How to Choose the Best Kratom Strain

It can be difficult to choose the best kratom strains in the abstract.  There are many different kratom strain types and vein varieties, each with significantly different effects.  Some strains are stimulating, some are sedating, and some are best for anxiety (to name just a few of kratom’s uses).  This guide selects the best strain for each of the most common use cases.

Vein Variety Matters

A kratom leaf’s “vein” refers to its stem and the “veins” that run through the leaf.  In addition to different strains having different effects, different vein colors can also influence kratom’s effects.

In general:

• White: White vein kratom is primarily energizing.  It is frequently used as a performance enhancer where prolonged concentration or physical stamina is required.
• Red: Red vein kratom is primarily relaxing.  It is typically used for pain relief or for insomnia.
• Green: Green vein kratom primarily promotes feeling of well-being.  It is often used to deal with anxiety – especially social anxiety.

Because both strain type and vein variety influence kratom’s effects, you can “adjust” a strain’s effects by choosing a particular colored vein.  For example, to make an energizing strain like Maeng Da even more stimulating, choose a white vein variety.  Or to lessen Maeng Da’s energizing effects, choose a red vein variety.

Similarly, to enhance the relaxing effects of a sedating strain like Borneo, choose a red vein variety.  Or to lessen the Borneo’s sleep-inducing effects, choose a white vein variety.

Kratom for Energy

Best Kratom Strain for Energy

Maeng Da is by far the best kratom for energy.  But it also offers effective pain relief, making it one of the only stimulating strains that relieves pain.

This dual action is caused by high levels of both mitragynine (generally associated with stimulating effects) and 7-hydroxymitragynine (generally associated with painkilling effects).

Best Kratom Vein for Energy

There is no dispute that white vein kratom offers the most potent stimulation.  Green offers milder stimulation, and also promotes feelings of well-being.  Red generally is not good for energy, with the possible exception of trying to dampen the effects of a highly energizing strain like Maeng Da.

Dosage for Energy

Counterintuitively, lower doses are more powerful for energy than higher doses.  Just 1-2 grams of a strain like Maeng Da will provide strong stimulation.

Moderate doses (of 3-4 grams) will result primarily in mood boosting effects.

Higher doses (of 5-6 grams), even of generally stimulating strains, tend to produce sedating effects.

Kratom for Pain Relief

Best Kratom Strain for Pain Relief

Bali is generally regarded as one of the top strains for pain relief.  It has the highest levels of 7-hydroxymitragynine, the alkaloid most commonly associated with pain relief.

But Bali is a highly sedating strain.  If you don’t want sedation, Borneo offers similar pain relief with slightly less sedating effects.

Best Kratom Vein for Pain Relief

Red vein kratom is hands down the best for pain relief.  White veins are usually higher in mitragynine, which is energizing and not effective for relieving pain.  Green veins are more balanced – typically used for anti-anxiety and mood enhancing effects.  Green veins may offer mild pain relief, but red veins are usually stronger.

Dosage for Pain Relief

Higher doses of 5-6 grams are best for pain relief.  But doses in that range are likely to be sedating, so you might want to try a moderate dose of 3-4 grams if sedating effects are not desired.

Kratom for Anxiety and Improved Mood

Top Kratom Strains for Anxiety and Improved Mood

Though there is some debate, Indo strains frequently named the best overall strain for anti-anxiety and mood support.

There are several other good strains that are effective for anxiety (for example, Borneo), but they often have overly sedative effects.  Indo, on the other hand, reduces anxiety without making you feel sleepy.

Indo is also one of the longest-lasting strains, with effects lasting up to eight hours.  This extended relief from anxiety pushes Indo over the top in our opinion.

Best Kratom Vein for Anti-Anxiety and Mood Enhancement

There is a bit of a tie here depending upon your desired effects.

Red vein kratom is a good strain if you also want relaxation, and is probably the best choice for pure anti-anxiety effects.  Green vein kratom is best if you want positive mood support and feelings of well-being.

White is simply too stimulating and is probably not the top choice for anxiety sufferers.

Dosage for Anti-Anxiety and Mood Enhancement

Moderate doses (of 3-4 grams) are best for anti-anxiety and improved mood.  As noted above, lower doses (of 1-2 grams) will be primarily stimulating, and higher doses (of 5-6 grams) will be primarily pain relieving and sedative.

The Best of the Rest

The following kratom strains bear honorable mention and are worth trying:

Thai

Thai is second only to Maeng Da in terms of stimulating effects.  White is most popular, as most people taking Thai kratom are doing so for its energizing effects.

Green is moderately stimulating and promotes feelings of positivity.

Red is the least stimulating, but Thai is a good strain for energizing effects in any vein variety.

Malaysian

Malaysian is only moderately stimulating, but it is one of the longest-lasting strains, with effects felt for 6-8 hours.  Green is by far the most popular for its combination of energizing and mood boosting effects.

Kali

Kali – which gets its name from the Kalimantan region of Borneo where it is sourced – is a strongly sedating strains and often described as one of the top strains opiate-like effects.