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First of all.
As a health & fitness professional, I must announce this medical disclaimer:
I remind you that the information provided in this article is for information purposes only, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. This information is not intended to be patient education, does not create any patient-physician relationship, and should not be used as a substitute for a professional diagnosis and treatment where required. Consult a doctor for medical advice, treatment or diagnosis.
Also, I receive no financial compensation for any product recommendations made in this article.
Now, let’s get to it!
In the last article, I introduced you to a bit of neuroscience as it relates to intelligence.
In this article, I am going to let the accompanying video below on nootropics speak for itself.
After you watch the video, I would like to provide some additional stuff for you to think about.
So, what is a nootropic?
An initial strategy you can adopt to increase your brain power is to use nootropics. Nootropics are ‘smart drugs’ which describe both natural supplements (sometimes called nutraceuticals) and prescribed medications. They are any form of medication or natural supplementation that can improve your brain function in some way.
The term itself is derived from two Greek words, noos, which means “mind” and trepein meaning “to bend”, or “turn”. Or “shape” the mind.
Nootropics come under a drugs category referred to as performance and image enhancing drugs (PIEDs).
Enhancing your brain’s performance might mean that you wish to improve your
- memory,
- creativity,
- motivation,
- attention or
- some other brain function.
Other terms used to refer to nootropics include:
- cognitive enhancers
- memory enhancers
- brain boosters
A nootropic has the ability to
- boost brain function
- improve memory and learning
- enable better communication
- enhance concentration and focus
- improve the ability to multitask, or appear to
- increase mental energy
- increase or widen the blood vessels
- prevent degenerative disease such as dementia and Alzheimer’s.
Does anyone remember the 1992 movie The Lawnmower Man?
Here we have the scientist experimenting with virtual reality and applies what could be called a nootropic to his subject.
Albeit with a needle.
Many of us have strong psychological associations, including phobias, attached to the needle as a vehicle for drug administration.
Nowadays, however, we see virtual reality being combined with hypnosis for managing pain and anxiety.
A drug-free approach.
Back up a minute! I didn’t know there was a sequel to the movie!
Either way, nootropics are to the brain what supplements and steroids are to the body.
Are they safe? And do they work?
That all depends on what kind of nootropic you intend on using.
Nootropics can be
- natural,
- synthetic, or
- pharmaceutical.
Right now, executives and CEOs across America are – apparently – using nootropics of various types in order to get an edge on their competition.
These help them stay up later, be more confident during presentations and generally perform at their very best.
This is not about recreational use, as valid as that might be as a goal.
It is a strategy referred to as biohacking. The Greek use of the word nootropics suggests that there is a goal orientation and the nootropic is simply a tool for achieving that goal.
Nootropics are also popular with students, and have been for over a decade. So much so, that growing concern was recently expressed over the misuse of nootropics such as
- methylphenidate,
- modafinil,
- amphetamine salt mixtures and
- caffeine-related compounds…
…by people considered healthy.
They are also being offered as solutions for combating brain fog.
The question then is: if you had to take a nootropic, or, as is common today, do a nootropic stack, what would be your goal?
The next question would then be: what other options have you considered in order to attain that goal?
Among the examples listed in the introductory video is Piracetam. Piracetam is a nootropic that increases acetylcholine in the brain. This drug is associated with a Romanian psychologist and chemist by the name of Corneliu E. Giurgea (1923-1995). You will find his name attached to several papers on the subject of nootropics.
The Wikipedia entry, while it does need tightening up, mentions five characteristics Giurgea insisted that nootropic drugs should have.
Should you use nootropics?
So now the big question: should you use nootropics?
Of course this is up to you.
You must take responsibility for the choices you are making.
Particularly if you have an addictive personality. Note the final section of the video on nootropics.
The word “should” is too loaded and judgmental and I am not about to replace your doctor.
You would be advised to consult with your doctor, particularly if you are considering anything stronger than caffeine!
What about natural nootropics?
Here’s a list of some natural nootropics considered to the best.
Naturally, they all come with advantages and disadvantages, pros and cons:
- caffeine
- ginseng – Panax/Asian
- L-theanine – found in green tea
- creatine – a bodybuilding supplement, this amino acid has been found to support brain function.
- gingko biloba
- rhodiola rosea
- bacopa monneri
- omega-3 fatty acids
- curcumin
- lion’s mane mushroom
- choline
My personal approach is to have a glass of iced tea with ginger and a bit of lemonade, before or after coffee for breakfast/brunch. I sip this while I am working and listening to a brainwave entrainment track which is set on continuous loop. Sometimes I have a cup of green tea in between.
I will return to brainwave entrainment in a later article.
I generally have 5g (one level teaspoon) creatine monohydrate mixed with warm water or tea.
I realize I have not yet answered the question as to whether or not they are safe.
Well, do you drink a lot of coffee? What happens to you when you drink too much coffee?
You might even combine that with several cups of tea throughout the day, even after one strong cup of coffee in the morning. Come bedtime, and you just can’t sleep.
Does that example answer your question?
There are, currently, no long-term studies that have uncovered safety issues with natural nootropics.
It goes without saying, everything in moderation.
The disadvantages, then, are mostly to do with how much you are taking.
If you feel you must take a cognitive enhancer stack, and I had to offer advice, I would say, cycle your usage. Do what you need to do to get through your project – then take a break.
Look after your body. Remember, some of these substances suppress appetite.
Do your research. There are countless sources online that offer reviews of products. Some are independent, others might be paid for the products they are promoting.
Perhaps nootropics don’t really make you smarter in terms of raising your IQ. They have, however, been shown to improve brain function.
In the next article, we will look at the role of good nutrition in brain function.
PS: there is a word for those of us who are engaged in brain/bio/mind-hacking – psychonauts. The practice itself is called psychonautics.
Image by Lukas Bieri from Pixabay
PPS: By the way, do take care when drinking your coffee near your precious tech.
Sources:
Rousseaux F, Bicego A, Ledoux D, Massion P, Nyssen AS, Faymonville ME, Laureys S, Vanhaudenhuyse A. Hypnosis Associated with 3D Immersive Virtual Reality Technology in the Management of Pain: A Review of the Literature. J Pain Res. 2020 May 21;13:1129-1138. doi: 10.2147/JPR.S231737. PMID: 32547176; PMCID: PMC7247604.
Nootropics. Located at Psychology Today (online), https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/nootropics [Accessed August 12, 2022]
Drugs vs dietary supplements for brain health. Located at Uniformed Services University (online), https://www.opss.org/article/nootropics-drugs-vs-dietary-supplements-brain-health [Accessed August 12, 2022]
Are Your Executives Taking “Smart Drugs”? (And if Not … Should They Be?) Located at ThinkGrowth.org (online),
https://thinkgrowth.org/are-your-executives-taking-smart-drugs-and-if-not-should-they-be-9b9a964b5cb1 [Accessed August 12, 2022]
Napoletano F, Schifano F, Corkery JM, Guirguis A, Arillotta D, Zangani C, Vento A. The Psychonauts’ World of Cognitive Enhancers. Front Psychiatry. 2020 Sep 11;11:546796. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2020.546796. PMID: 33024436; PMCID: PMC7516264.
11 Best Natural Nootropics & Cognitive Enhancers. Located at Wholistic Research (online) https://wholisticresearch.com/best-natural-nootropics/ [Accessed August 15, 2022]
Suliman NA, Mat Taib CN, Mohd Moklas MA, Adenan MI, Hidayat Baharuldin MT, Basir R. Establishing Natural Nootropics: Recent Molecular Enhancement Influenced by Natural Nootropic. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2016;2016:4391375. doi: 10.1155/2016/4391375. Epub 2016 Aug 30. PMID: 27656235; PMCID: PMC5021479.
Sharif S, Guirguis A, Fergus S, Schifano F. The Use and Impact of Cognitive Enhancers among University Students: A Systematic Review. Brain Sci. 2021 Mar 10;11(3):355. doi: 10.3390/brainsci11030355. PMID: 33802176; PMCID: PMC8000838.
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