In August 2023 we published a hands-on guide about sceletium, a South African plant used for mood and stress support. This archive page pulls the main takeaways together so you can get the facts fast. If you're curious about what it does, how to use it, and whether it's safe, read on.
Sceletium tortuosum, commonly called kanna, has a long history with Khoisan communities for mood lift and calm. Modern supplements use concentrated extracts standardized for alkaloids like mesembrine. People take it for low-level anxiety, mild mood dips, and clearer focus without heavy sedation. Clinical research and lab work are limited but suggest short-term mood support when used at studied doses.
Forms you’ll see: capsules, tinctures, chewable extracts, and powders. Capsules and tinctures give the cleanest dosing. Chewables echo traditional use but can vary in strength. Typical users report subtle effects after a few days, not instant, strong changes. Treat it like a gentle support rather than a replacement for prescribed treatment.
Dosing in published work and product labels varies widely. A common approach is to start low—25–50 mg of a standardized extract—and watch how you feel for a week before increasing. Some studies use higher amounts up to 150–200 mg depending on extract concentration. Don’t combine sceletium with prescription antidepressants, MAO inhibitors, or other strong serotonin-active drugs. That can raise the risk of serotonin effects.
Side effects are usually mild: mild headache, stomach upset, or sleep changes. Avoid during pregnancy and breastfeeding unless cleared by your clinician. If you have a diagnosed mood disorder or take psychiatric meds, ask a healthcare pro before trying it.
Choose quality products: look for brands that list the plant name (sceletium tortuosum), extract ratio, and provide third-party lab certificates (COAs) showing purity and absence of heavy metals. Ethanol extracts are common and stable; water-only extracts may lack some alkaloids. Store supplements in a cool, dry place and follow the label for dosing.
In our August post we emphasized practical steps: start low, track effects, and prioritize tested products. If you want deeper reading, the original article includes links to small clinical trials, expert commentary, and user notes collected that month. Sceletium isn’t a miracle, but used carefully it can be a useful part of a low-risk wellness toolkit.
