With cases of mental health conditions rising globally, finding a suitable remedy can be an uphill task. It’s only worse if you do not know where to look, as you can be tossed to and fro by every ‘expert opinion’ you come across.
But for many alternative medicine enthusiasts, kratom has become the go to herb for treating various mental health problems.
Kratom stands out from conventional medications for its gentle effects on the mind. The herb treats mental disorders without subjecting users to severe adverse reactions. Even more exciting is that there are numerous subspecies to try out.
This article looks at the role of a popular kratom strain – Red Borneo – in improving mental health.
What Is Red Borneo?
Red Borneo is one of the numerous subspecies of kratom, a tropical tree from Southeast Asia widely touted for its healing properties.
Locals in kratom’s native range have chewed the plant’s leaves for centuries to relieve various illnesses, such as headaches and nausea. Recent scientific findings indicate that the herb may provide a truckload of other health benefits. These studies have also discovered that kratom exists in various subspecies, which are commonly known as strains or cultivars.
Two principles apply when assigning kratom strains their respective names – their leaf pigmentation and origin within the Southeast Asian region.
Red Vein, Green Vein, and White Vein are the most prevalent kratom strains by leaf pigmentation. We then have Malay strains from Malaysia, Indo strains from Indonesia, Borneo strains from Borneo Island, etc.
Red Borneo kratom is a red vein kratom cultivar native to Borneo Island. The strain provides most mental health benefits associated with all red vein subspecies. However, its overall potency depends on the climatic conditions of its natural habitat.
What Makes Red Borneo Special?
Borneo is an island situated within the Malay Archipelago, straddling Malaysia, Indonesia, and Brunei. The island is a traveler’s paradise. It’s famous for its rugged coastlines and pristine waters.
Besides being a preeminent tourist destination, Borneo is also home to one of kratom’s most powerful strains. The island provides the ideal conditions required for the active compounds in kratom to achieve their full potency. It notably stands out for its fertile soils, adequate rainfall all-year-round, extended sunshine, and excellent relative humidity.
So, it’s unsurprising that Red Borneo and other Borneo-originated kratom subspecies are ever in demand.
How Might Red Borneo Kratom Improve Your Mental Health?
1. Red Borneo and Anxiety
Stress and anxiety are the most prevalent mental disorders, affecting millions worldwide. While unbearable in itself, anxiety can trigger even more severe mental health disorders if not promptly addressed.
Taking Red Borneo might help to treat anxiety and even prevent it from occurring in the first place.
As with most kratom strains, Red Borneo contains powerful alkaloids that bind to opioid receptors in the brain. These interactions have been shown to produce relief from pain, stress, and many other medical issues.
A 2016 study conducted in 8,000 kratom users found that most participants reported significant improvements in mood disorders caused by anxiety and depression. More exciting is that the subjects did not complain of severe adverse reactions, suggesting that Red Borneo and kratom in general has an incredibly high safety profile.
2. Red Borneo and Insomnia
Sleep deprivation can trigger mental health conditions or exacerbate existing problems. Insomnia is especially linked to anxiety and depression.
Anxiety can prevent you from having a good night’s sleep. It’s worse for people living with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), where every dream can manifest as sleep-disrupting nightmares.
Consequently, inadequate sleep increases sensitivity to the stress hormone cortisol. This can create a vicious cycle of anxiety and insomnia, worsening your mental health.
Red Borneo is one of the most soothing kratom subspecies. The strain can treat insomnia by shortening your sleep latency. Its calming effects may further help to prolong sleep duration for PTSD victims, preventing the condition from escalating into other mental health problems.
3. Red Borneo and Pain
Pain and mental health are correlated.
There’s a close association between chronic pain disorders and a high risk of mental health conditions, including anxiety and depression. One piece of research revealed that between 35% and 45% of people living with chronic pain also suffer from depression.
Chronic pain can also reduce sleep quality and increase stress levels.
As hinted, kratom’s interactions with opioid receptors produces pain relief as one of the health benefits. The herb imitates the effects of conventional opioids, except that it doesn’t fully bind to opioid receptors. That explains why kratom users are less susceptible to addiction than those using conventional opioids.
4. Red Borneo and Inflammation
Inflammation is a leading cause of pain, and vice versa. The fact that Red Borneo may relieve mental health disorders induced by pain speaks to its potential efficacy against inflammation as well.
But even if pain isn’t involved, inflammation can still throw your immune system out of balance. Note that inflammation is usually a result of immune system stimulation. An activated immune system affects virtually every body organ and tissue, including those in the central nervous system (CNS) like the brain.
Administering Red Borneo can help avert brain degeneration caused by inflammatory responses. The strain treats inflammation by suppressing the production of cytokines.
Red Borneo kratom is also a muscle relaxant due to its soothing effects. The strain might alleviate inflammation in blood vessels in the CNS, reducing the risks of associated mental health issues.
5. Red Borneo and Fatigue
Fatigue isn’t just a physical problem caused by engaging in strenuous activities. It’s also a mental condition. Mental fatigue is even worse than its physical counterpart.
Exhaustion of the brain can be grossly demotivating. It can also affect your social behaviors and prevent you from making meaningful connections.
Without timely interventions, mental fatigue may ultimately reduce your cognitive performance and trigger a host of emotional disorders. That’s where Red Borneo comes in.
Red Borneo may not be the most energizing kratom strain (that credit goes to white-veined strains like White Borneo). But if moderately dosed, this strain can supercharge your energy levels, preventing brain disorders caused by chronic mental fatigue.
Photo Credit: AdobeStock.com
Final Word
There’s an abundance of research crediting Red Borneo for its positive effects on mental health. But like any kratom strain, moderation is key.
If you’re new to Red Borneo, start with the lowest serving amounts possible, say 1 gram per day. Watch out for any negative reactions before experimenting with higher doses.
Cut back on Red Borneo intake or stop using it altogether if you suffer any adverse effects. Also, reduce your doses after receiving the desired therapeutic benefits. This helps to minimize the risks of addiction and dependency.
Also read: Psychedelics and Mental Health: Two Sides of the Same Coin?
