A good quality kratom, by itself, should be capable of providing benefits for a noticeably long period. However, with kratom potentiators, you could boost and/or prolong those perks.
There are multiple potentiators available out there, and they can greatly change your kratom experience. These potentiators can be mixed together with your favorite kratom preparations (such as with kratom tea).
Natural Kratom Potentiators:
For this post, we’ll only focus on all-natural potentiators. Aside from being relatively safer, these come with their own assortment of impressive health benefits.
Grapefruit
Grapefruit juice is one of the most widely used potentiators out there. It has an enzyme that make it easier for the body to tap into kratom’s active compounds.
Combining white grapefruit juice with kratom also prolongs the latter’s effects. More than being an effective potentiator, grapefruit’s taste complements kratom tea very well.
What makes really it stand out as a potentiator though, is that it’s loaded with vitamin C. This particular vitamin strengthens the immune system, making the body less susceptible to common infections.
Black Pepper
Black pepper is actually considered a universal potentiator because of its ability to increase the absorption of any substance. This is why it’s included as an ingredient in a number of health supplements.
How does a simple spice accomplish such a feat? Well, it contains piperine—a bioavailability enhancer that protects active components from being metabolized way too early.
In most cases, adding a pinch of black pepper to a cup of kratom tea is more than enough. Of course, you can also mix it with other potentiators for greater kratom effects.
Do note, however, that piperine can potentially worsen the side effects of any medication. So, if you’ve been taking meds as of late, it would be best to consider another potentiator.
Turmeric
The secret to turmeric’s potentiating effects lies in it being a MAO inhibitor. This means that it can prevent the breakdown of key brain neurotransmitters, including dopamine.
Turmeric prolongs the euphoric effects of kratom, which may be useful depending on your reasons for taking the herb. Likewise, your strain or variety of choice partly determines how noticeable the improvement will be.
As an added bonus, turmeric can also lengthen the shelf life of your kratom powder—you’ll just have to mix the two together and store them in a tightly sealed container.
Unfortunately, turmeric isn’t for everyone as it can cause adverse effects if taken with anti-depressants. Likewise, because it thins the blood, the spice shouldn’t be taken with anticoagulants (such as Coumadin and Plavix).
Cayenne
Cayenne pepper is an interesting potentiator. Its value doesn’t lie in its ability to increase the duration of effects, but rather in boosting their strength.
You can mix cayenne directly with tea, but the most common way it’s used is by directly mixing it with dry kratom. Some may not have great tolerance for spicy stuff, so proceed with caution when using this potentiator.
On the flipside, this is a great way to minimize or mask the taste associated with kratom—possibly eliminating the need to put the herb in capsules before intake.
Watercress
If you’re after the herb’s stimulant effect, watercress should make each kratom dose much more satisfying. The vegetable’s minerals make this possible, bonding with mitragynine.
Even if you’re into strains that offer relaxation and sedation instead (e.g. red vein kratom), watercress would still be a good potentiator. It does, after all, increase the duration of kratom’s effects.
Valerian Root
Valerian root in itself has a long list of health benefits, such as fighting off insomnia, alleviating pain, and reducing anxiety. Clearly, its effects complement those of kratom.
Adding valerian root to your favorite kratom preparation leads to an increase in gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) levels, which in turn slows brain activity. This is why it helps with both insomnia and anxiety.
As for its capacity to boost kratom’s potency in providing pain relief, the focus is on NF-KappaB—a protein complex that serves a key role in neuropathic pain. Simply put, valerian root reduces the protein’s activity.
Cat’s Claw
Cat’s claw is a plant endemic in South America, and is actually a popular natural supplement. Unlike most other potentiators we’ve listed here, this doesn’t have a unique mechanism that allows it to boost kratom’s effects.
It works because it contains alkaloids similar to kratom alkaloids. This means that it should be able to increase both effectiveness and duration regardless of kratom variety.
Caffeine
Caffeine can be found in many food products. Whether you use caffeine extract or a caffeine-containing food product such as coffee, it can boost the effects of kratom while reduce some of its side effects.
Caffeine when used in combination with kratom can greatly boost both focus and energy. It’s also great for reducing the lethargy associated with some strains of the herb.
Still, many claim that it’s best to use caffeine with energy- and alertness-boosting kratom strains such as maeng da kratom. Be careful though, as too much stimulation could prove to be dangerous.
If you still enjoy the full effects of your strain of choice (or you don’t have problems with kratom tolerance), you should definitely consider lowering the herb’s dose.
The potentiating effect of akuamma seeds is very powerful, significantly boosting kratom’s effectiveness. It’s also an analgesic and an anti-inflammatory, making it even more useful.
Akuamma Seeds
Akuamma is touted as the best potentiator by some companies—which isn’t surprising at all, given that it does contain a number of alkaloids that exert a relaxing effect on the mind and body.
Akuamma seed powder can be used with any kind of kratom preparation. Be warned though as it has a bitter taste, but once you flush it down, the end effect will be very well worth it.
It Isn’t Just About Potency
Potentiators don’t only improve effectiveness and duration—they keep you from requiring high doses. If you’re satisfied with the herb you’re taking, try lowering its dose and matching it with the right potentiator.
Kratom potentiators might just be what you need to take your experience to the next level. You could very well enjoy better health perks, all while spending much less per dose, even with the highest quality kratom.