Can You Smoke Kratom and Should You?
Though kratom is commonly found in smoke shops, it is not recommended to try smoking kratom. Yes, kratom is a multifaceted leaf. It can be used therapeutically, medicinally, or recreationally. But even though it can be used in all these ways, we think kratom should only be ingested.
Can you smoke kratom?
Kratom is a leaf that’s been used for many years by indigenous people. There are records of kratom being used ceremoniously to enhance human abilities. Plant-based psychoactive substances have had a long tradition in cultures. From smoking ayahuasca to eating psilocybin mushrooms, using substances has been a part of humans throughout history. There are many people who seek out plant-based drugs like kratom to enhance their life. It has been recorded that indigenous people would smoke kratom according to the book “Kratom and Other Mitragynines”. So yes, kratom can be smoked. But be very cautious. Smoking kratom powder, extract, or resin can be very harmful and painful to the lungs.
How is kratom smoked?
People who smoke kratom are able to get it in it’s natural leaf state. In most countries like the United States, you’d be hard pressed to find somewhere that sells raw kratom leaves. Kratom in its natural leaf form is much easier to extract and smoke. Indigenous people would dry the leaves, roll it into a pellet, and smoke it that way. You can smoke kratom but it is NOT recommended especially if you have powder. There have been accounts of using kratom powder like keef and sprinkling it on tobacco or marijuana. This is also not recommended because mixing substances can be dangerous. The effects of smoking kratom alone have not been tested in many clinical studies. Combining that with another substance with psychoactive effects can have many risks.
Effects of smoking kratom
Like many substances, kratom can have mildly uncomfortable side effects. This may include nausea, constipation, loss of appetite, and more. These are mild effects that vary from person to person when ingested. Smoking kratom can greatly enhance these negative properties due to the way its chemistry interacts with heat. The heat will destroy the alkaloids in the kratom. Not only will its chemical makeup change when inhaled, but kratom’s dosage is also much more difficult to gauge when it is smoked. When kratom is ingested, it is easy to weigh out based on grams. Smoking kratom is not as easy to do. Thus you may end up taking more than the recommended dose. Of course, this is never advisable for any substance. You greatly increase the odds of it having adverse effects on your body.
Not only will kratoms negative effects increase if you smoke it, but there are also a few other side effects that may come with the act of smoking alone. There aren’t studies that link these effects directly with kratom however, there are many studies that look at the cause of smoking in general. We are merely suggesting that you be aware of the possible consequences and be informed.
- Possible lung damage
- Increased risk of lung cancer
- Possible throat damage
- Shortness of breath
- Weakened immune system
Exercise caution if you’re considering smoking kratom. Understand the risks that come with smoking kratom.
Benefits of smoking kratom? Why do people smoke kratom?
We recommend against smoking kratom however there are a few benefits to smoking kratom. In our opinion these positives do not outweigh the negatives and are only described to give more information to our readers about smoking kratom.
People will smoke kratom vs ingesting kratom because you will feel its effects within minutes depending on the dosage or how you smoke it. When kratom is ingested, it typically takes 1-2 hours to fully feel its effects. It’s important to note that the quicker the onset of effects, the quicker those effects may subside. If you’re looking for long lasting effects, you may want to ingest it orally.
Another reason people may smoke kratom as opposed to swallowing it, is that you don’t feel full. Kratom is known for higher dosages to feel moderate effects. Swallowing 4 grams of kratom or 8 x 500mg pills can be a bit much on your stomach. Again, we don’t believe that these benefits will outweigh the risks of smoking kratom. These are safer ways to taking kratom.
Alternative ways of taking kratom
In this blog post we outlined the best ways to take kratom. Kratom is a powerful plant that is still not widely known. In 2021 marijuana is just barely making strides in the U.S. and throughout the world. This puts kratom even further behind in the scientific community. Many more labs are looking into studying the effects of marijuana so it may be a while before we see heavy research on how smoking kratom affects the body. Until then, we suggest consuming kratom in these other ways that have had more research done.
- Toss/wash kratom using powder
- Parachuting kratom
- Mixing kratom in foods/drinks
- Kratom tea
- Consuming kratom in capsules
Other resources on smoking kratom
At the end of the day, we want our readers to be informed about the effects of smoking kratom. Kratom is a wonderful medicinal plant that can benefit people’s lives greatly but can be harmful if not used correctly. Here are some other resources to look at if you’re still thinking about smoking kratom.
Smoking Kratom Reddit
CDC on Smoking
How to quit smoking kratom
If you’re looking for a place to buy kratom online then we suggest trying our store! We have capsules and powders as well as free samples for you to try. We are lab-grade tested for the highest-quality premium kratom on the market. Also get 10% off your first purchase when you sign up for our newsletter.
