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An Honest Review of The Popular Strain Known as Red Borneo
It’s crazy to think that a product so popular here in the US originates from the wild rain forests of an Indonesian island, thousands of miles away. But that’s exactly the case for Red Borneo Kratom.
I’m about to tell you everything you need to know about Red Borneo Kratom including what it is, how it differs from other strains, how much you should take and in what form, as well as recount one of my earliest experiences taking this strain to give you an idea of what NOT to do.
What is Red Borneo Kratom?
Red Borneo originates from the leaves of the Mitragyna Speciosa (Kratom tree) that natively grows in Borneo, the third largest island in the world, the majority of which belongs to Indonesia in Southeast Asia.
Borneo Kratom Strains
You might also come across strains originating from this region referred to as red Indo Kratom, since they’re technically Indonesian. You will also find another Borneo strain known as Red Kali Kratom, short for “Kalimantan”, the Indonesian name of the Island, as well Red Horned Kratom and Red Hulu Kratom, also native to Borneo.
Borneo Kratom strains come in either red, white, green or yellow based on when the leaves of the plant are picked, and each type will have slightly different effects.
Red Borneo is a red vein strain and thanks to this difference in “color”, this strain is very much unique.
Related: The Different Types of Kratom Explained
What Makes Red Vein Kratom Strains Unique?
Red Borneo Kratom is a famous Kratom strain favored by Kratom enthusiasts for its sedative properties, pain management (especially of chronic pain), and for its soothing effect.
But what in red Kratom is responsible for these desired effects? Mitragyna Speciosa is an evergreen tree in the same family of plants as is the coffee plant. Similar to coffee, Kratom contains biologically active alkaloids. This alkaloid content, when consumed, interacts with our body’s natural opioid receptors to produce a broad range of effects ranging from energy boosting properties to euphoric and sedative effects.
Harvesting and Drying of Red Borneo Kratom
Red vein Kratom is picked at maturity when the veins color on the tree’s leaves has turned a deep red hue. It is at this stage in the tree’s growth cycle when the alkaloid content is highly potent and concentrated. Similar examples would be Red Malay, Red Bali and Red Thai Kratom. Once picked, the Red Borneo leaves go through a drying process before being ground into Kratom powder.
What is Red Borneo Kratom Used For?
Red Borneo has been used for centuries across Southeast Asia. There, the herb was consumed for its pain relieving, euphoric effects, and as a mood-enhancing stimulant to help workers get through grueling days working in the field. In more modern times, millions of individuals around the world enjoy Red Borneo Kratom and other strains for a wide range of reasons, including energy, relief, pain, stress, mood enhancement, better sleep, and more.
How to Take Red Borneo Kratom
Ways to Consume Red Borneo Kratom
Red Borneo Kratom Powder: Red Borneo Kratom Powder is the most common way consumers purchase and use this strain of Kratom. Powder can be purchased in bulk, and is highly affordable. It also gives consumers and experienced Kratom users a lot of room to experiment with various Kratom recipes and preparations.
Red Borneo Capsules: Growing in popularity, good quality Kratom is now available in convenient and reliable products such as capsules. This makes taking doses convenient, with pre-measured doses, no mess or preparation, and in a discreet way that doesn’t raise eyebrows.
Concentrate: A Kratom product growing in popularity due to its convenience and small size. With concentrates, also known as extracts, a small dose goes a LONG way. Typically these Kratom products are sold as an extract in oil or alcohol, offering high doses of Kratom in as little as one dropper or less.
My Experience with Red Borneo Kratom
What to Expect When Taking Red Borneo Kratom
I really want to point out that this strain works best on fresh receptors and is great for those completely new to Kratom. It serves as a great alternative to Green Indo Kratom, another excellent choice for beginners.
Believe it or not, at some point in my life I was actually a nerd who used to keep a little journal of all my experiences with different Kratom (it’s something I highly encourage you to do when starting out). Here’s an excerpt from one of the logs I wrote down after burning some red vein Borneo Kratom:
7:00 p.m. I measured out about 3 grams of Red Borneo Kratom and burned it whilst sipping on a diet coke.
7:25 p.m. This girl I met at a festival two weeks ago decides to text me and asked if I was available to hang out today. I wasn’t doing much so I agreed. Still no sign of aroma or effects.
8:01 p.m. I was out of soda so I switched to Powerade and cranberry juice. I burned 4 more grams of “Red Borneo” before I walked out of my house. Bad mistake!
8:15 p.m. Ahhh… there we go. I could feel the stimulation and a slight head rush setting in. I thanked my cab driver for the ride and headed to the mall. Definitely feeling more optimistic and happy about life.
8:50 p.m The girl texts me that she’s running a little late because of traffic but I don’t mind. I’m having a wonderful time just sitting at the mall and watching as people pass by. I notice how we are all in this world together with our own individual struggles, and start to feel genuine love and compassion for man-kind.
9:20 p.m. The girl still hasn’t showed up yet. But a man was sitting next to me and comments that I look like Dwayne Johnson. We hit it off and get into a long conversation about life. He tells me he’s from Nigeria and just arrived in the U.S but is having trouble making ends meet. I feel bad so I give him $20 to help him out.
9:40 p.m. While I was in a deep conversation with my new friend at the mall, the girl finally arrives and interrupts our conversation to greet me. I say farewell to my new friend and wished him a good night. Me and the girl went to a nearby coffee shop to get some coffee. I’m starting to feel slight nausea so I buy a can of Coca Cola from a vending machine.
10:10 p.m I invited her back to my place for a drink and she accepted the offer. She had brought her car so we drove back to my place. It was starting to get slightly rainy and drizzly outside. I felt completely great and relaxed as I watched the rain start to shower over the car windows. But there was still some nausea in the background that just wouldn’t leave me alone.
10:30 p.m I don’t live far from the mall so we got back to my place pretty quick. I put on a horror movie and streamed it live from my computer as we cuddled up together.
11:50 p.m. It was getting late and she had work the next day so she said she wouldn’t be able to spend the night over at my place. She fixed herself up in the bathroom to look more presentable and left. The aroma was definitely starting to wear off by now. The buzz feeling was still there but not as strong anymore. But the nausea was still there… and really starting to annoy me.
12:00 p.m I looked through my drawers to find some anti-nausea medication I had gotten from a doctor visit when I had caught the stomach flu. I took one dissolvable tablet and lay in bed with my eyes shut closed to just unwind and relax.
12:30 p.m. I was relieved to find that the nausea was completely gone… but to my dismay it was replaced with this sudden onset of hunger. It was already past midnight and I wasn’t in a position to get up in the middle of the night and cook. I called it a night and tucked myself into bed.
Ah, fun times.
Related: Is it Safe to Mix Kratom and Coffee?
Red Borneo Effects
Although a “moderate” strain at heart, red Borneo Kratom has the undertones of a “slow” strain with its relaxing and pleasurable effects.
But unlike slow strains, the relaxing soporific effects are not overbearing at all to cause sleepiness and drowsiness.
Red Borneo effects are very similar to green Malay Kratom and high quality Bali Kratom in a way when it comes to the anxiety reducing and pain relief properties. Very subtle and in the “background”.
The only turn off for me is the nausea which I’ve experienced a few times, but I don’t yet think I’ve found my “sweet spot” with this particular strain.
Red Borneo Kratom Powder Effects: Low Dose
Smaller dosages are always recommended when trying a new strain. At smaller doses, Red Borneo, like other Kratom strains, acts in a more stimulatory way. You might notice a slight boost in energy levels and mood. Good for fighting off fatigue while still keeping calm and collected. But if you’re looking for sleep and sedative properties, a low dose probably isn’t going to cut it.
Red Borneo Kratom Powder Effects: Moderate Dose
At a slightly higher dose, Kratom strains tend to offer a blended array of benefits, being slightly uplifting and alert, but leaning more towards calm, relaxed and free from stress. You might also notice a bit of a euphoric effect that aids further in mood enhancement, and mild pain relief benefits.
Red Borneo Kratom Powder Effects: Higher Doses
At a higher dose, Red Borneo provides max relief, with its alkaloids having effects including mood enhancement, sedative effects to aid with sleep and helping you relax, euphoria, and potent pain relief as the stress of the day melts away.
Red Borneo Kratom Side Effects
Side effects (if any) from Kratom are generally mild and dependent on the dosage. At a lower dosage, users may experience agitation, restlessness, an increase or decrease in blood pressure and/or heart rate, nervousness, and even slight anxiety for those not used to stimulants.
A higher dosage may result in reduced energy levels, fatigue, drowsiness, reduced motor control or coordination, and reduced reaction times.
Generally speaking, Kratom users should always start with a smaller dosage until they understand how their body reacts to larger doses.
Summary of Potential Side Effects:
- Increased or decreased blood pressure
- Increased or decreased heart rate
- Dry mouth
- Constipation
- Stomach discomfort
- Nausea
- Headache
- Agitation or irritability
- Nervousness or anxiety
- Reduced motor control
- Reduced reaction time
- Fatigue and drowsiness
Red Borneo Kratom Dosage
Hands on Experience on Dosing Red Borneo
Definitely don’t burn 7 grams in a span of one hour like I did above, especially if you’re trying for the first time and your receptors are fresh.
If you haven’t found your “perfect dose” yet, just start off with 2 grams and work your way up slowly; the typical Kratom dosage strategy. I know I preach that all the time in almost all my articles, but I guess I’m not the best role model to look up to in this example.
Here’s a tip: Kratom aromas usually last around 3-5 hours so you can burn small doses every time the aroma begins wearing off to evenly spread the effects throughout the whole day.
Where to Buy Red Borneo Kratom
Red Borneo is one of the most popular strains on the market, so you will find it for sale at most places that sell Kratom. However, the below options are particularly good Kratom vendors. They are all certified members of the American Kratom Association which means they have their Kratom powders lab tested for impurities by third parties and have their operations inspected in general on a regular basis.
1. Happy Hippo Herbals
Summary
Happy Hippo is our preferred vendor for Red Borneo with their “Happy Hippo II” offering. They provide potent and consistent Kratom in the widest range of strains and an easy shopping experience to match.
Use coupon code KRATOMIQ for 15% Off!
2. Kraken Kratom
Summary
Kraken Kratom have been around for years and their Red Borneo retails for slightly less thanks to their mid-tier pricing. Their range of strains is more limited but they offer free shipping as standard.
3. Super Speciosa
Summary
If you’re an experienced Kratom user and want to pick up a few hundred grams to stock up, give Super Speciosa a try. Their range is limited but they do sell Red Borneo and offer the best pricing for large orders.
Use coupon code KRATOMIQ for 10% Off!
Red Borneo Review Wrapped Up…
Overall, Red Borneo Kratom is a great moderate strain and a good alternative Indonesian strain to Super Green Indo as it works best on fresh receptors and beginners.
The pleasant relaxing feeling is what red vein Borneo Kratom is best known for, without an overbearing powerful sedating experience. Just keep in mind that nausea can be a deal breaker for some people, but it shouldn’t be a problem if you dose it correctly as recommended and don’t go too crazy with it like I did.
As far as I’m concerned, Red Borneo Kratom is an “all purpose” strain as most moderate strains are, which means that you can use them for practically any event or activity.
I’ll give it a 3.9/5. The occasional nausea is what keeps this strain from scoring higher for me. And the fact it doesn’t hit me as strong nowadays compared to when I was just starting out with Kratom.
Two days ago I had no idea what this plant was or its potential as a pain reliever. I am brand new at this but no stranger to pain and anxiety. My wife went out to get my first load of kratom, because I was laid up with an arthritic flare up in my ankle which feels much like a severe sprain. Well when my wife returned I invested or as you say I burned three grams. I hour later I noticed my leg and ankle felt much better but before I felt a rush of warmth almost circulatory all over my pain racked body. This…. really works. Thanks for the advice and keep on keeping on.