Mitragyna speciosa leaves, aka kratom, has several variants that affect the human mind in slightly or significantly different ways depending on the strain in question. Most of these strains can be divided into three broad, major categories, which are the red vein, the green vein, and the white vein kratom species. Next, let’s find out more regarding what the basis of these categorizations are.
Red Vein Kratom
The red vein kratom species has red or reddish stems and leaf veins, just like the name itself suggests. Due to a particularly high concentration of 7-hydroxymitragynine in the red veined kratom plants, products derived from their leaves are exceptionally potent at relieving stress, anxiety, and physical pain. The euphoric effects of red veined kratom are mild to moderate at best, so its impact on depression is short-lived. However, red kratom can be an effective solution against insomnia because the strain has powerful sedative properties.
If you see, hear, or read terms such as red Bali kratom, red Thai kratom, red Borneo kratom, etc., know that they signify where the plant was grown and harvested. This may not mean much at all unless you are buying kratom from a reputed manufacturer/seller. In that case, there could indeed be a slight difference between kratom plants raised in different parts of Asia.
Green Vein Kratom
Deep green leaf veins and stem color define the most common variant of the Mitragyna speciosa plant, which is found in abundance across multiple nations in Asia and Africa. Despite being the most common of all kratom strains, green veined kratom leaves are also the most popular because of their broad range of positive effects at mild to moderate doses.
Products derived from green kratom can be used as a natural antidepressant, anxiolytic agent, anti-inflammatory agent, pain reliever, stress buster, and sleep-aid. The most popular out of all the green veined kratom sub species is green Bali kratom but do read this review before buying. Just because a strain of kratom is extremely popular and easily available, it does not essentially mean it’s also the best option. This holds true for kratom in general and not just green Bali Kratom.
White Vein Kratom
Just like the other two variants of kratom, white veined kratom is named after and identified by the white leafed veins that are typical of this strain. However, white vein kratom is by far the most powerful nootropic kratom known to us at this time.
Thanks to an exceptionally high concentration of mitragynine in white vein kratom leaves, it affects the 5HT2A receptors for serotonin within the human brain. As a direct result of that effect, concentration and a person’s ability to focus that concentration on any given task is boosted considerably. There is also a direct link between white kratom use and increased energy levels.
White vein kratom is also a powerful mood enhancer, although it’s not a powerful euphoric agent like the other kratom strains. Consequently, white kratom should only be considered as a mild pain reliever, stress buster, sedative, and anxiolytic.
If you are wondering why yellow vein or gold vein kratom was not mentioned as one of the broad subspecies of Mitragyna speciosa, know that those are neither natural nor hybrid variants of the kratom flora. The color of white kratom leaves is changed to yellow artificially during the manufacturing process. It is not clear whether that is a side effect of any particular manufacturing process or if it is an intended effect.
It’s also not clear whether the process that turns white vein kratom leaves to yellow is purely cosmetic by design or if it has any impact on the final product’s efficacy. Nevertheless, there is no doubt regarding the fact that yellow vein kratom is not found in nature.