Can you snort kratom? As kratom extracts become more popular throughout the United States, it’s important to understand the appropriate dosing methods. Dried kratom is most commonly consumed as kratom powder. However, snorting this powder can cause damage to the mucous membranes as well as other long term side effects. So is snorting kratom an advisable dosing method? No, and let us tell you why.
Why Would Someone Snort Kratom Powder?
Kratom extracts are derived from the Mitragyna Speciosa, a tropical evergreen tree native to Southeast Asia. Kratom leaves taken from this tree are used to create dried kratom, which is then turned into a powder used in all types of kratom products.
Kratom has been used both therapeutically and homeopathically for thousands of years. Recently, however, users have turned towards an unproven, anecdotal use: opioid withdrawal.
Past users of controlled substances claim that kratom powder has helped them overcome their withdrawal symptoms, but using kratom in this way is not yet medically approved. However, it may explain why some have tried snorting kratom.
Many commonly abused opioids are taken through nasal insufflation, the scientific term for “snorting.” These controlled substances include:
- Heroin
- Fentanyl
- OxyContin
- Vicodin
The National Institute on Drug Abuse reported over 46,000 heroin and fentanyl-related overdose deaths in 2018, the most recent year with available data. Still, the use of controlled substances like opioids continues to rise.
This may explain why some kratom users wish to snort the natural supplement. If someone is dependent on an opioid and commonly took large amounts of these controlled substances through nasal insufflation, they may think to snort kratom to continue their addiction rituals.
Ways to Ingest: Can You Snort Kratom?
Kratom powder is most commonly ingested orally. This dosing method has shown to be the most efficient and even allows users to consume kratom in the form of delicious tea. According to Jack Henningfield in the journal Psychopharmacology, oral ingestion is what differentiates kratom from deadly controlled substances. But, Henningfield states, “it is certainly theoretically possible to smoke, snort, or inject kratom extracts.”
Here, “possible” is the million-dollar word. Henningfield goes on to say that it’s also “possible” to snort caffeine powder, but doing so is extremely inadvisable in much the same way that snorting kratom is against your best interests.
People are usually drawn to snorting a substance – over another ingestion method – because it offers the effects of that substance almost instantaneously. However, it can also lead to the intake of an unexpectedly large and potentially harmful dose. When talking about kratom, this could mean kratom overdose.
When dosing kratom, it’s optimal to ingest it orally. If oral ingestion isn’t for you, the answer is not nasal insufflation. In fact, there are a variety of safer alternatives for taking dried kratom.
Recommended Methods for Taking Kratom Powder
If you are looking for an alternative method for dosing kratom, we recommend one of the following:
- Kratom Capsules: these are pre-dosed and tasteless, making ingestion of kratom powder easier than ever.
- Kratom Incense: all you need is a small amount of dried kratom and an incense diffuser. Plus, kratom incense is soft on the mucous membranes (unlike snorting kratom).
- Kratom Tea: infuse your favorite tea with kratom extracts! Or, if you have access to kratom leaves, you can brew a delicious tea right from the source.
The Short & Long Term Side Effects of Snorting Kratom
In response to the question, can you snort kratom? We’ve covered that it’s theoretically “possible” to snort kratom but that doing so goes against your best interests. But there’s another vital reason that you shouldn’t resort to dosing kratom through snorting: the side effects.
When ingesting any substance through nasal insufflation, you run the risk of encountering some pretty severe side effects, both short and long term. Kratom is no different, and the potential impacts of snorting this natural supplement may prove detrimental to your health and wellness.
The Short Term Side Effects of Snorting Kratom
There are a variety of short-term side effects associated with snorting kratom. These include:
- Nosebleeds
- Nasal swelling
- Buildup of mucous membranes causing nasal blockage
- Trouble breathing
- Nose & throat irritation
The Long Term Side Effects of Snorting Kratom
In addition to the immediate discomforts, you may experience, dosing kratom powder through nasal insufflation can also cause a variety of severe long term side effects. These include:
- Damage to the nose & throat
- Damage to the upper respiratory system
- Damage to the mucous membranes
- Lung infections
- Blood clots in the lungs
- Pulmonary embolisms
- Nasal inflammation
- Perforation of the nasal passages
Kratom Overdose: Yet Another Risk Factor of Snorting
If you are wondering, can you snort kratom, we hope we’ve turned you off of the idea. However, there is one other serious risk when it comes to snorting kratom: kratom overdose.
Because kratom products are derived from natural kratom leaves, they contain excess amounts of plant fiber and cellulose, neither of which contribute to the desired effects of kratom extracts. When taken through standard oral ingestion, this plant matter is digested by the body. No harm, no foul.
If kratom is snorted, however, this plant matter cannot be safely digested. Instead, it builds up within the user’s upper respiratory tract, blocking the nasal capillaries responsible for the nasal absorption of a substance. Someone who wishes to experience the effects of kratom would, therefore, need to ingest a much larger amount in order to receive the same effects.
This puts the individual at high risk for kratom overdose. The symptoms of kratom overdose include:
- Tremors
- Extreme fatigue
- Hallucinations
- Respiratory problems, including trouble breathing
- Muscle aches
- Intestinal discomfort
When practicing safe ingestion methods, users are not at risk of a kratom overdose. However, straying from the recommended intake methods provided by the American Kratom Association (AKA) can put you at a higher risk of overdose, so snorting kratom should be avoided altogether.
Can You Snort Kratom? Well, You Shouldn’t
Kratom and nasal insufflation do not go hand-in-hand. There are simply too many risk factors involved, meaning kratom users should avoid snorting altogether. Especially because there are so many safe and effective ways to take kratom, it’s important that you find an ingestion method that works for you! We really hope we won’t have to answer the query, “can you shoot kratom?”
If you’re looking for more information regarding dosing kratom, feel free to reach out to us, and we’ll provide you with the resources at our disposal. Additionally, stay up-to-date on all the latest kratom news so that you can remain informed on what’s happening in the kratom world.