Kratom vs. Mushrooms: How Do They Measure Up Against One Another?

Did you know that more people are turning to plant-based products in order to get effects that they’re seeking out, whether those effects be a high, relief from pain, stress relief, or what have you? Well, now you know, as a lot of that is due to the tireless efforts of researchers uncovering beneficial plant substances that have been used around the world for centuries but have only recently made their way onto the Western market.

Two particular subjects of interest as of late are kratom and mushrooms. While the former refers to a specific type of plant derivative with a distinctive chemical composition, when discussing mushrooms, we are talking about countless species that exist, each offering unique properties – some intoxicating and some not, some therapeutically beneficial and some not.

So, we’re gonna clear all kinds of things up today, by comparing kratom to particularly in-demand mushrooms on the natural market right now.

Contender #1: Kratom

Kratom is the dried, ground up leaves of the evergreen Mitragyna speciosa tree which grows in Southeast Asia, and is related to coffee. The leaves of the tree are rich in alkaloids that contain properties which can change how we feel, both mentally and physically. Consuming kratom allows these alkaloids interact with opioid receptors, which are responsible for things like mental state, pain levels, and more.

Kratom is naturally found in an array of strains, referring to the specific cultivar of the tree, which can vary from one region of Southeast Asia to the next. It also comes in three veins, referencing the color of the leaf’s vein when the leaves are harvested. At different periods of maturation, the vein changes color to reflect the leaf’s age, and this color tells us how developed specific alkaloids are. This means that the vein of the kratom (the color) informs us of how potent the kratom is, and how strong certain effects are going to be.

Can I Get High off of Kratom?

Kratom can be intoxicating, but that’s depending on the dosage, as well as the strain and vein that you’re taking. Still, all kratom ultimately has the potential to be intoxicating if you consume enough of it. Again, it works on opioid receptors, and one thing we know is that these receptors can initiate a mind-altering response, as we’ve seen with certain opiates.

Is Kratom Legal?

Kratom is legal under federal law, as it’s never been illegal in the United States. However, a small number of states have banned it, and they are:

• Alabama
• Alaska
• Arkansas
• Hawaii
• Indiana
• Rhode Island
• Tennessee
• Vermont
• Wisconsin

On top of that, kratom is prohibited in certain municipalities across the United States, despite being legal in the actual state. So, our recommendation is that you check your state laws and local laws periodically to make sure kratom is still legal where you live, as this can change at any time.

Does Kratom Have Benefits?

Because kratom is so new to the Western market, you won’t find a lot of papers published on its potential benefits. Still, enough research has been published to show us that kratom may:

• Enhance energy, focus, and alertness
• Act as an anxiolytic
• Enhance mood
• Offers analgesic properties
• Improve sleep
• Decrease appetite

Does Kratom Have Side Effects?

Kratom does have the ability to cause certain side effects if it’s not taken as directed (in other words, if you don’t follow the directions on the label), if you take too high of a dose, or if your unique physiology simply doesn’t agree with it. Possible side effects include:

• Nausea
• Drowsiness
• Impaired coordination
• Increased heartrate
• Dry mouth/thirst
• Irritability/confusion
• Potential overdose

What Kinds of Kratom Products are There?

Kratom is sold in different product forms, because the water-soluble kratom powder dissolves easily in various solution types, and because different delivery methods are effective. Now, let’s cover the most popular types of kratom products on the market:

• Kratom Powder: The dried and ground up leaves, which is the pure form of kratom. It can be added to liquids or any other kind of solution you prefer.
• Kratom Liquid Extracts: These are highly concentrated liquid kratom products that are taken like a shot to offer a fast-acting and very potent experience.
• Bottled Kratom Drinks: Bottled kratom beverages include soft drinks, sparkling water, and any other type of drink infused with kratom powder.
• Kratom Teas: Kratom tea is just kratom powder placed inside of a teabag, for an easy way to extract the alkaloids into hot water.
• Kratom Edibles: Kratom gummies and other kratom-infused edibles promote long-lasting effects that come on more gradually.
• Kratom Capsules: Taking kratom in capsule form can be convenient if you’re already used to taking supplements as part of a routine.
• Kratom Vapes: These are still quite new to the marketplace, but just like any vapes, they’re available in bottle E-Liquids to be used in compatible vape pens, as well as pre-filled cartridges that attach to any 510-threaded pen-style system and AIO (All-In-One) Disposable Vapes. Vaping kratom allows you to feel the effects within minutes, but the effects don’t last as long.
• Kratom Topicals: Kratom topicals are applied to the skin, so that the alkaloids absorb transdermally.

Contender #2: Mushrooms

Mushrooms are the fruits of various fungi species, and there are different categories of mushrooms such as:

• Culinary: Culinary mushrooms are nonintoxicating and not associated with clear therapeutic benefits but are used for cooking because of their flavor. This includes portobello, cremini, and button mushrooms.
• Psychedelic: Psychedelic mushrooms contain a compound that produces psychedelic effects, such as psilocybin (aka “magic mushrooms”), or muscimol (found in amanita mushrooms, which unlike psilocybin mushrooms, are legal)
• Medicinal: Mushrooms that promote certain health benefits related to things like inflammation, cognitive function, immune function, digestive function, etc., including lion’s mane, turkey tail, cordyceps, reishi, etc.

Can I Get High off of Mushrooms?

That depends on the mushroom species. Like we said, “magic mushrooms” that contain psilocybin are notorious for causing a psychedelic trip that can be, without exaggeration, life-changing for many people. Amanita mushrooms are very popular because they contain muscimol, which is a bit milder than psilocybin, and acts on GABA receptors to offer soothing effects all while having the potential to produce a psychedelic trip if consumed in high enough doses.

Are Mushrooms Legal?

Culinary and medicinal mushrooms are legal in the U.S., across the board. Psilocybin mushrooms are strictly illegal in the United States and have been for quite some time. Meanwhile, amanita (muscaria and pantherine) are legal in the United States, with the exception of Louisiana.

Do Mushrooms Have Benefits?

That’s a great question, because again, it really depends on the mushroom species, of which there are so many. Culinary mushrooms, like we said, aren’t noted for their benefits, but their flavor. Medicinal mushrooms encompass hundreds of individual species that have been used for centuries at least, to offer relief from all kinds of ailments. To list every benefit of every medicinal mushroom would be tedious due to the sheer volume of choices out there, but like we said, many of them offer various benefits related to things like mood, inflammation, digestive function, immunity, cognitive functions, and more.

Muscimol, the key compound in amanita mushrooms, has been studied to an extent for its benefits. These benefits include mood effects (relief from mood disorders), neuroprotective effects, and anti-inflammatory properties. Because amanita mushrooms are only now becoming prominent on the market, research is still in its early stages, and we’ll learn a lot more about possible benefits as time goes on.

Do Mushrooms Have Side Effects?

Once again, each individual mushroom species can have its own safety and side effect profile, along with its recommended dosage amount that tells you what threshold is generally safe. So, to list side effects associated with every species of mushroom out there would be unrealistic. However, we do suggest that you research the mushroom species you’re interested in consuming, to find out what side effects it can carry. One thing we’ll say is that amanita mushrooms, when prepared properly (boiled to destroy its toxins) are considered generally safe for consumption, but the risks associated with getting too intoxicated are still there, like paranoia, anxiety, and poor decision-making caused by an altered state of mind.

What Kinds of Mushroom Product Types are There?

The most common types of products for any given mushroom species will vary, but in the broader sense, mushrooms can be consumed in the following product types:

• Dried Mushrooms: You can buy most mushroom species in dried form, which preserves them, and offers the species in its purest and most unadulterated form.
• Vapes (Disposables and Cartridges): Certain mushrooms can be vaped, like turkey tail and amanita, and vapes offer something that’s convenient, travel-friendly, and discreet.
• Edibles: Edibles like gummies produce long-lasting effects with a gradual onset.
• Capsules: Capsules infused with mushroom extracts are great for those who already take supplements in capsule form, and simply wish to add certain species to their regimen.
• Beverages: Mushroom-infused beverages offer a faster absorption than edible products, and possibly more potency due to the fact that beverages are water-soluble.
• Tinctures: Mushroom tinctures offer a sublingual solution that’s easy to administer, with an onset time, duration of effects, and potency that’s between edible products and inhalable products.

Kratom or Mushrooms: And The Winner Is…

Clearly, both kratom and mushrooms have a lot to offer in terms of their positive effects. And, while there’s some obvious overlap when it comes to benefits they can offer, the reality is that they’re two different substances that produce their effects through distinctive mechanisms. If you want to find out for yourself how they compare to one another, we recommend checking out The Calm Leaf’s amazing selection mushroom and kratom products.