Stress is ever-present, and consumers are searching for natural solutions to moderate the effects of distraction, fatigue, and burnout from the fast-paced, always-on modern way of living.

Inspired by nature, and with deep respect for the healing wisdom of indigenous communities around the world, Stephanie Wang is the founder and CEO of KA! Empathogenics, which has introduced Kanna Chews—handcrafted with 100% botanical ingredients—to support mental, physical and emotional wellbeing.

A Broad-Spectrum Supplement

The key ingredient is 30 mg of standardized, high-potency Sceletium tortuosum extract (Kanna). The herbal supplement also contains snow lotus, acmella, lavender, mint, and acacia gum.

Kanna is a South African succulent revered by the Khoisan peoples for its healing, calming, and focusing properties. Wang said the company’s patented process extracts Kanna with optimal alkaloid balance for increased bioavailability of serotonin in the brain.

“We’ve spent years researching, experimenting, and perfecting the art of neuroscience, sensory science, and flavor science to bring to life first-ever formulations of empathogenic botanicals that calibrate the brain, and feel as good as they taste,” the company claims.

Wang said Kanna is “neuroprotective and neuroregenerative,” helping people feel more alive as they navigate everyday anxiety and stress. “It’s a very broad-spectrum supplement, and, interestingly, broad-spectrum plant as well. It contains phytochemical compounds that interact and play ‘biojazz’ with your dopamine and serotonin receptors to basically lower stress and anxiety and help you feel more connected and alive.”

Wang did caution against using any KA! products in conjunction with Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs), Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs), or Serotonin-Norepinephrine Reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs).

Formulation Science

Previously working as president of the Alchemist's Kitchen, a botanical medicine and herbal remedy shop in NYC, Wang teamed up with Alex Ott as chief scientist and product development head. Ott is an expert formulator, flavor scientist, and botanist who has PhDs in molecular biology and biochemistry.

“Everything is plant-based; there are no calories, so it doesn’t affect your blood sugar,” Ott said of the formulation. “There are no binders, no elastomers, no plastics, no latexes. An average chewing gum has seven different plastics that are non-degradable in nature. We tried to do something that completely disappears in nature. We use biodegradable packaging, compostable shrink-wrap. We’ve thought about everything. Hopefully people see how much passion went into this project.”

Wang said Kanna Chews can serve many purposes, including to calm feelings of everyday stress, as an alternative to alcohol, for endurance and performance benefits, and even to help create connectedness with a partner.

Empathogenic Principles

“A big part of why we’re calling this ‘Empathogenics’ is because our products help people open their hearts,” said Wang. “So it’s calming their mind and bringing them back into their bodies to really connect with their heart more, and be in more empathic relationships with ourselves and also with each other as a result.”

Wang said she takes Kanna to hone executive functioning and run the day-to-day operations of KA! Empathogenics, which launched in July of 2022.

“I love taking my Kanna Chews first thing in the morning before I have breakfast,” she said. “It just grounds me enormously and sets the tone for the day.... Running a startup does put me into this fight-or-flight stressful mindset. [Using Kanna Chews] I can see the full picture. It helps me make better decisions. I’m a lot more patient with myself and with other people because I’m not in this heightened anxiety-stress state. It really helps me set the tone throughout the day.”

More to Come

Ott said “an empathogen uplifts your mood,” through central nervous system modulation. “Even more than mood changes, it’s about having an open heart and being a better person, and having more empathy for people you don’t know.”

Ott has formulated many fragrances and nutraceutical products over the years and said he’s excited to work with Wang in developing more “empathogens.”

“I’m happy to be on this full-time now,” Ott said. “It’s part of my duty as a so-called alchemist to make the world a better place. We’re excited to bring more offerings and see what good we can do.”