Mitragyna hirsuta and kratom (Mitragyna speciosa) belong to the same genus plant family, which means they may share some similarities. But among all the Mitragyna species, kratom, rather than Hirsuta is getting most of the attention
In this post, we will review Mitragyna hirsuta, covering its effects, usage, dosage guidelines, legality, and user reviews. We will also do a side-by-side comparison between hirsuta and kratom to see if it measures up to its more popular cousin.
Mitragyna hirsuta is one of ten species of the genus, Mitragyna. This tropical tree belongs to the coffee-related Rubiaceae family. Just like its close relative, kratom, hirsuta is indigenous to Southeast Asia, and found in the forests of Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, and Malaysia.
The leaves of the hirsuta tree are bright green with white veins which are kind of similar to kratom but slightly smaller. Traditionally, in Southeast Asian cultures, hirsuta leaves are used primarily by chewing them with the goal of boosting energy, especially for laborers. However, in today’s world, things have changed, and the leaves are typically dried and ground into powder or brewed into tea for convenient usage.
The consumption methods of hirsuta and kratom are similar, but what about the compounds in them that cause their effects?
While the compounds of hirsuta have not been studied extensively, mitraphylline seems to be its most active alkaloid. This compound is believed to be largely responsible for hirsuta’s effects, as it binds with receptors in the brain that are believed to produce similar but milder effects than kratom.
Surprisingly, kratom also contains mitraphylline, but mitraphylline is not one of the most active alkaloids; mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine are. Because mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine are more potent than mitraphylline, kratom generally has stronger effects than hirsuta.
Apart from mitraphylline, another alkaloid, isomitraphylline, has been discovered in hirsuta, which is a metabolite of mitraphylline and also found in Cat’s Claw (Uncaria tomentosa). The mitraphylline and isomitraphylline contribute to the relaxing and soothing properties of hirsuta.
The effects you may experience from hirsuta are highly dependent on your dosage.
At low doses (1-3 grams), it can act as a mild stimulant and can boost energy and enhance focus. At moderate doses (4-6 grams), it can induce a balance of calmness and mild stimulation. However, if you take higher doses (7-10 grams), it may produce calming effects that may help your body and mind to relax but can also increase the risk of side effects.
With this said, we can also say that hirsuta offers versatility like kratom, by providing a wide spectrum of effects that are dosage dependent.
Kratom and hirsuta’s similarities include belonging to the same genus and sharing a similar spectrum of energizing, calming, and soothing effects, depending on dosage. As for their differences, the most active alkaloids in hirsuta are mitraphylline and isomitraphylline, while the most active ones in kratom are mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine. This difference in alkaloid profiles makes Mitragyna hirsuta milder.
So if you are seeking a less intense experience or alternative to kratom, you may want to consider hirsuta. It may be suitable for new users or people that find the effects of kratom too strong. But for more potent effects, kratom remains superior to hirsuta; however, it has potentially riskier side effects and habit formation concerns, especially if not used responsibly.
Even though Mitragyna hirsuta has not been approved by the FDA for medicinal use, its legal framework is not as complex as kratom’s. In most countries, hirsuta is generally legal and its alkaloids are legal within all 50 states in the US.
Since hirsuta’s effects are generally more mild and its habit formation risk is much lower than that of kratom, its legality has remained nearly unscathed. For this reason, hirsuta may come in handy in regions where kratom is prohibited. However, with this said, one concern would be if you are getting authentic hirsuta and not just low quality kratom that a vendor is passing off as hirsuta.
But even if hirsuta is legal, there are some concerns about quality assurance, and this should be your greatest worry. To avoid contaminated or substandard products, always source from reputable vendors, and ask for a botanical identification lab-test to confirm authenticity.
Sharing some user reviews can help you understand better the difference in effects between hirsuta and kratom. Below is a paraphrased summary of what users are saying:
From these comments, you can see that hirsuta is viewed as a much milder version of kratom. It is milder because it lacks the mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine content. Also, it has somewhat similar effects to kratom because mitraphylline binds with similar receptors to kratom, albeit in a much less powerful way.
Mitragyna hirsuta and kratom are both from the same genus, but their alkaloid profiles are different. Even though there is limited research on hirsuta, mitraphylline and its metabolite, isomitraphylline are currently understood to be its active alkaloids.
If you are seeking strong effects, hirsuta likely won’t give you the more potent effects that kratom may. However, it may be a suitable herb to help wean off kratom or for use in areas where kratom is not legal. Whether you choose to use hirsuta or kratom, ensure you pay close attention to sourcing quality and authentic products from reputable vendors.
CONTENT DISCLAIMER: The content on this page is strictly for entertainment purposes only. The content below has not been medically reviewed and is not intended to offer advice for use or intended use. For more information about kratom and its potential dangers, please visit the fda.gov site.
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