Kratom leaves have been used for centuries for pain management by local communities in Southeast Asia, to the extent that they're considered traditional medicine in the region (as opposed to an alternative plant medicine here in the West).

Not all kratom products are created equal; there are farming practices, safety protocols, and potency to consider, not to mention the different nuances of experience from different kratom strains.

To answer these questions, we tried over a dozen products in our search for the best kratom for pain and evaluated them according to a criterion of quality, effects, and more. Here are the options we landed on:

 

Top 5 Kratom Products for Pain Relief

1. Best Overall - Super Speciosa Signature Reserve Kratom Powder
2. Best for Pain-Free Productivity - Kratom Country Green Maeng Da Kratom Powder
3. Most Affordable - K-Tropix Red Maeng Da Kratom Capsules
4. Most Mood Boosting - Kingdom Kratom Red Bali Kratom Powder

 

What is Kratom?

Kratom originates from a lush, leafy tree native to Southeast Asia, known as Mitragyna speciosa. Its leaves contain alkaloids that bind with the opiate system, triggering an anti-inflammatory response that manifests in pain relief, energy, mood boost, and potent relaxation when taken in higher quantities.

The superstar alkaloid in kratom is called mitragynine, well-studied for its efficacy at alleviating chronic pain; thus, more potent kratom comes with a higher mitragynine content.

Kratom is produced by harvesting the leaves of the kratom tree, drying them, and in some cases, fermenting them. Afterwards, the plant material can be used as raw leaves for tea, ground-up powder for supplements, or liquid extract.

In smaller amounts, kratom provides an energy boost with more relaxing effects felt at higher doses. Furthermore, different strains have different properties, with white varieties as the most energetic, reds as the most pain-relieving and relaxing, and greens as the balanced version of the two.

One of the reasons kratom is known for its wide range of effects is that different kratom strains offer variations in the experience. In reality, the word “strain” is a bit of a misnomer, as different kratom strains simply refer to different colors in the veins of the leaves caused by age and/or processing.

Here's a quick breakdown of the different kratom “strains”, how they're processed, and what each is best for:

White vein kratom strains - Harvested from the youngest leaves; highly energetic, mental clarity, and focus.

Green vein kratom strains - Harvested from adult kratom leaves with bright green veins; a balance of energy and mental clarity, with pain relief properties.

Red vein kratom strains - Harvested from the most mature kratom leaves with reddish brown veins, the most relaxing, with powerful analgesic effects for managing pain.

Yellow kratom - Yellow kratom does not exist in nature; that is, it doesn't come from yellow-veined kratom leaves. Instead, yellow kratom refers to a blend of two or more of the above strains with a yellowish hue in the combined plant material or kratom powder.

 

The Best Kratom Products for Pain

1. Best Overall - Super Speciosa Signature Reserve Kratom Powder

The top kratom product we tried for relieving minor aches and pains is this kratom powder featuring Super Speciosa's "signature reserve" green strain. It's remarkably potent, and if you're using it for an energy boost, you may find you need even less than you would with a white strain.

Just a teaspoon of this kratom powder in a hot tea or water is enough to get you motivated for the day and dull achy muscles. If you don’t enjoy the taste of kratom, blend it into a smoothie with plenty of fruits and/or protein powder to mask the bitter flavor.

We recommend this powerful strain for daytime pain relief, as the motivating buzz is palpable and probably not suited for nighttime. We also noticed dozens of verified users who swear by it for workout stamina in their testimonials.

Another reason the signature reserve strain gets our vote is the affordable pricing. Super Speciosa gives you savings as you buy in higher quantities, and you can do a cancel-anytime subscription for 20% off.

With this pricing and Super Speciosa's rewards programs, you can become a regular kratom user and not break the bank. The brand is highly regarded in the kratom space, qualified by the American Kratom Association (always a good sign), with GMP-certified manufacturing facilities.

From a customer satisfaction perspective, the shipping is lightning-fast, and Super Speciosa was friendly and courteous with all our questions. Currently, there are over a thousand verified five-star reviews from users, and zero reviews for anything under four stars.

Like us, these users speak to energy-boosting and pain-relieving properties, but remember that kratom's analgesic effects come into play at higher doses; so, depending on the effects you want, you may have to take a little more, as this is a green strain.

Although kratom is more sedative in higher doses, we recommend sticking to daytime use with this one and using it to stay motivated, serene, and pain-free as you slay the day.

Pros:

• Uplifting, motivational, relieving
• Affordable
• American Kratom Association qualified
• Over 1k verified 5-star reviews

Cons:

• Not ideal for evening/nighttime

Strain: Super Speciosa Signature Reserve (green vein kratom)

Size: Available in 100 g, 250 g, 500 g, and 1 kg

Strength: 2.4 grams per serving

Learn more about Super Speciosa Kratom Powder today

 

2. Best for Pain-Free Productivity - Kratom Country Green Maeng Da Kratom Powder

When you simply can't have aches and pains interfere with your productivity, we recommend this surefire Kali Maeng Da kratom strain from Kratom Country. Maeng Da strains originally hailed from Thailand where they're commonly referred to as the “pimp” strains because of their potency.

However, Kratom Country gets this specialty strain directly from farmers in Kalimantan, part of the Indonesian region on the island of Borneo.

The Kali variety is wonderfully balanced for energy, calm mental focus, and pain relief throughout the day. We recommend it for working, cleaning, and getting errands done in a pleasant mood.

Also note that while we took it during the day, the balanced vibe means you can also take this kratom powder in the evening for relaxation. You may want to consider slightly upping the dose for the more calming nuances to come through even stronger.

Like our first choice, Kratom Country offers highly affordable pricing and a significant value for regular users. Save by purchasing kratom in higher quantities, doing the cancel-anytime subscription ordering (20% off), and joining the loyalty program.

As of writing, there are about 100 verified user reviews online for this kratom product. Many users drink the powder in teas to help manage pain throughout the day, but we also saw dozens of testimonials from users who love taking it in the evening or nighttime to chill.

The only qualm we came up with is that currently, Kratom Country is not officially qualified by the American Kratom Association. While this isn't a deterrent from purchasing, it's something we hope the brand will look into in the near future.

Pros:

• Energetic yet soothing effects
• Affordable pricing
• Notoriously potent kratom strain
• Well-reviewed by verified users for pain relief

Cons:

• Brand not qualified by the American Kratom Association

Strain: Green Maeng Da

Size: 1 oz, 4 oz, 8 oz, 16 oz, and 32 oz

Strength: 2.4 grams of kratom powder per serving

Learn more about Kratom Country Kali Maeng Da Kratom today

 

3. Most Affordable - K-Tropix Red Maeng Da Kratom Capsules

Once again, a Maeng Da strain lands on our list for the best kratom for pain. But unlike our second choice, this one is a red strain, offering a distinctly more relaxing experience. It also happens to be the most affordable option, so it's perfect if you're just getting your feet wet with kratom.

Sure, mixing kratom powder into a tea or juice is a nice ritual, but you can't beat the convenience of a capsule. Each serving of this Red Maeng Da kratom is two capsules, the equivalent of about a teaspoon of kratom powder.

You can take these any time of day or night for natural pain relief and mental tranquility, but we recommend starting with just one capsule if you're new to taking red vein kratom during the day. Bump it up a little bit when you want more relaxation.

To get the lowest pricing, buy in higher quantities (more than 100 capsules) and/or consider doing the cancel-anytime subscription. K-Tropix will give you 10% off with a bi-monthly subscription and 20% off for the monthly. Orders over $65 are eligible for free shipping.

We appreciate that K-Tropix has verified qualifications with both the American Kratom Association and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP). From the looks of things, they stay up to date on all their third-party lab testing.

The only downside is that, as of writing, there are currently zero verified reviews for these kratom capsules. This doesn't necessarily reflect poorly on quality, but since the kratom experience is often so nuanced, we would love to see how other users feel about the effects.

At the end of the day, Red Maeng Da is potent, pain-relieving, and relaxing, with a more subtle energy boost than its green counterpart.

Pros:

• Relaxes body and mind
• Convenient and mess-free
• American Kratom Association qualified
• Up to 20% off with subscription

Cons:

• No verified user reviews as of writing

Strain: Red Maeng Da

Size: 100, 250, 500, or 1000 count

Strength: Two capsules per serving

Learn more about K-Tropix Red Maend Da Kratom Capsules today

 

4. Most Mood Boosting - Kingdom Kratom Red Bali Kratom Powder

Finally, we're rounding out the list with another comforting red vein kratom strain, Red Bali. Whereas Red Borneo is deeply relaxing, Red Bali is a refreshing mood boost that seems to organically respond to your needs at any time of day.

Chronic pain and even mild headaches can have a seriously negative impact on mood, and that's precisely why Red Bali shines so bright. It also has a milder taste than most kratom strains and goes nicely with lemon and ginger in a hot kratom tea.

In the morning, it feels a little invigorating and gives a mentally clear, pleasant vibe that lasts for hours, helping you move through tasks with more ease. In the evening, it's great to take before dinner or before bedtime for an uplifting mood, along with pain relief.

Speaking of, we counted more than 50 five-star reviews specifically for pain management. In fact, this is one of the best-reviewed “kratom for pain” products on our list, and we agree with the highly positive consensus of the testimonials.

This Red Bali powder from Kingdom Kratom comes at an affordable price point, and you can get the smallest packet for under $10. However, at present, the brand does not offer a subscribe and save option, and while you can get discounts from joining their email list, there is no loyalty program for regular users.

Note that we especially recommend this kratom powder for beginners, as it's a balanced and super-pleasant red strain that you can try out for less than 10 bucks. Kingdom Kratom is a well-established vendor that stays up to date on lab testing and is transparent about its sourcing. Wins all around.

Pros:

• Great for daytime and nighttime use
• Pleasant mindset
• 50+ 5-star reviews for pain relief
• Affordable price point

Cons:

• No subscribe and save

Strain: Red Bali

Size: 25 g, 50 g, 150 g, 500 g, or 1 kg

Strength: 1-2 teaspoons per serving

Learn more about Kingdom Kratom Red Bali Kratom Powder today

 

How We Picked the Best Kratom for Pain Relief

If you go back 10 or even five years ago, the options to buy kratom in the US were few. Some of those legitimate kratom brands are leaders in the space today, but along with that are now hundreds, if not thousands, more kratom product options.

In short, there's a lot of kratom for pain out there, which made it important for us to pick the best options according to specific criteria.

Here's what we kept in mind while trying over a dozen kratom products for pain relief ourselves:

Quality

What separates quality kratom from inferior imports? We've found over the years that the brands with the highest quality products are highly transparent about their sourcing. They can explain exactly where each of their strains comes from and how it's processed.

We only accepted kratom for pain in the top five that could be accounted for from the farm to sale by the vendors.

Another way to tell if you have good kratom is freshness, a non-negotiable for our criteria. When you open a pack of kratom powder, it should have a refreshingly earthy scent.

Once you've smelled it a few times, you get to know that distinctly fresh smell. Sub-par kratom powder doesn't smell fresh; it has a less pungent, flat smell that probably means the plant material is old or has taken on moisture.

The same goes for opening a container of kratom capsules. If there's a skunky smell, it's probably not good. You can also check the color and consistency of the capsules themselves to make sure there's nothing weird, like mold or moisture.

Special consideration was given to the kratom pain relief products with vendors who are qualified by the American Kratom Association and/or GMP certification for their manufacturing facilities.

Effects

Kratom affects people differently and is a plant medicine known for its highly nuanced experience. Keeping that in mind, we selected the kratom products we felt offered the best individual experience from the perspective of pain management.

Another factor that played into how we judged the effects was verified user reviews. Although more of a back-up resource, these gave us clues as to how other users are experiencing the product and whether or not they agreed with us that it was effective for pain relief and pain-related issues like mood, sleep, etc.

Testing

Legitimate kratom brands don't mess around when it comes to testing, nor should they. Remember that all kratom plant material is imported from Southeast Asia, and also that kratom is largely unregulated. This makes it imperative to hold kratom vendors accountable when you go to purchase.

We required kratom vendors to provide current, independent lab reports for the products we tried for managing pain. These included both a potency test to reveal the mitragynine content and a contaminants test to verify the product was free of pesticides, mold, etc.

Value

No one wants to pay too much for plant-based supplements. The good thing about there being a ton of kratom product options today is that vendors now offer more competitive pricing.

The top five kratom products for pain relief on the above list offer competitive pricing in the space. We also gave special consideration to high-quality kratom strains from vendors who provide more value with subscription savings, rewards programs, and bulk purchasing.

 

How to Find the Best Kratom for Your Pain Management

Wondering what's the best kratom for pain in your specific situation? Here's a quick guide to help you find what you're looking for:

• Decide on the product type - Do you want kratom powders to mix into tea or smoothies? Or do you prefer the convenience of capsules?
• Make sure you're buying from a reputable vendor - Select a kratom vendor that provides lab tests, is transparent about sourcing, and has some sort of qualifications, i.e., GMP certification, etc.
• Look for strains targeted at pain - Most red strains like Red Bali and some green strains like Green Maeng Da are more well-known for their pain-relieving abilities than the white vein strains.
• Shop within your budget - Once you know the product type and strain, choose a reputable vendor that offers pricing within your budget. Look for ways to save via cancel-anytime subscriptions and bulk purchasing.
• Ask for a free sample - When you go to order, it never hurts to ask for a free sample, as many vendors do this. This way, you can try an additional strain down the road to see if there's a difference.
• Begin your kratom journey - Start with a low dose (half a serving size is usually recommended) and embark on your kratom journey, taking note of the experience and how your pain levels are affected. With time, adjust your dosage higher or lower for more energetic or relaxing effects, respectively.
• “Rinse and repeat” or try a different product - If the kratom product is working wonders on your chronic pain, why change it? If the effects aren't what you hoped for, try a different strain. You can even mention this to the kratom manufacturer, as many will let you try a new product for free if you're not satisfied with the first one.

 

Potential Benefits of Kratom 

Although clinical trials for kratom use in humans are currently absent, a wealth of published scientific literature, including both user surveys and research into the pharmacology of mitragynine, supports the following natural benefits:

• Pain relief - Chemically speaking, mitragynine behaves like prescription opioids, providing many with a natural option for pain management.
• Stimulant properties - Kratom has been used for hundreds of years as a stimulant for long-lasting energy. Its energetic properties are felt most strongly at lower doses.
• Mood boost/antidepressant effects - Known for its mentally pleasant experience, the second most common reason people take kratom is to alleviate anxiety, and it may also provide antidepressant effects.
• Stress reduction - Stimulants like caffeine can exacerbate stress, whereas kratom is known for its palpable energy boost that doesn't come with a crash and can help alleviate symptoms of stress.
• Sleep health - Because of its relaxing properties for both body and mind, particularly in higher doses and with red strain, kratom may often benefit sleep health, especially for people with chronic pain.

Remember that the effects of kratom are highly nuanced and encompass a wide range that varies based on the strain, the dosage, and individual response.

 

Potential Side Effects of Kratom 

Like most plant medicines, kratom comes with its own list of potential side effects, including dependence, nausea/vomiting, itching, sweating, dry mouth, constipation, and increased urination.

Pregnant and nursing mothers should not use kratom, as there is no proof of safety. Kratom also interacts with a laundry list of medications and substances, like alcohol. Consult with your physician before beginning any new health regimen like kratom, especially if you take medication.

 

FAQs

Is kratom legal?

At present, kratom is federally legal, but has been restricted or banned in various states. Check local laws before ordering online, but rest assured: No legitimate kratom brand (like the ones featured on this list) will accept a shipment to a jurisdiction where legality is in question.

What's the best kratom strain for pain relief?

The best kratom strain for pain relief will be highly individualistic, as people respond differently. That said, red vein kratom and some of the green strains are the most well-known for keeping pain at bay. In particular, Red Maeng Da and Red Borneo kratom are popular across the globe, specifically for pain relief.

Does kratom interact with common medications?

Yes, kratom interacts with many common prescription medications, including blood thinners, SSRIs, opiates, barbiturates, and more. It also has a potentially dangerous drug-to-drug interaction with alcohol. This is why it's necessary to check with a qualified physician before taking kratom if you take medication. Daily alcohol users are discouraged from taking kratom.

 

Kratom: A Synergy of Pain Relief, Energy, and Relaxation

Kratom's history of therapeutic use stretches back centuries, but its wonderful synergy of relief, energy, and relaxation is only recently gaining popularity among alternative supplements here in the US.

Taking kratom for pain potentially has tremendous benefits over the pharmaceutical route and is currently being studied as a powerful tool for harm reduction in drug abuse.

In sum, this is a highly promising plant medicine with potentially therapeutic effects that go way beyond pain relief, as we experienced firsthand with these five top-notch supplements. Enjoy and be well.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. CBD and THC products are not currently evaluated or approved by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Always consult a healthcare professional before using these products, especially if you have a medical condition or are taking medications. Check your local laws regarding CBD and THC usage, as regulations vary by jurisdiction.