Kratom and CBD: are there any similarities?

When learning about the benefits that kratom provides to the body and mind, many people often comment that they sound very similar to what CBD provides. For those who don’t know, CBD is cannabidiol, a compound from the Cannabis sativa plant that in recent years has become widespread and legalized in some countries for the treatment of diseases and ailments, such as seizures, anxiety, pain, Parkinson’s disease, Crohn’s disease, etc.

Both, kratom and CBD, are 100% natural, as they come from plants that do not go through industrialization processes or chemical mixing. At first glance, they really sound similar in combating pain, anxiety, some symptoms of depression and promoting improved sleep quality. However, it should be noted that there are many differences between the two, and defining which one might be the best choice for each person is really a unique and individual matter.

To begin with, their chemical composition is completely different: they belong to very different plant families and their mechanisms of activity in our organism do not coincide either. Kratom produces its effects especially through the opioid receptors of our nervous system, while CBD acts on the cannabinoid receptors. Both are considered psychoactive, with a very low addictive potential in the case of kratom, or null in the case of pure CBD.

“On forums like Reddit there are users comparing their experiences with kratom and CBD, and most of them seem to prefer kratom for greater effectiveness with lower – and therefore cheaper – doses, but at the end of the day it’s a very personal and subjective topic.”

Regarding its effects, kratom is usually considered more potent at lower doses for chronic and acute pain. Due to its affinity to some of the opioid receptors, kratom has a strong analgesic effect, and for this very reason has become a favorite of many people suffering from these ailments. CBD also fights many pains effectively, and although it requires a dose that is often high and expensive for some pockets, it has a good advantage in treating epileptic seizures, for example, whether in children or adults.

Similarly, both are often sought after to treat anxiety, mood and depression. It is very difficult to make an objective comparison between the efficacy of each in these fields. Both tend to have good results when the correct dosage is found, but it is very subjective for each person to choose one or the other for such. What is true is that kratom in lower doses can have a caffeine-like stimulant effect, which CBD can’t provide. Likewise, kratom has been shown to be effective in preventing the withdrawal that users of industrialized opioid drugs suffer when quitting them.

Neither causes a hangover effect and they have few and very mild side effects, perfectly manageable by regulating your personal dosage and hydration accordingly. Nor is there any sense of reflex loss or alterations – be they positive or negative – that substances like THC, from cannabis, often provide. On forums like Reddit there are users comparing their experiences with kratom and CBD, and most of them seem to prefer kratom for greater effectiveness with lower – and therefore cheaper – doses, but at the end of the day it’s a very personal and subjective topic.