Kanna (Sceletium tortuosum)Kanna InformationSceletium tortuosum is the botanical name of the plant more commonly known as kanna. It is a member of the Aizoaceae family of plants. The Aizoaceae family is more commonly known as the fig-marigold or ice plant family. It is made up of over 125 genera and 1700 species. Sceletium tortuosum was previously known by the botanical name Mesembryanthemum tortuosum. Although the first mention of the plant in western literature was not until the 17th century, kanna has been used as medicine in Africa for thousands of years. Plants live for about 3 to 5 years. They need lots of sunlight and easy draining (somewhat loamy) soil. Sceletium tortuosum grows during the fall, winter, and spring. In the summer, plants don't grow and shouldn't be watered. Scientific Classification Of Sceletium tortuosum Sceletium tortuosum, and other species of Sceletium, originated in South Africa. South Africans, who harvest Sceletium tortuosum for a living, report that the number of available plants growing wild has become alarmingly low in recent years. It has become so hard to find in its natural habitat that most of the kanna now sold does not come from wild stock, but instead comes from plants that are cultivated by humans. Experienced gardeners with an interest are encouraged to grow their own kanna plants. Chemistry Of KannaThe primary active chemical in Sceletium tortuosum is mesembrine. To a lesser extent, mesembrenone, mesembrenol, and tortuosamine are also present. They produce effects that are similar to mesembrine. Possible trace amounts of tryptamines may also occur. The concentrations of mesembrine found in the leaves and stalk of the Sceletium tortuosum plant will usually range from about 0.3% to 0.9%. In Africa, kanna has been consumed as medicine for thousands of years. It also has a history of being used as an appetite suppressant by shepherds who had to walk long distances through dry climates. When chewed, kanna has a mild pain killing effect in the mouth that is similar to kava. At least one African tribe used kanna prior to performing dental work. How To Use KannaYou can buy kanna here. They ship from the USA to most countries. Smokers cut is best for chewing, smoking, tea, or tinctures. Powder is best for insufflation (sniffing, snorting) or putting in gelatin capsules. Extract is only recommended for experienced kanna consumers who know how strong of a dose they can handle. Historical accounts point to dried and fermented Sceletium tortuosum being chewed and the saliva swallowed as the traditional method of ingestion, but it also has a history of being smoked and taken as a snuff. More recently, it has been put into gel caps for oral ingestion, brewed into tea, and made into tinctures. The most common complaint about kanna is that if it is taken in too large of a dose, it causes a person to feel anxious and agitated for several hours afterwards. If this happens, you will probably not want to try it again. In order to decrease the chances of a negative experience, a first time user should start at a small dose size and work their way up to a larger amount over time. A good introduction would be smoking a small amount (less than 1/4 gram) of smokers cut in a pipe. Do not try to smoke it all at once. Instead, try taking small hits, and wait 5 minutes or longer between hits. Another way to try kanna for the first time is to combine pre-chewed bubble gum (chew it for a minute so it is wet) with up to 1/4 gram of smokers cut, then chew the mixture in the same way gum is normally chewed. Keep chewing for an hour or longer, making sure to swallow your saliva. An alternative method of ingestion is insufflation of no more than 1/10 gram on your first attempt. For a longer lasting but milder effect, you can try packing 1 gram or more of powder into gel caps and taking them orally with some kind of liquid to wash them down. For most people, at low to medium dose sizes, it can produce mild feelings of stimulation and euphoria, as well as decrease anxiety, appetite, depression, stress, and tension. Higher doses can cause initial feelings of euphoria and stimulation, but as time goes by, the feeling of stimulation wears off and the user feels more relaxed and sedate. The first time dosage sizes mentioned above are a good starting point, but depending on the potency of the kanna and your metabolism, you will probably have to experiment to find what is optimal for your needs. Users report positive results when kanna is combined with cannabis products like marijuana and hashish. The combination produces a stronger effect than either substance would by itself. Although it is not physically addictive, some people may become psychologically addicted if they become regular users. It is best to refrain from taking kanna daily, skip at least a day or two between sessions. To be safe, do not consume kanna if you are taking cardiac medications, psychiatric medications, MAOIs, or SSRIs (like prozac). Ingesting kanna with alcohol is common, but it may cause headaches for some individuals. copyright © www.a1b2c3.com/drugs/ Books The Encyclopedia of Psychoactive Plants: |
