I just got my 5X Kanna extract from a well-known internet site, which is labeled "not for human consumption. I've heard that Kanna can be taken sub-lingually so I tried 200mg in my lip, swallowing the juice. I figured they just put that warning on for legal purposes and have heard of people using Kanna in this way, but then I realized it is an extract, and that extracts are probably made for smoking only. I also read somewhere that herbal extracts are sometimes made with chemicals like sodium hydroxide and sulfuric acid.

Is this dangerous? I feel so stupid and I'm a little nervous now. Should I call poison control? I spit it out but it's been about 30 min. I don't feel any effects, good or bad, so far.

When somebody does an extract for you, unless you have a mass spec or the like, you aren't going to know for sure exactly what it is or what's in it.

A 5x kanna extract sounds harmless. Might make you happy. You can chillax.

Yes, just like most DMT extractions also use sodium hydroxide.

Sodium hydroxide is a common base used in many extractions to freebase the desired alkaloids.

Sulfuric acid is used to make a sulfate salt just like hydrochloric acid is used to make a hydrochloride salt (HCl), acetic acid makes an acetate salt, citric acid makes a citrate, fumaric acid makes a fumarate etc etc..

lol thanks, I know that, but I'm concerned with residual acid/base/chemical from a sloppy extraction.

I can't vouch for the extraction but hopefully there should be no residual extract chemicals in products from any self respecting vendors.
But I don't think it would be any safer to smoke rather than use internally if there were any chemicals in it.
If there were sodium hydroxide left in it you would probably feel a burn as it sat in your mouth.

It did sting for a second on the right side bottom gum cheek, that's why I got kinda freaked out.

So the general consensus is that it is safe?

Does anyone know what chemicals are used in extracting Kanna?

Why dont you email them and ask how the extract was done? Maybe they can tell you.. Often its some alcoholic soak or similar, but there can be many ways to extract depending on what are the active principles, and I havent researched much about kanna.

I think in general it might be safe but the fact that these extracts are often sold "not for human consumption" and therefore do not necessarily need to go through some quality control, adds more risks. I do think most vendors will know the products will be consumed and wouldnt want someone dying because of them, but then again, maybe some of them just buy the extract from elsewhere and have no real clue?

We've had a vendor that was selling supposed THH, and one of the batches was found without any THH, but most notably, it was composed of harmine and DMT. While this isnt necessarily dangerous physically, it might have created a problem with the law if this person's package got searched, or maybe someone might have gotten a very strong trip without expecting, or whatever. Our guess was that it was not on purpose but some sloppy work and contamination. But if this happened, how to know it wont happen again?

So what Im saying with all of this is that, while it might be safe most of the times, and I guess your 5x extract could be safe, its hard to know if each specific time its safe or not. If the contamination was just some base (like lye) or some acid, that would be no problem, you could make a small amount of solution and check the pH. Then if its too high or too low, you could always neutralize it with some acid or base.

Why not buy the plant material and make the extract yourself?

Good idea. I think I will.



Since I'm new to Kanna, I thought it would be more simple to just order one. I do plan on making my own alcohol tincture once I find a good vendor with quality Kanna, and become more familiar with the plant.

Thanks to everyone who responded. I'm still alive, so all is well!

Ok, I tried Kanna 5:1 Full Spectrum extract from iamshaman.com again today, I tried it 6th days in a row @ 250 mg, sublingually, so it has had a chance to build up in my system and should have had SOME effect. I increased the dosage today to 350 mg, putting it under my tong for 20 minutes, and definitely noticed a burning sensation.

I emailed them asking how they extract their product, and this is what I got back:

My apologies, but the manufacturer who extracts our kanna has not provided that information for us. However please note that our kanna is intended for consumption, and therefore should not harm you in any way. The only warning we have for the kanna is this: Kanna is believed to act as a Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI). In combination with common psychiatric medications including other SSRIs (such as Prozac) and MAO Inhibitors, it may cause injury if ingested.

I don't have any litmus papers or beets so I don't have a way to test the pH, but I know what I felt. I guess it could just be the nature of the extract, but I'm not taking any more chances with my health. Time to throw it away and try some other vendors.

Kanna extraction is usually done with water or ethanol, I have never heard of lye or any other nasty chems being used to extract kanna. I might be worg though, maybe shoot the store an email asking how they did it, it is your righ to know.

Remember that just because it stings doesn't necessarily mean there is residual chemicals.
Shame that they couldn't give you the extraction method though.
You can also get a rough estimate of ph using purple cabbage.
Probably good not to risk it if your worried but I wouldn't toss it until you do more research, that's just me though. Good luck!

Ok, I got another email from iamshaman.com after I expressed my concern for the Kanna extract.

Here it is:

Never are any harsh chemicals used for any of our extracts, as
they are typically CO2 or Ethanol extracted. We do not sell anything with
chemicals added or chemical residues.

I'm glad I didn't throw it away, because today I tried 200mg up my nose. I mixed it with heated spring water and coconut oil on a spoon and snorted it. I actually felt some minor effects! Like a light cannabis sativa high. No burn whatsoever. I'm happy now.