Kratom gummies have become an increasingly popular way for people to enjoy the many touted benefits of the Mitragyna speciosa plant, commonly known as kratom. Kratom leaves have been used for centuries in Southeast Asian countries like Thailand and Malaysia for their stimulating, pain-relieving and mood-enhancing qualities. In recent years, kratom use has spread to Europe, Australia and the Americas. As kratom has grown in popularity worldwide, innovative products like kratom gummies have emerged as convenient and tasty methods of consuming kratom.
What are Kratom Gummies?
Kratom gummies are bite-sized, chewable candies that have been infused with powdered kratom leaf extract. The kratom extract provides the gummies with the plant’s signature blend of alkaloids, including mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine. These alkaloids are thought to give kratom it’s psychoactive properties. The extracted kratom powder is mixed with a simple gummy candy base of ingredients like corn syrup, sugar, gelatin or pectin, water, citric acid and food coloring. Natural fruit flavors are often added to enhance the taste. The finished kratom gummies retain the unique properties of kratom in an easy-to-swallow gummy form.
How are Kratom Gummies Made?
Kratom gummies can be made in a couple of different ways, both involving creating a candy base and infusing it with kratom extract powder.
The gelatin method involves using gelatin powder, sugar or sweetener, corn syrup, citric acid, water and coloring to make a simple candy base. The ingredients are heated together while being stirred until fully dissolved and integrated. Natural fruit flavor is added, such as lemon, orange or raspberry. Then, finely ground kratom powder is stirred into the hot liquid until fully integrated. The liquid mixture is poured into molds to set, usually for 12-24 hours. It’s then cut into small gummy squares.
With the pectin method, fruit pectin powder replaces gelatin as the gelling agent, with citric acid helping it set. The pectin, corn syrup, kratom powder, fruit juice for flavor and citric acid are whisked together with heat until they thicken to a gummy texture. The mixture is then poured into molds, set and cut into gummies. The pectin method produces a fruitier, more naturally flavored gummy.
Both methods yield a final kratom gummy product with the taste largely masked by sweetener and fruit flavors but still retaining kratom’s signature alkaloids and their associated benefits.
What are the Benefits of Kratom Gummies?
Touted benefits of eating kratom gummies largely mirror the reported benefits of kratom powder teas and capsules. However, the gummy format makes taking kratom more convenient and more palatable. The sweet taste and chewy texture also makes kratom easier to consume for those who find the bitterness of kratom powder difficult to tolerate.
Some of kratom’s most notable benefits, which gummies can deliver as effectively as other preparations, include:
- Stimulation and Increased Energy: At lower doses, kratom can provide a mild stimulant effect, increasing alertness, physical energy and motivation. The stimulation has been compared to caffeine but without the jitteriness.
- Pain Relief: Kratom’s abundant alkaloids work as analgesics to activate opioid receptors, relieving acute and chronic pain. The pain-blocking effects can equal the power of prescription pain medication for some people but with less risk of side effects.
- Improved Mood: Higher levels of kratom alkaloids can induce a mild euphoric feeling, lifting mood and making users feel more content and less anxious. This benefit is milder than mood enhancement from drugs but noticeable.
- Opiate Withdrawal Easing: For recovering opiate addicts, kratom can relieve symptoms of withdrawal due to it’s activity on some of the same opioid receptors. This can help addicts transition off dangerous narcotic painkillers.
For users that struggle to gulp down the bitter taste of plain kratom powder, gummies provide these same advantages in a much tastier format with the same efficacy.
Are Kratom Gummies Safe? What are the Side Effects?
When used responsibly at appropriate doses, kratom gummies are generally considered as safe as other available forms of kratom. They are also safer than prescription or illegal opioids that kratom is sometimes used to replace. However, some side effects can occur, usually with higher dosages. Additionally, little formal research has been done on kratom gummies specifically. So potential long-term risks are not well-documented.
Potential side effects of higher kratom doses, which gummies can deliver if enough is ingested, include:
- Nausea and Vomiting: Upset stomach is a common side effect of larger kratom doses. Gummies mask the taste but not the gastric effects.
- Constipation: Kratom’s gastrointestinal effects slow bowel movements, leading to constipation. Staying hydrated can minimize this.
- Respiratory Depression: While far less risky than with opioids, very high kratom doses can slightly suppress breathing. This is extremely rare in reasonable doses.
- Dependence and Withdrawal: Like other psychoactive substances, longer term kratom use can create dependency. Quitting after dependence forms can trigger withdrawal, though it tends to be milder than opiate withdrawal.
So while moderately dosed kratom gummies are considered largely safe and side effect free for most, risks do increase if high amounts are consumed regularly over many months.
What are the Different Types of Kratom Gummies?
Kratom gummies are available from a number of vendors in a few varieties tailored to produce different psychotropic and physiological effects. The types of kratom gummies available mirror popular varieties of kratom powders and capsules.
The main types include:
- White Vein Kratom Gummies: Made from white vein kratom leaves. Considered the most stimulating and energizing variety. Lower pain relief.
- Red Vein Kratom Gummies: Made from red vein kratom. The most sedating and pain-relieving type, with less stimulation. Better for opiate withdrawal and insomnia.
- Green Vein Kratom Gummies: Made from green vein leaves. Provides a balance of mild stimulation and moderate pain relief. The effects are thought to last longer than other strains.
- Maeng Da Kratom Gummies: Maeng Da is a specialty strain considered highly potent. Maeng Da gummies provide intense stimulation and are euphoric at higher doses.
The type of kratom used can make gummies more tailored for energy, pain relief, tranquility, euphoria or a balance of effects.
What is the Appropriate Kratom Gummy Dosage?
Ideal kratom gummy dosage depends heavily on the individual and the particular product. Since kratom isn’t a heavily regulated or standardized drug, gummy potency can vary widely between different manufacturers.
However, a general rule of thumb is:
- Low Dose – 1 to 3 gummies: Mild stimulation and mood enhancement
- Moderate Dose – 3 to 5 gummies: Noticeable euphoria, analgesia and sedation
- High Dose – 5 to 10 gummies: Very intense effects, higher risks of side effects
These dosage guidelines assume an average gummy size of 10mg of kratom extract per piece. For managing opiate withdrawal, starting with a moderate dose is recommended to relieve symptoms without intensely psychoactive effects. For analgesia, most users report significant pain relief with a moderate dose. Light users sometimes report desired effects from doses as low as just 1 to 2 gummies.
It’s wise to start low with kratom gummies from any new supplier to assess the product’s potency and find your own optimal dose. Consuming too many gummies can cause nausea or dizziness so it’s best to be cautious when trying a new kratom product.
Are Kratom Gummies Legal?
The legality of kratom gummies essentially mirrors the legal status of kratom powder products. And the legal status of those products varies depending on local jurisdiction:
- In the United States, kratom powder is legal at the federal level but it has been banned or strictly regulated in a few states (Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, Rhode Island, Vermont and Wisconsin). In states where it’s legal, kratom gummies are also legal since they would be considered a kratom product.
- Internationally, kratom legality is a mix of some countries like Denmark, Malaysia, Myanmar and Australia banning it; some like Canada and New Zealand limiting sales but not fully banning; and some having no restrictions. So you’d need to research local kratom laws in any country to know if gummies are allowed.
For those in places where kratom is legal, kratom gummies provide a convenient format to enjoy it’s benefits as long as dosages are kept moderate and risks are weighed against rewards. In areas where it has been banned, possession of any kratom including gummies would violate the law. Legality issues aside, individuals are encourage to learn about kratom risks before choosing to use any preparations.
FAQs
It’s best to start with 1 to 3 gummies, which is considered a low dose, to assess your tolerance. A moderate dose is 3 to 5 gummies. Novices should avoid taking more than 5 gummies at one time when first using kratom gummies.
Most users report the effects setting in within 30 to 45 minutes, peaking within 2 hours and lasting for approximately 4 to 5 hours before fading. However, kratom affects everyone differently based on biology and tolerance.
While extremely rare, it is possible to overdose by taking too many gummies containing high levels of kratom’s active alkaloids. An overdose can lead to nausea, vomiting, headaches and dizziness along with dangerously depressed respiration like with opioids though not as severe or fatal.
Yes, with long-term, high-dose usage, kratom gummies can be habit forming and produce dependence in users, similar to prescription painkillers though generally less severe. This requires stopping usage slowly by gradually decreasing dosage to minimize withdrawal symptoms.
It’s not necessary but is a good idea. Taking gummies with food can help prevent nausea, especially when taking larger doses. And since effects take 45 minutes to fully manifest, eating delays onset rather than weakening efficacy.
It varies based on location. In the U.S., federal law permits sale and possession but some states have banned kratom products, including gummies. Internationally, legality varies widely. Check local laws in your jurisdiction.
Conclusion
Kratom gummies have emerged as a tasty alternative form of kratom, alongside the more common capsules and teas, for those interested in this botanical substance’s unique blend of stimulating, pain-relieving and mood-enhancing qualities. Infusing sweet fruity gummies with concentrated Mitragyna speciosa leaf extract provides similar benefits to other methods but with a far more palatable flavor and enjoyable format. The risks of moderate kratom use are considerably lower than prescription painkillers. But gummies should still be approached with care and education. For kratom enthusiasts searching for the most pleasurable way to experience the leaf’s psychoactive properties, kratom gummies are quickly becoming a favorite choice. They exemplify how innovation continues to expand the horizon of this fascinating plant.
