Yes it is. As a natural pain reliever and adaptogen with few side effects, Kanna serves the well-being of San people from birth to old age. In larger doses, Kanna is employed by the San as a ritual aid alongside fasting, dancing, and drumming to support the shamanic practices of divination and spirit communion.
The San people, also known as the Bushmen or Basarwa, are indigenous hunter-gatherer people of Southern Africa. They are believed to be one of the oldest indigenous groups in the world, with a rich cultural heritage and a history that dates back thousands of years. The San people traditionally lived in the Kalahari Desert region, which covers parts of present-day Botswana, Namibia, Angola, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa.
The San people have a long history of using kanna for its medicinal and psychoactive properties. They would chew or smoke the dried leaves and stems of the plant, or prepare it as a tea or snuff. Kanna was primarily used for its mood-altering effects, which were believed to induce relaxation, reduce anxiety, and enhance social interactions.
The use of kanna by the San people is deeply rooted in their cultural practices and spiritual beliefs. It was used during healing rituals, social gatherings, and as a means of connecting with the spiritual realm. Kanna played an important role in their daily lives, providing physical and psychological relief, as well as facilitating communication with ancestors and the spirit word.