Kanna vs Kava: Effects, Safety and Which to Choose

Kanna and kava are both traditional plants people turn to for a calmer mood, and their names are only one letter apart, so they are easy to mix up. They come from opposite sides of the world, contain completely different compounds and carry different safety concerns. This guide compares kanna vs kava on what each plant is, how it is used, what the research shows and what to watch for, so you can decide which one fits you.

It is educational, not medical advice.

Key Takeaways

• Different plants: kanna (Sceletium tortuosum) is a South African succulent; kava (Piper methysticum) is a South Pacific member of the pepper family.
• Different compounds: kanna's alkaloids slow serotonin reuptake and inhibit an enzyme called PDE4; kava's effects come from kavalactones in the root.
• Different research: kava has more trials, including a Cochrane review of 11 trials; kanna has a smaller set of controlled studies of a standardized extract in healthy adults.
• Different safety concerns: kava has been linked to rare but serious liver injury and should not be mixed with alcohol or sedatives; kanna should not be combined with antidepressants or other serotonin-raising products.
• Do not take them together without talking to a clinician first.

Kanna vs Kava at a Glance

	Kanna	Kava
Plant	Sceletium tortuosum, a succulent from South Africa	Piper methysticum, a pepper family plant from the South Pacific
Part used	Traditionally chewed, later used as a tincture	The root, traditionally made into a drink
Key compounds	Mesembrine and related alkaloids	Kavalactones (six account for about 96 percent of the activity)
How it works	Slows serotonin reuptake and inhibits PDE4	Kavalactones give kava its soothing, calming effects
Human research	Small controlled studies of a standardized extract in healthy adults	Many trials; a Cochrane review pooled 11 trials with 645 people
Main safety concern	Interactions with antidepressants and other serotonin-raising products	Rare but serious liver injury; not with alcohol or sedatives

What Is Kanna?

Kanna is a low-growing succulent from South Africa with a long history of traditional use by the San and Khoikhoi peoples, who chewed it, and later in tincture form (Terburg, 2013). A standardized extract has been studied for its dual action: it slows the reuptake of serotonin and inhibits PDE4, an enzyme involved in cell signaling.

In a brain imaging study, 16 healthy adults took a single 25 mg dose of the extract or a placebo. After kanna, the amygdala, a brain area that reacts to threats, responded less to fearful faces, and its link to the hypothalamus was weaker (Terburg, 2013). In a 3-month safety trial in 37 healthy adults, 8 mg and 25 mg a day were well tolerated, with no changes in vital signs, heart tracings or blood tests, and some participants noted better coping with stress and better sleep in their diaries (Nell, 2013).

For the full picture, see what is kanna, our kanna ingredient page and mesembrine vs mesembrenone.

What Is Kava?

Kava is native to the South Pacific and belongs to the pepper family. Pacific Islanders have used kava drinks for thousands of years in ceremonies and as medicine (NCCIH, 2025). The drink is made from the root, crushed, grated or chewed and mixed with water or coconut milk (Soares, 2022).

Kava's active compounds are kavalactones. Nineteen have been identified, and six of them (kavain, dihydrokavain, methysticin, dihydromethysticin, yangonin and desmethoxyyangonin) account for about 96 percent of the activity. The root holds most of the kavalactones, while the stems and leaves contain other alkaloids, which is why the part of the plant used matters (Soares, 2022).

Kava has a larger body of trials than kanna. A Cochrane review found 11 placebo-controlled trials with 645 participants; pooling six of them, kava extract lowered scores on a standard clinician rating scale compared with placebo, and side effects were mild, short-lived and infrequent over 1 to 24 weeks (Pittler, 2003). NCCIH notes that kava may need to be taken for several weeks to have an effect.

How They Work Differently

• Kanna works mainly through serotonin and PDE4. A single dose changed how the brain's threat circuit responded within the same study session.
• Kava works through kavalactones, which are processed by the liver's CYP450 enzymes. Kava extract and its main kavalactones also block several of these enzymes (CYP2C9, CYP2C19, CYP2D6 and CYP3A4), which handle many common medicines (Soares, 2022).

The two are often compared for calm, but they act on different systems in the body. That is why the two plants are not interchangeable and why their risks differ.

Safety Compared

Kava safety

Kava products have been linked to rare cases of liver injury, some of them serious or even fatal. Possible reasons include the plant variety, the use of unsuitable plant parts, drinking alcohol at the same time and individual genetics. Kava can also cause stomach upset, headache and dizziness, and long-term heavy use can cause dry, scaly skin and red eyes. It should not be taken with alcohol or other sedating substances, such as benzodiazepines, and may carry special risks during pregnancy or breastfeeding (NCCIH, 2025). Because it affects liver enzymes that process medicines, check with a clinician before taking kava with any prescription.

Kanna safety

In the 3-month trial, the standardized extract was well tolerated, and headache, stomach pain and colds were reported more often with placebo than with kanna (Nell, 2013). Because kanna slows serotonin reuptake, do not combine it with SSRIs, SNRIs, MAOIs or other antidepressants, 5-HTP, St. John's wort or other serotonin-raising products. Avoid kanna if you are pregnant, breastfeeding or under 18, and check with a clinician if you take prescription medicine.

Can you take kanna and kava together?

We do not recommend it without a clinician's advice. Both affect how calm you feel, kava changes how the liver processes other compounds, and stacking mood-altering plants makes side effects and interactions harder to predict.

Kanna or Kava: Which Should You Choose?

• Kanna may suit you if you want gentle, as-needed support for a calm, positive mood, do not take antidepressants, and prefer a plant whose main safety rule is about serotonin interactions rather than the liver.
• Kava may suit you if you are drawn to the traditional drink and its longer research record, do not drink alcohol or take sedatives, and have no liver concerns.
• Check with a clinician first if you take any prescription medicine, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or have a liver condition.

If you are comparing other calming options, see kanna vs kratom and ashwagandha vs L-theanine. For choosing a kanna product, see the best kanna supplement guide.

Our Kanna Nasal Spray

We make Kanna Nasal Spray, which pairs kanna extract with theanine in a spray used as needed, for moments when you want to feel more relaxed, present and open. It comes in three strengths and is made with third-party tested ingredients. For how to use it, see how to use kanna nasal spray, and for more on the product, our kanna nasal spray guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is kanna the same as kava?

No. Kanna is a South African succulent whose alkaloids act on serotonin and PDE4. Kava is a South Pacific pepper family plant whose root contains kavalactones. They differ in effects, research and safety.

Which is stronger, kanna or kava?

They work in different ways, so they are hard to compare directly. Kava has a longer record of trials, while kanna's effects have been studied in smaller trials of a standardized extract in healthy adults. Follow the label for whichever you use.

Is kava bad for your liver?

Kava products have been linked to rare cases of liver injury, some serious. Avoid kava if you have a liver condition or drink alcohol with it, and talk with a clinician before using it regularly.

Is kanna safe?

In a 3-month trial in healthy adults, a standardized kanna extract at 8 or 25 mg a day was well tolerated. Do not combine it with antidepressants or other serotonin-raising products, and avoid it if you are pregnant, breastfeeding or under 18.

Can you drink alcohol with kava?

No. NCCIH advises against taking kava with alcohol or other sedating substances, and drinking alcohol may play a part in kava-related liver injury.

Does kanna make you sleepy like kava?

Drowsiness was not among the main side effects reported in the 3-month kanna trial, where headache and stomach pain were more common with placebo. Everyone reacts differently, so see how it affects you before driving.

Sources

• National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. Kava: Usefulness and Safety. Updated April 2025. nccih.nih.gov
• Pittler MH, Ernst E. Cochrane review of placebo-controlled kava extract trials. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2003. PubMed 12535473
• Soares RB, et al. An updated review on the psychoactive, toxic and anticancer properties of kava. J Clin Med. 2022. PubMed 35887801
• Terburg D, et al. Acute effects of a Sceletium tortuosum extract in the human amygdala and its connection to the hypothalamus. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2013. PubMed 23903032
• Nell H, et al. A randomized, double-blind, parallel-group, placebo-controlled trial of a Sceletium tortuosum extract in healthy adults. J Altern Complement Med. 2013. PubMed 23441963

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This content is for education and is not medical advice. Our products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Talk with a healthcare provider before starting a new supplement if you are pregnant, breastfeeding or taking medication.