Kratom Vs. Kava

Which one is right for you - Kratom or Kava?

On the surface, Kratom and Kava both seem like they are very similar. They are both traditional herbs with a long history of use. Kratom and Kava are two herbs that are very different from each other. Let's discuss how each herb may affect you, how they work inside your body, and whether you can mix the two.

What Is Kava?

What is Kava, and what does it do? Kava is an herb that originates in the pacific islands. Due to so much interest in the Kava plant, unfortunately, it has lost its ability to seed and therefore requires intervention to continue reproducing. People take the Kava plant around the world, replicating migration, and because of this, it is now farmed in many different areas. The most common Kava strain is "piper methysticum." Every person has a unique body and absorbs and metabolizes any product, medication, or supplement differently. 

What is Kratom?

Mitragyna speciosa, or Kratom as we commonly call it, is another tropical plant. It originates in southeastern Asia regions. There are multiple strains of Kratom. It can still produce its own Kratom seeds. Kratom can be challenging to classify, but it has been broken down into categories including white vein kratom, green vein kratom, red vein kratom. Each kratom has its own unique profile. There are plenty of strains of Kratom that do not perfectly fit in these categories. This is why it is so hard to classify Kratom.

What's the Difference Between the Kratom and Kava?

Kava and Kratom have both been around a long-time and continue to be used and grow in popularity.  They are available in different forms and used for a variety of purposes. Kava comes from the Pacific islands and is activated through kavalactones. It is most often brewed in water like tea. Kratom comes from southeast Asia and is activated through mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine. The Kratom leaves can be chewed on, or they can be mixed into water and ingested as a Kratom tea.

1. Effects - Kava and Kratom are both consumed with anticipated effects. Kratom works through the nervous system and Kava works in the GABA receptors.
2. Origin - Kratom comes from southeast Asia, such as Thailand, and is a member of the coffee family. Kava is a member of the pepper family and comes from the Pacific Islands, like Hawaii and Samoa.
3. Pharmacology - Kratom works through your opioid receptors. These receptors can be found in the spinal cord and in the portion of the brain which regulates the release of dopamine. The active compounds in Kratom are alkaloids, which are similar to coffee, nicotine, or caffeine. While Kava uses kavalactones, which work in the GABA receptors of the brain. 

Can you become dependent on Kava or Kratom?

“Can you become dependent on Kava or Kratom?” - is one of the biggest concerns for people, especially dealing with certain chronic conditions. If you are looking at herbal supplements, you are most likely looking for an alternative to prescription pain medications due to the threat of addiction after long-term use. 

• Kava - works through the GABA receptors, just like the highly addictive drugs such as benzodiazepines.
• Kratom - works through opioid receptors, like morphine or oxycontin. 

Medications perform one singular task, which makes it easy for our body to become dependent on it doing that one singular task. Since herbs like Kratom affect many things, it is much harder for our body to build a tolerance or dependence as easily. However, it is still technically possible to become dependent on herbs. So, like anything else, it is highly recommended to use it in moderation. Kratom enthusiasts recommend a 3:1 rule to avoid dependence. This means that you may use it for three days and then not use it for one or use it for three weeks and then abstain for one. Do not fear, though, even if you find yourself craving it a little too often. The dependence can be compared to that of coffee. So, you may be uncomfortable for a couple of days before returning to being entirely normal.

Can you drink kratom and kava together?

While blended beverages are often a tasty choice, it is recommended not to mix kratom and kava since they operate on different brain parts. Kratom works as a dopaminergic stimulant, while Kava is a serotonergic stimulation. When combined, the two herbs can amplify each other's effects, leading to a dangerous situation if not handled carefully.

Quality of your kava or kratom product

It's important to understand where your plants journey from seedling to finished product. At PurKRatom, we source only the purest, finest, non-GMO, and organic kratom available from the USA. Kratom is harvested at a precise time for optimal quality. In addition, our production at PurKratom is GMP-certified, so you can consistently have the same potency when you purchase our readily available kratom from our kratom shop.

Which one is best? Summarizing Kratom vs. Kava

Kava and Kratom are similar in what they do, although they both do it in very different ways. Kava is known more for how it works in the GABA system. Kratom is known for how it works through the opioid system. It is best not to mix these because the two herbs work in different ways, and you do not know precisely how they will affect you. You should always make sure that you have a quality Kava or Kratom product. You want to make sure that you purchase Kava or Kratom from a shop that has a good reputation and sells a Kava or Kratom product from a well-known producer that guarantees their product is as described.

Because Kratom works through the opioid receptors, the popularity and diversity of uses make it a renowned sought after product. Because of the diversity offered, we believe Kratom is the best choice. Kratom is a well-established option and we know our kratom’s journey from seed to packaging. Purchase the best Kratom on the market at Purkratom where you can shop for kratom with confidence that you’re getting top-notch Kratom with consistent potency each time.