Kratom capsules are legal in most parts of the United States, but since there were some early efforts by the DEA to ban kratom or add it to the list of Schedule I banned substances, people often do have concerns about its safety. Here's the thing: kratom can be safe as long as you use it responsibly. It's really no different from alcohol or cannabis in that way. But how can you use kratom capsules safely and responsibly? There are only a few rules you need to follow.

Buy capsules labeled with a specific dose.

Dose is really important with kratom. Most people take somewhere between 2 and 4 grams, at least when they're starting. However, if you take just a couple of grams more than that, you will start to feel nauseous. You'll likely have to take several grams more than that for anything really bad to happen, but still, most people do not want to experience intense nausea or other potential GI effects. So, make sure you buy kratom capsules with clear dosing on the label. You need to know exactly how much kratom each capsule contains, whether that's 0.5 grams, 0.75 grams, or 1 gram. This way, you can more easily ensure you don't take too much.

Take the lowest effective dose.

There does seem to be some potential for addiction when using kratom regularly. However, using the lowest effective dose tends to ward this off. So, when you start taking kratom, start with just 2 grams. If that works for you, then you don't need to take more. If you do need more, increase the dose slowly.

Don't operate machinery or drive while using kratom.

Kratom does interact with your opiate receptors and tends to impair your reaction time. So, don't drive or operate any machinery after taking your kratom capsules. Treat it like you would alcohol in this way.

Don't combine kratom with opiate medications.

If your doctor has prescribed you opiates for any reason, do not take them at the same time as kratom. Either take kratom or take the opiates. The two can have a synergistic effect, increasing your risk of overdose or side effects. Many people who are prescribed opiates do find that kratom works better with less risk of addiction, but if you want to try kratom, you need to stop the opiates first.

With the tips above, you can use kratom capsules much more safely.