Kanna Tincture: How to Read the Ratio and the Label

Tinctures are the oldest documented liquid form of kanna, and the ratio on the bottle is the number most buyers misread.

A kanna tincture is a liquid extract, and it is the form with the longest paper trail: historical accounts describe European colonial farmers using kanna in tincture form [1]. Today the main confusion is the ratio printed on the bottle, such as 1:5 or 1:2. This post explains what those numbers mean, what is and is not known about absorption under the tongue, and what to check on a label. It does not recommend an amount.

What is a kanna tincture?

It is a concentrated liquid made by soaking the plant in a solvent, most often alcohol, then straining it.

A 2013 imaging study introduces the plant as having a long history of traditional use by the San and Khoikhoi peoples as a masticatory and medicine, and "subsequently by European colonial farmers as a psychotropic in tincture form" [1]. A 1996 historical review also lists tinctures among reported uses [2]. Modern tinctures are sold as dietary supplements. For the plant itself see what is kanna.

What does a tincture ratio like 1:5 or 1:2 mean?

By herbalist convention, the first number is plant weight and the second is solvent volume, so 1:5 means 1 g of plant to 5 mL of liquid.

One herbal education source defines a weight-to-volume tincture as the weight of plant material relative to the volume of alcohol, and gives dry-plant tinctures as commonly 1:5 and fresh-plant tinctures as 1:2 [3]. That is practitioner convention, not a regulatory standard, and makers vary. A few consequences follow:

• A 1:2 tincture used more plant per milliliter than a 1:5, so it is more concentrated on paper.
• The ratio describes what went in, not what came out. Alkaloid levels in the plant itself vary by collection site and ecotype [7], and extraction efficiency depends on the solvent and method.
• The ratio does not tell you the amount per dropper unless the label also gives a serving volume and the plant weight behind it.
• Dry versus fresh plant matters. A ratio that does not say which was used is hard to compare [3].

None of the human trials used a tincture. They used a standardized extract, Zembrin, at 8 mg or 25 mg a day [8] or a single 25 mg dose [9]. A tincture's "1:5" cannot be converted into those figures. We explain the wider problem in kanna dosage.

Is kanna tincture absorbed under the tongue?

Lab data say kanna alkaloids can cross mouth tissue, but there is no human absorption study.

A 2012 study tested four kanna alkaloids, in pure form and in three crude extracts, across pig buccal (cheek), sublingual (under the tongue) and intestinal tissue. Permeability was generally lower across the oral tissues than across the intestinal tissue, and the authors suggested oral-mucosa transport might meaningfully contribute to overall bioavailability, especially when plant material is chewed and held in the mouth [4]. This is tissue in a dish. It does not establish onset time or how much of a swallowed or held liquid reaches the blood in a person. Claims that a tincture works "faster" than other forms are, as far as we found, untested. See kanna drinks vs capsules.

Does kanna tincture contain alcohol?

Often yes, though glycerin-based versions exist, and the label should state the solvent.

For anyone who avoids alcohol, that is the first line to read. WebMD says there is not enough research on interactions between sceletium and alcohol [5]. We do not suggest combining them; see can you mix kanna and alcohol. A product made with alcohol may not suit people who avoid alcohol for any reason, so check before buying. If you are worried about your own drinking, SAMHSA's National Helpline is free and confidential at 1-800-662-4357.

How long does a kanna tincture last?

We found no published stability data for kanna tinctures, so follow the maker's date and storage instructions.

The nearest evidence is a lab study of pure mesembrine hydrochloride. It changed over time in water in sunlight, but not in methanol, and not in the dark [6]. That is a result about one compound in particular solvents, not about commercial tinctures in amber bottles. What it hints at is that the solvent and light exposure may matter, which is a reason to prefer a label that gives a date and storage directions over one that does not.

What does the research say about kanna tinctures?

Nothing directly; the trials tested a standardized extract, not a tincture.

The 3-month safety trial gave 37 healthy adults 8 mg or 25 mg a day. Vital signs, ECG and bloodwork did not differ from placebo, and headache, the most common adverse event, was more frequent in the placebo group; efficacy was not assessed [8]. A single 25 mg dose in 20 volunteers was associated with lower self-reported anxiety before a simulated public-speaking task in one study, while the other study showed no treatment effect [9]. These were small studies of healthy people, with authors tied to the extract's owner. A tincture made by a different method may contain a different mix of compounds, so the findings do not carry over. See kanna benefits for the full picture.

Kanna tincture vs capsules

More on capsules in kanna capsules. For ranked products see best kanna supplements.

What should you check on a tincture label?

• Plant part and whether fresh or dried.
• The ratio and the solvent, including the alcohol percentage if any.
• Serving size in mL and what it contains, in plant weight or extract weight.
• Expiry date, storage directions, lot number.
• Safety statements. WebMD lists possible interactions with MAOIs, SSRIs, SNRIs, tricyclic antidepressants, antipsychotics, triptans and St. John's wort, and says it is not known how sceletium affects pregnancy [5]. See is kanna safe.

The NCCIH cautions that "standardized," "verified" or "certified" does not necessarily guarantee quality or consistency [10]. Our kanna label guide covers more.

This page is general information, not medical advice. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. Kanna products are not intended for any disease or health condition. kannadrinks.com is published by Psilly Goose, a kanna drink maker.

References

1. Terburg D, et al. Acute effects of Sceletium tortuosum (Zembrin), a dual 5-HT reuptake and PDE4 inhibitor, in the human amygdala and its connection to the hypothalamus. Neuropsychopharmacology 2013;38(13):2708-16. PubMed
2. Smith MT, Crouch NR, Gericke N, Hirst M. Psychoactive constituents of the genus Sceletium N.E.Br. and other Mesembryanthemaceae: a review. J Ethnopharmacol 1996;50(3):119-30. AGRIS record
3. The Herbal Academy. Demystifying weight-to-volume tinctures. theherbalacademy.com (practitioner education source, not a pharmacopoeial standard)
4. Shikanga EA, et al. In vitro permeation of mesembrine alkaloids from Sceletium tortuosum across porcine buccal, sublingual, and intestinal mucosa. Planta Med 2012;78(3):260-8. PubMed
5. WebMD. Sceletium: Uses, side effects, interactions. webmd.com
6. Patnala S, Kanfer I. Investigations of the phytochemical content of Sceletium tortuosum following the preparation of "kougoed" by fermentation of plant material. J Ethnopharmacol 2009;121(1):86-91. PubMed
7. Reddy K, Stander MA, Stafford GI, Makunga NP. Mass spectrometry metabolomics and feature-based molecular networking reveals population-specific chemistry in some species of the Sceletium genus. Front Nutr 2022;9. PubMed
8. Nell H, et al. A randomized, double-blind, parallel-group, placebo-controlled trial of Extract Sceletium tortuosum (Zembrin) in healthy adults. J Altern Complement Med 2013;19(11):898-904. PubMed
9. Reay J, et al. Sceletium tortuosum (Zembrin) ameliorates experimentally induced anxiety in healthy volunteers. Hum Psychopharmacol 2020;35(6):1-7. PubMed
10. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. Using dietary supplements wisely. nccih.nih.gov

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