So you just purchase your first ever kratom capsules and you can’t wait to experience the benefits that they offer. But after a few doses, you find that you feel relatively unchanged. What gives? Truth be told, many first time kratom buyers give up on the product because it falls short of expectations during that initial trial. But there are a bunch of reasons why that might happen – and kratom itself might not be to blame.
The truth is that there are a number of factors that can impact the potency and effects of your chosen product. And by understanding the elements at play, you might be able to tweak your dosage to experience the plant’s complete benefits.
What Can Affect Kratom’s Potency?
There are a number of factors that can impact the effects of kratom products, but not everyone knows that. For that reason, some people are disenchanted with kratom all together, thinking that it’s just another hype that doesn’t live up to expectations. But the truth is that there are various factors at play that might dampen the benefits you get out of kratom that don’t have anything to do with the herb itself.
1. Poor Product Quality
Perhaps the most common reason for why kratom doesn’t work is because of the quality of the product. Since there aren’t a lot of regulations in place to control the quality of the products released into the market, it’s easy for manufacturers to slip in substandard choices that don’t really deliver what they promise.
That said, you might want to consider the different kratom vendors available. Instead of buying from shady gas stations and salons, go online and read up about the products that they offer. Learn more about where a vendor sources their raw material from and how they go about the manufacturing process to determine whether they enforce stringent quality control standards. You want to make sure that you are ordering from a vendor that is transparent about that.
2. Improper Dosage
Dosing kratom can be a doozy especially because the calculation isn’t set in stone. Most experts will tell you to measure based on our body’s response to the substance. And that’s why most people fail to truly calibrate their dosage to meet their system’s therapeutic threshold. There’s also the fear of the negative effects of kratom. Because it has been known to cause some side effects and even dependence when taken in large amounts, some people tend to dial down their doses until the effects can no longer be felt. As a rule of thumb, you should measure the right dose by starting at just 1gm and then increasing by the gram in case you don’t feel any effects just yet. This way, you can gently and gradually reach your threshold with minimal risk.
3. Higher Tolerance
If you’ve been taking kratom for a while without a hitch and then start to notice that it just doesn’t produce the same effects as it did before, then it might be because your body has started to increase its threshold. This simply means that your body can tolerate the small doses you provide, pushing your threshold slightly higher than before.
While it might seem smart to simply crank up your dosage, increasing the amount you take will become a vicious cycle every time your body gets accustomed to the new dose. Instead, experts recommend that you stop using the product all together. This way, your body can adjust to the absence of the substance and sort of refresh its tolerance. When this happens, you can then resume its use without having to adjust your dose at all.
4. Wrong Intake Schedule
Some people think they can take kratom any time of the day and still get the same effects. Unfortunately, that’s not the case. For instance, taking kratom after meals or when you’re satiated with food can significantly deplete its effects. That’s because it has to combat with all the other substances in your stomach, thus dampening its benefits.
If you want to get the full effects of kratom, it helps to take the substance on an empty stomach. If you’ve just eaten, wait at least three to four hours before you take a dose so your gut can work on absorbing the herb’s chemistry without any food or drink getting in the way.
5. Improper Kratom Variety
Kratom varieties aren’t just a marketing ploy. Red, green, yellow, and white vein varieties are actually distinct phenotypes of the Mitragyna speciosa plant, and they all have slightly different plant chemistry. That means that a different vein will produce effects that are distinct from others. White kratom energizes, red sedates, and green produces mild, balanced effects that combine calm and stimulation. If you were hoping to achieve a specific outcome with your use of kratom, it would help to make sure you’re using the proper kratom variety.
6. Inappropriate Preparation Methods
Kratom powder on its own doesn’t really taste good, which is why lots of people go out of their way to incorporate the powder into a variety of recipes. And while that might seem like a good idea palate-wise, it doesn’t always amplify the herb’s benefits.
Recipes require specific measurements to create the ideal ratio between ingredients and the kratom powder itself. If you mix in too much of your food or drink with insufficient amounts of kratom powder, then you might end up overpowering the substance. It’s also worth mentioning that because the food will be digested alongside the kratom, this can also impact the absorption of the chemistry through your gut.
It’s Not Always the Kratom
Lots of studies have supported the benefits of kratom, putting it in the leagues of hemp in terms of benefits. So if you’re not getting the same potent effects that others are raving about, it might not be because of the kratom itself. There are a number of reasons why kratom might not be working for you, so make sure you really look into the causes to pinpoint the problem and calibrate your use.