A question I see asked repeatedly in groups, forums, and emails is; can I smoke kratom? In many people’s minds (especially newcomers), kratom is similar to marijuana. They are both plants after all, and most people know that smoking marijuana is the most popular way of using it. As someone unfamiliar with kratom, you might just assume it’s supposed to be smoked. But we’re going to explain in detail why that’s not a good idea.
Can You Smoke Kratom?
Of course you can, it is dry plant material after all. Technically, almost anything that can be burned can be smoked. I’ve seen many reports of people smoking kratom, but the result is always the same. It’s not worth it. Putting aside all of the negative effects that smoking anything has on your body, the helpful alkaloids in kratom don’t actually survive well in extreme temperatures. Yes, it will still work, but you’ll end up wasting more than other methods. This is also why you need to be careful when making tea, too much heat can destroy the active alkaloids in your kratom.
For more information on making kratom tea, check out our How to Make Kratom Tea article.
Why You Shouldn’t Smoke Kratom Powder
Smoking anything is bad for your body. It’s best to minimize your risk, especially if you plan on using kratom regularly. It also won’t give you the benefits as other methods because you’re burning off helpful alkaloids. Smoking kratom also carries negative connotations in society. It is frowned upon both within most kratom communities and to the outside public. Not to mention, smoking kratom gives the FDA more ammunition against kratom users because even if kratom can be used safely, smoking adds a risk that is scientifically proven. It’s best to just avoid smoking kratom all together.
What About Smoking Kratom Extract
While it’s true that there’s minimal to no actual plant material in kratom extract (depending on if it’s made correctly or not), it’s still not beneficial to smoke. You’re still burning those alkaloids and wasting money in the process.
So, What About Vaping Kratom?
It wouldn’t be an article about smoking without mentioning vaping in this day and age. Vaping has become popular with a lot of regularly smoked materials like marijuana, nicotine, CBD, and yes, even kratom. Many kratom and vape shops are now selling vapeable kratom, but is it a smart way to use kratom, or is it just a gimmick?
Kratom vape juice is just an attempt to give users more choice in how they use it. Chemically, it doesn’t make sense to vape your kratom. Even if there’s less heat with vaping than smoking, you’re still burning it above the temperature that the main alkaloids can survive. Again, it would be a waste, not to mention the money you’d be wasting buying a marked-up novelty product like kratom ejuice. It’s better just to try more traditional methods of using kratom.
Overview
Vaping or smoking kratom powder or extract is just not a good idea. The negatives far outweigh the positives. Keep your body as healthy as possible by avoiding smoking unnecessary materials. There are far better ways to use kratom.
