Cannabis is beloved for its wellness potential, but regulations and high prices can make access difficult. Instead of navigating this, many wellness brands seek alternative compounds. Enter the rise of functional mushrooms and kanna. Kanna (Sceletium tortuosum) is a succulent plant from South Africa that has been shown to have mood-altering effects that have the potential to quash anxiety.
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Feelz, a small business founded by former cannabis entrepreneurs Stephanie Kronen and Yesenia Garcia, harnesses the power of this plant in an intentional trio of products.
“Cannabis taught us the power of plants to promote wellness, but its legal barriers and restrictions limited its reach,” Kronen told GreenState. “We wanted to create products that offered plant-based benefits but could be enjoyed by anyone, anywhere, without concerns over legality or travel restrictions.”
Kanna was their perfect solution to bypassing the weed complications as it is legal in the U.S. Feelz adds the plant to a combination of intentional ingredients that converge into gummy cubes.
I tried all three: Pure Bliss, Focused Energy, and Serene Slumber. The experience lent me levity and downright delight, something I don’t often find easy to come by–and the succulent is ethically sourced.
All about the Feelz
Feelz sources kanna from a supplier in South Africa that partners with the local growers of high-alkaloid strains. Each kanna strain has been stabilized for decades to isolate desired benefits.
“The growers use sustainable cultivation practices that honor the land and preserve the plant’s natural heritage,” Garcia said. “Our supplier supports local kanna farmers through profit sharing that gives back to the local community.”
Once the kanna reaches the states, it is joined by equally desirable ingredients in a facility that uses good manufacturing practices. Each batch is third-party tested for potency and safety–all of which collide in a subtly divine experience.
My experience with Feelz products
I gave each Feelz kanna cube a shot at the appropriate time, popping a Focused Energy on a particularly scattered work day and a Serene Slumber on a night that I really needed to conk out. As for the Pure Bliss, any moment is good for that. Packs of each flavor come with 20 gummy cubes for $25.
I expected to have a mind-altering experience, but what I didn’t expect was to be presented with the road to myself. Having a child, experiencing trauma, and all of that good stuff can shake a person from their core self.
These last few years, I have been clawing back to my core self after a series of personal experiences and internal work. After trudging through the muck of it for months, Feelz shone a light at the end of the tunnel. Turns out that was their plan all along.
“Our goal is to create products that not only promote wellness but also celebrate individuality, allowing each person to reconnect with nature and rediscover their best selves,” Kronen shared.
Feelz Focused Energy Review
I ate the Focused Energy gummy on a day when I needed to get a lot of work done but could not focus for the life of me. Fluttery feelings kicked in only a few minutes after chomping it down. However, I didn’t really drop in on the work wave until 45 minutes later. While this did not make me immediately zone in on the tasks at hand, it did wake up a happy spirit inside me.
I felt invigorated by two gummies (equal to one serving) which contain kanna alongside turkey tail, guarana extract, Yerba Mate leaf extract, lion’s mane, raspberry, blood orange, lime, and lemon.
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Feelz Serene Slumber review
As a person who does not sleep well, I appreciate a natural product that actually works. File Feelz Serene Slumber under that category. I popped two before bed on a day that I drank cold brew as late as six P.M.
Despite the caffeine, I sailed easily off to sleep like usual. What I didn’t do was wake up an hour later and toss around all night. In fact, I woke up beautifully rested, and my husband (who usually sleeps well no matter what) commented on how a loud storm kept him up. I said, “What storm?”
The slumber truly was serene with this kanna product containing reishi, chaga, corydalis, passion flower, guava leaf, cherry, African mango, and passion fruit.
Feelz Pure Bliss review
Pure Bliss felt similar to the Focused Energy gummy for me, but a bit less intense. It was the best tasting by far and created a fluttering feeling much like its energetic counterpart. After 15 minutes, I was feeling light and happy, and 15 minutes after that I was positively chillin’. My brain felt floaty, but could still focus. I would feel comfortable completing daily tasks but would not drive under the influence of these.
This formula combines kanna, lion’s mane, cordyceps, l-theanine, hibiscus flower, acai berry, blueberry, and pineapple.
Kanna and functional mushrooms: a match made in heaven
My personal happiness journey has been fraught, to say the least, and I have found kanna to be a godsend on the road to figuring it out. These products helped me sleep restfully, connect with my husband, and approach my life with a little more sunshine.
Feelz harnesses the power of kanna and functional mushrooms in a sugarey, little cube capable of so much. In my life, I needed a helper like this to give me inspiration to keep fighting for purely unadulterated joy.
“We’re thrilled to pioneer this space and introduce kanna to a growing community eager for novel, plant-based wellness solutions,” Garcia concluded.
