Kratom is a tropical plant with various medicinal benefits. Users most often consume it for pain management or energy stimulation. However, did you know that you can also use kratom to alleviate the symptoms of anxiety and depression? If you’re wondering whether kratom may be helpful in your daily life, you’re in the right place.
More research needs to be completed on the effects of kratom on mental health before anyone can make conclusive judgments. Nevertheless, many users who suffer from anxiety and depression find kratom’s continued use to effectively manage their symptoms. Different strains produce different effects, so it’s essential to stay educated on the unique variants.
That’s what we aim to do with this guide. The strains listed below are some of the best kratom for mental health issues. We’ll walk you through what they do, how they can help manage your symptoms and the best places to purchase them. Sounds good? Let’s get into it.
Best Kratom Strains for Anxiety & Depression
Individuals suffering from anxiety and depression will experience symptoms that vary widely. So, your approach to kratom usage should be thoughtful. You can’t just purchase any strain of kratom and expect specific results.
With that in mind, let’s focus on some of the most common symptoms associated with anxiety and depression. Those who suffer from anxiety struggle with restlessness, increased heart rate, agitation, insomnia, rapid breathing, and an inability to focus. Those who suffer from depression may share this lack of focus and struggle with lethargy, low mood, and seemingly endless fatigue.
The US Food and Drug Administration hasn’t approved kratom, so this plant hasn’t been regulated as an official treatment for either anxiety and depression. However, LA Weekly claims that kratom improves focus and stimulates energy production. These effects can help to alleviate symptoms of both conditions.
Not all strains produce the same results. To help you find the perfect one, we have listed our top picks for the best kratom for anxiety and depression.
Maeng Da Kratom
Maeng Da is native to Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia. It’s available in various colors, each of which produces distinct effects. This strain is popular because of the consistency of its performance and the potency of its results.
The key with Maeng Da is that it does not provide a singular jolt of energy. Instead, it consistently provides your body with the fuel it needs to perform throughout the day. For those struggling with depression, this is a huge help. This consistent energy boost does not result in you feeling restless or agitated. Instead, Maeng Da works to increase your energy levels while maintaining a soothing sense of balance.
The energy that Maeng Da provides will help you complete tasks on a practical level. And, it will also increase your sociability. Symptoms of anxiety and depression can often cause people to exclude themselves for fear of saying or doing something wrong. Maeng Da can alleviate these feelings and help you thrive in social settings, whether at school, work, or community events.
When compared to other strains, Maeng Da is notably high in alkaloids. Its high alkaloid concentration means that its desired effects arrive at a higher potency than you might receive from other strains. As a result, users tend to feel talkative and energetic after their initial consumption. Additionally, Maeng Da has demonstrated a powerful ability to balance neurotransmitters in the brain, imitating an effect often produced by medicated antidepressants.
Benefits of Maeng Da Kratom
- Greater mental clarity
- Reduced stress
- Improves capacity for social interaction
- Inflicts a balancing effect upon the brain
Green Malay Kratom
Native to Malaysia, Green Malay is some of the best kratom for anxiety and depression. This strain is distinctly dark green, which helps to separate it from other strains. Users predominantly consume it for pain management and to encourage focus.
Related: Read our indepth-review of the Best Kratom Strains for Pain here.
Consumers most often take this strain in the morning due to the significant energy boost it provides. It also helps users think with greater clarity, dispelling any mental fogginess they may be struggling with.
The main strength of Green Malay is the longevity of its effects. Users will often still feel an enhanced focus with an additional boost of energy hours after their initial consumption. Some kratom strains often provide users with a powerful influx of effects all at once, whereas Green Malay delivers its effects methodically over several hours.
The combination of alkaloids found in Green Malay’s chemical makeup makes it a particularly potent strain. It’s considered one of the strongest kratom strains available, so bear this in mind before purchasing. If you are completely new to kratom, make sure you increase your dosage incrementally to minimize the risk of adverse side effects.
Green Malay is unique in that it’s a stimulant and sedative all in one. In the first few hours following consumption, you can expect to feel focused and energized. Afterward, you will notice that you feel calmer and more stable within yourself. It provides a burst of energy followed by a soothing lull, proving ideal for long working days.
The effects of Green Malay often last between six and eight hours. Its longevity makes it some of the best kratom for anxiety and depression.
Benefits of Green Malay Kratom
- Potent energy stimulant
- Provides a soothing effect following an energy increase
- Effects last for an extended period
- Promotes mental clarity
Red Bali Kratom
As its name gives away, Red Bali kratom is native to the Southeast Asian island of Bali. It also gets its title from the unique red coloring that adorns its leaves. Primarily, users consume Red Bali for its relaxation benefits. The soothing effect, in particular, is what lends itself to anxiety management so well. If you are prone to overthinking or feeling that you can never relax, this may be the ideal strain for you.
In higher doses, Red Bali can be an effective way to deal with symptoms of insomnia. It’s also popular among those that suffer from chronic pain or discomfort, as its sedative properties provide relief to the whole body. It’s worth noting that, despite this emphasis on relaxation, Red Bali does not invite feelings of tiredness.
Red Bali is some of the best kratom for anxiety and depression because of its high mitragynine content. It’s one of the most potent strains available, so its effects are quite strong. Mitragynine directly reacts with opioid receptors in the brain, which results in a relaxing effect that can improve your overall well-being.
Many symptoms of anxiety and depression pertain to restlessness and an inability to focus. The way Red Bali interacts with your opioid receptors can improve and stabilize your mood. It can also work to provide clarity to your thoughts so you can focus more easily. Some users have even stated that Red Bali is effective at lifting their mood.
Benefits of Red Bali Kratom
- Offers a relaxant effect that may help insomniacs
- Helps improve your mood due to its reaction with opioid receptors in your brain
- In smaller doses, Red Bali provides a more short-lived boost of energy than Green Malay does, but it possesses more potent effects immediately
How Does Kratom Work for Anxiety?
The mood-elevating effects associated with many strains of kratom help reduce symptoms of anxiety. They can help you focus and slow down your mind when it feels like it’s operating on overdrive. The active ingredient featured in kratom, mitragynine, binds to your brain’s opioid receptors to produce this sedative effect. Unlike other sedatives, however, kratom does not make you feel fatigued.
Anxiety is a complex disorder that has numerous causes. Everyone experiences anxiety slightly differently, though individuals share many of the symptoms. These include increased heart rate, sweating, nervousness, and an inability to focus. Kratom’s balancing effects can help to soothe many of these symptoms.
While not enough is known about kratom and anxiety to conclusively state it can work as a long-term treatment, we cannot ignore its immediate effects. Additionally, your heightened focus and sociability may lead to greater productivity and the sense of a fuller life. An increase in mental output can do wonders for your overall self-esteem, which in turn may help to reduce ongoing anxiety.
How Does Kratom Work for Depression?
Most kratom products, regardless of strain, produce a stimulating effect when used in lower doses. This energy boost can help alleviate symptoms of depression such as lethargy and fatigue. It may also aid sufferers who find themselves becoming reclusive due to their continued symptoms. Maeng Da, in particular, is excellent for helping individuals feel more social.
A further source of relief from symptoms of depression arrives because of how kratom reacts with the opioid receptors in your brain. Plus, it delivers results without inflicting the adverse side effects of opioids. Users will lower their risk of addiction and still experience positive feelings of pleasure and relaxation.
The mitragynine content found in kratom plays a major role in mediating symptoms of depression. This is due to how the alkaloid interacts with your brain to produce a stimulating effect. Mitragynine’s ability to balance neurotransmitters in the brain gives users an effective way to manage their depressive symptoms.
Where to Buy the Best Kratom for Anxiety & Depression?
Now that you know what kratom can do for you, you need to know where to buy it. Listed below are our favorite kratom vendors. They all undergo third-party testing and belong to the American Kratom Association (AKA), so you will never have to question their products’ quality. Below, you can browse the top three online vendors to learn where to buy the best kratom for anxiety and depression.
Kona Kratom
A mixture of affordable pricing and significant variety is what ties Kona Kratom together. You will find many strains to experiment with, including the three we discussed above.
This vendor maintains strong ties with farmers and harvesters throughout Southeast Asia. As a result, it will always have the best kratom for anxiety and depression in stock at can’t-beat prices.
Key Points
- Superior prices
- Varied selection
- Belongs to the AKA
- An outside organization tests all its products
- Establishes relationships with growers in Southeast Asia
VIP Kratom
Are you looking for a high-quality vendor that doesn’t mess around with mediocre products? VIP Kratom is the place to shop.
This vendor treats all its customers like royalty. No matter what you buy, from a mainstream strain to a more exotic one, all products will always be of the highest quality.
Because of its commitment to quality, VIP Kratom has a smaller selection to browse. This vendor’s narrow product lineup ensures that it can prioritize premium quality, making it the ideal place to shop for the best kratom for anxiety and depression.
Key Points
- An outside organization tests all its products
- Provides exotic and rare strains you won’t find anywhere else
- Belongs to the AKA
- Carries potent and premium products
- Keeps a small selection with top-of-the-line products
Star Kratom
Star Kratom is one of the newer vendors to enter the kratom industry, but that doesn’t mean it’s any less reliable. We have had a great experience with Star Kratom, partly thanks to its fast delivery times. This vendor’s headquarters are next to a postal office, so it will always quickly get your order out for shipment.
Speed isn’t the only thing on this vendor’s agenda. It emphasizes quality and customer service, which means you will never be disappointed with anything you order.
Key Points
- Belongs to the AKA
- An outside organization tests all its products
- Has a reliable money-back guarantee in place
- Delivers orders efficiently
- A smaller, tight-knit company
- Great selection
Conclusion — Using Kratom for Anxiety & Depression
The best kratom for anxiety and depression will vary from user to user, and we aren’t here to tell you which one to buy. All we want to do is advise you in the right direction. The truth is, several strains can ease your specific symptoms. It all depends on what you feel you need help with the most.
If you find yourself feeling sluggish too often throughout the day, it would be best to try a strain with a potent stimulating effect. If you find yourself worrying too much or overthinking, a strain with an emphasis on relaxation will likely be the best for you.
Due to the lack of official research on the relationship between kratom and mental health, we can’t make a singular recommendation. Experiment with various strains and see what works best for you. Start your journey at one of the three online vendors we’ve reviewed above. When you shop on one of these sites, you will only find the best kratom for anxiety and depression listed at reasonable prices.