Kratom offers a wide range of beneficial effects. However, the plant is probably best known for its potent pain-relieving properties. Various Southeast Asian populations successfully used kratom as a pain-reliever for centuries. And scientists have confirmed that kratom is an effective pain reliever. One kratom compound, 7-hydroxymitragynine, is a stronger pain blocker than morphine.
Today, thousands of people across the world use kratom for temporary relief of physical pain. And whether you’re suffering from a minor injury or have had life-long chronic pain, kratom may be able to help you, too.
However, the amount of pain-relieving compounds in kratom can vary from product-to-product. For that reason, some types of kratom could relieve pain more effectively than others. These kratom variants, or “strains,” are often made from more mature leaves and sold under specific names.
For most users, finding the best kratom strains for pain often comes down to trial and error. But we believe there’s a better way. After collecting hundreds of user reviews, we compared kratom strains to see which were the most pain-relieving. Here are the six strains that came out on top — read on to discover what they are and why they might be suitable for you!
When ingested, kratom binds to and activates the brain’s opioid receptors. This response dulls sensations of pain throughout the body like opioids or opiates.
But unlike opioids or opiates, kratom has a generally low addiction potential and only mild withdrawal symptoms when used responsibly . As a result, the plant has become a popular source of pain relief for millions of people across the world.
However, while kratom is effective for pain, it’s far from being the “perfect” drug. Higher kratom doses (5g+) seem most effective for pain relief but can also cause sedation, drowsiness, and fatigue. For this reason, kratom use might be untenable for users who are required to drive, operate heavy machinery, or perform other duties that require daytime alertness.
Fortunately, some pain-relieving kratom strains seem only slightly sedating. We’ve made a point of including them in this list!
Many users consider Red Bali to be a pain-relieving powerhouse. It’s also sold by almost every kratom vendor at affordable prices, making it an accessible option year-round.
Watch out, though: Red Bali’s seemingly sedating nature might have you nodding off earlier in the day than you would’ve liked! For that reason, those seeking daytime pain relief might want to choose a different strain.
Red Bali’s duration of effects might also disappoint. You might not feel its effects past three or so hours, which is lower than other pain-relieving red strains.
Red Borneo might go by many other names (Kalimantan, Ketapang, and Jongkong, just to name a few). However, for many users, there’s no confusion over the strain’s pain-relieving potential.
Users also report that Red Borneo is less sedating than other red strains, especially at lower doses. As a result, Red Borneo could suit those seeking to avoid the “crash” commonly associated with red kratom strains. Its effects might also last upwards of four hours at moderate-to-high doses (~2.5-5g).
Red Sunda is one of the rarer strains on this list. However, users who have managed to track it down have been impressed by its generally well-rounded nature.
Red Sunda might be somewhat less pain-relieving than potent reds like Red Bali and Red Borneo. However, Red Sunda’s supposedly less sedating nature could make it more suitable for daytime use. Of course, your experience may vary.
Green Vietnam’s seemingly pain-relieving and minimally sedating nature could make it the best choice for daytime pain relief.
As a bonus, Green Vietnam’s effects could be long-lived. At moderate-to-high doses (~2.5-5g), they might last up to four hours.
So, if you’re looking for pain relief that doesn’t significantly reduce your energy levels, Green Vietnam might be the strain for you!
At first, Gold Kali’s lengthy list of aliases might give you a headache. But user experience actually speaks quite a bit differently.
Some users have found Gold Kali effective at easing tension headaches and chronic migraines. It also seems to provide moderate euphoria with only slight sedation. For some — and especially at lower doses (~1-2.5g) — Gold Kali’s low sedative potential might make it ideal for daytime pain relief.
Unfortunately, Gold Kali does appear to have some downsides. Users have reported that the strain’s effects only last about 2.5 hours at moderate doses (~2.5g). That means Gold Kali could be one of the shortest-lasting strains on this list.
Including White Indo on this list might raise some eyebrows. In general, white kratom strains aren’t exactly known for their pain-relieving properties.
However, White Indo may be an exception. The strain’s seemingly stimulating and pain-relieving nature could make it an excellent choice for daytime pain relief.
That said, users sensitive to stimulating strains may experience jitters, restlessness, or increased anxiety when using White Indo, especially at higher doses (~5g+).
Kratom’s pain-relieving properties are well-established. However, with so many strains to choose from, it can be challenging to narrow down what kind of kratom might work best for you.
That said, we hope that this article has helped clarify the often confusing world of kratom. As research continues to build, we anticipate the answers will only become clearer!
Disclaimer: The information contained on this site has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration or Health Canada. Kratomaton does not claim, state, or support the notion that kratom can be used to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. In addition, the information provided herein is not a replacement for the advice of a registered doctor or physician. You should consult a doctor or request medical assistance if your symptoms are severe or worsening.
Potentially mood-boosting and somewhat energizing, Green Indo's seemingly balanced nature may appeal to those living fast-paced lives.
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Kona Kratom is an American kratom vendor.
Thank you for your reports of the different strains. I am new to Kratom and like many I am sure, I am looking for the pain relieving properties it has. The easy to read graphs helped me so much in narrowing down the strains that I am interested in trying and gave some background information on the how and why to use Kratom.
Thank you for the support! Happy to help!
-Kratomaton