Hey y'all. This herb has helped me with the social difficulties of being an aspie more than anything else i've ever done ( besides simple strategy of managing to growing older). I love the stuff and have found it to be exactly as the wikipedia article describes it. Beautiful little houseplant too! Nice vibe. Doing it majorly helps me focus, and though i am still wild and crazy and a wildcard in any conversation, i do not give a damn or worry about it like i used to which would screw me up in social interactions so bad as one little mistake led to bigger faux pas led to cascading series of idiocy. Calmer and sharper at the same time and nice body buzz to boot. No side effects i've noticed and been doing it nearly half a year now.

Here is wikipedia article:

Sceletium tortuosum is a succulent herb commonly found in South Africa, which is also known as Kanna, Channa, Kougoed (Kauwgoed) - which literally means, 'chew(able) things/goodies' or 'something to chew'. The plant has been used by South African pastoralists and hunter-gatherers as a mood-altering substance from prehistoric times. The first known written account of the plant's use was in 1662 by van Riebeeck. The traditionally prepared dried sceletium was often chewed and the saliva swallowed, but it has also been made into gel caps, teas and tinctures. It has also been used as a snuff and smoked.[2]

Effects
Sceletium tortuosum in South Africa

Sceletium is known to elevate mood and decrease anxiety, stress and tension. It has also been used as an appetite suppressant by shepherds walking long distances in arid areas. In intoxicating doses it can cause euphoria, initially with stimulation and later with sedation. Users also report increased personal insight, interpersonal ease and a meditative, grounded feeling without any perceptual dulling. Having such properties Sceletium is classified as an empathogen type herb. Others have noted enhanced tactile and sexual response, as well as vivid dream inducing properties. High doses produce distinct inebriation and stimulation often followed by sedation. The plant is not hallucinogenic,[3] contrary to some literature on the subject, and no adverse effects have been documented. Kanna is considered a potentiator (enhancer of effects) for other psychoactive herbal material.

Pharmacology
Main article: Mesembrine
Mesembrine, one of the five known psychoactive compounds in Sceletium tortuosum

S. tortuosum can cause significant mood-elevation and anxiolytic (anti-anxiety) action. In doses as low as 50 mg users have reported improvements in mood, decreased anxiety, relaxation and a sense of well-being. At higher dosages near 100 mg, kanna acts as a calming euphoriant and empathogen.[citation needed]

The alkaloids contained in S. tortuosum believed to possess psychoactivity include: mesembrine, mesembrenone, mesembrenol and tortuosamine.[2] Mesembrine is a major alkaloid present in Sceletium tortuosum, which is claimed by a US patent to be a potent serotonin reuptake inhibitor with stronger antidepressant effects than imipramine.[4] It is also believed to be a PDE4-inhibitor due to a strikingly similar chemical makeup and effects profile in comparison to rolipram.[5]

Sceletium tortuosum contains about 1-1.5% total alkaloids. There is about 0.3% mesembrine in the leaves and 0.86% in the stems of the plant.[1]

[edit] Interactions

Little is known about the interactions of S. tortuosum, although it should not be combined with SSRIs, MAOIs, cardiac or psychiatric medications. Headaches in conjunction with alcohol have been noted with kanna use. Some reports suggest a synergy with cannabis.[3]
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scel..._tortuosum
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The last sentence particularly and strangely true. The !kung do lots of good cannabis and kanna at same time and have for thousands of years. They are, from genetic studies, considered to root race and still in place! Did these botanicals play a part in our evolution into modern humans? At any rate, !kung have wisely chosen to stay close to stash. Very very cool people.