Used for centuries by the San and Khoikhoi people of South Africa, Kanna has been chewed, brewed into teas, or smoked for its purported benefits. These include easing anxiety, quenching thirst, combating fatigue, and serving spiritual purposes. Despite its long history, Kanna has only recently begun to attract global attention for its potential health benefits.
Despite its growing fame in North America, Kanna remains legal in the U.S. and many places worldwide.
The most concentrated form of Sceletium Tortuosum, known for delivering rapid, euphoric effects especially when used as snuff, offers a unique blend of mood enhancement, stress relief, and enhanced focus. With a recommendation for beginners to start at doses of 15-20mg and the more experienced to explore up to 40-50mg, the ET2 extract promises a nuanced journey into relaxation and mental clarity, encapsulated in a 1 gram package of potent botanical extract.
The Benefits of Kanna
Kanna is celebrated for its ability to naturally boost mood and reduce anxiety without the harmful side effects that are commonly associated with synthetic drugs. It works by enhancing serotonin reuptake in the brain, which can lead to improved cognitive function and a sense of well-being. Mental health professionals have noted its potential in treating anxiety and depression, highlighting its calming and mind-clearing properties.
Given its cognitive and mood-enhancing promise, kanna is under scientific scrutiny, potentially offering benefits for individuals with Alzheimer’s and other forms of cognitive decline, as well as those suffering from anxiety.
Below is just a list of what many believe Kanna can do:
May Relieve Anxiety: A small human study on Zembrin, a kanna-based supplement, indicated reduced anxiety-related amygdala activity, but the study’s small scale calls for further research.
Could Promote Pain Relief: There’s very little evidence that kanna can alleviate physical pain, though scientific support is scarce. A 2014 rat study suggested a potential pain-relieving effect, but its applicability in humans has not been test nor confirmed.
Might Reduce Stress: Kanna is thought to have sedative properties that could help calm or induce sleepiness in stressed individuals. A 2016 study hinted at Kanna extract’s beneficial effects on stress and hypertension levels, yet concluded that more research is needed.
May Combat Depression: Kanna is often touted for its mood-boosting and depression-fighting properties. A rat study observed antidepressant properties in Kanna extract, but it also led to significant side effects, including ataxia, cautioning against direct extrapolation to humans.
Might Improve Brain Function: Some believe Kanna can enhance cognitive functions such as flexibility, memory, and reaction speed. Research is limited, but a small human clinical trial showed some promise in improving executive function, mood, and sleep.
Kanna as a Safer Party Drug Alternative
The comparison between Kanna and MDMA often arises in discussions about natural alternatives to party drugs. While Kanna does offer mood-brightening effects, it is important to note that its impact is more subtle than the intense high produced by MDMA.
MDA is not found in any form in nature and can only be made (synthesized) by humans. MDA and MDMA can be made starting with oil from the sassafras plant, which contains the chemical "safrole". This subtlety makes Kanna an appealing option for those looking for a safer, less intense experience.
Despite its MDMA-like effects, Kanna operates differently, targeting serotonin transporters to prolong the presence of serotonin in the brain, akin to the action of SSRI antidepressants.
Kanna’s safety profile is generally positive, barring adulteration or extreme overdoses. Mixing Kanna with substances like MDMA, SSRIs, MAO inhibitors, or 5HTP, however, raises the risk of serotonin syndrome, a serious condition marked by excessive serotonin activity.
Some see Kanna as a promising, lower-risk alternative to MDMA, offering similar euphoric and anxiolytic effects through a distinct biochemical pathway.
Current Consensus:
However, "natural” does not automatically mean safer. It is debatable and with the lack of research and resources in this subject matter there is no concrete answer about Kanna and it's MDMA-like properties.
Also note, many also use Kanna alongside other substances like Kratom and CBD as potential options for those looking to reduce their alcohol consumption especially in social environments. Whereas in substances like MDMA, that might not be the case.
We currently believe there is no psychoactive substance that's a natural plant extract, that has substantial MDMA-like effects, and fits into capsules.