Evidence supporting the use of: Sceletium
For the health condition: Anxiety Disorders
Synopsis
Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 2
Sceletium tortuosum, commonly known as kanna, is a succulent plant native to South Africa. Its traditional use by indigenous Khoisan peoples dates back centuries, primarily for mood elevation, stress reduction, and relief of thirst and hunger. More recently, sceletium has gained attention for its potential anxiolytic (anxiety-reducing) properties.
Scientifically, sceletium contains alkaloids such as mesembrine, mesembrenone, and mesembrenol, which are believed to act as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and phosphodiesterase-4 (PDE4) inhibitors. These mechanisms are relevant to mood and anxiety regulation. A handful of small, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies have examined standardized sceletium extracts (such as Zembrin®) in healthy volunteers and individuals experiencing mild to moderate anxiety. These studies report improvements in anxiety-related measures, stress response, and cognitive flexibility, with few adverse effects. However, the total number of clinical trials is limited, sample sizes are small, and most studies have been industry-sponsored.
While preliminary data are promising and suggest a plausible mechanism of action, robust, independent, and large-scale clinical trials are lacking. Thus, sceletium's use for supporting or treating anxiety disorders can be considered scientifically plausible but not yet well validated. Evidence strength is modest (rated 2/5), and further research is needed to confirm efficacy and long-term safety.
Other ingredients used for Anxiety Disorders
5-Hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP)amino acids
ashwagandha
waterhyssop
beta caryophyllene
bifidobacterium infantis
bifidobacterium longum
cannabis sativa oil
chamomile
citrus oil
curcumin
ginkgo biloba
ginseng
gotu kola
green tea
hemp oil
inositol
kava root
l-glycine
l-taurine
l-theanine
l-tryptophan
lactium casein decapeptide
lactobacillus casei
lactobacillus paracasei
lactobacillus rhamnosus
lavender
lion's mane
lithium orotate
magnesium
magnolia
matcha
melatonin
motherwort
muira puama
n-acetyl-cysteine (NAC)
omega-3 fatty acids
passionflower
phosphatidylserine
phytocannabinoids
polygala root
prebiotic blend (proprietary)
pregnenolone
pyridoxal-5-phosphate (P-5-P)
reishi mushroom
relora® (proprietary)
rhodiola
SAMe (s-adenosyl-l-methionine disulfate p-toluensulfate)
sceletium
skullcap
valerian root
velvet bean
vitamin B
vitamin B12
vitamin B6
zinc
catnip
shen-chu
St. John's Wort
herbal blend (proprietary)
cocoa
7,8-Dihydroxyflavone
Apigenin
Albizia
Aconite
Baikal Skullcap
Bifidobacterium adolescentis
Bacopin
Brahmi
Bacopa
bacoside
Clary sage
Cymbopogon Martini
Centella asiatica
Capitate Valerian
Cowslip
Cannabidiol
Convolvulus prostratus
Convolvulus Pluricaulis
Essential Oil Blend
Spikenard
Sandalwood
Vervain
yohimbine
Other health conditions supported by sceletium
AnxietyAnxiety Disorders
Depression
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
Stress
Products containing sceletium
Designs For Health
Mood-Stasis™
Pure Encapsulations
Rapid Calm