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The family
Mesembryanthemaceae contains many pharmacologically active species.
One of the most utilized by native peoples in South Africa was the
genus Sceletium, for which whole tribes would travel hundreds of
miles to pick a years supply. The plants of the Sceletium genus were
utilized as an intoxicant; however much of the information available
has been spotty and contradictory.
In an effort to clarify the role and usage of Sceletium in it’s
historical context a search was done on Medline which yielded the
following information, derived from a report in the Journal of
Ethnopharmacology (#50 1996 pgs 119-30)
As early as 1662 it is reported that a man named van Riebeeck
bartered with the local inhabitants for sheep and Sceletium, which
was very plentiful and considered the “…greatest clearer of spirits,
and the noblest Restorative in the world…” In 1685 it was recorded
by the second colonial governor of the Dutch Cape Colony, van der
Stel, of the natives “…They chew mostly a certain plant which they
call Canna…They use it as the Indians use betel or areca, and are of
a very cheerful nature…it is held by them in great esteem as the
betel or areca with the Indians. They chew its stem as well as the
roots, mostly all day, and become intoxicated with it, so that on
account of this effect…one can expect some profit from its
cultivation.”
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 immediately
after fermentation, it intoxicates.”
Laidler in 1928 noted that it 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.”
Although primarily chewed, there are reports of it being taken as a
tea (Jacobsen 1960) and also as a snuff (Jacobson 1960). Thunberg
wrote in his journal in 1794, in reference to the San peoples:
“…These people chew ‘Canna’ (Mesembryanthemum) and afterwards smoke
it.” Paterson, one who traveled in the same region wrote in 1789:
“…this is called the Channa land; and derives it’s name from a
species of mezembryanteimum (sic) which is called Channa by the
natives, and is exceedingly esteemed among them. They make use of it
both in chewing and in smoaking (sic); when mixed with Dacka (sic)
is very intoxicating, and which appeared to be of that species of
hemp which is used in the East Indies by the name of Bang.”
There have been many additional reports from self-experimenters who
used the traditionally prepared material orally and most of these
found a marked anxiolytic effect. “One informant used approximately
5ml of powdered ‘kougoed’ (sceletium) orally before giving a lecture
that he was anxious about. He reported feeling relaxed throughout
the lecture, with no cognitive impairment…one user claimed she felt
that ‘kougoed’ was a truth drug….some felt that there was a
synergistic effect with alcohol, and with smoked ‘dagga’ (cannabis
sativa)…the chewing of ‘kougoed’ was reported to greatly enhance the
psychoactivity of an inferior grade of cannabis smoked shortly
thereafter…some reported euphoria as well as a feeling of meditative
tranquility. Several users felt that the relaxation induced by
‘kougoed’ enabled one to focus on inner thoughts and feelings, if
one wished, or to concentrate on the beauty of nature. Some
informants reported heightened sensation of skin to fine touch, as
well as sexual arousal..” (M.T. Smith, N. Gericke, et al).
In light of the above, some Sceletium tortuosum herb, perpared in
the manner of the Hottentots was procured from South Africa and the
following experiments conducted:
Sceletium is here understood to mean the dried herb, powdered herb
or the tincture of Sceletium tortuosum
The first experiment consisted of combining approx. 50mg. Of dried
Sceletium tortuosum with another smoking herb, the one most
preferred by the Hottentots. After smoking the herbs, it was
immediately apparent that there was a strong effect similar to
Cannabis at first but without the dulling of Cannabis. Empathic
feelings beyond normal were noted. There were no hallucinations per
se, but there was a definite visual “softening” in the appearance of
objects and a subtle glow to everything. Feelings of euphoria were
noted and a strong desire to dance and sing. This was offset
somewhat by a slight, easily correctable effect on one’s balance.
The balance deficit was slight and temporary. After two hours the
effects were still quite noticable but had waned somewhat. At this
time I went to bed and had a good, restful nights sleep.
The next experiment was the following morning when I ingested
approx. 50mg of the powdered Sceletium tortuosum as snuff. The
effects were unlike those of the previous evening; in fact, there
did not seem to be much of an effect at all, just a slight
uneasiness. After 1 ½ hours, I again tried some of the Hottentot
herb and was amazed at the difference it made. The full effects of
the previous night returned, along with a stronger empathy than
before. Joy and euphoria were the keywords of this session, and the
effects lasted for over two hours when I became tired as it changed
effects to sedation. This is an effect that has been noted
throughout the history of this plant and led to the contradictory
descriptions of its effects among the early explorers. I took a long
nap and awoke feeling almost normal, just a little of the Sceletium
in the background.
Later that afternoon I smoked some more with a friend, this time
around 100 mg. The friend only smoked a small part of it, but stated
that he felt calmer and had noticed that he was talking less loudly
and in a more calm tone before he left. I finished the remainder,
and became concerned over having used too much. Visual distortions
were noted, similar to looking through a pane of wet glass; some
things seemd in focus and others not. This was somewhat unpleasant,
but did not last long enough to be of serious concern. The euphoria
and well being/empathy was stronger than before. There was also a
slight feeling of minor discomfort, possibly balance related and
tending towards a slight dizziness. At times there seemed to be a
slight headache, but it never developed into one, and was soon gone.
Early in the same evening, I tried another round of the snuff, this
time more than the first time. It was harder to get to the euphoria
and joy this time, possibly because I was tired and trying to keep
up with the friends I was visiting. The friends did not try any.
After a short while, the pleasant effects wore off and I found
myself unhappy with the situation and short tempered with the
people. I left and came home, noticing on the way that my
perceptions were altered enough that I had to pay special attention
to driving, even though it was late at night an there were no cars
on the freeway.
The next day: After trying to sleep for hours, I got up at around 1
am and combusted some cannabis pollen. This was a big mistake; I
became more awake than ever and felt flu-like physical symptoms all
night. I finally managed to fall asleep around 5 am but was up again
by 6;30 am. After being up a while, the flu-like symptoms dissipated
leaving me just tired. Now, and all day so far, I have felt the
“call” of this substance. It is as cloying in it’s seduction as
cocaine, and keeps wafting in and out of my conciousness. The
message is “It felt so good, and this doesn’t. This just feels
ordinary; what’s wrong with feeling good? Try some more”.
The problem, as I discovered yesterday, is that a little bit is
nice; too much makes you feel nauseous for a short while and kind of
dopey and out-of-it. That and the visual distortions.
The joy that a small dose brings is very much worth it. After the
initial joy, in about 45 minutes to an hour or more, a kind of calm
contentedness sets in. One is emotionally detached and can put up
with all kinds of bothersome people without any stress. After a
while, that wears off, though, and they become more bothersome than
originally. Unless you take more. This reminds one of cocaine,
again. And, again, with another dose, the slight unpleasant effects
become more accented as well as the good ones until they can
overshadow the good ones, and it is time to stop.
The visuals remind one somewhat of mushrooms, but things do not melt
(at least for me, at low doses) they just get “soft” looking, like
being slightly out of focus. The colors and textures are accented.
As far as being a potentiator of cannabis, there is no doubt that
sceletium has this effect. Much more was gotten from much less when
sceletium was added.
Overall, it is my opinion that the pleasant effects of this
substance, when used in moderation far outweigh the negative ones.
Furthermore, the effects on cannabis potentiation are marked.
- by Groot van derGros
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