Are you curious about self-optimization and the natural options available to enhance your well-being and unlock new levels of self awareness and connection?
Read our Plant Medicine Guide, created in collaboration with our sponsor, When Nature Calls, a new wellness brand and space redefining modern health empowering individuals to discover joy in their pursuit of balanced, fulfilling lives.
This guide introduces you to the power of three remarkable plants—Kana, Truffles, and Cacao—each offering unique benefits for mind, body. Learn about their history, uses, and how to integrate them into your wellness journey. All are available at When Nature Calls,
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Plant Medicine: A New Ally In Your Life Abroad? A HOP Guide for Beginning Your Journey
This Guide is sponsored by When Nature Calls: A Center for Self-Optimization in the Heart of Amsterdam. Join as for Matcha Tuesday at When Nature Calls and members get a free Group class. Check your Account for details.
DISCLAIMER: HOP strives to explore topics and experiences that might be helpful to our community, this Guide is not intended as advice of any kind (medical or otherwise).
Please seek expert advice if you are intrigued and want to try. When Nature Calls is an incredible resource for exploring these different plants and we are very happy to have them as a sponsor and a resource in the HOP Community and beyond.
The pursuit of self-optimization is age-old, with individuals seeking to enhance mental clarity, emotional resilience, physical well-being, connection to other realms, other humans or other civilizations. Nature has grown and learned alongside humans, and when we allow it to, it is among one of the most powerful allies allowing one to go beyond the everyday and into the divine (whatever that means for you).
These botanical gifts, revered for their profound effects on the mind and body help us heal and grow and offer a means to cultivate balance, creativity, and a deeper connection with oneself day to day.
At House of Peregrine we see plant medicine as potentially helpful during times of transition. Whether in smaller doses or taking a hero or heroine’s journey, we find it best to begin your journey in a community with knowledgeable and evidence-backed resources at hand. We love having When Nature Calls as a Sponsor for this article, as well as a safe and reliable source for knowledge and a place where you can go deeper with questions and community.
*As always, do your research and only partake if and when you feel truly called and have explored all potential risks for your body and life stage. With that in mind, we hope you enjoy this starting overview of some plants you can use to supplement your life.
Today we are introducing you to three extraordinary plants Kanna, Truffles, and Cacao.
Each of these plants possesses unique properties that promote well-being, cognitive enhancement, and emotional regulation. By incorporating them into daily life with intention and respect, you might be able to access deeper levels of self-awareness and wellbeing.
Kanna: The Plant of Emotional Balance
Sceletium tortuosum, commonly known as Kanna, is a succulent plant native to South Africa. This one is a bit less unknown right now but traditionally has been part of the lives of indigenous tribes such as the Khoisan for its mood-enhancing properties. Kanna has gained recognition in modern times for its ability to alleviate stress, anxiety, and depression.
*Important Note: Do Not take Kanna if you are on medications for anxiety, depression or with 5-HTP. This can be a very dangerous combination.
The plant works primarily by interacting with the serotonin system, leading to improved mood, enhanced social connection, and a greater sense of emotional resilience. Kanna is often consumed as a tea, tincture, or chewed in its raw form. It can serve as a natural alternative to pharmaceutical anxiolytics and antidepressants, but always consult with your doctor on this one.
Good to Know:
- Start with a low dose to assess individual sensitivity and increase as you go.
- You can use Kanna in a relaxed setting to enhance its mood-balancing effects or in daily life to stimulate resilience to stress.
- Combine with meditation or journaling to deepen self-reflection and gain insights.
- Can be added to herbal blends for a calming effect throughout the day.
Use for Travel & Living Abroad:
- Helps manage travel stress, jet lag, and social anxiety when adapting to new environments.
- Useful for maintaining emotional balance in high-pressure situations such as work travel or cultural adjustments.
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Kanna Microdose: Focus from When Nature Calls
Truffles: Nature’s Gateway to Expanded Awareness
Psilocybin-containing truffles are a form of subterranean fungi that share the psychoactive properties of magic mushrooms. Truffles are legal in some places that other parts of the Mushroom may not be. Truffles have been used in traditional and modern psychedelic therapies, including couples therapy and coaching for their profound effects on consciousness, creativity, and mental well-being.
Psilocybin, the primary compound in these truffles, is known to enhance neuroplasticity which leads to new neural connections and improved cognitive flexibility. Research suggests that psilocybin truffles can help alleviate symptoms of depression, anxiety, and PTSD while fostering a deeper connection to nature, self, and others. When used responsibly, in a safe setting, and with proper guidance, truffles can serve as a catalyst and an ally for personal growth and self-optimization. In varying doses, from a microdose to a full journey, truffles have become a powerful and research-backed way to heal, grow and connect.
DISCLAIMER: Please be aware this is not legal many places in the world so please be mindful of this for your own experience as well as your legal safety when traveling.
Good to know:
- Engage in a preparatory mindset by setting clear intentions before consuming. Even a small intention setting moment before a microdose can be very powerful.
- Create a comfortable and safe environment for the experience if you are consuming more than a microdose.
- Allowing time and multiple outlets for integration of your experiences can provide incredible growth and insight.
- Microdosing is a great way to experience subtle cognitive benefits without full psychedelic effects.
Microdosing & Daily Use:
- Microdosing truffles (0.1g-0.3g) every few days can support creativity, focus, and emotional resilience without hallucinations.
- Can be used as a tool for enhancing productivity and mindfulness.
Use for Travel & Living Abroad:
- Can help with adjusting to new perspectives and overcoming culture shock.
- May assist in managing stress and uncertainty in unfamiliar environments.
- Useful for solo travelers seeking deeper self-reflection or connection with new experiences.
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Cacao: The Elixir of the Heart
Cacao, derived from the Theobroma cacao tree, was used by ancient cultures (like the Mayans and Aztecs) as a sacred plant with potent heart-opening properties. Unlike processed chocolate, raw ceremonial-grade cacao is rich in theobromine, a gentle stimulant that enhances focus, energy, and mood without the jittery effects of caffeine.
Cacao is packed with antioxidants, magnesium, and neurotransmitter-modulating compounds that promote a sense of well-being and emotional openness. Many individuals use ceremonial cacao in meditation, creative practices, and rituals designed to enhance emotional intelligence, mindfulness, and interpersonal connection. Drinking cacao with intention can amplify feelings of love, gratitude, and creativity, making it a valuable tool for self-optimization.
Good to know:
- Use ceremonial-grade cacao for a richer experience and to honor the heritage of the practice and the land.
- Prepare cacao with warm water or plant-based milk, and consider adding spices like cinnamon or cayenne for taste and enhanced benefits.
- Drink cacao in a quiet, reflective space or with those you wish to connect with deeper to fully appreciate its effects.
- Ideal for morning rituals to start the day with focus and intention.
- Pair with movement practices such as yoga or dance to heighten body awareness.
- Can be used in social settings to enhance connection and openness with new people.
- A small daily amount of cacao (10-20g) can help sustain energy, uplift mood, and promote emotional warmth.
Use for Travel & Living Abroad:
- Cacao can provide a natural energy boost during long journeys.
- Helps maintain a sense of comfort and emotional connection when far from home.
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Kanna, Truffles, and Cacao each offer distinct pathways to self-optimization, whether through emotional balance, cognitive expansion, or heart-centered awareness. These plants serve as gentle yet powerful allies in the journey of self-improvement, helping individuals reconnect with their innate potential.
By integrating these natural allies with mindfulness, respect, and personal intention, one can cultivate a more harmonious state of well-being, creativity, and inner peace. In embracing what nature has created, we open ourselves to profound transformation and an enriched understanding of our mind, body, and soul.
Visit When Nature Calls for further information and guides on different plants for self optimisation.