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Datasheet: Sceletium tortuosum

1. NOMENCLATURE

Synonyms: Sceletium compactum, Sceletium framesii, Sceletium joubertii ^{[wiki en 14.12.2015]}
Common Names: Kanna, Channa, Kougoed (Kauwgoed/ 'kougoed', prepared from 'fermenting' S. tortuosum) ^{[wiki en 14.12.2015]}
Taxonomic Position: Aizoaceae ^{[wiki en 14.12.2015]}

2. DESCRIPTION

Plant Type: outstretched, procumbent and rarely climbing succulent ^{[wiki ger 14.12.2015]}
Similarity to Other Species: "Sceletium emarcidum was valued as highly as S. tortuosum in Southern Africa by different tribes and makes a very good Kougoed product." ^{[herbalistics 06.02.2016]}

3. DISTRIBUTION AND ECOLOGY

Geographical Distribution: South Africa from Namaqualand to Montagu and Aberdeen ^{[wiki ger 14.12.2015]}
Hardiness and Environmental Requirements: not cold-hardy, sunny, dry, non-humid
Soil Requirements: sandy cacti soil

4. PROPAGATION AND CYCLE

Propagation:
cuttings:
root in 3-5 weeks with rooting hormone in wet/dry alternating soil ^{[entheopedia 14.12.2015]}
seeds:
[sts Psylocke]s best way to germinate sceletium seeds is to sow them about 3mm deep in a sand soil in 50% shade. Leave them uncovered outdoors so that they receive natural precipitation. The best time is to sow in spring when day temps are 70-75 (21.111-23.889 °C) and night temps are 50-55 (10-12.778 °C). He got nearly 100% germination rates like this. The same batch of seeds sown in the same soil using a sterile plastic baggie tek as for cacti resulted in 10% germ rates. Soaking did not help.
[world seed supply]s Advise: The inhibitor is soluble in water. Remove it, either by an extended soak (up to a few weeks) while remembering to change the water daily or by rinsing the seeds thoroughly under running water. Seeds may germinate during the soaking process. Distilled or bottled water is always better than tap water. Gibberrelic acid treatment will also counteract the effects of the inhibitors and cause quicker, more even germination than any other method. Some growers also recommend scarifying the seeds by putting them in a bag of sterile sand and shaking them so that the sand wears down the seed coat. Seeds should then be sown on top of a sterile, sandy soil mixture. Addition of a fungicide is beneficial. Cover the pot with clear plastic to keep in humidity. Optimal germination temperature is about 60-65 degrees Fahrenheit (15,555-18,333 °C), although some growers prefer temperature fluctuations between day and night. Best when placed close to fluorescent lights. Germination time is anywhere from two weeks to two months.
Seed Notes: They´re in 10-15 mm long capsule fruits which are 4-5 chambered and contain the brown seeds in their flaps. ^{[wiki ger 14.12.2015]}
Life Cycle: In South Africa the flowering time ranges from July to September. ^{[wiki ger 14.12.2015]}

5. HISTORY AND CULTURE

The KhoiKhoi used the aboveground parts of the plant, fermented and dried to sniff, chew or smoke. The first known written account of the plant's use was in 1662 by Jan van Riebeeck. After the Dutch occupied South Africa, they called the Kanna Kougoed (sth. to chew). In Kanoo exists an area called Kanna. ^{[wiki ger 14.12.2015][wiki en 14.12.2015]}

6. PROPERTIES AND BENEFITS

Documented psychoactive properties: It may elevate mood and decrease anxiety, stress and tension. Intoxicating doses can be euphoric but not hallucinogenic, contrary to some literature on the subject. ^{[wiki en 14.12.2015]} It can enhance the effects of cannabis and/or alcohol. Sometimes visions are a reported effect. ^{[sts dEEcor][Erowid]}
Documented medicinal properties: Traditional cure for stomachache. Sedation of childs. Alleviation of hunger. Pain relief.  ^{[wiki en 14.12.2015][wiki en 14.12.2015]}
S. tortuosum has been studied to alleviate excessive nocturnal barking in dogs and excessive nocturnal meowing in cats, both diagnosed with dementia. ^{[wiki en 14.12.2015]}
Parts of the plant with therapeutic/psychoactive value: everything abovegound
Phytochemical Information: Oxalic acid should be reduced by fermenting and drying and/or extraction. ^{[sts dEEcor]} S. tortuosum contains about 1–1.5% total alkaloids. The alkaloids believed to possess psychoactivity include mesembrine, mesembrenone, mesembrenol and tortuosamine. There is about 0.3% mesembrine in the leaves and 0.86% in the leaves, stems, and flowers of the plant. It serves as a serotonin reuptake inhibitor. Mesembrenone on the other hand serves as a more balanced serotonin reuptake inhibitor. ^{[wiki en 14.12.2015]}

6. SAFETY

Traditional and contemporary methods of preparation serve to reduce levels of potentially harmful oxalates. An analysis indicated levels of 3.6-5.1% oxalate, which falls within the median range for crop plants. It is speculated that physical crushing of the plant and the fermentation process reduce the potentially harmful effects of oxalic acid. In particular, free oxalic acid is likely to complex with cell wall-associated calcium salts and precipitate as calcium oxalate when plant material is crushed. ^{[wiki en 14.12.2015]}

No treatment-related adverse effects were observed in an oral toxicity study in rats of a standardized hydroethanolic extract of S. tortuosum. The extract, although not mesembrine itself, produced ataxia in rats, thereby possibly limiting the usefulness of the extract as an antidepressant. C-reactive protein (CRP is an annular (ring-shaped), pentameric protein found in blood plasma, whose levels rise in response to inflammation) levels increasing significantly in a dose-dependent manner in unstressed control rats but not in mildly psychologically stressed rats. [wiki en 14.12.2015]

The long history of traditional human use suggests but does not prove that S. tortuosum is relatively safe for human consumption. Use of the 2:1 standardised extract in healthy adults at a dose of up to 25 mg once daily over a three-month period was well tolerated. ^{[wiki en 14.12.2015]}

7. REFERENCES AND CITATIONS

sts
picture from infiniteohms http://sharetheseeds.me/forum/index.php?topic=339.msg2537#msg2537
collection of studies: http://sharetheseeds.me/forum/index.php?topic=1189.msg18309#msg18309
growing discussion: http://sharetheseeds.me/forum/index.php?topic=2516.msg19166#msg19166
External Links:
sustainability oriented producer: http://www.zembrin.com/
info: http://www.plantzafrica.com/plantqrs/scelettort.htm
[world seed supply] http://www.worldseedsupply.com/product/sceletium-tortuosum-kanna-seeds/
[entheopedia 14.12.2015] http://entheopedia.org/forum/index.php?topic=1110.0
 sts dicsussion: http://sharetheseeds.me/forum/index.php?topic=2290.msg16814#msg16814
[erowid] https://www.erowid.org/plants/kanna/
[wiki en 14.12.2015] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sceletium_tortuosum
[wiki ger 14.12.2015] https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kanna
[herbalistics 06.02.2016] http://herbalistics.com.au/product/sceletium-emarcidum-kougoed-seed/
External Pictures:
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kanna#/media/File:Sceletium_tortuosum.jpg
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sceletium_tortuosum#/media/File:Sceletium_tortuosum_01102003_Afrique_du_sud_2.JPG

4 Likes fairdinkumseeds, BubbleCat, Athena and LIBERTYNY like this.

[Athena]

A few more cool reads on S. tortuosum:

http://www.plantzafrica.com/plantqrs/scelettort.htm

1 Like LIBERTYNY likes this.

[Psylocke]

I have found that the best way to germinate sceletium seeds is to sow them about 3mm deep in a sand soil in 50% shade. Leave them uncovered outdoors so that they receive natural precipitation. The best time is to sow in spring when day temps are 70-75 and night temps are 50-55. I got nearly 100% germination rates like this. The same batch of seeds sown in the same soil using a sterile plastic baggie tek as for cacti resulted in 10% germ rates.  Soaking did not help.

2 Likes dEEcor and Hummingbird like this.

[LIBERTYNY]

 Some good articles about sceletium with some pictures of commercial farming operations

   ---   http://www.medical-plants.com/htm/about-farm-vredelus.html#harvesting

   ---   http://mg.co.za/article/2015-02-19-bushmen-cure-all-offers-locals-a-sustainable-income

   ---   https://sceletium.com/chemistry-pharmacology/

1 Like cunningplatypus likes this.

[Roze]

Their active growth takes place in autumn, winter and spring, with a rest period during summer when plants should not be watered

Good to know! 

[Bach]

Thanks for those links Liberty. Just increased my knowledge about Sceletium by approximately 142,000%.

 

1 Like LIBERTYNY likes this.