Technically, you can. But today, we’re discussing why you shouldn’t.
Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa) has gained recent popularity in the wellness community. This medicinal plant has ancient cultural roots in Southeast Asia where it was used for religious and healing ceremonies. During these ceremonies, Kratom was traditionally chewed raw or made into a milky “tea-like” drink. Sometimes it was smoked.
Ceremonial smoking, though, is quite different from the smoking or vaping habits of the West. Some modern Kratom enthusiasts want creative ways to consume Kratom, like snorting or smoking Kratom, or even adding extracts to vape juice. But, these alternative uses for Kratom products are highly ill-advised.
Today, Kats Botanicals is sharing why these alternatives to ingesting Kratom are unsafe ways to use Kratom. Further, they waste your Kratom product, and your money, and reduce the effects of Kratom’s alkaloids.
Traditional Kratom Use vs Alternative Kratom Methods
Ceremonial Kratom use originated in Southeast Asia. Traditional Kratom use methods are the tried-and-true uses of Kratom that offer a long history of anecdotal support for the various ways Kratom can be beneficial for motivation, optimism, and energy.
Let’s distinguish traditional Kratom use vs alternative Kratom use:
- Traditional Kratom Use
- ✅ Chewing Kratom leaf
- ✅ Using Kratom leaf to make tea
- ✅ Ingesting Kratom powders or capsules
- ✅ Eating a Kratom edible (gummy, recipes, etc)
- Alternative (ill-advised) Kratom Use
- ❌ Smoking and snorting Kratom powder
- ❌ Vaping Kratom
- ❌ Smoking Kratom leaf
- ❌ Mixing Kratom with other drugs or alcohol
- ❌ Doubling, tripling (or more) the doses, abuse of Kratom
With smoking, vaping, or snorting Kratom on the rise…it’s important to remember why Kratom was discovered as a medicinal herb in the first place. How it was used most effectively. When we get into more risky Kratom uses we are opening unexplored doors and walking right into the dark. While we have thousands of years of anecdotal evidence to show us how Kratom can be helpful when used properly, the dangers of these alternative Kratom methods aren’t entirely known.
The Risks of Smoking Kratom
How you take Kratom affects your experience with the herb. This includes ingesting Kratom into the digestive system, snorting Kratom into the nose, or smoking Kratom leaf or Kratom powder. Here, we’ll outline key reasons these alternatives to ingesting Kratom are not the way to go.
Smoking Kratom Interferes with the Way Kratom Works
Kratom’s alkaloids are efficiently delivered into your bloodstream as they are metabolized via your digestive system. Kratom works better when absorbed by:
- Leaf mastication (chewing raw leaves) which allows sublingual absorption of the active compounds
- Ingestion of brews or plant matter containing the leaves’ alkaloids
Knowing this is how Kratom works, modern Kratom products are designed to deliver active support for your health and wellness by entering your system through your body’s digestive system. You get benefits from your Kratom – like relaxation & motivation, and a sense of well-being – when you ingest Kratom products as directed.
Smoking Kratom prevents the metabolizing of the alkaloids through your digestive system, and therefore alters how the substance works in your body. Kratom’s many alkaloids interact with your body’s enzymes, create metabolites, and shift structures as they are metabolized, which doesn’t occur with smoking, snorting, or vaping.
Smoking Kratom May Harm Your Lungs
When you smoke tobacco cigarettes you are consuming powerful active nicotine compounds, but also other harmful chemicals including carcinogens by-products that are used to treat the tobacco. The question of safety with smoking Kratom is similar:
- Potential for inhaling harmful substances or chemicals, especially if you buy untested Kratom leaf or powder.
- Potential lung stress or damage from the smoke.
- Unpredictable results from the effects of smoking Kratom (largely untested and unclear).
Note: Similar issues occur with snorting Kratom: risks of overdose or dependence, and damage to the sensitive nasal cavities. Read more about the dangers of insufflation.
The Effects of Smoking Kratom Are Unpredictable
Kratom contains a wide variety of active plant compounds called alkaloids, including the two most well-known – Mitragynine and 7-Hydroxymitragynine. These are the active components of the Kratom tree leaves made up of natural compounds with nitrogen molecules with a basic pH.
Mitragynine makes up about 66% of the alkaloid content and is responsible for producing most of Kratom’s powerful effects. However, there are more than 25 other alkaloids present in Kratom in varying ratios due to the variable geographical locations of the trees and harvesting times. This means that different strains possess different levels of these alkaloids, giving them unique properties and benefits.
Bypassing the digestive system with Kratom produces unpredictable results and a less full-spectrum experience. Because smoking or vaping Kratom changes the arrangement and makeup of the alkaloid profile, and an unpredictable amount of alkaloids are damaged or destroyed in the heating or vaporizing process, the results of the Kratom dose are unpredictable and inconsistent.
Generally, smoking delivers active compounds to your bloodstream faster due to the dense network of blood vessels surrounding the alveoli in your lungs.
While faster absorption is perhaps a good thing – it’s hard to know how much of the active component of Kratom survives the heating process. This combination makes it difficult to properly gauge the correct dosage and anticipate the effects Kratom might have on your body.
Smoking Kratom Wastes Your Kratom Product
Unfortunately, as the heat of smoking Kratom may destroy many of the active alkaloids, users may find they need more dried Kratom leaf than if they use other methods such as encapsulated powder or tea.
The benefits of Kratom depend on your Kratom dosage. Low doses are associated with benefits of optimism and motivation, while larger doses may help to induce a sense of calm. When you smoke the substance, however, this may lead to inconsistent dosing and difficulty determining how much product you need. Due to alkaloid loss, you may burn through more Kratom products than if you were to ingest it in the traditional ways. This is a waste of your Kratom product, and your money!
Kats Botanicals dosing recommendations are clear:
- The serving for Kratom is 2.4g. This is about one teaspoon.
- Do not exceed two servings in 24 hours.
Smoking Kratom Delivers Other Compounds Into Your Lungs
Smoking also delivers other unwanted compounds to your lungs including the by-products of combustion such as carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, and soot particles. This can have a negative impact on your respiratory health and limit the effectiveness of your Kratom dose.
Risks of Lung Damage or Illness Due to Smoking Kratom
Smoking Kratom cmay lead to lung injury or illness. A relatively understudied phenomenon, called Kratom-Induced Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS), is a life-threatening condition whereby the alveoli in the lungs become compromised and unable to deliver the oxygen your body needs. It’s also thought that vaping Kratom can be detrimental to lung health.
Is it Safe to Vape Kratom?
Is it safe to vape Kratom powder or Kratom extracts? No.
Many people consider vaping to be a safer way to smoke. Vaping consists of inhaling an aerosol product created using a handheld electronic atomizer fed by a cartridge containing water, flavorings, and propylene glycol solvent.
The safety of vaping is still in question and many researchers believe that it may be more harmful than smoking nicotine or herbal products directly. Some studies have found that fine particulate matter from vape pens can find its way into the lungs causing respiratory distress. Other research suggests that contaminants in e-liquids, particularly Vitamin E acetate, are responsible for the surge in lung injuries seen in people between 30-55 years old due to vape pen use.
Kratom leaf, Kratom powder, and Kratom extracts are all unsuitable for vaping even with specially designed herbal vaporizers. Just as with smoking, the heat can damage the delicate alkaloid structure, making your Kratom dosing less effective with inconsistent and unpredictable results.
Will Smoking Make You Overdose on Kratom?
While overdosing on Kratom is unlikely, it is super easy to consume way too much Kratom when you are smoking or vaping. Since the effectiveness of Kratom is linked to dosage, it is important to be consistent with dosing and the spacing between doses – which is next to impossible to do when smoking or vaping the substance.
Smoking and Snorting Kratom and Kratom Addiction Risk
Smoking and snorting Kratom may introduce very high doses into your system throughout the day. High doses could lead to Kratom withdrawal, cravings, or even Kratom addiction or dependence.
If you’ve been smoking, vaping, or snorting Kratom and think that you may have a problem, many people are not aware that Kratom addiction treatment is available. Contact local addiction treatment centers in your area to see if they have a Kratom-specific program that may help. Also, note there are special ways to take Kratom to reduce anyKratom tolerance issues.
Safer Alternatives to Smoking Kratom
The Kratom plant is an amazing botanical, helping people across the world to live more comfortable, pleasant, and motivated lives – but due to the risk of Kratom misuse or abuse, Kratom often gets a bad rap. If you want the benefits of Kratom, it’s best to choose a healthier way to get in your daily Kratom support, like Kratom capsules or tea, and avoid the complications associated with smoking Kratom leaf.
Key Kratom Benefits
- Motivation, positivity, well-being
- Pre- or post-workout support
- Comfort & calm when you need it
- Can-do energetic support for your days
- Morning kick-starts
- Versatile, plant-based alternative
- Balance & clarity
Note: The FDA has not approved Kratom for the treatment of illness, disease, or medical conditions. Speak with your healthcare provider to be sure Kratom is right for you.
Don’t Smoke or Snort Kratom – Take Kratom the Right Way!
If you think that Kratom offers great potential for your health, wellness, and fitness objectives, we encourage you to take it the right way. There are simply too many hidden or unpredictable dangers involved in smoking Kratom, and therefore – smoking Kratom in any form is not recommended and should never be done.
Note: The AKA advocates for the legality of Kratom and safe Kratom use. Kats Botanicals is an AKA-accredited Kratom vendor.
✅ The Toss-and-Wash Method
The simplest and most popular technique for consuming Kratom is the Toss-and-Wash method. Choose the perfect Kratom powder and measure your doses precisely using a digital kitchen scale. Then, “toss” the powders into your mouth and quickly wash it down with a non-alcoholic, non-carbonated beverage.
Learn More: Tips for choosing the best Kratom products and the perfect Kratom strain for your Toss and Wash.
Benefits of Toss and Wash Kratom Dosing
The benefits of tossing and washing Kratom include:
- Quick and easy once you get the hang of it.
- Avoid the bitterness of Kratom drinks.
- Chasing with water helps keep you hydrated.
- Precise and accurate dosing.
- Because no heat is required the alkaloids are not degraded.
- Convenient, on-the-go dosing.
- Less “fullness” than if drinking drinking down a full Kratom drink.
- Quicker absorption when taken on an empty stomach, or if you co-consume coffee or Kratom potentiators.
- Effects last 4-6 hours.
✅ Mix Kratom Tea
A tasty and refreshing way to get your Kratom dose is by brewing Kratom tea. There are various methods for making Kratom tea, depending on whether you prefer to use Kratom powder or crushed, dried Kratom leaves.
Note: The best Kratom teas are made with high-quality Kratom.
There are a few different ways to make Kratom tea, which many Kratom users prefer as the most authentic way to consume Kratom. Some Kava bars also sell Kratom-infused drinks.
Check out the versatile ways you can make and enjoy a motivating cup of Kratom tea:
- Using your coffee maker, steep hot water and stir in your Kratom dose + creamer or sweetener.
- Heat water on the stove or in the microwave (below boiling temp) and stir in your Kratom dose + orange juice, a commonly celebrated booster of Kratom.
- Steep your Kratom dose in water to make a “sun tea.”
- Make a Kratom tea from the crushed Kratom leaves.
How to Make Kratom Sun Tea: To make Kratom sun tea, take a half-gallon jar and place 1 teaspoon of your favorite dried Kratom leaf strain for every cup of water. This equates to approximately 8 teaspoons of Kratom and 8 cups of water. Leave the sealed jar in a warm, sunny spot for at least 5 hours. Strain out the Kratom leaf and add a ¼ cup of lemon juice. Serve over ice or bring to the boil and serve hot.
✅ Taking Kratom in Beverages
Similar to the toss-and-wash technique, mixing Kratom into a flavored beverage can help to mask the bitter taste. However, unlike the toss-and-wash, Kratom beverages are meant to be consumed slowly. Try one of these fun Kratom recipes.
How to Make Kratom Iced Coffee: Kickstart your morning with Kratom iced coffee. In a blender combine 1 cup of milk, a shot of espresso, your dose of Kratom, and a sweetener. Add ice and blend until smooth.
✅ Taking Kratom Capsules or Kratom Gummies
Your favorite Kratom powders also come in an encapsulated form. Kratom capsules are a great way to take your dose discretely and quickly during your day. Prepare your own Kratom capsules or buy them pre-made for instantly ready doses on the go. Many new users start with Kratom capsules as an easy way to try out the different Kratom strains.
In addition to taking Kratom Capsules, many Kratom users love the sweet convenience of Kratom Gummies. Kratom Gummies are made with Kratom extracts so you don’t need much to get in your Kratom doses.
Benefits of Kratom Capsules & Gummies
- Easy, discreet, portable
- Pre-measured for exact dosing
- No unpleasant taste or grit
- Kicks in around 30-45 minutes for slightly delayed onset (which can be useful)
- Kats Botanicals capsules are vegan-friendly!
There Are Better Ways to Take Kratom!
Compared with other methods of consumption, smoking Kratom is an ineffective and extremely dangerous way to get your daily dose. While the research on Kratom smoking is a bit lax, we do know that consuming Kratom by alternative and ill-advised means – like smoking, snorting, vaping – comes with serious risks to your health. Plus, it wastes your Kratom products and reduces the effects of Kratom!
To be crystal clear, we do NOT condone:
❌ Snorting and smoking Kratom
❌ Vaping Kratom
❌ Mixing Kratom with other substances – like mixing Kratom with your tobacco or cannabis to smoke
Get the Best Kratom Right Here at Kats!
The active compounds found in Kratom can be used to provide feelings of mental clarity and motivation, as well as induce a sense of calm that can help you navigate everyday stress. But, it’s important to remember that this amazing botanical works best when you ingest it properly and use the recommended Kratom dosing.
And… Kratom works best when you buy the best Kratom products! For high-quality, lab-tested Kratom, explore the huge range of White, Green, and Red Kratom we offer. Learn more about how to use Kratom responsibly and safely with our Kratom Guidebook.
Note: If you’re looking for your Kratom to kick in faster and stronger…forget smoking Kratom, try our intense Kratom Extract Products, which are supercharged with added alkaloids!
