Sceletium tortuosum, also known as kanna, is a very unique succulent which is native to South Africa. It has been used there by the locals for hundreds of years, primarily for its potent mood boosting properties. In 1738, the German explorer Peter Kolben even noted that kanna is “the greatest chearer of the spirits, and the noblest restorative in the world”. We have to agree here with Peter Kolben because kanna is indeed one of the most unique and quick acting mood boosting botanicals we have ever come across!* That being said, there is an enormous variety in effects profiles between different kanna extracts, ranging from a warm and cozy mood boost to a cold and sterile stimulation.* Thus, we had our work cut out for us when finding the best overall kanna extract!
If you’ve already tried kanna, you probably have a pretty good idea of just how fun our beta-testing was! We tested 10 different kanna extracts, all of which had very unique effects. The highly standardized extracts, which basically only contained the bioactive compound mesembrine, were very energizing but lacked some of the warm and cozy mood boosting properties that kanna can provide. Moving down into the more full spectrum extracts, we lost some of the unique energizing properties, but in return we got a lot of warm, cozy and physically relaxing effects. One day, we tried a kanna extract that blew all of us away. It provided significant energizing effects while also providing a warm mood boost and a significant physically relaxing effect. This was by far the most full spectrum feeling kanna we had tried while also being powerful, sometimes even overwhelmingly so in its effects!* This is obviously the kanna extract we ended up settling on and over the past few months it has quickly become one of our all time favorite mood boosters.* We are super excited to be able to offer this unique kanna extract now! So if you are looking for a big mood boost, look no further than our full spectrum kanna extract!*
Sceletium tortuosum, also known as kanna, is a succulent which is native to South Africa. Specifically, it seems to occur most commonly in the wild in the unique Succulent Karoo ecoregion. It has been used here for a very long time, specifically by hunter gatherers who use the plant for its mood boosting but also appetite suppressing and energizing effects. Traditionally, the succulent is harvested and crushed with a rock after which it is rolled up and fermented. The fermented kanna is then chewed for its effects, which is also part of the reason it is nicknamed “kauwgoed” which loosely translates to “something that is chewed”. The fermented kanna is also often sun dried and pulverized into a powder to be used as a tea or even snuff.
Kanna contains a wide variety of unique bioactive compounds, many of which have not been properly explored in isolation yet. The most well studied compounds in kanna are mesembrine and mesembrenone. These compounds act as monoamine releasers, serotonin reuptake inhibitors and PDE-4 inhibitors which all contribute to the unique mood boosting properties of kanna. Another compound that is often tested for, Δ7 -mesembrenone, has not been explored much in studies in order to assess its pharmacodynamic properties, however, we have a sneaking suspicion that it is quite important for the warm and cozy effects that kanna can produce.* During our beta-testing, it was quite apparent that extracts which had higher Δ7 -mesembrenone content felt more full bodied and physically relaxing while providing a mood boost that felt more “warm”.*
When exploring the pharmacodynamic profile of kanna, it is exceptionally easy to see why it is such a revered mood boosting botanical.* One of the stand out effects of kanna is that it significantly upregulates the vesicular monoamine transporter 2 (VMAT-2) mainly through its mesembrine content. This transporter is crucial for the release of various neurotransmitters such as serotonin and dopamine into the synaptic cleft where these neurotransmitters can then act on their corresponding receptors. This is very different from the effects of reuptake inhibitors or monoamine oxidase inhibitors, which prevent monoamine neurotransmitter removal from the synaptic cleft (reuptake inhibitors) or their breakdown (monoamine oxidase inhibitors). In general, monoamine releasers tend to produce more significant effects while also oftentimes being quite smooth. While VMAT-2 regulates the release of all of the monoamine neurotransmitters, kanna is oftentimes seen as a serotonergic botanical. This is due to the fact that via kanna’s mesembrenone and mesembrine content, the serotonin transporter is also inhibited. This means that the serotonin which is released into the synaptic cleft via the VMAT-2 mechanism hangs around much longer than the other monoamine neurotransmitters that are released because its reuptake is slowed. This tips the balance more towards the serotonergic side.
While the VMAT-2 upregulation effects of kanna make it very unique amongst botanical mood boosters, it also has another trick up its sleeve.* Kanna is a significant inhibitor of the phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE-4) enzyme. PDE-4 inhibitors were all the rage back in the early days of nootropics, specifically in the context of a stack called CILTEP. However, most botanical PDE-4 inhibitors have lackluster efficacy which is not at all the case for kanna. The significant PDE-4 inhibitor effects of kanna likely contribute a lot to the unique mood boosting and nootropic properties of kanna while also producing beneficial effects on pain, respiratory, cardiovascular and immune function!* Kanna also appears to be a mild cannabinoid CB1 receptor agonist, which also adds another layer onto the mood boosting but also pain management effects.* This is one area of kanna supplementation that we have not seen a whole lot of discussion about, however, with our kanna extract we notice pronounced pain management effects!*
Kanna is often associated with very pronounced effects and our personal preferences gravitate towards powerful effects.* This is why we developed our kanna extract as 50 mg quick dissolve tablets. With how potent our kanna extract is, this is certainly not a dose that should be taken lightly. If you do not have any prior experience with kanna, we would recommend starting with half a tablet which produces a much more mellow yet still very efficacious effect!* Kanna also has a fairly short duration of action so for more extended effects we have found that taking two half tablet (25 mg) doses spread out by about 30-45 minutes produces a very nice and longer lasting effect.*
It is also best to avoid our kanna extract at night, because it has significant wakefulness enhancing effects that can make it hard to get to sleep.
Our kanna extract also performs excellently in various different stacks. Since it has such a broad pharmacodynamic profile it is quite easy to tease out specific effects. For example, you could modulate the serotonergic effects with botanicals such as saffron or Bacopa monnieri to elevate the sensory enhancement effects.* Or you could boost the energizing effects by combining kanna with other compounds that act on monoamine neurotransmitters such as caffeine, teacrine or dynamine.* Below are some of our current favorite stacks with our kanna extract!
Mood Stack: Kanna + Cognance Enhanced Bacopa Capsules
We find that the serotonin 5-HT2A effects of Cognance also stacks well with other serotonergic botanicals. Kanna is no exception here, and produces great synergistic effects with Cognance for mood and sensory enhancement!
Energy Stack: Kanna + Dynamine Methylliberine Capsules
Since kanna has a very rapid onset of action it stacks great with the rapid onset of action that dynamine has. The two together produce a very unique and quick acting stimulating stack, that is sure to put a pep in your step!
Pain Stack: Kanna + Supercritical CO2 Myrrh Extract Capsules
One of the least talked about aspects of kanna is its excellent pain management effects. We find that we can tease the pain management effects out even more by combining it with our supercritical myrrh extract. The two together produce a rapid acting pain management stack, which also further amplifies the mood boosting properties of kanna!
As a dietary supplement, take one 50mg tablet of Kanna daily.
To gain more insight, see the Kanna reviews and experiences below.
Nootropics Depot offers 30ct. or 120ct. jars of high-quality Kanna. Nootropics Depot’s Kanna has been lab-tested and verified for both product purity and identity.
| *Attention: These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. |
I wish I could tolerate this because it seems like a great general mood supplement. Unfortunately a full tablet just makes me super dizzy and kind of nauseous. May try with half a tablet, but it was so unpleasant haven't gotten to it yet.
I enjoy this kanna extract for increased music appreciation and a social mood boost. I find it more pleasurable to speak to others after dosing. The only downside is there's about 15 - 60 minutes of a kind of come up. It can feel like nausea or dissociation. Worth it for afterwards, but I wouldn't take this at work and I time it correctly for social gatherings.
I wish I could tolerate this because it seems like a great general mood supplement. Unfortunately a full tablet just makes me super dizzy and kind of nauseous. May try with half a tablet, but it was so unpleasant haven't gotten to it yet.
I enjoy this kanna extract for increased music appreciation and a social mood boost. I find it more pleasurable to speak to others after dosing. The only downside is there's about 15 - 60 minutes of a kind of come up. It can feel like nausea or dissociation. Worth it for afterwards, but I wouldn't take this at work and I time it correctly for social gatherings.
Interesting how something can appear once we stop looking. Having grown up on Erowid and trialed more compounds I'd care to admit, I entirely forgot about Kanna. For the sake of brevity and relevance, trials with products of an allegedly similar Elke came down to: "too good" or "meh." At some point I concluded that SOMA existed only in fiction. However, when I saw ND was releasing this (MYASD - you've been working on this what, 5+ years?) I pulled the trigger and thought: "at worst - another kava kava, but at least not another kratom." TL;DR - if it's too good to be true, it probably is, but not this time. I'm surprised this is for real, but not surprised that this team's behind it. MYASD ND & Co - you're really outdone yourselves this time.
Great extract of kanna. I've tried other ones and this one is very balanced. I wish they had smaller sizes though, I'd rather have 25mg and take two than having one 50mg. Makes it more customizable
Stimulating and uplifting at first followed by a long lasting sense of calm and general happiness (the afterglow). Very high quality and standardized Kanna extract. Highly Recommended !!
