CBD and kratom are both herbal remedies that have blown up in popularity over the last decade, although kratom is still breaking into the cultural zeitgeist. Like CBD, many people turn to kratom for help with pain relief or seeking some form of benefit. Both can be bought over-the-counter, and both have known physiological effects, although the specific benefits and effects of kratom and CBD differ. There’s also a lot of misinformation out there about both kratom and CBD.
Below, we compare the two herbal compounds side by side, exploring what makes them similar and how they differ. But before we dive into kratom vs. CBD, learn more about what they are and how they work in your body.
What is Kratom?
Kratom is a product derived from the mitragyna speciosa, a tree native to Southeast Asia. Mitragyna speciosa comes from the same family as the coffee plant.
Kratom products are made from the leaves of the tree. People typically chew the leaves, brew them into tea, or take products made from processed kratom leaf powder. In Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, and elsewhere, kratom has been used as an herbal supplement and as a form of natural medicine for centuries.
Kratom’s psychoactive effects come from its two major active chemicals, mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine.
What is CBD?
Cannabidiol, or CBD, is a compound that can be derived from either marijuana (cannabis) or hemp. Hemp contains more CBD and less THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, the principal psychoactive compound in the cannabis plant). Marijuana contains much more THC and less CBD.
CBD products sold over the counter in the U.S. mainly use CBD drawn from hemp, which enjoys broader legality than marijuana. CBD oil can be found in capsules, tinctures, topical creams, and food items, and it can be used as a base for vaporizers.
Effects of Kratom vs. CBD
Although both kratom and CBD have physiological effects, they are used for different purposes, and people use them for different reasons.
Kratom is known for having a stimulating effect and can give users extra energy and focus. Users also report feeling more social, energetic, and positive overall. At higher doses, and depending upon the strain of kratom consumed, kratom can have a more sedative-like effect.
CBD, on the other hand, mainly acts as a pain reliever and a relaxant. Although it is related to THC, CBD is not actually “psychoactive,” meaning CBD does not get you “high.” CBD has been used to reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety.
Kratom and CBD work on different receptors in the brain, which causes divergent effects even though both are plant-derived compounds.
Kratom vs. CBD for Pain Relief
The FDA has not approved CBD or kratom for pain relief. The only FDA-approved medication containing CBD to date is Epidolex, which is used for treating seizures in children with certain forms of epilepsy. Neither CBD nor kratom has been approved for the treatment of other conditions such as anxiety, depression, or stress.
That being said, many people report positive experiences with both CBD and kratom for a variety of uses, including pain relief. Animal studies have demonstrated CBD has pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory effects, although the availability of human studies is more limited. Other studies are looking into CBD as a potential treatment for a range of conditions, including diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, schizophrenia, anxiety, and multiple sclerosis.
Likewise, studies are exploring the effectiveness of kratom for pain relief. More research is necessary to draw strong conclusions, but many people report the pain-relieving effects of both kratom and CBD.
Make sure to do your own research and follow the developing science around kratom and CBD. If you are interested in utilizing CBD or kratom for pain relief or other benefits, discuss your condition and your symptoms with your trusted healthcare professional.
The Legality of Kratom vs. CBD
One thing kratom and CBD share is a confusing regulatory history rife with misinformation and prejudice. As it currently stands, however, neither product is banned at the federal level, although both are restricted in certain states.
The federal Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (a.k.a. the Farm Bill) effectively legalized CBD derived from hemp. The federal Farm Bill did not legalize the use of CBD as a food additive, although some states allow the sale of CBD-infused food and drink products.
In contrast, although kratom has not been banned at the federal level, there is no law or regulation at the federal level officially legalizing kratom, or doing much in the way of regulating kratom’s manufacture or sale.
At the state level, kratom is mostly legal. Only six states have banned kratom, and one of those states is moving towards decriminalization. Hemp-derived CBD is also legal in the majority of states. Various states have different regulations concerning both CBD and kratom, including age restrictions and the types of products that can be sold (smokeables, foods, supplements, etc.).
Different rules also apply for the medicinal use of CBD sourced from hemp as well as CBD sourced from marijuana.
If you are looking to buy CBD or kratom in your area, make sure to look up the most current laws and regulations.
How Many People Use Kratom vs. CBD
CBD and kratom have both become increasingly popular over the last decade or so. According to some studies, as of 2020, at least one in three adults had used a CBD product. A 2019 Consumer Reports survey found that more than one in five people who used CBD found it helped them supplement or replace prescription or over-the-counter drugs.
A smaller but growing proportion of Americans are now using kratom. According to one national study in 2019, an estimated 0.7% of individuals aged 12 or older in the U.S. (or more than 19 million people) had used kratom in the past year.
Get the Best in Kratom From the Mitra Bros
Whether you’re purchasing CBD or kratom, one thing stays the same: purchasing a high-quality product from a trusted source is key. Fortunately, all kratom produced and sold by Mitra Bros meets the American Kratom Association’s standards for Good Manufacturing Practices, and we send all our kratom to be third-party tested for purity and potency.
Head on over to our online shop to browse our kratom products, and check out our blog for tips, tricks, and news about kratom.
