Serene State vs. The Rest: What Makes a Stress Support Supplement Truly Work?

It’s no secret that stress is at an all-time high right now. Whether it’s the lingering effects of the pandemic, mounting work demands, or the baseline buzz of burnout, stress has unfortunately become a near-universal part of modern life. According to the American Psychological Association, 76% of adults report experiencing health impacts from stress, including fatigue, headaches, and sleep problems. (1) And we’re looking for relief—fast.

That’s where the booming market of stress support supplements comes into play. Take a walk down the wellness aisle of your local grocery store and you’re likely to find tinctures, tonics, powders, gummies, and capsules all promising to bring you peace. But what actually works? And what sets a truly effective supplement apart from the rest?

Enter Serene State, Sakara’s wildberry-flavored, clinically backed stress support gummy. Let’s explore how it compares to the rest of the category while focusing on what really matters: ingredient quality, speed of results, and long-term benefits.

The Landscape of Stress Support

The stress support category is as diverse as it is saturated. Most supplements fall into one of the following camps:

• Herbal blends - Common combinations include passionflower, valerian root, lemon balm, or skullcap.
• Adaptogens - Botanicals like ashwagandha and holy basil are touted for their ability to help the body “adapt” to stress over time.

Vitamin/mineral formulas - These often feature ingredients like B-complex vitamins or GABA which support the nervous system.

While many of these ingredients are well-known and well-loved, few products on the market are formulated with clinically studied doses, and even fewer deliver fast, noticeable results. Many rely on sedative herbs that can dull the senses rather than sharpen them. Or, they stack underdosed ingredients in proprietary blends that keep you guessing.

In this crowded space, Serene State offers something different: calm focus in the chaos, and grounded clarity you can trust.

What Serene State Is—And Why It’s Different

Every element of Serene State is intentional–from its traceable ingredients to its flavorful gummy format. It’s designed to work both in the moment and over time thanks to two clinically studied, synergistic ingredients that deliver a clear-headed calm.

ZembrinⓇ: A Smarter Form of Kanna

Kanna (Sceletium tortuosum) is a South African succulent long used in indigenous wellness rituals to support mood, clarity, and emotional balance. While kanna is gaining popularity in the supplement world, not all forms are created equal.

Most generic kanna extracts vary significantly in potency and alkaloid content, and few have been studied in humans. That’s why we chose ZembrinⓇ, a patented and standardized extract developed through a sustainable seed-to-shelf cultivation process.

What Sets ZembrinⓇ Apart:

• Clinically studied in humans: In a double-blind study, a single 25 mg dose of Zembrin® significantly reduced reactivity in the amygdala and hypothalamus—regions of the brain involved in processing fear and threat—suggesting a fast-acting, anxiety-reducing effect without sedation. (2)
• Cognitive support: In a 3-week, placebo-controlled trial, participants taking 25 mg daily demonstrated improved mental agility, decision-making, and executive-function. (3)
• Dual-action mechanism: Zembrin® supports mood stability while engaging neuroprotective pathways through PDE-4 inhibition, which increases cAMP signaling—essential for memory formation, executive functioning, and emotional regulation. (4-5)
• Ethical sourcing: Developed in partnership with the South African San Council, Zembrin® reflects cultural reverence and sustainability.

L-Theanine: Relaxed, Yet Clear

L-theanine is an amino acid naturally found in green tea that’s been linked to a calm but alert mental state.

In Serene State, L-theanine Helps:

• Promote alpha brain waves, which are the same ones seen during meditation
• Reduce cortisol levels the physiological effects of stress
• Enhance cognitive function and focus under pressure (6)

One randomized, placebo-controlled study found that 50 mg of L-theanine significantly increased alpha wave activity and promoted a relaxed yet attentive state in healthy adults.6 This is the exact amount used in Serene State–a clinically relevant dose designed to deliver results without drowsiness.

Zembrin® and L-theanine are a powerful duo, with one ingredient offering emotional resilience, and the other supporting mental clarity.

Calm Focus vs. Sedation

Many stress supplements are designed to simply “take the edge off.” But Serene State was created to do more than blunt your experience–it’s meant to help you feel grounded, present, and empowered.

As with most wellness rituals, the more you engage with it, the more benefits you unlock. While Serene State offers fast-acting support (you may feel the difference in as little as two hours), consistent use for 2-6 weeks may support:

• A healthier stress response
• Improved emotional regulation
• Clearer thinking during moments of stress or tension

Why Formulation Matters

At Sakara, we create and formulate supplements based on results. Serene State was crafted with clinical insight, meaning each component is included at evidence-backed doses, with ingredient synergy and bioavailability in mind.

As with all Sakara products, Serene State is:

• Vegan and non-GMO
• Gluten-free and free of artificial sweeteners
• Third-party tested for purity and potency
• Produced in a cGMP-certified facility

Clarity Over Chaos

Serene State isn’t just another gummy in a crowded market–it’s a clinically designed ritual for calm, clarity, and resilience. It’s rooted in the science of how your brain and body respond to stress, and it’s a reflection of our belief that wellness should feel as good as it works.

References

1. American Psychological Association. Stress in America™ 2022. APA News Releases. 2022. https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/stress/2022/concerned-future-inflation
2. Terburg D, Syal S, Rosenberger LA, et al. Acute effects of Sceletium tortuosum (Zembrin), a dual 5-HT reuptake and PDE4 inhibitor, in the human amygdala and its connection to the hypothalamus. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2013;38(13):2708-2716. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23903032/
3. Chiu S, Gericke N, Farina-Woodbury M, Badmaev V, et al. (2014). Proof-of-Concept Randomized Controlled Study of Cognition Effects of the Proprietary Extract Sceletium tortuosum (Zembrin) Targeting Phosphodiesterase-4 in Cognitively Healthy Subjects: Implications for Alzheimer’s Dementia. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2014;2014:682014. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25389443/
4. Chen J, Zhu Z, Xu F, Dou B, Sheng Z, Xu Y. Phosphodiesterase 4 inhibition in neuropsychiatric disorders associated with Alzheimer’s Disease. Cells. 2025;14(3):164. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39936956/
5. Delhaye S, Bardoni B. Role of phosphodiesterases in the pathophysiology of neurodevelopmental disorders. Mol Psychiatry. 2021;26(9):4570-4582. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33414502/
6. Nobre, AC, Rao A, & Owen GN. L-theanine, a natural constituent in tea, and its effects on mental state. Asia Pac J Clin Nutr. 2008;17(S1):167-168. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18296328/