This topic is near and dear to me because I began using kratom for the sole purpose of relieving my anxiety. In my quest to find the best anxiety-relieving strain, I discovered very useful information and realized there is no strain that’s an end all be all.
The best strain for you will depend on the time of day you intend to take kratom and whether you need to treat other symptoms, such as pain, sleeplessness, or a lack of energy (or maybe you just want a kickass euphoria).
In this guide, I’m going to teach you which strains are best for treating anxiety while also obtaining:
- Pain relief
- Euphorias
- Better sleep
- Depression relief
I’ll also go over social anxiety, finding your dose, how to take kratom, and the best strains for night and day.
However, before we jump in, you should know a few basic things.
Why Does Kratom Relieve Anxiety
Kratom, also known as Mitragyna Speciosa, is a marvelous plant originating from Southeast Asia.
It’s been used for hundreds, if not thousands of years, by the natives to treat a wide variety of symptoms ranging from pain and sleeplessness to anxiety and energy boosts.
The compounds in kratom responsible for its medicinal benefits are known as Mitragynine and 7-Hydroximitragynine.
These two alkaloids bind to the opioid receptors in the brain and produce opioid-like effects without the detrimental side effects and damage to the body.
Many people who were using harmful pharmaceuticals to treat anxiety or pain have successfully used kratom as a supplement and/or substitute. Please speak to your physician if you plan on doing the same.
Kratom Colors That Reduce Anxiety
Kratom comes in 4 colors: red, white, green, and yellow (gold), but not all colors can be effectively used to treat anxiety. That’s because each color produces a unique set of medicinal benefits.
Red strains are relaxants. They reduce pain or anxiety and help you sleep.
White strains are energizers. Most don’t relieve pain or anxiety, and the few that do offer very limited relief. Some of the more potent whites can actually increase anxiety.
Yellow (Gold) strains are hybrids of reds and whites. They offer energy and pain relief but to a lesser degree than their red and white counterparts. They have the potential to reduce anxiety, depending on the type.
Green strains are also hybrids of reds and whites. They offer energy and pain relief and can be very euphoric, which is why they’re my favorite.
There are various strains within each color, such as Green Meang Da and Green Elephant. Because they’re both green, they will produce roughly the same effects.
However, Green Maeng Da is more potent and will, therefore, produce superior effects.
Read More: Green Maeng Da: The King Of Green Strains
With that being said, I suggest using only red and green strains to treat anxiety.
Use green strains during the day to combine anxiety relief with energy or pain relief and red strains at night to combine anxiety relief with relaxation, sleep, or pain relief.
The specific strain you use will depend on the combination of benefits you’re seeking.
Best Kratom Strain For Anxiety
Let’s say you suffer from anxiety and nothing else. You’re simply looking for the best strain to reduce anxiety.
Green Maeng Da
I HIGHLY suggest Green Maeng Da (GMD). GMD is the king of green strains for a reason. Its medicinal benefits include:
- Energy Boost
- Euphoria
- Pain Relief
- Anxiety Relief
- Depression Relief
- Appetite Suppression
- Increased Focus & Concentration
Yes, it really is that good. As soon as the euphoria and mood boost begin to kick in, both the agonizing thoughts and physical tension melt away.
You can expect about 3-5 hours of amazing anxiety relief.
But GMD offers more than just anxiety relief. You can also expect a boost of motivation and optimism. You’ll feel like your old self again.
Best Kratom Strain For Sleep And Anxiety Relief
If anxiety is preventing you from getting a good night’s sleep, Red Bali is, without a doubt, the best strain to take.
Red Bali
This strain is the most sedative, but it’s also known to produce other benefits such as:
- Pain Relief
- Relaxation
- Sedation
- Anxiety Relief
- Depression Relief
The best way I can describe Red Bali’s anxiety relief is like a mental break for your mind and body, similar to GMD, but without the potent euphoria.
It’s also much more relaxing than uplifting, which is great because the whole point is to be able to sleep soon after taking it.
Keep in mind that sedation produced by any strain is always the last effect to kick in. Although you may experience anxiety relief as fast as 5-10 minutes, sedation can take over an hour.
Red Bali’s anxiety relief will last about 3-5 hours, while its sedation can put you in a deep sleep that lasts the entire night.
Best Kratom Strain For Anxiety & Pain
If you’re looking for both anxiety and pain relief, I have the perfect strains for you.
Green Malay
For daytime use, I recommend Green Malay. Green Malay produces the exact same benefits as Green Maeng Da, including:
- Pain relief
- Anxiety relief
- Energy
- Euphoria (less potent)
- Increased concentration & focus
- Depression relief
- Appetite suppression
The only difference is Green Malay’s slightly weaker euphoria.
You will still experience a strong mood boost, but since the goal is to reduce pain and anxiety rather than induce euphoria, you’ll find Green Malay more suitable.
However, if you want pain and anxiety relief PLUS a strong euphoria, then go ahead and take GMD.
Green Malay’s pain and anxiety relief is known to last roughly 3-5 hours.
Best Kratom Strain For Anxiety & Euphoria
Green Maeng Da (GMD) is the undisputed champion for producing strong euphorias and combating anxiety.
As I previously stated, it’s the euphoria and lingering mood boost that is primarily responsible for GMD’s popularity and anti-anxiety properties.
You can go from feeling down and unmotivated to feeling like you can take on the world in just a matter of minutes, which is why GMD is my favorite strain.
I use it not only to reduce anxiety but also for work, as it’s known to help with long, strenuous tasks by improving focus and concentration.
The euphoria can last up to thirty minutes, but the mood boost will last for about 2 hours. The anxiety relief lasts roughly 3-5 hours.
Best Kratom Strain For Social Anxiety
If you get nervous in social settings or when meeting new people, Green Maeng Da is your solution.
I know I keep referring to this strain, but it’s really that amazing, which is why it’s the most popular green strain.
I’ve seen introverted people use Green Maeng Da to transform into non-stop chatterboxes.
GMD’s social anxiety relief can be compared to the personality switch that’s experienced when drinking alcohol but without the loss of control over the mind and body.
The relief is attributed to GMD’s euphoria and mood-boosting properties. The surge in optimism gives the person more confidence and makes them want to socialize.
Best Ways to Take Kratom For Anxiety Relief
There’s more than one way of taking kratom, such as the infamous toss and wash, capsules, tinctures, and kratom tea. All have the ability to produce potent anxiety relief.
The difference in potency depends on the dose and the amount of time your body requires to absorb the alkaloids (how you take kratom).
Read More: How to Take Kratom For Maximum Results
In this section, I’ll describe the different ways you can take kratom, and in the following subheading, I’ll explain how to find your dose.
What is The Toss And Wash
The toss-and-wash method is exactly what it sounds like. It consists of taking a spoonful of kratom powder, drinking water, swirling the powder and water in your mouth, and swallowing.
As you can imagine, kratom’s bitter flavor and texture make the toss and wash rather unpleasant, which is why most people avoid it.
Tip: Using cold water minimizes the bitter taste.
But if you can withstand bitter flavors, you’ll be rewarded with very potent and fast-acting effects.
Because your stomach doesn’t have to break down a capsule, kratom’s alkaloids are quickly absorbed into your bloodstream and pack a powerful punch.
After gulping down a mouthful of powder, you can expect to feel amazing anxiety relief within a mere 5-10 minutes.
Pros:
- Fast acting
- Potent effects
- Cheapest
- Quick consumption
Cons:
- Bitter taste & harsh texture
- Can get messy
Kratom Capsules
I highly suggest kratom capsules for those who can’t stand bitter tastes. They’re convenient, bypass kratom’s flavor, and don’t create a powdery mess.
Kratom capsules are very safe. They’re made with a pharmaceutical-grade vegetable case, which prevents allergic reactions. No silicone content is used to make the capsules.
One thing to keep in mind when using capsules is the amount of time it takes to feel the initial effects.
After consuming the capsules, it takes roughly 30-45 minutes to begin to experience anxiety relief, and the effects last for 3-5 hours.
If you need instant relief, I suggest using the toss and wash or a tincture.
Pros:
- Convenient
- No harsh tastes
- Quick consumption
- Potent effects
- No powder messes
Cons:
- Delayed effects
- Higher price
Kratom Tea
Kratom tea is the alternative to the toss and wash. The powder is simmered with boiling water to extract the alkaloids and then prepared into a medicinal tea.
The potency of the tea depends on how much powder was simmered and how fast you drink the tea.
Nevertheless, anxiety relief is felt rather quickly, as soon as 5-15 minutes, and lasts for 3-5 hours.
Kratom tea has a very bitter and earthy taste. Luckily, the bitterness can be reduced by adding honey. I’ve found buckwheat honey to be the most complementary.
Kratom tea is not ideal for people with busy schedules, as it takes about 25 minutes to prepare.
Read More: How to Prepare Kratom Tea Like Professional Herbalists
However, if you enjoy drinking tea, don’t mind the bitter taste, and time is on your side; this is one way of taking kratom you may really enjoy.
Pros:
- Fast acting
- Cheap
Cons:
- Bitter taste
- Lengthy preparation time
Kratom Tincture
Unfortunately, kratom tinctures aren’t as popular as the previous three ways of using kratom, which is a shame because they’re very effective.
Tinctures produce potent and almost instant anxiety relief (about 5 minutes and lasts 3-5 hours) without the need to drink water or measure powder.
Their small size makes them extremely portable and the most convenient.
The bitter taste is comparable to the toss and wash, but the texture is much more tolerable, as it’s just a liquid.
Tinctures are made using alcohol but don’t worry, you can’t get drunk, nor can you taste it. The alcohol is simply used to extract the alkaloids.
Due to the extraction process, tinctures consist of highly concentrated alkaloid levels, which means you can consume a lower dose and obtain the same potent anxiety relief as the toss and wash.
A higher concentration translates to a higher cost. However, due to the tincture’s smaller dose, I find that it’s worth the cost because of the large quantity of servings.
Pros:
- Portable
- Most convenient
- Fast acting
- Quick consumption
- Potent effects
- Smaller dosage
Cons:
- Higher price
- Bitter taste
How Much Kratom Do I Take For Anxiety
The ideal anxiety dose will highly vary with each individual. You might read in other blogs that the ideal dose for anxiety relief is, for example, 4-5 grams.
That’s highly misleading and even dangerous, as 4-5 grams can provide amazing anxiety relief for one person but trigger negative side effects in others.
What I suggest instead is experimenting for a few days with different dose sizes to not only achieve the perfect dosage but also avoid side effects, such as the notorious nauseous headache.
Read More: How Much Kratom Should You Take
I’ll show you exactly how to do that; keep in mind the following factors will affect your dose.
If you already use kratom, keep taking your regular dose. Make sure not to take more unless your goal is to relieve anxiety and induce sedation. If that’s the case, add 1 gram to your usual dose.
Factors That Affect Kratom Dosage
The following factors will affect kratom dosage.
Weight: Just like with other substances, the more body weight a person carries, the more kratom is required to relieve anxiety.
Gender: Generally speaking, men tend to require more kratom than women, even if both weigh the same. However, there are exceptions to every rule.
Tolerance: Some people have higher tolerances to certain substances, regardless of whether they’ve used kratom or not. It’s possible to have two men who weigh the same require different dosages.
Food: Kratom’s effects will be significantly weaker if taken right after a meal. I suggest waiting at least 2 hours after your last meal to take kratom.
Read More: How Long Does Kratom Last?
Taking kratom on an empty stomach produces the strongest effects, and I’ve personally found it to be safe.
How to Experiment to Find Your Perfect Kratom Dose
The first step to finding your dose is to choose only one way of taking kratom for a few days, whether it’s capsules, toss and wash, or tea, and refrain from taking kratom twice on the same day until you find your perfect dose.
It’s very important to keep in mind that using the same dose among the various ways of taking kratom will produce slightly more or less potent effects. For example, 5 grams using the toss and wash will produce stronger anxiety relief than 5 grams made into kratom tea.
Toss And Wash
To find your toss-and-wash dose, I recommend starting with 2 grams of powder if you’re under 200 pounds and 3 grams if you’re 200 pounds or heavier.
Here is a picture of what 2 grams of kratom powder in a tablespoon looks like.
Take the recommended dose at least 2 hours after your last meal, and don’t take kratom twice in the same day.
Wait at least 30 minutes. If you experienced the anxiety relief you were looking for, this is now your ideal dose.
If you didn’t experience any anxiety relief or you felt like it wasn’t strong enough, add a gram to your dose the following day. For example, if you took 2 grams, then take 3 the following day. Those that started with 3 grams can move up to 4 the following day.
Repeat this pattern of adding a gram a day until you obtain satisfactory anxiety relief.
Kratom Capsules
Kratom Krush capsules each contain 0.7 grams of powder. I recommend starting with 3 capsules if you’re under 200 pounds and 4 capsules for those who weigh 200 pounds or more.
Take the recommended dose at least 2 hours after your last meal. In order to minimize the risk of side effects, don’t take more kratom on the same day.
Wait at least one hour and thirty minutes. If you were satisfied with the anxiety relief, this is now your dose.
If you felt like the anxiety relief wasn’t potent enough, or you simply didn’t feel any effects, add a capsule to your dose the following day. For example, if you took 3 capsules, move up to 4, and if you took 4 capsules, move up to 5.
Continue this pattern of adding a capsule a day until you obtain satisfactory anxiety relief.
Kratom Tea
To find your ideal kratom tea dose, I recommend starting with 4 grams of powder if you’re under 200 pounds and 6 grams if you’re 200 pounds or heavier.
Take kratom tea at least 2 hours after your last meal, and don’t take it twice on the same day.
If you liked the anxiety relief you experienced, this is now your ideal dose.
If you felt like the anxiety relief was minimal or you didn’t experience any relief whatsoever, add 1 gram to your dose the following day.
Continue this process of adding a gram a day until you obtain the anxiety relief you were looking for.
Kratom Tincture
Finding your ideal tincture dose is a bit tricky, especially if there aren’t any measuring units on the dripper. Therefore, I suggest the following.
Regardless of your weight, fill the tip of the dripper and dispense it underneath your tongue. Let it sit there for about 10 seconds, then swallow.
Read More: How to Correctly Make a Kratom Tincture
Sublingually taking the tincture allows the enzymes in your saliva to quickly break down and extract the alkaloids responsible for kratom’s effects.
If you felt like you obtained satisfactory anxiety relief, this is now your personal dose. If you experienced very little relief or none at all, take double the amount the following day.
Repeat this process of doubling your dose on a daily basis until you obtain the perfect anxiety relief.
How to Avoid Stagnant Strain When Treating Anxiety
People who’ve used kratom for extended periods of time have experienced this phenomenon we call stagnant strain.
If you only use one strain to obtain the same effects over and over again, you can develop a very high tolerance to only this specific strain. We call this stagnant strain.
But don’t worry; stagnant strain can take months to experience. The exact amount of time will vary with each person.
There are two simple ways to avoid or combat stagnant strain.
- Rotate your strains on a weekly basis. If you use Red Bali, switch to Red Borneo the following week, as both strains produce very similar effects.
- Use the same strain for months and switch only when you begin to notice stagnant strain. You can use a similar strain to rotate, such as the example I provided in strategy number 1.
That’s all there is to it, but this simple strategy can prevent you from constantly increasing your dose.
FAQ
If you’re experimenting to find your personal dose, I highly suggest taking it only once a day. Once you’ve found your dose, you can take it twice a day.
However, I recommend using kratom only once a day (or better yet, only when you need it) to avoid developing a high tolerance and/or experiencing negative side effects.
If you notice the effects beginning to dwindle, increase your dose using the process I taught you in the dose section. (1 gram or capsule more).
If you want to obtain multiple benefits from one strain but are only experiencing one effect or the second effect is weak, I suggest slightly increasing the dose.
If increasing the dose doesn’t solve the issue, you may want to try a similar strain. People react differently to each strain. Hence, it’s very possible you can benefit more by switching.
As stated above, stagnant strain can take weeks but, in most cases, months to experience.
Without a doubt, Green Malay. Both strains produce the same effects and are highly potent.
Red Borneo because of the similar benefits it produces, including sedation and pain relief.
Although RMD is among the most potent and popular strains, many people have claimed it’s somewhat stimulating for a red strain and can prevent you from sleeping at night.
If you suffer from chronic pain or anxiety and don’t care about inducing sedation, give RMD a try. It’s a good strain to use in the evening after a long day at work.
