Herbal Encyclopedia

Kanna is Sceletium tortuosum, a low creeping succulent from the Karoo region of South Africa. The San and Khoikhoi peoples traditionally crushed and fermented the plant before chewing it. Its character comes from a family of related alkaloids: mesembrine, mesembrenone, delta-7-mesembrenone and mesembranol. The ratio between those four is what makes one preparation read differently from another.

The percentage is total alkaloid content by weight. MT5 BLOOM is specified at about 5 percent, GLOW MZQ at 5.5 percent, and MELLOW FS3 at 4.5 percent. Kanna is a plant, so each batch lands slightly differently and the figure is a specification rather than an exact number. The percentage alone does not tell you the profile; the split between mesembrine and mesembrenone does.

A standardized extract is specified to a stated total alkaloid percentage and a stated ratio between the alkaloids, so batches measure the same. Our MT5, MZQ and V3 powders work that way. A full spectrum preparation, such as the alcohol-free kanna tincture, carries the plant's whole alkaloid range in its natural proportion instead. Standardized is more repeatable; full spectrum is rounder.

Use a milligram scale. Most extracts ship with a two-sided orange scoop. The larger end holds roughly 15 mg and the smaller end roughly 5 mg, so one gram of extract works out to somewhere between 40 and 70 scoops. Weigh your own scoop once so you know what it actually holds, since packed powder and loose powder differ.

Blue lotus is Nymphaea caerulea, a water lily rather than a true lotus, native to the Nile and the slow rivers of East Africa. Ancient Egypt held it sacred and steeped it in wine. The petals and stamens carry the alkaloids nuciferine and aporphine alongside flavonoids and aromatics. Sri Lankan growers often list the same blue water lily as Nymphaea nouchali.

Kava is Piper methysticum, a pepper family plant grown for its root across Vanuatu, Fiji and Tonga. We carry micronized powder at 6.73 percent kavalactones, which stirs straight into liquid with no strainer bag, instant kava at 6.62 percent, and Vanuatu medium grind for the traditional strain and knead bowl. All three are whole root, not concentrated.

Start with 1 to 3 grams of micronized powder stirred into water or juice, away from meals, then wait 30 to 45 minutes. Regular users typically settle between 10 and 15 grams, taken one to three times a day. Kava has a reverse tolerance, so the first few sessions often read milder than later ones. Work up in small steps.

Our kanna is routinely tested for quality and lab reports are available on request. Micronized kava is laboratory tested with no fillers, and the blue lotus vape is third party tested. We do not operate a laboratory ourselves. For wholesale and white label clients we arrange third party analysis through our partner labs, Phytox and G4 Analytics.

Do not combine kanna with SSRIs, SNRIs, MAOIs or any other serotonergic medication, a group that includes triptans, tramadol and St. John's Wort, because of the risk of serotonin syndrome. Do not use kanna with alcohol. Kava should not be combined with alcohol or with sedative or benzodiazepine medications. Ask your healthcare provider before use if you take anything at all.

Yes. These botanicals are sold to adults 21 and over only, and everything should be kept out of reach of children and pets. The gummies matter most here, since they look and taste like candy. Do not use these products during pregnancy or nursing, and do not drive until you know how something affects you.

Keep extract powders sealed in a cool, dry, dark place with the desiccant left in the jar. Mannitol draws moisture, and clumped powder is hard to scoop accurately. Store dried blue lotus flower airtight away from light, heat and humidity, where it holds color and aroma for a year or more. Glycerin tinctures keep capped and upright without refrigeration.

We ship with USPS and we ship internationally. Orders are fulfilled Monday through Friday, with an average fulfillment time of 1 to 3 days, and packages average 1 to 5 business days in transit. You receive tracking once the label is created. These figures are averages based on order history, not guarantees, and carrier delays do happen.