Sceletium Effects on Anxiety, Mood, Sleep & Cognitive Function

The effects of the sceletium herb are said to include mood lifting, stress relief and promoting a state of mental tranquility.

Sceletium tortuosum, more commonly known as kanna, is a plant that grows in South Africa. Kanna roots are used for traditional medicinal purposes in this area, usually by being fermented and chewed.

Other ways to use Sceletium include smoking it, taking oral supplements that contain extracts or using it in teas and tinctures.

Sceletium has been used for centuries in South Africa for its ability to induce relaxation and enhance mood. It is also associated with euphoric effects.

The ability of kanna extracts to promote feelings of calmness and boost mood have resulted on studies on its uses for anxiety and cognition. One proprietary brand of sceletium tortuosum extract called Zembrin is commonly included in anti-anxiety supplements.

Consumers who want to take Sceletium should understand the different ways that it is used, as well as the effects it might produce. It is also important for consumers to know more about the possible adverse effects and interactions it might have.

Kanna

Herbal Extract

Mood

Calm

Sleep

How It Works:

• Exhibits anxiolytic effects
• Used traditionally for relaxation
• Contains mesembrine alkaloids with weak sedative effects

Dosage:

No standardized dosage

Safety:

Insufficient research available

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Uses of Sceletium Extract

In traditional medicine, Sceletium is used in several different ways. In addition to being fermented and chewed, it has been used as snuff, made into tinctures, used in teas and smoked.

Sceletium has traditionally been used to ease anxiety and stress, promote relaxation and improve mood.

Historically, the leaves and roots of this succulent plant would be chewed by the Khoikhoi and San peoples of South Africa to alleviate fear and nervousness in warriors.

The plant was also used as part of social rituals for recreational purposes. Its role was similar to that of the calming herb kava kava.

Tinctures and teas containing Sceletium have been used as anesthetics. They have also been used as sedatives. Sceletium has also been used for relieving pain, managing colic and suppressing appetite. It has been used to manage alcohol withdrawal symptoms as well.

Capsules that contain Sceletium have been used to enhance mood, improve cognition and reduce stress. These oral supplements are also used for managing depression and anxiety and improving motivation, mental clarity and attention.

While the above information describes how this herb has been used in the past, the FDA has not approved kanna as a drug for the treatment, prevention or alleviation of any medical conditions. More research is needed to evaluate many of the claims made about this herb.

Positive Effects of Sceletium

Sceletium has a number of chemical compounds, called alkaloids, that are thought to be responsible for the beneficial effects of this herb, according to the Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database. [1]

Mesembrine and mesembrenone are two of these alkaloids that are believed to be major alkaloids due to their actions.

Mesembrine is a serotonin reuptake inhibitor, which means that it blocks the re-absorption of serotonin after it is released from a neuron. This leads to higher amounts of this neurotransmitter in the synaptic cleft, which results in greater activation of serotonin receptors.

Research shows that serotonin is involved in mood regulation. Studies have demonstrated that in some people, increasing activation of serotonin receptors can result in an improvement in mood.

Mesembrenone is also a serotonin reuptake inhibitor, as well as a phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) inhibitor. Its action as a PDE4 inhibitor is thought to be associated with potential effects on cognition and anti-inflammatory properties.

When Sceletium is smoked, chewed or used as snuff, especially in high doses, it is associated with effects that resemble intoxication or inebriation. This herb is also believed to enhance the effects of cannabis.

When it is taken in the form of an oral dietary supplement or used in tea or tinctures, it is associated with mood enhancement, relaxation and improved cognition.

Sceletium in oral supplement form might have benefits for anxiety based on preliminary research studies. However, additional studies are needed to understand how it works better.

A 2013 study in Neuropsychopharmacology showed that Zembrin, which is a patented extract of Sceletium, has properties of both a serotonin reuptake inhibitor and a PDE4 inhibitor. These properties are thought to give Sceletium potential anxiolytic effects. [2]

Sceletium capsules might also be effective for cognition. The results of a 2014 study in Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine indicated that Zembrin use in 45-year-old to 65-year-old adults led to improvements in cognition. [3]

Sceletium User Experiences

Sceletium is available for smoking, using in teas or tinctures or taking as an oral supplement. However, consumers should note that many U.S. stores and online retailers do not carry these products.

They can be purchased from some online retailers, but consumers should ensure that they are purchasing products from a safe vendor.

User reviews for Zembrin indicate that this ingredient is able to help many consumer with reducing feelings of anxiousness and boosting mood and cognition.

A small percentage of consumers who use Sceletium stated that this herb did not produce the desired effects. While some consumers smoke or chew the herb order to produce a high, this use is not recommended.

No standard dosage guidelines for Sceletium capsules are available. Those who plan to take Zembrin or use other products should ask their doctor for a safe amount to take, which will depend on their age and medical conditions.

Zembrin, which contains a 2:1 concentration of this herb, has been used in doses of up to 25 MG in studies.

Negative Side Effects of Sceletium

There is insufficient clinical research information on the safety of Sceletium tortuosum to rate its potential health risks, according to the Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database. [1]

This herb has been generally well tolerated when used appropriately in research studies. However, some preparations of the plant may pose a higher risk of dangerous effects than others.

Consumers who are thinking of using products that contain Sceletium should ask their doctor beforehand. Women who are nursing or pregnant should not use any products that contain kanna since there is no research available to determine safety in these populations.

Sceletium might cause mild side effects, such as appetite loss or headaches. Some individuals have reported experiencing depression or respiratory symptoms when using products with this ingredient.

The Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database states that chewing on roots of this herb shortly after they have been fermented might lead to intoxication. [1] While some individuals claim that Sceletium has the potential to produce hallucinogenic effects, this has not been indicated in studies.

The results of a 2013 study that appeared in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine indicated that Sceletium was tolerated well when taken by healthy adults for up to 3 months.

This supplement might interact with certain kinds of medications, including antidepressants that increase serotonin levels. Sceletium might also have interactions with supplements that exhibit sedative effects, such as St. John’s wort and 5-HTP.

Consumers who take antidepressants or supplements with sedative effects should ask their doctor about taking Sceletium before using any of these products. It is important to understand how the effects of Sceletium tortuosum might influence other medications or drugs that you are using concurrently.

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