What's the next supplement I need to know?
I tried it and liked it. The basics of Kanna in 5 minutes.
If you occasionally read about any health topics, you’ve seen articles related to psychedelics (from ayahuasca retreats to legal mushrooms and beyond). But what you’ll be reading about next is Kanna. The feeling I had about CBD initially, and why I decided to start sharing my research, is the feeling I have about Kanna today.
I think Kanna’s potential popularity is reactionary to the increase in loneliness and isolation many people are experiencing (whether exacerbated by COVID or social media/technology or something else). Like CBD to Cannabis, Kanna is the lower legal hurdle ‘quick fix’ to an element of a negative situation. And while I love a tool, especially these two, tools like CBD and Kanna should only be used in conjunction with efforts to solve the root of the negative emotion.
Consider this your short brief into the world of Kanna.
How does Kanna work?
From Double Blind:
“Most scientific research focuses on three compounds: mesembrine, mesembrenone, and mesembrenol. Several other succulents produce these compounds, yet they are particularly abundant in kanna. Various other alkaloids also occur in the plant, but published research on their specifics is scarce. Mesembrine alkaloids seem to behave in a way comparable to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors or SSRIs, a class of antidepressants affecting how the body uses serotonin.”
“There are many other beneficial effects of Kanna on the body…ranging from anti-inflammatory action, elimination of hedonic cravings (eating for pleasure), as well as anti-addictive effects on a convergence in the brain called the medial forebrain bundle where we adorn all kinds of cravings with special status: gambling, drinking, medicating, and many more vices that add to our bad health.
What does Kanna do?
Generally speaking, Kanna is used as a connection-enhancing ‘heart opening’ tool with a range of effects depending on the dosage. As ‘woo-woo’ as that language sounds, it’s actually a well described phrase for the outcome. Kanna can help someone feel more open to person-to-person interactions, more connected to a community as a whole, and more empathetic (my personal experience is below)
As an example, recent press on Kanna (specifically the brand I tried) lists it as a ‘best of’ item for travel by Travel & Leisure magazine. Because if we need a moment of empathy and calm, it’s going through security at the airport.
I encourage you to read about both the more ceremonial usage and regular daily usage within Kanna’s origin in South Africa.
What’s the research on Kanna?
My prediction for Kanna:
Kanna will never truly be CBD/hemp in America in the way that Mom and Pop farms are growing and producing the plant and its extracts. Hemp had a two-hundred-year history in America as a crop before it was blacklisted (you can read more about that in my CBD deep dive post). Kanna, meanwhile, is a succulent type plant from Africa. It would not be cultivated in America on the same level that hemp can. Predictably, in the next few years as Kanna increases in popularity, one thing we’ll all need to be aware of is bad sourcing that negatively impacts African communities and environments.
As consumers have become more and more comfortable with tinctures and edibles, Kanna will have faster mainstream acceptance for customers seeking a ‘psychedelic adjacent’ experience without delving into the world of mushroom microdosing. Since Kanna is psychoactive NOT psychedelic (hallucinogenic), I’d say expect to see Kanna and appear at a faster rate on shelves than we’ve seen other supplements.
Like with CBD (isolate vs broad or full spectrum), I think we’ll also see companies attempt to isolate specific compounds within Kanna vs utilizing the whole plant synergistic benefits.
I tried microdosing Kanna for 30 days:
In the spirit of transparency, I was specifically researching ordering from the brand KA! when it happened that someone from their team reached out to send the product. This post is not sponsored, but I did receive free product.
Admittedly, I was (am) slightly concerned about using Kanna at a non-microdose level. I’m not seeking a full psychedelic-ish experience, but I am looking for new tools for life improvement. In general, I’m always more comfortable with a microdose experience than an ‘EXPERIENCE’ so my 30 days of trying out Kanna are related to the tincture form with small doses.
While KA! does have a 30-day guided experience (email campaign with resources and a What’s App group), I did not participate because I didn’t want my perception to be skewed by the experience of others. I like the availability of this tool, but it just wasn’t a resource I used at the time.
In my initial dosage, I felt calm, ‘open’, and connected. I was quicker to laugh and found more amusement throughout the day. I was more present. With additional use, I did experience (as noted by the Double Blind article), less seeking of hedonic pursuits. I had fewer “I could go for a drink/snack/etc!” moments.
After 30 days I feel like Kanna is a better fit for my personal needs than CBD in terms of a stress/mood normalizer. With KA! specifically, I truly enjoyed the taste and the dropper function (although I’ll pass on some of the too-young-for-me marketing branding vibe).
CBD still has its role for me, specifically as an anti-inflammatory tool. And if you’re someone who is seeking relaxation and no other changes, CBD is probably a better fit for you than Kanna.
When to avoid Kanna:
Do not try Kanna if you use MAOIs, SSRIs, SNRIs, and CNS depressants or if you are pregnant/breastfeeding. Always consume Kanna (especially if you’re ‘experiencing’ vs microdosing) in a safe space as you learn how it interacts with your body. Be especially aware how Kanna affects your reaction times to assess whether or not operating a car or machinery is a wise decision.
A discount code:
If you want to try KA!, here’s a link that will get you $5 off (disclosure, it’s an affiliate link that reciprocates 10% credited to my account for a future order).
Would this be helpful for the auto-immune SJOGRENS SYNDROME? I can find nothing except estrogen and progesterone from my gynecologist.
Kathleen