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Sceletium Tortuosum - Kanna
Sceletium Tortuosum is a small groundcover
plant native to Southern Africa. For hundreds of years
the Hottentots of Southern Africa used Sceletium tortuosum
as a mood enhancer, relaxant and empathogen. Dr Nigel
Gericke, who is spearheading research into Sceletium
tortuosum in South Africa, believes that "Sceletium
is one of the most ancient of mind-altering substances,
and it is likely to have had a profound influence on
the evolution of human consciousness."
Historically Sceletium Tortuosum was eaten/chewed,
smoked or used as snuff producing euphoria and alertness
which gently fade into relaxation. If chewed in sufficient
quantity Sceletium has a mild aneasthetic effect in
the mouth, much like kava, and is used by the San tribes
if you are about to have a tooth extracted, or in minute
doses, for children with colic. A tea made from Sceletium
is sometimes used to wean alcoholics off alcohol.
Thunberg, during his 1773 expedition reported:
"The Hottentots come far and near to fetch this
shrub with the root, leaves and all, which they beat
together, and afterwards twist them up like pig-tail
tobacco; after which they let the mass ferment and keep
it by them for chewing, especially when they are thirsty.
If chewed after fermentation, it intoxicates."
Laidler in 1928 noted that Sceletium Tortuosum was "chewed
and retained in the mouth for a while, when their spirits
would rise, eyes brighten and faces take on a jovial
air, and they would commence to dance. But if indulged
in to excess, it robbed them of their senses and they
became intoxicated.
Sceletium Tortuosum
for sale:
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