The 6 Best Kratom Strains for Pain (Use, Vein Types & More)

Enso

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Here’s the deal,

Anyone who suffers from pain knows that it can suck the happiness and vitality from your bones.

… and this article was written for those who want a way to fight that pain in a smarter way.

Right now, we’ll jump into finding the right kratom strains, dosages, vein types, and preparation methods to effectively tackle your pain.

Contents hide

1. Why use Kratom for Pain?

2. Best Kratom Strains for Pain Relief

2.1. Indo, Borneo, and Bali

2.2. Maeng Da

2.3. Malaysian Strains

2.4. Thai

3. Finding the Right Vein Type

4. Preparation Methods for Maximum Effectiveness

5. Dosage

6. What is the Best Kratom for Pain?

7. Kratom and Pain: How does it Work?

Why use Kratom for Pain?

As far into the past as we can see: people in Southeast Asia have used kratom to effectively kill pain.

The best part?

Kratom is free from many of the side effects of other pain medications.

However, the catch is: not all kratom strains provide equal pain relief.

… and this can make finding the best kratom strain for pain trickier for new users.

The good news is that there are some time-tested ways to make this process much easier.

Best Kratom Strains for Pain Relief

For those who are solely interested in finding the best kratom strain for pain relief, here’s your quick cheat sheet.

Top Strains for Pain

… and for those who want to find your own ideal strain, there are two easy questions that you should ask:

How much pain relief do I need?
Do I prefer a stimulating, neutral, or sedating strain?

By that alone, you’ll be able to make good choices when it comes to strains.

… and even if you aren’t sure what you would prefer, experiment! That’s the real tried-and-true method.

Below, we’ll dive into the effects of kratom strains and different vein types to help you find your best fit.

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Indo, Borneo, and Bali

When looking for pain relief, a great place to begin is with the Sunda Strains (Indonesia, Borneo, Bali, Malaysia, Sumatra, …)

Indo strains (Borneo and Bali included) are some of the best kratom strains for relieving pain.

… but these strains can also be sedating, which may not be for everyone.

Luckily, there are alternatives (which we’ll get into below).

Bali Kratom Effects

For pain relief, the difference between these three strains is relatively small compared to vein type and seasonal potency variations.

However, note that:

Bali, Indo and Borneo all tend to be somewhat sedating, which may not be great for everyone.

The bigger differences between these strains lies in their other effects.

Bali, for instance, tends to be more prone to cause “the wobbles” than either Borneo or Indo, but is one of the most reliably potent strains for pain.

While Borneo and Indo tend to be smoother in effects and are often better for stress and anxiety.

Maeng Da

Maeng Da — the “king” of kratom strains — is one of the most popular due to its powerful pain-relieving and energetic effects.

Maeng Da Effects

However, some find Maeng Da to be too stimulating. As such, using it for pain may not be a great choice for everyone!

Take note that the characteristics of Maeng Da can vary from supplier to supplier, and so it may take some trial and error before finding the ideal variety for you.

Because each individual has different body and brain chemistry, the best way to know if it’s for you is to test it (at a low dose)!

Malaysian Strains

The middle ground of kratom strains. Malaysian kratom is slightly less effective for pain relief, but tends to cause less sedation than Borneo and Bali strains.

Malaysian Effects

Because of this, these strains can be great for anyone who wants a strain that doesn’t interfere with energy levels.

But take note:

Malaysian strains can vary in pain relieving potential. For this reason, you may have to go through some trial and error before finding a reliably potent and pain relieving Malay strain.

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Thai

Although Thai is not commonly considered to be among the best pain-relieving strain, it is worth noting that some varieties (particularly red vein Thai) can have pain relieving potential.

Where Thai kratom typically shines is when you’re mostly looking for energy, but not at the expense of too much pain relief.

Finding the Right Vein Type

Choosing the right vein type is absolutely key to getting optimal pain relief.

There are three common vein types to be aware of:

Red Vein
Green Vein
White Vein

Red Vein Effects

In summary:

Red vein kratom tends to be overall better for pain relief than other strains, but also comes with more sedation than the other varieties.

If you’re looking for a pain relieving strain for evenings or don’t mind a little bit of sedation, red veins are likely your best option.

Green Vein Effects

Green vein kratom is another very viable option for pain relief.

Greens tends to be more balanced in effects than reds, cause much less sedation, and tend to last longer overall.

This characteristics can be very helpful when looking for a strain with longer-lasting pain relief without losing alertness.

White Vein Effects

White vein kratom is less effective for pain, but it can provide some pain relief as well as a kick of energy.

… And white veins are incredibly useful for blending with other more sedating and pain relieving strains.

In this way, you can choose your own ideal balance of pain relief and energy.

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Preparation Methods for Maximum Effectiveness

Preparation is an important aspect of getting the most pain relief out of your kratom.

Common methods that are effective for pain include:

Mixtures
Capsules
“Toss and Wash”

If you choose to use capsules, we suggest capping them yourself. The price for kratom in capsules is exorbitant compared to the cost of the pain leaf.

For mixtures, many have found stirring or shaking the leaf powder in a juice or in yogurt very effective.

Be Aware:

The “toss and wash” method, while effective, involves taking the powder whole and washing it down with a liquid.

If you choose this route, start with low doses, as it can go painfully (and hilariously) wrong before you get the technique down.

Because of the solubility of alkaloids found within kratom, it is often less effective to make tea out of the leaf if using it for pain relief — that is unless you drink the leaf material as well.

The reason for this is that many fat-soluble alkaloids may not be fully absorbed into the water, reducing its effectiveness.

Dosage

Although dosage can be vary from person to person, there is one key fact to remember:

Always start low!

Typically dosage from pain varies from between 4 to 8 grams, but everyone is a little bit different!

If you’re new to kratom, I suggest taking a teaspoon or less your first time.

After that, you can find out what amount works best for you.

Note that with kratom, less is often more.

… so don’t work your dosage to the 8-10 gram range unless you find it absolutely necessary.

What is the Best Kratom for Pain?

The best kratom for pain is red vein kratom, specifically the strains: Red Indo, Red Bali or Red Borneo. If you’re looking for a strong kratom for pain without any sedation, Red Maeng Da is an ideal option. Green veins strains also work very well for pain, but they are less reliable than red veined varieties.

Kratom and Pain: How does it Work?

One of the most common questions I am asked is why kratom is so effective in this regard. However, to understand the answer, you have to understand how pain works.

When an injury occurs, such as a bruise or burn, affected nerves send a message to the central nervous system, which causes many responses in the brain.

One of these responses is the to produce endorphins and enkephalins which dampen the perception of this pain.

Alkaloids found in these leaves, especially 7-hydroxymitragynine and mitragynine, function very similarly to the body’s natural pain-killers.[1]

In the brain, these alkaloids increase signaling (agonize) several receptors.

This reduces the perception of pain of almost all varieties, from the sharp sting from a cut to the dull bone-deep ache of lower back pain.

Because of this, when looking for a good kratom strain for pain and anxiety, you will want to find a strain that is high in 7-hydroxymitraginine content.[2]

One of the most amazing things about kratom, is that it is a plant.

This gives us the ability to breed strains for specific qualities and features, which over time can make for an even more effective treatment for pain and potentially help reduce any potential side effects.

Whether you are dealing with back pain, tissue pain, or any other aches, we hope have a better idea of how to start.

[1] https://jaoa.org/article.aspx?articleid=2094342

[2] https://jpet.aspetjournals.org/content/348/3/383.short