Headaches refer to a pain in the head that often manifests as a throbbing, constant, sharp, or dull pressure. They differ sharply in frequency, severity, location, and pain type. Headaches are the most common condition every individual experiences several times in life.

The high prevalence among people has made headaches the most cited reason for days missed at work and school and visits to healthcare providers. Most headaches are not serious, while some could be signs of a dangerous health condition.

Many people suffering from headaches seek relief from natural and alternative medicines. The growing awareness about the side effects of prescription drugs is encouraging people to choose natural and alternative therapies. With its numerous wellness benefits, kratom is one of the natural remedies people try to address their headaches.

You can not get desired results from kratom extracts unless you know kratom strains and suitable dosage sizes. In other words, learning about kratom strains and dosing can assist you in getting the maximum from your kratom experience.

Knowing about headache types, kratom, its strains, and suitable dose can prove your best bet if you think of kratom to seek comfort from your painful condition. The following lines shed light on kratom, its types, and headache types. Finally, you will get tips on which strain to use and what dose size to take. Once you read through this article, you will better understand how to deal with headaches using kratom extracts.

What is Kratom?

Kratom is a plant that belongs to the coffee tree family. The plant grows naturally in the jungles of Southeast Asian countries. The leaves of the plant contain chemical compounds known as alkaloids that interact with the body’s endocannabinoid receptors to produce various wellness effects. The native people are aware of the plant’s medicinal and wellness potential and have been using its leaves for energy boosts and treatment of different health conditions for centuries.

The growing awareness about the side effects of pharmaceutical drugs is prompting more and more people to use herbal remedies. That is one of the reasons for the popularity of this Southeast Asian plant in the USA.

How does kratom work?

The leaves of the plant contain alkaloids that have the potential to interact with the body’s opioid receptors. Kratom’s leaves are crushed into fine powder form and then used as it is, packed into capsules or infused with flavor to make edibles.

What form of kratom you use, it is critical to note that kratom effects depend upon the strain and dose size. Getting them right is essential to get relief from kratom extracts.

Before discussing kratom strains and suitable dosage sizes, it seems appropriate to look at headache types.

Types of headaches

There are over 150 types of headaches which are categorized into two main types: primary headaches and secondary headaches.

Primary headaches

Primary headaches result from dysfunction or over-sensitivity of pain cells in the head. They are not dangerous as no underlying medical condition causes them. But they can be extremely painful and disrupt your daily life.

There are four basic types of primary headaches, including the following.

Tension-related headaches
Migraines
Cluster headaches
New daily persistent headaches (NDPH)

There are various reasons these headaches attack you. You may have a genetic makeup that is more likely to develop primary headaches. Generally, these headaches result from lifestyle and situational factors, including:

Alcohol drinking
Foods
Smoking
Sleep
Skipped meals
Excessive physical activity

Secondary headaches

Secondary headaches are symptoms that result from an underlying medical condition. A few are not dangerous and can be resolved by addressing the underlying condition. They include the following.

Dehydration headache
Sinus headache
Medication overuse headaches

Other secondary headaches could signify a serious and potentially life-threatening condition. These headaches include the following.

Spinal headaches
Thunderclap headaches

Difference between headache and migraine

Migraine, a primary headache disorder, is a common neurological condition. It causes numerous symptoms, including a throbbing headache on one side of the head. They can get worse with physical activity, light, smell, and temperature. They can last for hours to a few days.

Can kratom help to treat headaches?

The answer is yes. The latest scientific evidence demonstrates that kratom relieves pain. That does not mean just anecdotal accounts; the research also verifies the pain-blocking potential of kratom. Taking an adequate dose size can deliver comfort from the body’s pain sensations.

What type of headaches is kratom suitable for?

People often use kratom for primary headaches. These painful conditions result from pain cells’ dysfunction or oversensitivity. Kratom can help in reducing the pain sensation by blocking the pain signals. These conditions do not involve any underlying medical reason, and using kratom for relief makes perfect sense.

But in the case of secondary headaches, which are caused by some underlying medical condition, kratom might not help. The herb does not offer any cure but acts as an analgesic to reduce the pain sensation.

How does kratom relieve pain?

Kratom contains a cocktail of naturally occurring alkaloids. More than 40 such compounds have been identified to date, and only four of them – mitragynine, 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH- mitragynine), speciociliatine, and corynantheidine – are pharmacologically active. The most prevalent is mitragynine which accounts for 66% of the total alkaloid content.

Given the diversity of alkaloids, the net physiological effects of the substance are complex, intermixing of stimulant and opioid-like properties, which activate in a dose-dependent manner.

Both mitragynine and 7-OH- mitragynine tends to target opioid receptors but with varying binding affinities. 7-OH- mitragynine is far more potent than mitragynine; it is 46 times stronger than mitragynine and 17 times more active than morphine.

To date, the research on how kratom alkaloids act at opioid receptors is unclear. However, evidence shows that both act as agonists; mitragynine primarily affects µ- and δ-receptors, and 7-OH-mitragynine tends to interact with µ- and κ-receptors. While the competing evidence suggests that both alkaloids are mixed opioid receptor agonists/antagonists. The evidence shows that mitragynine is responsible for the selective inactivation of β-arrestin and is a desirable feature of an opioid. Based on the properties of mitragynine, the researchers believe the alkaloid might be a valuable template for designing novel opioids with more tolerable side effect profiles.

In addition to analgesic-like opioid effects, mitragynine blocks pain signaling through another mechanism. It regulates pain perception through a multimodal mechanism. The alkaloid activates α-2 adrenergic postsynaptic receptors; these receptors are present in modulatory descending pain pathways. Third-way through which mitragynine blocks pain signals involves an anti-nociceptive mechanism. In which mitragynine impairs neuronal pain transmission via the blockade of Ca2+ channels.

Moreover, mitragynine also tends to bind to central nervous system receptors, including the 5-HT2C and 5-HT7 serotonin, D2 dopamine, and A2A adenosine receptors.

What dosage size works best for headaches?

Finding a suitable dose for pain relief is not straightforward. The adequate dose size varies from individual to individual. If you want to try kratom to relieve headaches, starting small and gradually increasing your intake can prove your best bet. Anything from two to five grams of dried leaf powder will work for you.

Some users report taking 2 to 3 grams a day work for them. Others have to take as high as 6 grams to feel relieving effects. The following dosing tips will give you an idea of what dosage size fits your relief needs.

Beginners should take up to 3 grams
Users with moderate tolerance should dose up to 5 grams
Seasoned users should dose up to 8 grams

Mind, you must find the perfect dose that works well for you by experimenting with different Kratom quantities. Noting a dosage works best for you before or after pain enables you better deal with it.

You might feel complete relief or decreased pain intensity after taking kratom. But under some rare situations, you might experience an escalation in pain; if so, stop using kratom.

What is the best time to take kratom for headaches?

You can use kratom for headache relief at three various time points. One as a preventive measure, second when you feel pain is coming, and third when you get a full-intensity headache.

Some people report they take 3 grams of kratom daily, and it helps them prevent the pain. Others use the herb when they feel pain is about to start. But yet others find the best results when they use it after they feel a headache. Every user has a different body response to kratom; finding a point where kratom works best needs some experimentation.

We recommend first trying it as a preventive measure before the start of the headache; if it fails, then take a dose once you feel a full-blown headache.

How often should you use kratom for headaches?

Again there is no hard and fast rule on how often you should use kratom for pain relief. Some individuals take it daily, and others use it on a need basis.

Taking a daily dose might work for you in preventing headaches, but this approach has the danger of developing dependence. Breaking your routine at regular intervals helps prevent you from developing kratom addiction and checks kratom tolerance building.

What are the best kratom strains for headaches?

Red vein strains possess strong pain-relieving potential due to the high concentration of mitragynine and 7-OH-mitragynine. White and Green strains might also benefit you in pain, but they contain fewer alkaloids than red variants.

You can start with any red classic, such as Red Bali, Red Borneo, and Red Malay. Avoid trying Red Maeng Da initially because its alkaloid profile is far more potent and energizing.

Different users report varying strains that they use for pain relief. What relieves headaches involves a bit of trial and error method. Try these strains, and see what gives you the best relief from your headache.

Is kratom good for headaches?