Kratom (Mitragyna Speciosa) is incredibly popular worldwide, and especially in the United States, due to its pain relieving and stress relieving properties. However, most Kratom users are probably not aware that Kratom is not alone, and that there are several other plants which are closely related to Kratom, and that these plants have their own unique medicinal properties and are perhaps worth looking into as will be explained in this article.
Specifically, Kratom is in the Mitragyna Genus, with a Genus being a group of species that are closely related. Species in the Mitragyna Genus include Kratom (Mitragyna Speciosa), Mitragyna Hirsuta, Mitragyna Diversifolia, Mitragyna Parvifolia, Mitragyna Rotundifolia, Mitragyna Inermis, and Mitragyna Turubulosa.
In total there are 7 distinct species in the Mitragyna Genus, and the main similarity between them, besides physical features, is that they all contain antimalarial and analgesic alkaloids. Therefore, all of the species in the Mitragyna Genus have medicinal qualities.
Mitragyna Hirsuta is perhaps the most popular plant in the Mitragyna Genus besides Kratom, and I have read several subjective reports that people use Mitragyna Hirsuta as an alternative for Kratom, and that Mitragyna Hirsuta has weak opioid effects.
Apparently Mitragyna Hirsuta lacks Kratom’s primary opioid alkaloids, but contains Mitraphylline, which is a weak opioid agonist. More research needs to be done in order to truly ascertain Mitragyna Hirsuta’s alkaloid profile, but based on subjective evidence, Mitragyna Hirsuta can provide a mood lift, energy, and relaxation, although less reliably than Kratom.
Mitragyna Parvifolia grows throughout India, and is used as a traditional medicine for all sorts of ailments, including pain, cough, and fever. This suggests that Mitragyna Parvifolia contains some opioid alkaloids, but research needs to be done to confirm this.
Essentially, it is clear that Mitragyna Parvifolia has powerful medicinal qualities. Simultaneously however, the subjective reports which exist indicate it is much weaker than Kratom in terms of opioid effects.
Mitragyna Diversifolia is another highly medicinal plant and grows throughout China and Southeast Asia, and is used for fever, cough, pain, and diarrhea, suggesting it has opioid properties. Apparently the primary alkaloid is Mitrajavine, which has opioid effects but is relatively un-researched.
Notably, Mitragyna Diversifolia is commonly sold online under the name Mitragyna Javanica, and subjective reports indicate that it provides a mood lift, energy, and euphoria. Interestingly, some reports indicate that Mitragyna Javanica is just as good as Kratom, while some reports indicate it had no effects at all.
It appears Mitragyna Diversifolia is one of the best Kratom alternatives, for places where Kratom is illegal, but far more research to be done.
Mitragyna Inermis is notable because it grows in Africa rather than Asia, and is used for a wide variety of ailments. However, there are practically no subjective reports online about Mitragyna Inermis’ effects, and there is almost no science about it.
Mitragyna Tubulosa grows in India and little is known about it as well, but it is known that it contains Mitraphylline, and therefore it likely has medicinal properties.
Likewise, almost nothing is known about Mitragyna Rotundifolia, but it does contain rhynchopylline, which is a Kratom alkaloid, among other un-researched alkaloids.
Overall, it is clear that Kratom’s relatives in the Mitragyna Genus have medicinal qualities, but far more research needs to be done on all of them in order to understand their exact effects and benefits. Another key point is that for areas where Kratom is illegal, the other species in the Mitragyna Genus are certainly alternatives worth looking into.
That being said, it is clear that Kratom has by far the best effects and the most medicinal qualities relative to the other species in the Mitragyna Genus, so I wouldn’t recommend seeking out the other species in the Mitragyna Genus unless it was absolutely necessary, i.e. if Kratom was banned.