Sceletium Tortuosum – Kanna / Kougoed

Introduction:
The earliest written records of the use of Sceletium tortuosum date back to 1662 and 1685. The Dutch, upon their arrival in South Africa, called it ‘Kougoed’ which literally means, ‘chew(able) things/goodies ‘ or ‘something to chew’.
For hundreds of years the Hottentots used Sceletium expansum and tortuosum as a sacramental sedative and mood enhancer.

This mood-enhancing plant is known in it's homeland as "canna”, “channa” or “kanna” (not Cannabis). It was so esteemed among native pastoralists and hunter-gatherers that they'd travel hundreds of miles to collect plants in the wild.

The family Mesembryanthemaceae contains many pharmacologically active species. The genus Mesembryanthemum is a popular groundcover. One of the most utilized by native peoples in South Africa was the genus Sceletium, for which whole tribes would travel hundreds of miles to pick a years supply.

Recorded Medicinal history:
Kanna has been used by the Hottentots and Bushmen tribes of South Africa as a mood-altering substance since prehistoric times. Although primarily chewed, there are reports of it being taken as a tea (Jacobsen 1960). Traditionally, the dried plant material is also smoked, or powdered and inhaled as a snuff on its own or with the addition of other herbs.

Sceletium elevates mood and decreases anxiety, stress and tension, and shepherds walking long distances in arid areas have also used it as an appetite suppressant. Higher doses can cause euphoria, initially with stimulation and later with sedation. It has been suggested by some that Kanna can potentate the effects of alcohol and cannabis. No addiction or severe adverse side effects have been associated or documented with Kanna.

Sceletium is used as a mood-enhancing substance and is far more effective and rapidly acting than the well-known European plant Hypericum (St John's Wort).

Rural folk and farmers also use Sceletium as a sedative in the form of teas, decoctions or tinctures. In intoxicating doses it can cause euphoria, initially with stimulation and later with sedation. The plant is not hallucinogenic.

Pharmacology:
The mood-elevating action of Sceletium is due to a number of alkaloids including mesembrine, mesembrenol and tortuosamine. The alkaloid concentration in the dry material ranges from 0.05 to 2.3%. Preliminary research suggests these alkaloids may interact with the brain’s dopamine and serotonin receptors.

Mesembrine is usually the major alkaloid present, and has been demonstrated in laboratory studies (sponsored by the National Institute of Mental Health in the United States, and conducted by the company NovaScreen) to be a very potent serotonin-uptake inhibitor. This receptor-specific activity, and some receptor activities found on nicotinic, dopamine and nor-adrenaline sites certainly validate the traditional uses, and suggest additional therapeutic potential.

In clinical practices, tablets and capsules of Sceletium are being used successfully by a number of psychiatrists, psychologists and doctors with excellent results for anxiety and depression; and they can also be used by the lay public to elevate mood and for stress and tension.

Carefully selected plant material has been successfully cultivated on a limited commercial scale as an essential prerequisite to ongoing research and development.

Sceletium has significant mood-elevating and anxiolytic (anti-anxiety) properties. In doses as low as 50 mg users report improvements in mood, decreased anxiety, relaxation and a sense of well-being. At higher dosages near 100 mg, Sceletium acts as a calming euphoriant and empathogen. Users report increased personal insight, interpersonal ease and a meditative, grounded feeling without any perceptual dulling. In fact some note enhanced tactile and sexual response. Some reports also note significant potentiation of alcohol and cannabis. High doses produce distinct inebriation and stimulation often followed by sedation.

The National Institute of Mental Health in the United States have found Memembrine the principle alkaloid responsible for psychoactivity in Sceletium Tortuosum to be a serotonin-uptake inhibitor, keeping more serotonin in circulation, like Prozac. Since Prozac/SSRI's are contraindicated with MAOI, this would also go for Mesembrine. Also the results of taking it on top of other SSRI's are unpredictable, and it is known that alcohol can also cause side effects combined with many SSRI's. Headaches in conjunction with alcohol have been noted with Sceletium use.

Do not combine with SSRI’s, MAO inhibitors or any other psychiatric medications or cardiac medications.

Indications:

Contra indications:

Patients with a hypersensitivity to any of the plant species or ingredients. Not to be taken during pregnancy or anyone under the age of 18. The active constituents of Sceletium tortuosum are mesembrine, mesembrenone, mesembrenol and tortuosamine. Mesembrine, the major alkaloid present, is a serotonin-uptake inhibitor (SSRI), like the anti-depressant Prozac. Sceletium must never be combined with an SSRI, MAOI, or other psychiatric medications, cardiac medications or any other medications.

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