

1. Anxiety

Yellow Horn kratom can help reduce anxiety in small doses, but it can cause anxious feelings and jitteriness in larger amounts, usually 10g or more.

Thanks to its unique alkaloid profile, it’s less likely to cause anxiety than a similarly stimulating white-vein strain, but there’s still a small risk. Be especially careful if you have anxiety or have experienced it while taking kratom before.

2. Dehydration

Kratom can cause dehydration quickly if you don’t take precautions and drink plenty of fluids before and during use. If you know you’re going to take kratom, start hydrating before you take it to give your body a headstart.

3. Nausea

Feeling a little nauseous is common with kratom use, especially for first-time users. Light doses and having a small bite to eat can help alleviate or lessen it.

4. Addiction

All kratom strains can be addictive, including Yellow Horn kratom. The best way to avoid kratom addiction is to take one week off every one to two months. Additionally, you shouldn’t take kratom every day. Frequent kratom use without breaks is likely to lead to addiction.

Yellow Horn Kratom Dosage

It takes some experimenting to find the right kratom dose, but most people should take between 2g and 5g doses of Yellow Horn kratom for the best experience. Some users find they need to take less Yellow Horn kratom than other strains to stay in the “sweet spot.”

Most people recommend starting with a small dose and increasing it gradually until you find what works best for you.

Yellow Horn kratom’s effects are shorter-lived than other strains, with a 5 g dose lasting about 2.5 hours. You should resist the temptation to take more Yellow Horn kratom to counteract the shorter duration. Taking more doesn’t make the effects last longer, and you’re more likely to experience undesired side effects at higher doses.

One thing to keep in mind when taking Yellow Horn kratom is tolerance. Kratom tolerance can become an issue if you use it regularly, so it’s essential you find a way to space kratom doses apart.

Ideally, you should limit your weekly use and take a week off every one to two months and keep your weekly kratom use to four to five days. If you take kratom every day, you’ll build up tolerance more quickly and run a higher risk of becoming dependent on it.

Related: Can You Overdose on Kratom?

Similar Kratom Strains

White-vein kratom strains are most similar to Yellow Horn kratom, broadly speaking; however, here are some of the most similar strains.

1. Maeng Da Kratom

Maeng da kratom is one of the most potent and stimulating kratom strains available. It’s important to remember that Maeng Da is a general category of kratom, and the name refers to any strain that’s stronger than average.

Maeng Da can be red, green, yellow, or white, but the white strain is the most energizing and most similar to Yellow Horn kratom.

2. White Borneo Kratom

White Borneo kratom comes from the jungles of Borneo, as you could probably have guessed from the name. It’s one of the best strains for focus and productivity, but it may be too harsh for some users. White Borneo kratom provides a similar energy boost to Yellow Horn kratom, but it isn’t as smooth.

3. Green Indo Kratom

You might be surprised to see a green-vein strain here, but Green Indo kratom is one of the most popular kratom strains for focus and productivity. This strain is less about giving you as much energy as possible and more about offering a clean, calm focus.

Green Indo is an excellent alternative to Yellow Horn kratom since you can usually find it for a better price. 

Final Thoughts: Yellow Horn Kratom

Yellow Horn kratom is an excellent strain for productivity and concentration, but don’t let marketing hype fool you. The high prices that Yellow Horn kratom commands are driven mainly by scarcity and not any inherent qualities that make it superior to other white-vein strains.

However, if you can find Yellow Horn for a reasonable price, it’s one of the best strains for providing clean, relaxed energy and is gaining popularity as more people discover how useful it can be as a study aid.

It’s not the best choice for pain relief and isn’t as powerful of a sedative as red-vein strains, but it can help you be more alert, manage your anxiety, and improve your mood.