Examining the Psychoactive Differences between Kratom Strains
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health July 21, 2023 Guido Huisman, Maximilian Menke, Oliver Grundmann et al. 13 citations
Kratom, a Southeast Asian plant containing alkaloids that affect humans, is sold online in strains marketed as having distinct effects. A survey of 644 current kratom users compared self-reported effects of red, green, and white strains. Respondents reported distinct subjective experiences matching marketing claims, but independent laboratory analysis of the products found no significant differences in alkaloid content across strains. This suggests marketing narratives and anecdotal reports may disproportionately influence perceived effects. Future work should include more diverse populations and vendors, and blinded experiments could determine whether reported differences stem from placebo or other factors like minor alkaloids or terpenes.