Mental Health Zembrin (Sceletium tortuosum)

[DementiaSavantPlus]

Following mixed results with heavier-hitting chemicals, I have been becoming more and more drawn to relatively mild herbal extracts to treat anxiety and depression. I have had success with some. I continue to use Rhodiola on a cycling schedule. St. John's Wort has been beneficial, but it often seems to heighten my anxiety.

Anyway, I have recently come across glowing reviews of Zembrin (not necessarily the ones on bluelght), as well as comforting information about its regulation and validation. It is very new, but the plant from which it is extracted, Kanna, has a deep history.

Does anyone have experience with the pharmaceutical grade extract patented as Zembrin? It seems like a promising option, but I cannot find quite enough info to suit me on the web.

 

[Leebay]

Hi DementiaSavantPlus, My experience with Kanna goes back over ten years ago. At least once a year for the last decade I've ordered a bottle of Big Tree Sceletium from Africa and found it to have mild and pleasant effects. Only a few weeks ago did I learn about this new extract which is more standardized to the alkaloid mesembrenone rather than the mesembrine which is more predominant naturally in Sceletium. I've been taking it now for about a week. It seems more calming than the standard Kanna I've tried and that's why it's touted as a an anxiolytic. I'd say that the Zembrin is much more relaxing than just plain Kanna, which can be mildly stimulating and calming. But one has to remember too that this acts as an SSRI or even SNRI, depending on the research. So if taking along with an antidepressant one might have to "monitor" for too much serotonin building up over time. Although 25 mg is recommended, I'm reading about people taking 50 mg to increase effects. Hope this helps.

 

[ad lib]

Hey OP-

I do not have personal experiences with that, and I was not even sure what it was, I had to look it up. I'm just going to post some information about sceletium tortuosum for others. I'm interested in hearing about any experiences with this too.

Sceletium tortuosum (Mesembryanthemaceae]) is a succulent herb commonly found in South Africa, which is also known as Kanna, Channa, Kougoed (Kauwgoed/ 'kougoed', prepared from 'fermenting' S. tortuosum - which literally means, 'chew(able) things' 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 Jan 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.

It is possible that Sceletium may cause elevated mood and decreases anxiety, stress and tension. The plant is not hallucinogenic, contrary to some literature on the subject, and no adverse effects have been documented. According to some anecdotal reports kanna may potentiate the euphoriant effects of cannabis.

^(source)

 

[DementiaSavantPlus]

Leebay -- thanks a lot for your input. I have heard that Zembrin is fast-acting. Did you experience an effect shortly after the first dose? This is supposedly one of the selling points that separates it from St. John's Wort and other prescription anti-depressants. Could you compare or contrast its effects with any other supplement or med?

ad lib -- thank you for that info. I have ordered a bottle of Zembrin and I will enrich this thread as I sample it.

 

[His Name Is Frank]

*bump

Any more info on Zembrin?

 

[DementiaSavantPlus]

So I've been taking a supplement that contains the newly patented Zembrin extract for about two weeks now. (Sorry for the delay. My package evidently had to circle the country before it arrived, and then I wanted to establish a solid perspective before I added to this thread.)

On the first two days, I took one 25mg tablet. I didn't notice much, so I upped the dose to two or three tablets. The first time I took three tablets, I experienced some color enhancement, and a very warm and relaxed, but not sedated, "serotonergic" feeling. I have not achieved these effects since, but that hasn't disappointed me. (It was not a feeling I was compelled to chase.)

I have settled on taking one pill per day and I must say that it basically lives up to its claims. I am tapering off of gabapentin currently so I may be a little imbalanced, but I do feel like it has lowered my anxiety. It also definitely filters out negativity, and I can maintain a positive, unbroken train of thought. My mind is a little more active, but it is by no means an invasive feeling of chemical stimulation or sedation.

All in all it has been a subtle, but effective, mood enhancer. I would say that it is even less pronounced than rhodiola, and certainly less pronounced (and more tolerable) than St. John's Wort was for me. Its subtlety I think has a lot to do with its lack of side effects. In fact the only side effect that I have noticed has been some late evening sedation in my head and eyelids, (however I attribute this to the combination of Zembrin and gabapentin.)

I think I will purchase this again under a different brand name. It seems that three or four supplement companies have been given the green light to use Zembrin in their products, but a couple of them have received more consistently positive reviews.

 

[sam05]

i have tried this stuff before, it was marketed as kanna extract if i recall correctly and looked like chopped up weed. i smoked it out of my pipe and it gave me a noticeable anti-depressant effect, mood shifted slightly and i felt 'lighter'. it was expensive for what it was but it burnt my throat when i smoked it and it was very harsh. i dont think i would use it again.