Kava vs Kratom: what you need to know

Kava vs Kratom: what you need to know

Kratom vs Kava — this battle is unfolding on the penalty spot this time, so we are going to compare and contrapose two items in our new article.

This pair has had no chance to avoid comparing because both substances have got almost the same origination and are mind-altering.

Kava and Kratom grow in the South Pacific. Hard climate with a redundancy of sun-heat and moisture, specific soil, bear these plants. Both have been used for centuries in locals’ cultures as a traditional element of religious ceremonials. The herbs have been used for mind-altering and relaxation.

Nowadays these products have become very popular in the USA and this popularity is still increasing. So, we will supply you with essential information regarding Kratom and Kava, so that you can clearly understand the properties and benefits of each one.

What is Kava?

So, is Kava a fascinating product or it remains just a cultural tradition of some exotic places? What kind of effects does it provoke exactly?

Let’s go further and find out all peculiars.

Kava belongs to the pepper family. The botanical name is Piper Methysticum. It grows at the Western Pacific (Vanuatu, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Micronesia, and Hawaii).

Kava is actually a shrub. It is more about Kava roots than Kava leaves if it comes to extraction elements that are so valuable in this herb. Its roots are processed into a paste and then it is mixed with water or coconut milk.

The extracted liquid is used for stress reduction and as an aid for struggling insomnia.

Customers say that Kava provokes euphoric and relaxing conditions affecting similar to alcohol.

Clinical researches have revealed that Kava has potency in treating stress, muscle tension, headaches, and anxiety.

Together with being beneficial Kava (or as it is also named Kava Kava) is dangerous and can lead to severe damages of a liver. In this relation, the FDA released recommendations that claim Kava to contain products linked to negative effects on the liver. Such menace fosters necessity to think twice before starting usage Kava. From the perspective of health safety, it might be better to try some other alternative herbal to treat anxiety or insomnia.

What is Kratom?

We presume that you have already known basic information about Kratom. In case you haven't, we will provide you with it.

Kratom is a tropical tree that belongs to a coffee family. Its scientific name is Mitragyna speciosa. The place of origin is Southeast Asia (Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Borneo, etc.) Similar to Kava Kava Kratom has served to locals as a part of traditional culture. It has been used via chewing the leaves to get some energy recharge, relief from pain, and get rid of depleting, provoked by hard work during the day.

Once there were detected its opioid-like properties, Kratom started to be spread over the world and reached America.

Mitragynine, as a compound of Kratom, is even used in cough syrups. This substance very psychoactive and interacts with opioid receptors similar to morphine. This resemblance makes Kratom a great painkiller.

As a matter of fact, many consumers of Kratom products have noticed that it causes energy-lifting, arises focusing, and endurance. There are overviews which testimony about Kratom's capability to stimulate sexual activity and tackle anxiety.

Kava vs Kratom: Distinct Differences

Diversion of these items from the perspective of Pharmacology

As you might have noticed Kava and Kratom have similarities. However, the ways they affect a human’s brain are dissimilar. 

Kratom acts similar to opioids. This makes it pretty addictive.

Kratom remains to be an item in which properties are mainly discovered via customers’ overviews more than via scientific researches. Meanwhile, the database about Kava Kava is being updated systematically.

Kavalertones are considered to be the main components of Kava. There are additional six which play a more important role than others. Active components vary respectfully to the plant variety and are detected via plant chemotype

Kava interacts with a human’s limbic system. It plays the role of the controller over emotions and motivation. Kava doesn’t provoke such a high risk of addiction as Kratom. Though, Kava might be more destroying for a liver.

Diversion in legal status

Kratom is experiencing a period of hard and active debates which can lead to a total or partial ban on this item in the USA.

Despite its popularity and wide usage, Kratom has been banned in Thailand since 1943.

The initial cause for that ban was a desire of authorities to arise tax revenues from opium selling, which had significantly diminished because of Kratom's popularity. There have been several calls to cancel the ban of Kratom, though it has not happened yet. One of the main possible reasons for that may be the statistic presenting how many Kratom related — crimes are commonly committed. E.g. the statistics show that nearly 5% of all drug-related crimes in Thailand in 2011 were Kratom related.

Kratom is severely forbidden in Malaysia. If one is arrested because of Kratom usage or buying, serious imprisonment can follow.

The status of Kratom is more or less clear. But, is Kava legal? — this is a point everyone wants to find out.

Kava, to the opposite, meets no obstacles in wide-spreading and becoming recognized as a natural herbal product over the world.

However, notice, that Kava was banned in Germany and Switzerland for a long period due to results of research that had suggested that using Kava leads to the liver detriment.

Bud the ban was abolished after new research that revealed liver damage was related to some other side factors.

In any case, we keep the practice to warn people in advance about all possible consequences of Kava using even if such a possibility is presumed basing on some disputable research.

We are bound by the rule «it is better to overdo it than to miss it».

How are they similar?

So far you got the factors that make Kava and Kratom different. Here you will find the factors that make them similar.

Kratom leaves have been traditionally chewed or dried and proceeded to a powder. Mixing the powder with water and the Kratom beverage is ready. Though this mixture can be also added to another drink, e.g. juice, to change the taste.

Kava vs kratom tea preparation — that is a stumbling block for many consumers. Let’s clarify the difference. Dried leaves of Kratom are usually used for tea brewing.

When it comes to Kava — you can mix Kava’s root with water and then provide pressing and straining of the substance to get a beverage.

Besides, both items are available in pills form.

Nevertheless, there is a huge amount of data regarding 

Kava, we still face hundreds of requests "Does Kava really work?" The only thing we can answer is yes, it does. And the effects it causes are similar to those of Kratom.

Kava influences a human in a variety of ways, depending on the dosage and category of the Kava plant. It vaporizes stress and oppresses anxiety, gives pain relief, provokes emotional and physical appeasement.

Kava diminishes social inhibitions and provokes euphoria and happiness affined to other nootropics. You can find 3 categories of this plant.

The first one — so-called «Heady» varieties — provoke clarity of thoughts and sense of conciliating with trifle energy elevating. So, get noticed that the first category is Kava for energy.

«Heavy» ones lead to a relaxing effect, and «Balanced» affects you in both previous ways.

Kratom products act with similar results varying on the dosage, type of strain, and individual conditions. Kratom is a psychoactive product and in low dosages, it elevates energy, makes you more social-active while in high dosages causes pain relief, sedation, and euphoria.

There are disputes regarding which item is better for painkilling. It is a kind of competitors’ battle «kratom vs kava for pain”. 

If you hesitate what herb does the painkilling job better — recall that Kratom acts the same as opioids. It means that it wins the competition.

Should you drink Kratom and Kava together?

This issue is rather disputable. It is difficult to find a unanimous attitude to this question. Some consumers practice combining Kava and Kratom and consider such mix beneficial, claiming that each item enhances another’s beneficial properties.

Some overviews promote the idea that these herbs neutralize the negative properties of each other.

And some believe that such mixing leads to negative consequences, e.g. they say that combined using leads to hepatic and renal failure, damage to renal glomeruli. They prove their statement emphasizing that those who often combine Kava and Kratom have bloody urine.

Moreover, it is believed that redundancy in Kava consumption provokes tremors and dangerous weight loss.

While these concerns may sound contradictory, there is no doubt that Kratom and Kava should not be used together with alcohol. Such combination can severely harm your health causing dysfunctions and even cirrhosis of the liver.

Summary: Know the Differences

Both are usually sold alongside and you can meet them in the special shop, local tobacco shop, or online shops.

Kratom has proved its beneficial properties but one should take into consideration the risks of becoming addicted if use Kratom products often.

Kava to the opposite has an image of a non-addictive herb.

The best way to find out whether each of them suits you and matches your expectations is to taste each separately and get the relevant experience.

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