For people who are just learning about nootropics, the word “racetams” might sound significantly more like a conventional medicine than other natural nootropics like Gingko Biloba and Ashwagandha herbs.

Racetams aren’t found in nature but were instead developed specifically to help enhance brain function. The term “smart drugs”* was originally used to refer to racetams and was only later used to refer to all nootropics.

There are several classes of nootropics in the racetam family, and each have slightly different effects on the brain. Here, we will review the four most common racetams: piracetam, aniracetam, oxiracetam, and pramiracetam.

We will review their effects and known mode of action, and any points of caution to consider.

*Note: the term “smart drugs” can be misleading, because the term drugs is most often used to refer to substances that are meant to cure or treat disease. While there is evidence that nootropics can have a positive impact on the wellbeing of people with specific brain diseases, whether they are considered medicines depends on the country in which they are sold.

Types of Nootropics

Before we get into the details of the racetam group of nootropics, let’s review the types of nootropics, classified by origin and form. Nootropic drugs are made in a lab and are known to have isolated chemicals that produce a pharmacological effect on the brain.

Medicines and Drugs

The FDA defines drugs as “articles intended for use in the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease.” In other words, they are used for therapeutic purposes.

Most nootropic medicines and drugs are available by prescription, but it depends on the country. In some cases, the same nootropic is classified as a drug in some countries and as a supplement in others, as is the case for some racetams.

Some of the conditions nootropic drugs and medicines are used for include:

• Alzheimer’s
• Dementia
• Depression
• Epilepsy
• Memory impairments
• Vertigo
• Adverse blood flow

Natural Nootropics

Natural nootropics are herbs and foods that contain components that benefit certain aspects of brain activity. Thousands of natural nootropics have been used for centuries, and are only very recently classified as nootropics or adaptogens.

Some of these include:

• Ginkgo Biloba
• St. John’s Wort
• Lion’s Mane mushroom
• Rhodiola Rosea
• Ashwagandha
• Bacopa monnieri
• Cocoa
• Cinnamon
• Coconut oil
• Almond oil
• Coffee and teas

An Introduction to the Racetam Family

Racetams are a class of nootropics that are specifically designed to improve memory. Piracetam, the “original” racetam, was discovered in the late 1960s, but now there are more than twenty substances in the racetam family.

They are synthetic, meaning that they aren’t found in nature, but rather were developed specifically for their effects on the brain.

Because they are synthetic doesn’t meant that they are more or less effective, or that they are more or less risky than nootropics found in nature. It does mean, however, that they are more thoroughly studied than most other nootropics available on the market – both synthetic and natural.

How Racetams Work

Even though racetams were developed synthetically, their mechanisms of action are not fully understood. They are grouped together because they have similar chemical structures.

It appears that racetams, especially piracetam and aniracetam, modulate Glutamate and AMPA receptors in the brain. AMPA receptors mediate synaptic transmission in the central nervous system in milliseconds. More specifically, they pay key roles in plasticity, which allow the brain to uptake and process new information.

In other words, they are responsible for most of the excitatory brain wave transmission, or the messages that encourage neurons to act and adapt to changing situations, including retaining new information. This is as opposed to inhibitory neurotransmitters, which are responsible for discouraging neuron action.

Racetams also seem to modulate acetylcholinergic systems, which are involved in the processing of complex information. Alterations and changes in the cholinergic systems are linked to neurological aging and Alzheimer’s disease.

Unlike other nootropics and some brain-altering drugs, racetams don’t have a single mode of action. This means that there are many complex pathways through which they impact the brain which is why they are not easily understood.

Even though the pathways of action are complex, researchers have determined two main pathways through which the substances act on the brain:

1. They positively impact cognitive function and intelligence
2. They are linked to nervous activity in the right and left hemispheres and in brainwaves

Most racetams are considered “pharmacologically safe”, nontoxic, and almost free of side effects. In fact, they are considered neuroprotective (protective of the brain), with the exception of nefriracetam (not discussed here) may have some serious negative effects in males.

Why Racetams Are Used

Racetams are used specifically for cognitive improvement or, in some cases, to treat cognitive impairment and nervous system disorders. They are classified as nootropics, which are components that improve brain function.

The original definition of nootropics, developed by Giurgea and Salama in 1977 is as follows:

A nootropic drug is characterized by a direct functional activation of the higher integrative brain mechanisms that enhances cortical vigilance, a telencephalic functional selectivity, and a particular efficiency in restoring deficient higher nervous activity.

More simply put, nootropics, including racetams are substances that improve human cognitive abilities.

There are hundreds of studies that examine the different uses of racetams. Below we summarize a few of the most outstanding impacts of racetams on the human brain.

1. Improvements in cognitive deficits after traumatic brain injuries.

Several studies have been carried out on the effects on racetams to improve cognition after traumatic brain injuries.

One study conducted with 42 adolescents who had suffered traumatic disorders were divided into two groups; one group was given piracetam for one month, and the other group was examined as controls.

In the study, piracetam was found to have a positive therapeutic effect on cognition, including memory, attention, and executive functions, and on motor coordination, speed and performance.

Another study looked at the effects of pramiracetam, another racetam, in young men who suffered cognitive effects of head injuries. The placebo-controlled study found significant improvements in memory, especially delayed recall, that were maintained for 18-months that pramiracetam was continued to be administered, and one month after it was discontinued.

2. Neuroprotective effects when undergoing surgery

During cardiac surgery, it is possible that patients experience a reduction in cognitive function. In one 2008 study, patients who were scheduled for coronary bypass surgery received piracetam or a placebo. Those who received piracetam experienced a protective effect on brain functions and reduced the potential decline of neuropsychological activities that can result from the surgery.

Then, a meta-analysis (a study of studies) came to the same conclusion: piracetam may have been effective in improving the short-term cognitive performance of people who were undergoing bypass surgery.

3. Lowering depression and anxiety

There are two main types of racetams that have studies show may be effective against symptoms of depression and anxiety.

Levetiracetam has mood stabilizing properties, and in a preliminary study was administered to patients who had partial seizures and depressive symptoms. It suggested that treatment of patients with Levetiracetam improved depression and anxiety in patients.

These results were confirmed by a systematic review of studies, and found that the incidence of depression and anxiety in people taking Levetiracetam was even lower than in people taking antiepileptic drugs.

But how about the use of levetiracetam for general social anxiety disorder not linked to epilepsy? A pilot study suggests that the use of levetiracetam is not only safe, but effective. Larger, controlled studies are needed to confirm the results, however.

Aniracetam also may have antidepressive effects. Most of the studies that have been carried out for this have been conducted on mice and rats, but they have found that it also has antidepressive and anti-anxiety effects. Interestingly enough, they are more pronounced when combined with the effects on the aging brain.

In other words, if the results can be transferred to adults, aniracetam could help to mediate depressive symptoms in people who are experiencing the negative effects of brain aging.

4. Improving memory

Piracetam and pramiracetam are the most-studied nootropics for their memory-improving effects. Both animal studies and human trials have been conducted that show similar results.

A classic study, published in 1981, showed that when choline and piracetam were combined, rather than using only one or the other, it had a profound effect on the memory of aged rats. Another study that administered both piracetam and pramiracetam to rats found improvements in information retention.

Another animal study carried out with zebrafish found parallel results, where the fish that were given piracetam had significantly better results in a maze test than fish not given piracetam.

Clinical trials with humans have also demonstrated the positive effects of piracetam on memory. A 1984 double-blind study published in Psychiatry Journal administered piracetam to dyslexic boys, and found that it helped to improve their verbal learning after treatment.

Other studies have demonstrated the positive effects of piracetam in treating learning and memory disorders in elderly people. This is good news regarding the identification of new and novel treatment for memory impairment that can take place in people with senile dementia.

5. Antiepileptic activity (leveracetam, seletracetam, brivaracetam)

Levetiracetams were discovered precisely because of their ability to protect the brain against different phases of seizures. Levetiracetams have opened the door for a whole new class of antiepileptic treatments because no adverse effects have been identified.

Researchers understand that it is because levetiracetam has a highly selective action against abnormal patterns of brain activity, rather than generalized effects on neurotransmitters.

Seletracetam and brivaracetam are both recently developed racetam nootropics (considered second-generation to existing antiepileptic racetams).

6. Improvements in symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease, dementia and cognitive impairment

Initial research carried out prior to clinical trials have suggested that piracetams, when administered over long periods of time, may slow the progression of cognitive deterioration in people diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, with no adverse effects.

A systematic review set out to analyze and compare the results of several studies that tested whether piracetam was effective for the treatment of dementia and cognitive impairment.

Unfortunately, the systematic review concluded that piracetam wasn’t effective as a treatment for people with dementia or cognitive impairment, but that positive evidence is enough to support further research in to piracetam for such a use.

Oxiracetam is another racetam that has been identified as potentially having a positive effect on the symptoms of dementia, especially for the first months of a 12-month treatment. The effects were measured based on the application of several tests, including: Mini Mental State Examination, Auditory Continuous Performance Test, Rey’s 15 Words Test, Block Tapping Test, Mattis Word Fluency, Luria Alternating Series and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living.

A Review of 4 Popular Racetams

Piracetam

Piracetam is “the original” racetam discovered in 1964 by Dr. Corneliu Giurgea, the same researcher who later names and defined the concept of nootropics. Piracetam continues to be the most popular one. It is similar in composition to the naturally-occurring GABA neurotransmitter, but is functionally unrelated.

It boosts cognitive potential by improving:

• Mental alertness and concentration
• Boosting brain metabolism and brain oxygenation
• Improving mental energy
• Promoting effective communication between neurons in the brain
• Promoting effective communication between the two sides of the brain
• Boosting attention, learning potential, memory, ability to process information and others
• Protecting the brain from oxidative damage due to Piracetam’s antioxidant qualities
• Reversing the effects of aging

What it used for

It was originally used to treat Alzheimer’s disease, ADHD and other attention-deficit disorders, and the cognitive effects caused by Down Syndrome.

Now, while it is still used for its therapeutic effects, is more commonly used by generally healthy people to boost cognitive potential.

Piracetam can be used to treat:

• Clotting disorders
• Cognitive issues that result from brain trauma
• The effects of aging on cognition
• Depression and anxiety

Side effects and interactions

One of the reasons for Piracetam’s popularity is that several studies claim that there are virtually no side effects identified at recommended doses. This discovery has made researchers look to Piracetam and other racetams as alternatives to current cognitive treatments. It is also non-addictive which is very important when used for different cognitive disorders.

However, more generic reports do list several potential side effects to taking piracetam. These include:

• Psychomotor agitation
• Dysphoria
• Tiredness
• Dizziness
• Memory loss
• Headache
• Diarrhea

Piracetam has no known severe interactions with other drugs, but some mild to moderate interactions can take place with the following drugs:

• cilostazol
• clopidogrel
• dipyridamole
• eptifibatide
• prasugrel
• ticlopidine
• tirofiban
• levothyroxine
• liothyronine
• thyroid desiccated

Aniracetam

Aniracetam is one of the more controversial racetam nootropics. While it is approved in Europe, it is not approved by the FDA. Aniracetam acts as both a stimulant and cognitive enhancer, including improving memory and concentration.

Like other racetams, aniracetam positively modulates AMPA-sensitive glutamate receptors and possibly facilitates cholinergic transmission. Cholinergic transmission is directly related to cognitive function and brain response, and its mode of action results in a prolonged stimulation effect. By some reports it is more potent than piracetam.

What it used for

Aniracetam is used for the following conditions and states:

• Improved creativity and holistic thinking
• Reduction in anxiety and depression
• To reduce symptoms of Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia
• Cognitive deficits onset by Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS)

It is important to note, however, that there is still a lack of human studies for many of these conditions.

Aniracetam is fat-soluble, meaning that it should need to be taken with foods with fats for it to be absorbed by the body. However, it appears to be absorbed even when users are fasting.

Side effects

There are two main reasons why the FDA hasn’t approved the use of aniracetam in the United States. First, is because there is a lack of clinical studied that demonstrate its effectiveness for its many potential and actual uses. Second is because evidence is lacking regarding its efficacy and potential side effects, some of which are significantly greater than for other racetams.

Potential side effects for racetams include:

• Fertility damage
• Harm to unborn babies
• Jitteriness
• Irritability
• Insomnia
• Headaches
• Nausea
• Vomiting

Aniracetam may interact with several drugs, including:

• Warfarin
• 2,5-Dimethoxy-4-ethylthioamphetamine
• 4-Bromo-2,5-dimethoxyamphetamine
• Acenocoumarol
• Aceprometazine
• Adipiplon
• Bufotenine
• Bupropion

The list above is only a small sample of the dozens of drugs with which aniracetam could potentially have a negative interaction.

Oxiracetam

Oxiracetam was produced after both Piracetam and Aniracetam. It is technically derived from Piracetam and was designed to be a more potent form of Piracetam.

Oxiracetam works by mimicking the GABA neurotransmitter, that, like several other racetams, positively modulates AMPA receptors. It also helps to metabolize phospholipids and has an impact on neurotransmitter release.

Research shows that when used with amphetamine compounds, learning is improved, and when paired with phygostigmine, memory is improved.

What it used for

The research that has been done on oxiracetams reveals the following uses of the drug:

• Reduction in cognitive decline, including symptoms related to dementia
• Improvements in memory in healthy youth
• Improvements in quality of life in people with dementia
• Improvements in verbal fluency
• Increased functionality in elderly or injured
• Reduction in symptoms of Alzheimer’s

Studies have yet to find significant effectiveness of the oxiracetam for increased functionality and the reduction of symptoms of Alzheimer’s Disease, however.

Side effects and interactions

Side effects of oxiracetam are mild, if reported at all. Some of the reported side effects of oxiracetam include:

• Insomnia
• Nervousness
• Headaches
• Feeling antsy
• Nausea, when taking more than the recommended dosage
• Dizziness, when taking more than the recommended dosage, or due to drug sensitivity
• Restlessness and muscle tension, potentially linked to acetylcholine transmission
• Brain Fog, which may be addressed by changing dosage or adding more stimulating nootropics

If any of these side effects are experienced it is essential to report it to your doctor immediately, as they may be a sign of a more serious side effect or an interaction with another drug you are taking.

Pramiracetam

Pramiracetam was first synthesized by the pharmaceutical company Parke-Davis in the 1970s, first with the hopes of treating patients with Alzheimer’s. Results were mixed, so it was also tested for the treatment of depression (major depressive disorder).

Like other racetams, pramiracetam stimulates the central nervous system by promoting choline uptake and increasing activity in the hippocampus of the brain. The hippocampus is responsible for spatial processing and navigation, regulating emotional responses in the brain, and is linked to long-term memory. For these reasons it was thought to be an effective treatment for both Alzheimer’s and major depressive disorder.

Unlike some other racetams, pramiracetam is legal in the United States and can be purchased legally without a prescription as of now. However, it hasn’t been officially approved by the FDA so it is not yet regulated.

What it used for

Pramiracetam is used to treat issues related to concentration and memory that result from brain cell degeneration or blood supply issues to the brain. Some of the most common conditions for which pramiracetam is prescribed include:

• Increased concentration
• Improved memory (new memories and long-term memories)
• Increased brain fluidity that promotes communication between cells
• Treatment of symptoms of Alzheimer’s Disease
• Major depressive disorder (depression)
• Increased cognition

A small number of clinical studies have been carried out focused on the effects of pramiracetam, and most of the results have been consistent.

Side effects and interactions

The side effects associated with the consumption of pramiracetam, buy they are relatively mild. Side effects include:

1. Diarrhea
2. Weight gain
3. Drowsiness
4. Insomnia
5. Nervousness
6. Depression
7. Muscle spasm
8. Hyperactivity
9. Rash

Moderate and mild interactions between other drugs and pramiracetam include:

• cilostazol
• clopidogrel
• dipyridamole
• eptifibatide
• prasugrel
• ticlopidine
• tirofiban
• levothyroxine
• liothyronine
• thyroid desiccated

There are more interacting drugs, but these are some of the most common.

Conclusion

Racetams are one of the most powerful group of nootropics out there. They are one of the few groups of nootropics that are man made, derived from other chemical components. Interestingly enough, researchers aren’t exactly sure how they work because of the thoroughly complex processes by which they affect the brain.

Researchers can, however, see the effects of the racetams in clinical trials. Here, we see the profound effects racetams can have on the brain to improve a wide range of brain functions, from mood to memory and even for helping to improve the brain health of people experiencing cognitive decline.

Talk to your doctor if you are considering taking a racetam, and see if you can find one that fits your needs.

Sasha de Beausset Aparicio

Sasha is a Nutritional Anthropologist with an M.Sc. in Food and Nutrition. She has been a food, nutrition, and health researcher and writer for six years and also works as an international development consultant.

She is passionate about empowering people to make the best nutrition and health choices in a way that makes cultural and logical sense for each individual and community.

Sasha currently lives in Guatemala with her family and three dogs. In her free time, she cooks, reads, gardens, and goes on adventures with her family around Guatemala and the world.

The post The Definitive Introduction to Racetam Nootropics appeared first on Nootropics Resources.

With so many pharmaceuticals with uncomfortable or even dangerous side effects out there, there is no wonder that people are looking for more natural alternatives for their health conditions.

As we become more aware of the importance of mental health, and of how common mental health conditions, like depression, really are, researchers are looking at the best ways to treat them and their symptoms.

One of the herbs historically used within different traditional medicine systems to improve mood and overall well-being is St. John’s Wort. Scientists are now looking into the application of St. John’s Wort as a nootropic substance for the treatment of serious brain conditions like depression.

If you are interested in knowing whether St. John’s Wort is effective as a treatment for depression and other conditions, please read on. In this article, we will give you a summary of what the research says regarding the effectiveness of St. John’s Wort for treating depression and boosting cognitive health in general.

Before we get into the research, however, let’s make sure we are all on the same page regarding the concepts of nootropics and depression.

A Short Introduction to Natural Nootropics

In case you are new to the world of nootropics, here’s a rundown on what they are:

Nootropics are substances, natural and created in the lab, that can boost brain function and cognition. They can be used for therapeutic purposes, such as treating the symptoms of illnesses that affect the brain or simply to improve overall learning, focus, concentration, mental agility, and others.

Nootropics, coined and described by Dr Corneliu E. Giurgea are efficient in helping to restore deficient higher nervous system activity by:

• Supporting the brain in absorbing and retaining new information.
• Helping brain cells resist components that could impair brain health.
• Promoting communication between different parts of the brain.
• Providing the components that allow for greater control over parts of the brain linked to higher brain functions.

Natural nootropics can either be naturally derived supplements, which are nootropic substances extracted from foods, herbs, botanicals, plants, and animals. Taking a naturally derived supplement is often different from consuming the whole food since it usually contains a greater concentration of the active nootropic component per weight than the food or herb.

In the case of treating mental health conditions like depression with a nootropic herb like St. John’s Wort, it is usually taken as a capsule or tablet, though it can also be found in oil and tea form.

If you want to learn more about this topic, you can access the definitive introduction to natural nootropics by clicking here.

How Depression Feels

If you or someone you know has ever suffered from clinical depression or anxiety, you are familiar with the feeling of deep sadness, loneliness, and hopelessness that can lead to a loss of interest in activities that used to excite you. Depression can also manifest itself physically through pain, hunger or loss of appetite, and insomnia, among others.

Note that while there can be some common symptoms, everyone may experience depression a little differently, and it can impact peoples’ lives differently as well.

There are several different approaches to treating depression. Your doctor or psychiatrist will work with you to identify the most appropriate options for you, but they may include:

• Psychotherapy
• Psychoeducation and support groups
• Medications
• Brain stimulation therapies
• Complementary and Alternative Medicine (including John’s Wort)

For people with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), it is very hard to treat. According to research, 2/3 patients do not achieve remission after one course of treatment and one out of three fail to remit after four treatments. This reality has led researchers and doctors to push for alternative and complimentary hard research-based treatments.

Important: If you think you might be experiencing depression or have considered hurting yourself, know you are not alone and that there are people ready to help you. You can TEXT or CALL a trained professional now. Seek help from a healthcare provider. DON’T try to treat depression on your own.

If you think someone you know might be experiencing this, please reach out to them and let them know you are there to support them.

What is St. John’s Wort?

St. John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum) is a shrub that grows yellow flowers. It is native to several parts of the world, including Europe, parts of Asia and Africa, and the western part of the United States.

In the west, the plant got its name because it is usually in full bloom on June 24^th, which is the day often celebrated as St. John the Baptists birthday. The center part of the flowers protrudes, and the stamens are long, which make it look somewhat like a wort.

Both the flowers and the leaves have been used for medicinal purposes in different cultures around the world.

The identified active components of St. John’s Wort are hypericin and hyperforin, and they are found in the leaves and in the flowers of the plant. Some likely other antioxidants and oils also have a role in St. John’s Wort’s healing properties.

Note that, in the US, St. John’s Wort is categorized as a dietary supplement (just like all herbal remedies) by the Food and Drug Administration. This means that it is not regulated or scrutinized in the same way that pharmaceutical drugs are.

The Use of St. John’s Wort in History

St. John’s Wort has a long history of use in the West. It was administered by a military doctor, Proscurides, in Rome in about the 1^st century AD. During this time, it was also recommended by Greek physicians Galen, Dioscorides, Pliny and Hippocrates to treat constipation, menstrual disorders, snakebites, and intestinal infections.

Leading up to and during the middle ages, people attributed magical properties to the herb. It was used as an ingredient in magic potions that was meant to ward off witches, demons and evil diseases.

The use of St. John’s Wort did not fade over time. During the 16^th century, herbalist healers Paracelsus, Gerard, and Culpeper recommended St. John’s Wort to alleviate pain and to heal wounds.

Over the next several centuries, its use spread throughout Europe and other continents and was prepared in teas and tinctures to treat a range of illnesses, including anxiety, depression, insomnia, edema (water retention), gastritis, hemorrhoids, and inflammation.

St. John’s Wort for Depression: What Does the Research Say?

Today, the most common use of St. John’s Wort is for the treatment, either alone or as complementary to another treatment, of depression. In fact, several pharmaceutical companies now make pharmaceutical-grade St. John’s Wort that is commercially available.

Typical doses of St. John’s Wort range between 300-900 mg per day, depending on the company that produces the capsules. The European Scientific Cooperative on Phytotherapy monographs recommended a standard dose of 900mg of standardized St. John’s Wort extract per day for the treatment of depression. Most research has been conducted with doses that range between 300-1800mg/day.

Below, we’ll review three systematic reviews (studies that examine the overall effectiveness of several published pieces of research) that look at the effectiveness of nootropic St. John’s Wort for the treatment of depression.

The first study reviewed 29 studies that included a total of 5,489 patients with depression. The studies compared treatment with St. John’s Wort extracts with placebo treatment or standard antidepressant treatment for a period of 4-12 weeks.

The results of the first study were:

• John’s Wort extracts were superior to placebos
• John’s Wort extracts were similarly effective as standard antidepressants
• John’s Wort extracts had fewer side effects than standard antidepressants.

The second systematic review examined 35 studies, which included 6993 patients with depression. Even with a variety of different concentrations of the active ingredients hypericum and hypericin, the results showed that St. John’s Wort is an effective treatment for mild and moderate depression when compared to placebo. In these studies, St. John’s Wort was used individually, not in conjunction with another treatment.

The third review, published in 2017 took 27 clinical trials that included 3808 clinical trials into account. The results were as follows:

Compared to standard treatment for depression, St. John’s Wort:

• Had a comparable response and remission rate
• A lower discontinuation or dropout rate
• Was effective in alleviating depressive symptoms in patients

Other Health Uses and Benefits of St. John’s Wort

As you read in the section about the historical uses of St. John’s Wort, many of the treatments were related to fighting infections and healing wounds. Doctors of the time were not incorrect in observing the positive effects of St. John’s Wort for treating these conditions.

In fact, several of the conditions, besides depression, for which St. John’s Wort is used include:

• Healing wounds, including sores, bruises, burns, and hemorrhoids.
• Treating Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), though evidence up to now is weak.
• Treating the symptoms of menopause.
• Improvements of symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder.
• Quitting Smoking, but evidence as of now is very weak for this use.
• Inhibiting the spread of cancer. However, it interacts with other cancer treatments, which is why it is not recommended as a cancer treatment, despite its antitumor effects.

These uses are attributed to three main effects of St. John’s Wort: it’s antimicrobial, antiviral, and antioxidant activity.

Antimicrobial Activity

The active ingredient hyperforin is effective against several bacteria. These include:

• Staphylococcus aureus
• Streptococcus pyogenes
• Corynebacterium diphtheriae

Hyperforin has even shown to be effective against certain multi-drug-resistant bacteria of the S. aureus strain.

This is one of the reasons why the topical use of St. John’s Wort-infused creams and ointments are effective against wounds.

Antiviral Activity

Several studies report the antiviral activity of St. John’s Wort.

Components of St. John’s Wort that contain flavonoids and catechins (types of antioxidants) are effective against the influenza virus.

The active components hypericin and pseudo-hypericin may also inhibit herpes simplex virus 1 and 2 and potentially even human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Hypericin may also actively fight against two viruses called murine cytomegalovirus and sindbid virus.

Antioxidant Activity

Lab studies have identified the significant antioxidant activity of St. John’s Wort thanks to its flavonoids and phenolic acids. These components have the power to fight free radicals, which can cause cell and tissue damage.

The antioxidant activity would explain the antitumor effects of St. John’s Wort. It would also be another mechanism of action through with brain health is protected and promoted, further highlighting its nootropic activity.

How Does St. John’s Wort Work?

While St. John’s Wort is effective against depression in clinical trials, the mechanism of action is not clearly understood. Originally, it was believed St. John’s Wort can counteract the effects of depression through the active component hypericin.

Hypericin acts to modulate the dopamine receptors in the brain. However, now we know that the other active component, hyperforin, is one of the major components responsible for its anti-depressive activity.

What do brain chemicals have to do with depression?

When a person has depression, there are many changes regarding the production and uptake of several key brain chemicals. One of those is dopamine, and the other is serotonin.

Effects of St. John’s Wort on the Dopamine System

The dopamine system in the brain is deficient and not properly regulated. As with many other psychiatric disorders, in people with depression, there is a deficiency of dopamine uptake in the brain.

Problems with the dopamine system can lead to anhedonia, one of the hallmark symptoms of depression, and one of the hardest to treat. Anhedonia is the inability to feel pleasure or interest, and it is also linked to a lack of motivation.

Effects of St. John’s Wort on the Serotonin System and Adrenergic System

St. John’s wort interacts with several brain chemical receptors (like those for the uptake of adenosine, GABAa, GABAb, and glutamate). Through interacting with these receptors, St. John’s Wort can lead to an increase in the regulation of serotonin receptors.

At the same time, St. John’s Wort reduces the sensitivity of the brain to beta-adrenaline by reducing the sensitivity of beta-adrenergic receptors, which can aggravate depressive symptoms.

Potential Dangers

The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Medicine reports on the safety and side effects of the use of St. John’s Wort for Depression, which we summarize below.

Side effects

There are rare but serious reports of side effects of people taking St. John’s Wort who have bipolar disorder, anxiety, and schizophrenia, including worsening of psychotic symptoms. This is because the biochemistry of these illnesses is different from that of depressive disorder.

Other side effects of taking St. John’s Wort for depression are minor and rare. These may include:

• Upset stomach
• Dry mouth
• Heachache
• Fatigue
• Dizziness
• Sexual dysfunction
• Confusion

Interactions

St. John’s Wort should not be combined with certain antidepressants, as they can have a compounding effect. One of the most life-threating effects of these interactions could be a life-threatening increase in serotonin levels.

Some symptoms of a dangerous serotonin increase include diarrhea, agitation, fast heartbeat, high blood pressure, hallucinations, fever, and others.

St. John’s Wort may also interact with:

• Birth control pills
• Cyclosporine used to prevent the body from rejecting transplanted organs
• Digoxin, a medication used for heart conditions
• Oxycodone, a pain medicine
• Some HIV drugs, including indinavir
• Some cancer medications, including irinotecan
• Warfarin, a blood thinner

Bottom Line: Is It Safe?

The use of St. John’s Wort for treating depression could be justified, but this should always be done with the guidance of a health professional. Never try to self-medicate when you have a serious condition such as depression.

Remember that St. John’s Wort is a supplement and is not regulated by the FDA like pharmaceuticals are, so the supplements available on the market vary to a great extent.

Conclusions

St. John’s Wort is one of the most studied botanical nootropics, and as a result, there is a wide range of evidence regarding its effectiveness for treating depression. The mechanisms of action are still being studied, but it seems to work similarly as pharmaceuticals without having many of the same side effects.

Even though St. John’s Wort it is not regulated as pharmaceutical and can be purchased over-the-counter, it is very important that you discuss any changes in supplements and medication with your doctor. In many cases, St. John’s Wort is not compatible with other medications or certain conditions, while in others, it is prescribed in conjunction with another medication.

The bottom line is this: evidence shows that St. John’s Wort is an effective natural nootropic for the treatment of depression, but also of other conditions, including wounds, menopause, obsessive-compulsive-disorder, and potentially, seasonal affective disorder.

If you would like to learn more about nootropics and the evidence that supports their use for depression and a range of other brain-related issues, browse our articles at https://nootropicsresources.com.

Sasha de Beausset Aparicio

Sasha is a Nutritional Anthropologist with an M.Sc. in Food and Nutrition. She has been a food, nutrition, and health researcher and writer for six years and also works as an international development consultant.

She is passionate about empowering people to make the best nutrition and health choices in a way that makes cultural and logical sense for each individual and community.

Sasha currently lives in Guatemala with her family and three dogs. In her free time, she cooks, reads, gardens, and goes on adventures with her family around Guatemala and the world.

The post Nootropic St. John’s Wort for Depression appeared first on Nootropics Resources.

There are different categories of nootropics based on their use, but one of the most popular is nootropic supplements.

Nootropic supplements provide concentrated nootropic components in a capsule, pill, or liquid that is taken in addition to your regular diet – what you normally eat in a day. Just as the name suggests, supplements supplement (or add an extra boost) to our regular diet by providing additional quantities of components that we can obtain through foods.

Nootropic supplements are well-studied, and we have significant information at our fingertips about the different nootropic supplements that can help boost our brain health.

In this article, we will provide you with an introduction to nootropic supplements including information on how they work, how they differ from other types of nootropics, and we will describe some of the most well-studied nootropic supplements used to boost different elements of brain function.

What are Nootropic Supplements?

Nootropics as a general category refer to elements that help to improve the cognitive function of the brain by maximizing its natural potential. Unlike other drugs, nootropics have limited, if any, side effects and they do not alter the natural potential of brain function.

The FDA defines dietary supplements as products taken by mouth (including by pill, capsule, or by liquid form) that contain a “dietary ingredient.” Dietary ingredients include vitamins, minerals, herbs or botanicals, amino acids, enzymes, fatty acids, or other components that supplement the diet.

Supplements are usually taken for one or more of four main reasons:

1. To fill nutrient gaps in the diet. If you know you aren’t getting a certain nutrient through the foods you eat, you can take supplements to help fill the void. For example, people who follow a vegan diet do not have a source of Vitamin B12, a nootropic vitamin, since this vitamin comes from animal foods only. For this reason, they need to supplement their diet with vitamin B12.
2. To boost health with higher doses. Even if you meet the dietary requirement of certain nutrients through your diet, there are some nutrients that can be beneficial at higher doses than those established in the % Daily Value. It is important to note that some nutrients can pose health issues when consumed in extremely high doses, so it is important to inform yourself beforehand; less isn’t always more.
3. As “insurance”. This is one of the reasons that people tend to take multivitamins. Multivitamins contain several vitamins, minerals, and sometimes amino acids and fatty acids that humans need to consume in their diet. These usually do not contain megadoses of vitamins and minerals, but rather they contribute from 10-100% of different nutrients to the body. They are taken as “insurance” that they will get the nutrients they need no matter the type of diet they have.
4. To add “extra” beneficial components to your diet. There are several phytochemicals that come from botanicals, herbs, plants and plant extracts that are not necessarily “required” by the body to function properly, but that present benefits when they are consumed. This is the case for many nootropic supplements.

How do Nootropic Supplements Differ from Other Types of Nootropics?

There are several ways to categorize nootropics. They can be categorized by the mechanism of action of the active ingredient (e.g. stimulants, dopaminergic, serotonergics, nerve-growth stimulators, and many more), by chemical form, and by mode of use, among others.

For the sake of simplicity, we categorize nootropics by the mode of use as it is the most practical and easily understood division. The main categories of nootropics by mode of use are:

Nootropic Medicines and Pharmaceuticals

Nootropic medicines and pharmaceuticals are used as therapy for a range of diagnosed brain-related diseases and conditions. Because they are considered therapy, they are often prescribed alone or together with other pharmaceuticals by a health practitioner.

The wide application of nootropics for therapeutic purposes was the original vision for their application in the health world.

Natural Nootropics

While there is some crossover with supplements and nootropic foods, natural nootropics usually refer to the whole plants and herbs that are taken specifically for cognitive enhancement.

Nootropic Foods

Foods can be defined as whole substances that are eaten for nutritional support and nourishment. Nootropic foods contain nutrients (vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients, and other chemicals) that present a direct benefit to the brain.

Nootropic foods, more than any of the other categories, need to be implemented as a lifestyle practice in order to fully benefit from them.

Adopting a diet rich in nootropic foods is important to maximize the effect of any of the other categories of nootropics, because diet ensures that the basic needs of the brain and body are met so that other nootropic forms can contribute to additional function.

Nootropic Supplements

They are products taken orally that contain an ingredient that adds to the diet, including vitamins, minerals, herbs, botanicals, amino acids, enzymes or others. In other words, they contain components you could get from your diet, but often in a concentrated or enhanced form. Any products that claim they are supplements are regulated by the FDA.

Because they include vitamins, minerals, and whole herbs and botanicals and extracts, there is some crossover with natural nootropics and nootropic foods.

The main difference is how they are used; supplements are taken in pill, capsule or liquid form in addition to foods and herbs we might consume with the purpose of receiving a health benefit.

Within the category of nootropic supplements, there aren’t restrictions about the source of the components provided in the supplements. In other words, it doesn’t matter whether they were extracted from plants or the earth, or whether they were made in the lab.

In the end, it is the chemical composition of each supplement and its mechanism of action in the body that defines each supplement.

Researched-Backed Nootropic Supplements

In some senses, nootropic supplements are an all-encompassing category of nootropics. They may contain therapeutic components as well as components that are extracted from foods herbs (or made in the lab to simulate those found in nature).

Below we discuss some of the most well-studied nootropic supplements, including what they are and how they work.

Fatty Acids and Amino Acids

Fatty acids are the building blocks of fats, and amino acids are the building blocks of protein. There is a growing body of research about how supplementation with some types of amino acids and fatty acids act as nootropics to boost brain function.

• Omega-3: One of the most well-studied nootropic supplements, omega-3 fatty acids, particularly EPA and DHA, have vital roles in the growth and development of brains. While it is important for fetuses, infants, and young children to get the right amounts of Omega-3 fatty acids as they grow and develop, Omega-3 is also important for long-term brain health. Research shows that long-chain omega-3 fatty acids improve brain function and structure in older adults.
• DL Phenylalanine (DLPA): DLPA is a neurotransmitter precursor that can be used for therapeutic purposes to help treat depression and ADHD, and even helping to relieve pain. It can also be used to increase mental sharpness.
• L-Tyrosine: This amino acid can help to stimulate wakefulness after periods of prolonged sleep. It functions by stimulating the production of the hormones adrenaline, noradrenaline and neurotransmitter dopamine
• L-Arginine: L-Arginine is an nootropic amino acid that has an important role in many processes in the brain, including in the regulation of synaptic plasticity, neurogenesis, and can help to reduce stress and inflammatory processes. One of the mechanisms of action of L-arginine is synthesizing nitric oxide, an important central nervous system regulator. Nitric oxide helps to promote blood flow to the brain, consolidates memory, and helps to regulate sleep-awake cycles, among others.
• Acetyl-L-Carnitine: L-carnitine has a key role in cellular energy metabolism. Research shows that supplementation with L-carnitine can help to reduce the severity of physical and mental fatigue in addition to increasing cognitive function in people over 100 years old. It may also help to reduce memory loss.

Vitamins

• Vitamin B12: Vitamin B12 is used by the brain to make neurotransmitters. Even mild vitamin B12 deficiencies are associated with a lacking ability to focus and think analytically.
• Vitamin B1 (Thiamine): Vitamin B1 has an important role in the brain chemicals acetylcholine and GABA. It also has an important role in glucose production, which is essential to ensure the brain has enough energy to function.
• Folic Acid: Folic acid deficiency in the elderly is associated with the development of dementia, and higher amounts of folic acid can help to retain cognitive abilities and attention.
• Choline: Choline is another B vitamin that forms an integral part of brain chemicals that are responsible for brain and cognitive abilities.
• Vitamin D: Vitamin D is closely associated with the neurotransmission of dopamine. Low levels of vitamin D are associated with dementia and other psychiatric disorders. Initial studies are being carried out to examine the therapeutic potential of vitamin D to treat psychiatric diseases.

Minerals

Minerals can be divided into macrominerals and trace minerals. Macrominerals are those that our body needs in larger amounts, and they include calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium, potassium, chloride and sulfur.

Trace minerals are those we need in smaller amounts. They include iron, iodine, zinc, cobalt, manganese, copper, fluoride and selenium.

In general, we should be able to get the minerals we need from the food we eat. However, dietary imbalance can cause mineral deficiencies. Since minerals are deeply involved in several cognitive processes, deficiencies logically result in negative impacts on the brain.

Below are some minerals that have been demonstrated to have a particularly strong influence on brain health and could potentially have nootropic effects because of their vital role in brain function.

• Zinc: zinc deficiency is associated with irreversible deterioration in memory and learning. For this reason, we need enough zinc for brain function and for the prevention of brain diseases.
• Magnesium: Its nootropic properties are related to its ability to enhance learning and memory; this is why one of the symptoms of magnesium deficiency is foggy thinking.
• Manganese: Manganese is essential for brain homeostasis (overall balance) and healthy neural activity. It is possible to consume too much manganese, which is toxic to the brain, so make sure to discuss supplementation with your doctor.
• Iron: Iron is an essential component for blood transport. Iron deficiency anemia results problems with oxygen transport around the body, including to the brain.
• Selenium: There are several enzymes that work in the brain that are dependent on selenium. Selenium deficiency is related to cell loss and, over time, neurodegenerative diseases.

Herbs and Botanicals

Herbs and botanicals have been used for thousands of years in ancient models of health (including Ayurveda of India, Traditional Chinese Medicine, and health models in Latin America) for their improvements on what we now know as cognitive function. While they were originally dismissed by western medicine, the study of their components and mechanisms of action have brought significant attention to their effectiveness.

Herb and botanical supplements differ from whole herbs and botanicals because of the way they are prepared and presented. Often, supplements are composed of extracts from herbs and botanicals, usually of the active ingredients that provide the nootropic benefits.

In other cases, the nootropic supplements are simply crushed or dehydrated whole herbs and botanicals presented in capsule form. The claims that are made for its marketing set it apart as a nootropic supplement, rather than a food or beverage.

Some popular herbs and botanicals found in supplement form include:

• Ashwagandha: it helps to reduce anxiety (anti-stress effect), improves memory, and enhances cognition.
• Bacopa Monnieri (Brahmi): There are some mixed results regarding the nootropic effects of Brahmi, but there is a growing body of research that supports its positive effects regarding its ability to reduce anxiety, and increase intellect and memory, without toxic effects.
• Panax Ginseng: Panax ginseng is best known for its components that boost cognitive performance and reduce anxiety. One study examined the effects of Panax Ginseng on cognitive performance during activities that required longer-term mental attention. The study demonstrated that Panax Ginseng can improve performance and feelings of mental fatigue. Additionally, it contains ginsenosides, which are active components with anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anticancer effects that help to protect the brain and other organs from oxidative damage.
• Lion’s Mane: A review of several existing studies on Lion’s mane mushroom concluded that evidence demonstrated that it helps to improve cognition, and may even help to promote the synthesis of new nerves. Additionally, the composition of Lion’s Mane demonstrates that it has antioxidant, hypoglycemic, anti-cancer, and immune-enhancing properties.
• Ginkgo Biloba: Some studies have demonstrated statistical improvement in information processing and working memory and executive processing in people who took Ginkgo biloba. However, more studies are needed to confirm the nootropic effects of Ginkgo Biloba.
• Ginger: Ginger may help to improve learning and memory. Most studies have been conducted based on the use of ginger as a therapeutic agent for people who experience age-related cognition issues or dementia, like Alzheimer’s disease, or general memory impairment.
• Maca: Maca has been studied as an agent that can improve memory impairment and learning, especially in women who have gone through menopause.

Conclusions

Nootropic supplements are an all-encompassing category of supplements that include vitamins, minerals, herbs and botanical extracts, and other dietary components that have been demonstrated to improve cognitive function.

Taking nootropic supplements is one of the easiest and efficient ways to get brain-boosting components in your body, and most of them are available without subscription. Even so, it is important to talk to your physician about if and how different nootropic supplements will work based on your specific health condition.

Once you are in the clear by your physician to take nootropics, and when you take the time to read up on how different nootropic supplements might benefit you, you can easily take nootropic pills, gel caps or liquids at some point during the day without too much planning.

Now that you have read the definitive introduction to nootropic supplements, you are on the right track to making the most of the most current research on nootropic supplements to boost your brain function and reach your highest natural cognitive potential.

Sasha de Beausset Aparicio

Sasha is a Nutritional Anthropologist with an M.Sc. in Food and Nutrition. She has been a food, nutrition, and health researcher and writer for six years and also works as an international development consultant.

She is passionate about empowering people to make the best nutrition and health choices in a way that makes cultural and logical sense for each individual and community.

Sasha currently lives in Guatemala with her family and three dogs. In her free time, she cooks, reads, gardens, and goes on adventures with her family around Guatemala and the world.

The post The Definitive Guide to Nootropic Supplements appeared first on Nootropics Resources.

Nootropics are substances that help to enhance brain function without having the effects of other drugs that are commonly prescribed to treat conditions like depression, anxiety, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Disease.

Nootropics are set apart from other drugs because of the way they work on the brain.

How do they work? They can enhance the brain’s ability to absorb new information, they can help the brain cells resist the negative effects of free radicals and toxins, promote communication between different sides of he brain, and activate parts of the brain that are linked to higher functions, like memory and learning.

Nootropic foods are rarely talked about, but it is important to know and understand; that way, you can incorporate more nootropic foods into your diet.

In this article, we will provide you with a definitive guide to nootropic foods.

We will include information on how they differ from nootropic pharmaceuticals and supplements, to some examples of nootropic foods and the components that help boost the brain, to tips for building a brain-boosting diet.

The Basics: How do Nootropic Foods Differ from Other Types of Nootropics?

There are many ways to categorize nootropics. They can be categorized based on their mechanisms of action in the brain, by their active components, or by categories based on use. For the sake of simplicity and clarity, we tend to organize them based on the latter: categories based on use.

In general, the three different categories of nootropics based on their use include:

Nootropic Medicines and Pharmaceuticals

These are used for therapeutic purposes. In other words, they are used to treat certain neural or cognitive conditions and are often prescribed alone or together with other pharmaceuticals by a health practitioner.

Nootropic Supplements

They are products taken orally that contain an ingredient that adds to the diet, including vitamins, minerals, herbs, botanicals, amino acids, enzymes or others. In other words, they contain components you could get from your diet, but often in a concentrated or enhanced form. These are regulated by the FDA.

Natural Nootropics

While there is some crossover with supplements, natural nootropics usually refer to the whole plants and herbs that are taken specifically for cognitive enhancement.  

And finally….

Nootropic Foods

The word “foods” speaks for itself. Foods can be defined as whole substances that are eaten for nutritional support and nourishment.

However, foods are also part of our culture and are rarely eaten only for their dietary properties. We eat food when we share moments or take part in cultural practices, or because we want to experience certain tastes and sensations.

Food is also what unites us a human race. While not everyone may be taking supplements or pharmaceuticals, everyone eats food.

Foods have a direct impact on our well-being. The food we eat can maintain or current health status, deteriorate it, or improve it. Unlike medicine, however, the results of diet (eating patterns) are usually revealed over longer periods of time.

For example, if you tend to eat lots of fast food, but then decide to eat a salad, your health won’t be corrected by simply eating a salad. Instead, it will most likely have manifestations of health issues that result from eating a lot of fast food over long periods of time.

The same goes for nootropic foods. For nootropic foods to benefit your brain health, it is important to incorporate nootropic foods into your diet often and regularly.

The advantage is that, once you adopt a nootropic diet, you are likely to keep up the good habits over longer periods of time because our attitude towards food changes, as does our lifestyle. That means the benefits will likely last as well.

Why do nootropic foods work more slowly than other nootropics?

Some of the reasons include:

• The nutrients and phytochemicals in foods come in lower concentrations than in medicines and supplements. This means that your body need a steady supply of these elements before changes are seen and felt. Medicines and supplements often contain megadoses of nutrients, or a concentrated form of a component demonstrated to improve brain function. Foods may contain some form of these nutrients and other components, but in lower concentrations.
• Eating certain foods require you to adopt them as part of your diet and lifestyle in order to see their nootropic effects. This is connected to the fact that they are provided in smaller amounts than in other forms of nootropics. The benefits are seen after regular use, rather than after taking concentrated doses.
• Medicines and pharmaceuticals are designed to have a certain physical and physiological effects on our cells. If they don’t produce the desired outcome over a short period of time, they are deemed ineffective. From a biological perspective, the primary function of food is to provide nourishment for all the cells in the body. After meeting basic needs, nutrients can be used to enhance functioning,

In short, nootropic foods work more slowly because they provide reasonable amounts of nutrients to the body rather than megadoses, making them effective only if hey are incorporated into the diet over longer periods of time.

What are Some Nootropic Food Groups?

If we discussed each nootropic food in detail, we would have a few volumes of an encyclopedia. In order to cover a more complete variety of nootropic foods, we have described nootropic food groups, described why they are beneficial for brain health and optimized function, and provided examples of each of the nootropic foods in the different groups.  

Grass-Fed and Organic Meats

Meat contains complete proteins, meaning that it contains all essential amino acids.

Amino acids are the building blocks of protein. While we tend to think of protein as that which makes muscle, protein does so much more than that.

Protein makes up hormones (chemical communicators), red blood cells, and, most importantly for this topic, neurotransmitters. Neurotransmitters are chemical messengers that are used by the nervous system to communicate and cause brain-body responses.

To function normally, the central nervous system requires several amino acids found in proteins from foods. For example, some of the most important amino acids needed to build neurotransmitters and neuromodulators include tryptophan, tyrosine, histidine, and arginine.

Additionally, meats contain omega-3 fatty acids, cancer-fighting antioxidants, and certain vitamin precursors. According to research, grass-fed beef tends to be higher in these components than grain-fed beef, in addition to having less cholesterol-elevating saturated fatty acids. The same is true for organic meats of other kinds.

Antioxidants help to boost brain function by fighting off potentially damaging free radicals, while Omega-3 fatty acids and other polyunsaturated fatty acids help to promote healthy brain development and maintenance as we age.

Additionally, meats contain vitamin B12, which is a B vitamin that is lacking in plant-based diets. B12 deficiency is associated with brain deterioration in older adults and it is associated with poor cognition and social development in children, in addition to confusion, difficulty thinking and memory loss.

Based on the existing body of evidence, only some of which are cited above, if you choose to consume meats and eggs, choosing those that come from grass-fed, cage-free, and grazing animals that are grown and processed using organic standards will likely help to boost your brain health.

Plant-Based Proteins

As mentioned, protein is essential for brain health. However, protein doesn’t necessarily need to come from animal sources. A well-balanced plant-based diet can provide you with all the amino acids your brain and body require. Additionally, many plant-based proteins are also packed in beneficial fatty acids and minerals essential for brain health and function.

In fact, evidence shows that plant-based diets not only have the potential to providing all the nutrition your body needs, they also help to preserve the body’s tissues from oxidative stress and inflammation because of the high content of antioxidants in plants.

Some plant-based proteins you can include in your diet to boost brain health include:

• Tofu, soy, and edamame
• Seeds and nuts (described below in more detail)
• Legumes (like lentils and beans)

Vegetables and Fruits

A diet rich in vegetables and fruits is, without a doubt, a diet rich in nutrients. Fruits and vegetables are the richest source o vitamins and minerals that are essential not only for brain function, but for overall bodily health.

In fact, well-balanced plant-based diets rich in fruits and vegetables are associated with lower incidences of both neurodegenerative diseases and metabolic syndrome.

One of the most significant nootropic properties of fruits and vegetables are the dozens of antioxidant components they contribute to the body. These include vitamins and mineral and other brain chemicals.

Below, we highlight a few vitamins and minerals contained in fruits and vegetables with particularly potent nootropic properties.

Minerals

Minerals are essential for brain function when you consume them in the right concentration. As a group of nutrients, they are responsible for the regulation of nerve transmission and communication and by promoting a healthy brain metabolism.

Selenium

There are several enzymes that are dependent on selenium and are important modulators of brain function. In fact, certain enzymes directly involved in antioxidant defense are dependent on selenium. Selenium depletion and deficiency of selenium-dependent enzymes is related to cell loss and, over time, neurodegenerative diseases.

Fruits and vegetables high in selenium include:

• Mushrooms
• Bananas
• Plantains
• Spinach
• Asparagus

Magnesium

Magnesium takes part in in hundreds of biochemical processes in the body, including the synthesis of the antioxidant glutathione that can help to protect brain cells from damage. Its nootropic properties are related to its ability to enhance learning and memory; this is why one of the symptoms of magnesium deficiency is foggy thinking.

Some fruits and vegetables rich in nootropic minerals include:

• Algae and kelp
• Spinach
• Edamame
• Avocado

Zinc

While the mechanism is still not well understood, zinc deficiency is associated with irreversible deterioration in memory and learning. For this reason, adequate zinc supply through our diet is essential for brain function and for the prevention of brain diseases.

Fruits and vegetables high in zinc include:

• Avocados
• Mushrooms
• Green peas
• Spinach
• Berries
• Pomegranate
• Apricots
• Cantaloupe

Antioxidants Vitamins and Phytochemicals

Antioxidant vitamins, minerals, and phytochemicals help to protect the brain from oxidative damage to brain cells that can negatively impact cognition over time. In fact, oxidative damage can cause brain-based diseases like Alzheimer’s disease.

There are many categories and types of antioxidants that come from what we eat. Antioxidant-rich berries include:

• Berries (strawberries, blackberries, blueberries, mulberries, blackcurrants)
• Green, leafy vegetables (spinach, kale, lettuce, bok choy, arugula)
• Citrus fruits (oranges, lemon, lime, mandarin, and others)
• Bell peppers
• Carrots
• Herbs

High-Quality Oils and Fats

A significant part of the brain is made up of fat – about 60%. In fact, lower fatty acid composition is correlated with cognitive diseases like Alzheimer’s disease.  

Certain types of fat, especially poly-unsaturated fats help regulate signaling pathways that maintain healthy brain function including neurotransmission, cell survival, and the prevention of neuroinflammation. In this way, they are important for regulating mood and cognition.

A specific type of polyunsaturated fatty acid is Omega-3 DHA. Omega-3 DHA, is associated with proper brain development in the very early stages of life. This is why it is so important for pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers are consuming enough Omega-3.

DHA is also essential for neuronal signaling, meaning that it is directly related to communication between different parts of the brain.

A special for of saturated fat called medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs), help to provide quickly available energy to the brain when needed. In fact, studies show that MCTs help to improve cognitive function in people with carbohydrate metabolism issues.

Some food sources of nootropic fats include:

• Fish and seafood
• Nuts and seeds
• Coconut oil
• Algae oil
• Grapeseed oils
• Peanut oi
• Flaxseed oil

Foods to Avoid

Foods that work against our brain’s health tend to be consumed in high proportions in the western diet. The irony is that the selection of foods (when focusing on food types and categories) that actively work against brain function is much more limited than the foods that promote brain health and potentially enhance brain function.

The key is to be able to discern between brain-boosting foods and those that fall into these categories, which are often very easy to come across in the current food industry.

• Processed Foods High in Inflammatory Oils: Inflammatory oils include trans fats and highly processed fats. If you consume oil sources that are very high in Omega-6, they can also cause inflammation; the lack of balance between omega-3 and omega-6 oils can have inflammatory effects. They are found in fried foods and many conventional packaged snacks.
• Processed Food High in Sugar and Refined Carbohydrates: These foods may boost your energy in the short term, but the rise in glucose will quickly fall again. This is a problem for concentration, focus, and longer-lasting tasks.
• Excess of Caffeinated foods: Caffeine is the most commonly consumed nootropic. Caffeine is proven to help boost concentration, awareness, and mental energy. However, too much caffeine can cause dependence, and over time, your brain may not function properly without caffeine consumption.

Tips for Building a Brain-Healthy Diet with Nootropic Foods

When it comes to food, there are endless options. It can be an overwhelming task to single out certain foods that contain nootropic components. It is equally important to cut out foods that work against brain function, meaning building a nootropic diet is as much about inclusion as it is about elimination.

Author and nootropic expert Evan Brand singles out several guidelines for building a brain-healthy diet. He discusses the importance of the connection between what we eat and how we feel. As mentioned previously, food contains chemicals that can either promote healthy brain function or hinder it, so selecting foods that establish a healthy brain base, and then potentially enhance function is key.

We summarize some of Brand’s tips for building a brain-healthy diet below.

• Food is medicine

Food provides the building blocks for healthy cell function, including that of brain cells. When we are stressed, we tend to crave high-sugar and high-carbohydrate foods that may give us a boost of energy, but they often lack the proper building blocks, like micronutrients and proteins, that promote a longer-term healthy brain function.

Taking charge of a dietary balance can act as medicine when you are feeling brain fog or are having problems concentrating.  

• Quality is Key

Food quality is more important that food quantity. Choosing nutrient-dense foods is far more important for your brain health (and health in general) than choosing calorie-dense foods. When you think of food, it is important to equate nutrient density with food quality. Think of organic fruits and vegetables; fresh, high-quality protein sources like grass-fed meats and vegetable protein blends; and foods high in MCTs and unsaturated fats like nuts, seeds and fish.

• Stabilize Blood Sugar

Eating foods and consuming drinks that are high in sugar and refined carbs cause your blood sugar to spike. While the bodies of most healthy people are able to stabilize blood sugar, consuming a diet that is regularly high in refined carbs and added sugars can cause blood sugar destabilization and ultimately cause metabolic disorders.

Choosing foods that provide slow-releasing energy, fiber, high quality protein and fat, and carbohydrates will provide your body with the energy it needs to stay energetic and stable without causing spikes in blood sugar that are detrimental to your body’s health.

Conclusion

A knowledge of nootropic foods are important for everyone who is looking to improve brain function. Regardless of whether or not you choose to take nootropic medicines or supplements, nootropic diets help your brain to ensure the basis of proper brain health.

Foods are not prescribed and are not taken as pills like other nootropic alternatives – they are consumed regularly and over time in order to ensure proper nutritional balance in the brain as well as in the body.

Sasha de Beausset Aparicio

Sasha is a Nutritional Anthropologist with an M.Sc. in Food and Nutrition. She has been a food, nutrition, and health researcher and writer for six years and also works as an international development consultant.

She is passionate about empowering people to make the best nutrition and health choices in a way that makes cultural and logical sense for each individual and community.

Sasha currently lives in Guatemala with her family and three dogs. In her free time, she cooks, reads, gardens, and goes on adventures with her family around Guatemala and the world.

The post The Definitive Introduction to Nootropic Foods appeared first on Nootropics Resources.

Have you ever had the feeling that your mind is not working as it used to? That weeks of exhaustion and working overtime have finally made an impact on your ability to concentrate and remember important information?

Millions of people are in the same boat, and, for that reason, researchers have been searching for solutions to age-related and lifestyle-related dips cognition. The first hints at brain-boosting substances were found in the traditional medicinal systems of Asia and Latin America – reports of herbs and foods improving memory, attention, and concentration seemed too good to be true.

Today, research continues to be carried out on many of these herbs and foods to understand if and how they interact with our body’s systems to improve our health, and why side effects are scarce or non-existent.

In this article, we will provide you with a definitive introduction to natural nootropics – what they are, how they differ from nootropic drugs, and we will introduce you to some of the most well-studied natural nootropics available.

What are Nootropics?

Nootropics are substances that help to boost brain function and cognition, resulting in improved memory, learning, focus, creativity, concentration, and mental agility, among others. The major difference between nootropics and other drugs that influence the brain’s chemistry is that nootropics don’t have any major side effects (several don’t have any known side effects at all) or psychoactive action when used in the recommended doses.

Some of the key characteristics of nootropics include the following:

1. Enhance the brain’s ability to absorb new information
2. Show resistance to agents that impair brain health (like free radicals and toxins)
3. Promote communication between the left and right side of the brain
4. Increase control over the part of the brain linked to higher brain functions like memory and creativity

As the scientist who coined nootropics, Dr. Corneliu E. Giurgea, describes, nootropics are efficient in restoring deficient higher nervous activity.

In order to describe the effects of nootropics in straight-forward terms, it is important to understand that your brain has potential and power beyond that which we are normally able to take advantage of. This can be due to fatigue, free radicals, or simply lack of use. Nootropics don’t add brain powers that didn’t exist previously, rather they help to restore deficient brain functions.

Brain function can become deficient due to:

• Aging
• Fatigue
• Lack of use
• Poor diet and exercise routines
• Excess of free radicals in the body
• Cognitive conditions like Alzheimer’s disease, speech disorders, Alzheimer’s, and epilepsy

Different Types of Nootropics

Nootropics are found in many different forms. Some are made in the lab, some are are complete components found in nature, and some are extracted from foods and natural components to deliver at high concentrations or with great potency.

In this section, we will briefly describe the different categories of nootropics so we can separate those that are deemed as “drugs” from those that are natural.

Drugs

Drugs, also commonly referred to as medicines, are substances that come in pill, capsule, liquid, vapor, or cream form, among others, that are prescribed for the prevention, treatment, or cure of diseases.

The FDA closely regulates anything deemed a drug. A substance is classified as a drug when it claims to treat, prevent, or mitigate a disease.

Some nootropic drugs can be purchased over the counter, while others must be prescribed. This depends on the dose and the potential side effects of each one.

Nootropics drugs are those that are prescribed or used to treat specific ailments – usually long-term or chronic illnesses where nootropics form part of a larger treatment.

Some examples of nootropic drugs include:

• Racetams
• Synthetic stimulants
• Synthetic dopaminergics
• Serotonergics
• Others like DHEA, Coenzyme Q-10, and pyritinol

Supplements

The FDA defines dietary supplements as products taken orally (pill, capsule, or liquid form) that contain a “dietary ingredient,” including vitamins, minerals, herbs or botanicals, amino acids, enzymes, fatty acids, or other components that supplement the diet.

Supplements can be used to fill gaps in the diet, to compensate for changes that occur in the body due to conditions or age, or to experience improved bodily or mental function.

Unlike drugs, “dietary supplements are not intended to treat, diagnose, cure or alleviate the effects of diseases.” However, they can be useful in reducing the risk to certain diseases, and if there is enough research to support it, the claim may be made on the label.

Nootropic supplements include those that are naturally derived and those that are synthetic. As long as the main component, it has demonstrated nootropic action, it is classified as a nootropic.

Some nootropic supplements include:

• Magnesium
• Vitamin B12
• Vitamin D
• Omega-3

Naturally Derived Supplements

Naturally-derived supplements are those that are extracted from foods, herbs, plants, and animals. Usually, they single out a certain element that is known to contribute to health.

For example, Omega-3 supplements that are used for boosting brain development and function are composed of omega-3 oil extracted from fish (usually), leaving out the proteins, minerals, and vitamins found in the fish.

Vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and other components can be extracted from sources found in nature, and they often contain additional compounds that help to enhance the effectiveness of the active ingredients.

Taking a naturally-derived supplement will differ from consuming the whole food since it usually contains a greater concentration of the active component at hand than if you just ate the food. Supplements often provide between half and many times more of a certain beneficial substance than if you were to consume just the food.

Additionally, high-quality supplements will purify the component. Take Omega-3 as an example: the best quality supplements will remove mercury from the oil, whereas consuming enough fish to get that amount of Omega-3 will inevitably come with the mercury, which is toxic to humans when consumed in high quantities over time.

Naturally derived supplements most often include those that come from herbs or botanicals and fatty acids, but can also include vitamins and minerals.

Synthetic Supplements

Several components used for supplementation purposes are made in the lab; these are called synthetic nutrients. Most supplements on the market today are made in the lab and include vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and amino acids.

Chemically, synthetic nutrients are identical to those that are found in foods or extracted from nature. However, there may be a difference in the way that synthetic nutrients are absorbed.

As mentioned above, some synthetic supplements are classified as nootropics as long as they demonstrate nootropic action, but they are not classified as natural nootropics.

Natural Nootropics

Natural nootropics are those that come from nature. They are whole plants, plant parts, herbs, or foods that grow and thrive in the natural world, and which we harvest for nutritional or health purposes.

Foods

Foods are often overlooked as nootropics, but many foods contain powerful nootropics components.

Many consider foods to be among the “most natural” nootropics because there is no processing or extracting required.

Foods, as you can imagine, contain hundreds of other components in addition to those that provide nootropic properties. Researchers have demonstrated that, in many cases, whole foods promote better absorption of nutrients over supplement forms.

This is because other nutrients and elements within the food facilitate absorption, and they are contained in quantities that the body can naturally absorb, whereas supplements will often remove a particular nutrient from the environment that promotes absorption, or they will be a different chemical form altogether.

Herbs and Botanicals

Botanicals refer to plants or parts of plants that are usually used in small quantities as a spice in food, as medicine, or even for spiritual purposes.

Herbs are a subset of botanicals and refer specifically to the green, leafy part of a flowering plant that often has aromatic properties.

In Ayurvedic and Traditional Chinese Medicine, as well as in many other traditional medicine forms, nootropic herbs and botanicals are usually prepared as infusions or teas.

Today, with the growing popularity of nootropic herbs and botanicals in the western world and in areas where they do not have access to fresh forms, they are consumed in supplement form.

Herb and botanical nootropic supplement labels will often tell you if it is the whole, pure plant or if it is an extract of the plant. Whole plants offered in pill form usually undergo drying and pulverizing processes through which some nutrients may be lost, but the active ingredients are protected.

Extracts are composed of a particular part of the plant that is removed separated from the rest of the plant by chemical or physical processes.

A Note About Naturally Derived Supplements and Natural Nootropics

Some experts separate naturally derived nootropic supplements from natural nootropics. However, many naturally derived nootropic supplements, especially those that come from herbs and botanicals, can only be found in the market in supplement form.

Many of these supplements are crushed, powdered, or blended forms of the whole herb delivered in capsules or pills, rather than extracts of certain parts of the herb.

For this reason, this article will include herbal supplement nootropics in the category of natural nootropics.

How Natural Nootropics Differ from Nootropic Drugs

Several characteristics set natural nootropics apart form nootropic drugs. These include the following:

• Natural nootropics do not require a prescription. They are either purchased in their food, herb, or botanical form or as a supplement.
• Nootropic drugs are used for therapeutic purposes, including prevention, treatment, and mitigation of Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, epilepsy, depression, and others. They are often prescribed in addition to other non-nootropics drug treatments.
• Natural nootropics can be used for therapeutic purposes, but are used nowadays to improve cognition and overall brain function.
• Nootropic drugs are generally synthesized in the laboratory. Natural nootropics are found in nature in plant, animal, or mineral form.

9 Popular Natural Nootropics

Ashwagandha

What is it?

Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) is an herb widely used in Ayurvedic medicine, which is the traditional medicinal system of India. In Ayurveda, it is used as a tonic for ailments related to the nerves. It grows over a large area of Asia, Africa, and Europe.

What it does

Ashwagandha is best known for being an adaptogenic herb, meaning that it protects the cells from free radicals and helps the body to adapt to stressful conditions.

Ashwagandha has several properties, including anti-inflammatory, antitumor, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory properties.

As a nootropic, it helps to reduce anxiety (anti-stress effect), improves memory, and enhances cognition.

Bacopa Monnieri (Brahmi)

What is it?

Bacopa monnieri is a succulent, creeping herb that grows in damp, marshy areas. It is used in Ayurveda that is useful as a laxative, indigestion, inflammations, tumors, and ascites, among others. In the Unani system of medicine, it is a blood purifier that is useful for fevers and digestive system disorders.

What it does

Bacopa Monnieri is best known for its nootropic effects. While results are mixed, research that supports its positive effects demonstrate its possibility to reduce anxiety, and increase intellect and memory, without toxic effects. Some of the suggested modes of action include:

• Anti-oxidant neuroprotection (via redox and enzyme induction)
• Acetylcholinesterase inhibition and/or choline acetyltransferase activation
• β-amyloid reduction
• Increased cerebral blood flow to the brain
• Neurotransmitter modulation (acetylcholine [ACh], 5-hydroxytryptamine [5-HT], dopamine [DA])

Panax Ginseng

What is it?

Panax ginseng is one of the most well-known types of ginseng. It is known as Asian or Korean ginseng as well. It is native to Korea and China and has been used as an herbal remedy in Traditional Chinese Medicine and other traditional Asian systems of medicine, often used for vitality, immune function, cancer, sexual function, and improvement of cognitive performance.

What it does

The main active components of Panax ginseng are ginsenosides, which have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anticancer effects.

As a nootropic, Panax ginseng is best known for its power to improve cognitive performance and reduce anxiety. One study examined the effects of Panax Ginseng on cognitive performance during continued mental activity. The study demonstrated that Panax Ginseng can improve performance and feelings of mental fatigue.

Lion’s Mane

What is it?

Lion’s mane (Hericium americanum or Hericium erinaceum) is a mushroom also known as the pom pom mushroom, the bear’s head tooth fungus, or monkey head. It is a fungus that forms a compact cluster of whitish, forking branches with spines that grows on trees. It should be harvest when young, as it is here that it is edible.

What it does

A review of studies on Lion’s mane found that it helps to improve cognition, and may even help to promote the synthesis of new nerves. Additionally, it has antioxidant, hypoglycemic, anti-cancer, and immune-enhancing properties

Ginkgo Biloba

What is it?

Ginkgo Biloba is a tree native to southern China of which the leaves are used for their medicinal effects. Interestingly, Ginkgo Biloba has male and female trees, but most of the supplements come from male trees because female trees produce a foul-smelling fruit.

What it does

It is important to note that some studies reject Ginkgo’s nootropic effects. However, other studies demonstrated statistical improvement in information processing and working memory, in addition to executive processing. More studies must be conducted to confirm the use of Ginkgo Biloba as a nootropic.

Ginger

What is it?

Ginger is a plant native to southeastern Asia. Its roots (rhizome) are used as a spice, flavoring, and traditional medicine. It is widely used in traditional cuisine across Asia, but it is also used for medicinal purposes in Ayurvedic and Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Since it was taken by Spaniards to the West Indies and Mexico, it was also incorporated into the cuisine and traditional medicine of Latin and South America.

What it does

Research shows that ginger may help to improve learning and memory, particularly in people who experience age-related cognition issues or dementia, like Alzheimer’s disease, or general memory impairment.

Ginger’s nootropic effects are likely attributed to its natural antioxidant properties, as well as its acetyl cholinesterase inhibition property. Other studies show that it has to do with the activation of certain enzymes in the hippocampus of the brain.

Maca

What is it?

Maca (Lepidium Meyenii) is a plant native to the Andes and is used as a dietary staple by Peruvians as well as a dietary supplement. It is believed to improve mood, fertility, sexual desire, and decreasing anxiety.

What it does

Maca has been studied as an agent that can improve memory impairment and learning. Some studies have demonstrated that it is particularly effective for women who have gone through menopause.

Coconut Oil

What is it?

Coconut oil, as the name suggests, is made from coconuts. It is about 80-90% saturated fat, and it contains no cholesterol or fiber, and only very small amounts of vitamins, minerals, and plant sterols. Coconut oil contains a particular type of saturated fat, referred to as Medium-Chain-Triglycerides (MCTs). Most of the health properties are attributed to this type of fat.

What it does

Most research examines coconut oil for its fat-loss and energy-boosting effects (the results of which are mixed). The positive effects are due to the MCTs in coconut oil.

Note that most commercial coconut oil isn’t very high in MCTs (between 30-40%) compared to other fats.

However, the nootropic benefits of coconut oil are linked to its ability to improve cognition, especially in people with Alzheimer’s disease.

Coffee

What is it?

Coffee is a fruit-bearing bush that naturally grows in tropical regions of the world. There are over 100 species of Coffea, but coffee-growing economies mostly grow Arabica and Robusta varieties. Coffee beans come from the fruit after the pulp is removed and the inner bean is dried and roasted.

What it does

Coffee contains caffeine, the most widely-consumed and commonly overlooked nootropic. In usual doses, caffeine improves vigilance, attention, and mood. The mechanism of action of caffeine occurs within the dopaminergic system, the thalamus, the ventral tegmental area, and the amygdala of the brain.

Do you want to learn more about natural nootropic foods? Check out this video:

Conclusion

Natural nootropics are those that are found in nature and can be consumed as whole foods, infusions, and teas in their natural form, or as pills, powders, capsules, or liquids in their supplement form.

Unlike nootropic drugs, natural nootropics are not necessarily used for therapeutic purposes (to prevent and treat diseases). They are generally used to improve brain function and cognition, including memory, attention, focus, creativity, awareness, and more.

When used as directed, natural nootropics are an effective way to boost your brain’s natural abilities to function optimally, in a way that can lead to improvements in your professional career and personal life.

Sasha de Beausset Aparicio

Sasha is a Nutritional Anthropologist with an M.Sc. in Food and Nutrition. She has been a food, nutrition, and health researcher and writer for six years and also works as an international development consultant.

She is passionate about empowering people to make the best nutrition and health choices in a way that makes cultural and logical sense for each individual and community.

Sasha currently lives in Guatemala with her family and three dogs. In her free time, she cooks, reads, gardens, and goes on adventures with her family around Guatemala and the world.

The post The Definitive Introduction to Natural Nootropics appeared first on Nootropics Resources.

Essentially, nootropics are brain boosters, known popularly as “smart drugs.” This may bring on flashbacks from watching the movie “Limitless” with Bradley Cooper.

To give you a quick refresher, Cooper’s character, Eddie Mora, gets hooked on NZT-48, a fictitious nootropic pharmaceutical. The effects are immediate and overwhelming – he can recollect everything he has ever learned and experienced, has improved interpersonal skills, and, most importantly, has a seemingly supernatural ability to concentrate on making significant progress on his book.

This movie is science fiction of course, but the existence of nootropics – drugs and natural substances that help to enhance cognitive abilities – is very real, indeed. When people learn that nootropics and “smart drugs” really do exist, they wonder what opportunities lay in popping a pill to improve their brain health and boost cognitive abilities.

In this article, you will learn about the nootropics that are available to help boost focus and concentration. We will describe how they work and what options exist for you to integrate into your supplement regimen with your health provider’s support.

Who Uses Nootropics?

Nootropics have two main categories of uses: for therapeutic purposes and for supplemental purposes.

Nootropics for Therapy

Therapeutic purposes include those that are for the prevention or treatment of conditions, particularly related to cognitive ability. They may block or facilitate receptors in the brain, promote the circulation of oxygen and nutrients to parts of the brain, or they may protect neural cells from the damaging effects of free radicals and toxins.

Nootropics may form part of a prescribed regime for people with the following cognitive disorders:

• Depression
• ADHD
• Epilepsy
• Alzheimer’s and dementia
• Narcolepsy

They may be used in conjunction with other non-nootropic treatments to help ameliorate some of the symptoms of these disorders. People with diagnosed cognitive disorders may also be encouraged by registered dieticians to consume foods and drinks with nootropic components, like coconut oil, almond oil, coffee, teas, and others.

Nootropics for Enhanced Brain Performance

The therapeutic purposes of nootropics have been known and implemented for over 50 years in the western world, and hundreds, even thousands of years in traditional medicinal systems.

Only recently, however, have nootropics gained popularity for other purposes. Nootropics, especially herbal and naturally-derived nootropics, have few to no side effects when they are used in recommended amounts for a reasonable period.

For this reason, supplement and pharmaceutical companies started to examine the use of nootropics for people who require higher-than-normal mental performance in their day-to-day activities.

Those who are taking “nootropic stacks” tend to be:

• Entrepreneurs (currently very popular among Silicon Valley entrepreneurs)
• CEOs
• Business leaders
• Researchers
• Academics
• Students
• Anyone seeking “enhanced life performance.”

Most people who take nootropics individually or nootropic “stacks” seek out over-the-counter nootropics. This is as opposed to prescribed nootropics, which are usually reserved for therapeutic purposes.

Over-the-counter nootropics are not marketed with claims to prevent or treat diseases or linked to any specific health benefits.  Note that there is still plenty of research to be done regarding the measurable benefits of nootropic supplements for professionals.

Two of the most common uses of nootropics for enhanced brain performance are to improve the brain’s ability to focus and concentrate, even in the most demanding contexts. In the following sections, we will describe the evidence that demonstrates how nootropics can be used to improve your focus and concentration.

How Nootropics Improve Focus and Concentration

From a biomedical perspective, herbs and pharmaceuticals work because they interact with our body on a physical, chemical and biological level to produce a certain effect.

The description of these processes is called the drug, herb, or supplement’s pharmacology. It can also be described as its mode or mechanism of action.

The “target” is the place in which the mechanism of action takes place to produce a certain effect. Below we describe both the target and the mechanism of action of nootropics for focus and concentration.

The “Target”: The Frontal Lobe

To have an impact on our focus and concentration, the mechanism of action needs to take place on The part of the brain responsible for attention, focus and concentration is the frontal lobe.

The frontal lobe is the part of the brain that integrates all components of human behavior on a higher level, including sustained attention. The effects of nootropics on focus and concentration generally impact cells on and in the frontal lobe of the brain.

The Mechanism of Action

When we are talking about the brain, our intelligence, and our thought process, we need to talk about the role of neurotransmitters.

Neurotransmitters are brain cells that are responsible for the actions and reactions within the brain, including those that are conscious and subconscious. The six key neurotransmitters that play a role in how we think and do things are excitatory neurotransmitters adrenaline and norepinephrine, serotonin, dopamine, acetylcholine, GABA, epinephrine, and norepinephrine.

While we won’t go into detail about each neurotransmitter in this article, it is important to know that nootropics can enhance or inhibit the uptake of certain neurotransmitters into brain cells.

In addition to modulating neurotransmitters in the brain, other ways in which nootropics boost brain function include:

• Increasing circulation of blood rich with oxygen and nutrients to the brain: when our brain cells have enough oxygen, energy, and key components to carry out their tasks, they function more effectively.
• Improving neuron function
• Preventing oxidative damage of brain cells by free radicals and toxins
• Providing usable energy directly to the brain
• Delivering key chemical messengers to the brain
• Facilitating information transfer between right and left sides of the brain

To affect focus and concentration, these mechanisms of action usually take place directly in the frontal lobe of the brain. When these activities take place in other parts of the brain, they may help promote brain health, but they will likely impact other components of thought and action like memory, hearing, and alertness.

It is important to note that one of the key differences between nootropics and other drugs that affect the brain is that nootropics do not have the pharmacological effects of neuro-psychotropic drugs (like analgesics, anesthetics, antipsychotics, and antidepressants). This generally makes them safer, but some still require monitoring by a health professional.

Nootropic Drugs That May Improve Focus and Concentration

Drugs are chemicals and substances that are prescribed for therapeutic uses. Drugs are defined by the FDA as “articles intended for use in the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease.”

Any substance that is claimed to be beneficial against diseases is categorized as a drug and is regulated differently than if it were a dietary supplement.

Some drugs need to be prescribed, while others can be purchased over the counter. For the consumer, it is difficult to distinguish between over the counter drugs and supplements.

In general, nootropic drugs are those that have enough research to back up claims about their benefits and therapeutic effects or that claim specific therapeutic effects on the packaging and advertising. These are closely regulated by the FDA, whereas supplements are not.

Supplements are usually vitamins, minerals, and plants or plant extracts that deliver specific nutrients or phytochemicals. They cannot claim a therapeutic effect on the packaging.

Some of the most well-researched nootropic drugs that improve focus and concentration include the following:

Racetams

Racetams modulate acetylcholinergic systems and other receptors in the brain. There are several types of racetams, and those that have shown evidence to improve focus and concentration include the following:

• Pramiracetam: One study showed an increase in cognition in males who suffered from brain injuries at a dose of 400mg three times a day.
• Piracetam: Several studies show that piracetam may help to reduce cognitive decline.
• Aniracetam: May help to aid in collective and holistic thinking.

Stimulants

Stimulants generally improve productivity as long as they are in the blood. Note that several stimulants are not nootropics, but rather neuro-psychotropic drugs.

Some of the nootropic stimulants known to improve focus and concentration include:

• Modafinil and adrafinil: Helps to enhance awakeness, originally developed as a treatment for narcolepsy, a sleep disorder. Research shows that it reduces fatigue even with sleep deprivation or hypersomnia. It also helps to improve cognitive performance and reduces reaction time. Adrafinil is a precursor to modafinil.
• Caffeine: classified as a nootropic because it provides mental stimulation. It can help to improve reaction time, increase wakefulness and reduce fatigue.

Dopaminergics

Dopaminergics affect the dopamine neurotransmitter or components of the nervous system that uses dopamine. In some cases, nootropics are metabolized to produce increased dopaminergics of some kinds.

The dopaminergics found to be effective for concentration, focus and cognition include:

• L-Tyrosine: Demonstrates a minor improvement in cognition and cognitive performance.
• CDP-Choline: Use results in improved attention.

Serotonergics

• L-Theanine: Research demonstrates that it increases attention and reduces anxiety that could interfere with concentration.
• 5-HTTP: Initial evidence suggests that it could help to reduce distress, which may interfere with concentration.
• Resveratrol: While there is only initial evidence on its impact on cognition and fatigue, it does have a minor positive impact on cerebral blood flow.

Others

Other popular nootropic drugs include DHEA, which is often referred to as a secondary enhancer, meaning that it may only be beneficial to people who happen to lack certain neurotransmitters.

Other types of nootropic drugs include blood flow and metabolic function enhancers are sometimes referred to as vasodilators, they help to promote efficient energy use, improve blood flow, remove waste, and take in new materials.

Some of the additional nootropic drugs that may have a positive impact on focus and concentration include:

• DHEA (Dehydroepiandrosterone): Used primarily as a testosterone booster, researchers are beginning to explore its nootropic effects, especially for memory enhancement.
• Coenzyme Q-10: Can promote blood flow generally around the body
• Creatine: May improve cognition and brain performance in vegetarians.
• Pyritinol: Initial studies show it may reduce cognitive decline by recovering and repairing damages cholinergic neurons.

Vitamin, Mineral and Other Nootropics That May Improve Focus and Concentration

Vitamins, minerals and other nutrients are naturally found in foods, but you can also find them in supplement form as well. In supplements, they are usually found in higher doses than in foods. Depending on the nutrient, you may need higher doses to get the nootropic effect.

Many more vitamins and minerals than those listed here are essential for brain health, but we will summarize a few that are known to be essential for healthy brain function. While these components may not enhance your concentration and focus, deficiency in any of them will affect your ability to focus and concentrate. If you are deficient in any of these components, it will be difficult for other nootropics to enhance their brain function.

Magnesium

Magnesium is an important cofactor in hundreds of biochemical reactions in the body, including the synthesis of glutathione, a very powerful antioxidant.

If you are deficient in magnesium, your body’s cells, including those in the brain, is vulnerable to damage. In fact, research shows that elevation of brain magnesium can actually enhance learning and memory.

If you are looking to supplement for magnesium, look for a form of magnesium called magnesium glycinate or magnesium citrate, which have higher absorption rates.

Vitamin B12

Vitamin B12 is a nootropic vitamin essential for nerve health, and for the production of red blood cells. B12 deficiency is associated with brain deterioration in older adults and with poor cognition and social development in children.

Vitamin B12 deficiency can also cause confusion, difficulty thinking and memory loss. For this reason, we want to make sure we are getting enough vitamin B12 before we start thinking of other elements that may enhance our concentration and focus.

Vitamin D

Vitamin D is an essential vitamin (meaning our body cannot produce it on its own, though it can synthesize it from the sun).

Vitamin D has many functions, but for its function as a nootropic, evidence shows that supplementation with vitamin D (4000 IU), improved executive function and working memory.

Omega-3s

Omega-3s are not vitamins or minerals, but rather a type of fat defined by its structure. There are several types of omega-3, but the most beneficial for our brain are DHA, EPA, and ALA. They are naturally found in some seeds and in seafood.

Omega 3s have important roles in brain development in infants and young children, but they are also beneficial for normal brain function.

Research demonstrates that omega-3 supplementation is associated with improved attention and physiological functions that involve complex cortical processing.

Natural Nootropics That May Improve Focus and Concentration

Rhodiola rosea

Rhodiola is a traditional adaptogen that is used to reduce physical fatigue and improve cognitive functioning. Evidence shows that Rhodiola Rosea is particularly effective for people who experience physical exhaustion and reductions in cognition as a result.

In other words, if you are tired from exercise or lack of sleep, Rhodiola Rosea will help you power through that deadline you have lingering.

Rhodiola rosea may also help to protect the brain against toxins.

Ashwagandha

Ashwagandha is an adaptogen that can help to reduce anxiety. If your lack of focus or concentration is due to anxiety, ashwagandha may be beneficial.

Initial evidence also shows that ashwagandha may also be effective for improving motivation.

Bacopa monnieri

This traditional Ayurvedic adoaptogenic herb has been long used to improve cognition, reduce anxiety and improve memory. Most studies are based in older populations, where it is demonstrated to result in improvements in cognition, but a few have demonstrated similar effects in youth, demonstrating its potential as a nootropic.

Initial research shows that Bacopa may improve focus and attention, including, but not necessarily limited to, people with ADHD.

Panax Ginseng

Panax ginseng is commonly used for libido enhancement, but evidence has also demonstrated that it has positive cognitive effects as well, especially at higher doses. One study examined the effects of Panax Ginseng on cognitive performance during sustained mental activity, and it results show that it can improve performance and feelings of mental fatigue.

Clitoria Ternatea (Shank pushi)

Clitoria Ternatea, one of four herbs known in the Ayurvedic preparation as Shanka Pushpi, is used to promote neurological health. Initial clinical and laboratory evidence shows that it may help to improve memory, and has a similar effect as Pyritinol to increase acetylcholine activity in the brain.

Lion’s Mane (Yamabushitake)

Lion’s Mane is a bioactive mushroom whose primary function is to increase cognitive function and brain health. Its main mechanism of action has to do with neuroprotection (protecting the brain from toxins, free radicals, and nerve injury).

Studies have focused on its effect against cognitive decline, suggesting it might be most effective for concentration and focus issues related to aging.

However, its interactions with our neurology suggest it may be beneficial for brain health in people of all ages.

Clubmoss

Clubmoss has a bioactive component called huperzine-A (it can be as an extract of only huperzine A as well.).  It is shown to be effective for protecting the brain, and for the generation of new stem cells in lab settings.

It can boost learning ability by increasing acetylcholine, the “learning neurotransmitter.” More studies need to be carried out to demonstrate their outcomes in different populations.

Ginkgo biloba

Ginkgo biloba is one of the most popular adaptogens worldwide. It supports brain health in many ways, including boosting blood flow, which helps to get oxygen and nutrients to the cells that need them and improving cognition, including performance.

Too much information? Check out this video that highlights 3 nootropics that are effective for memory and focus.

Conclusion

In a high-demand workspace, nootropics have gained significant attention for potential applications outside of the medical and therapeutic realms.

The application of nootropics to heighten our cognitive performance, including memory, concentration, focus, and creativity, have made way for a new name for these substances: smart drugs.

Even though many of them aren’t technically drugs, but rather supplements and herbs, the idea behind the name is clear: taking these supplements will help boost your intelligence.

Entrepreneurs, CEOs, students, and academics are often required to spend long hours focused on a task with no chance at a break. Nootropic drugs, herbs, and nutritional supplements could help to make your days more productive and relieved of stress, thanks to their effects on your ability to focus and concentrate.

Are you intrigued by the idea of smart drugs improving your ability to concentrate for long periods of time? Do your research and talk to your health provider about integrating a nootropic into your daily health regime. Start with the lowest dose, and you may start seeing differences between as little as 2-8 weeks of consistent use.

Sasha de Beausset Aparicio

Sasha is a Nutritional Anthropologist with an M.Sc. in Food and Nutrition. She has been a food, nutrition, and health researcher and writer for six years and also works as an international development consultant.

She is passionate about empowering people to make the best nutrition and health choices in a way that makes cultural and logical sense for each individual and community.

Sasha currently lives in Guatemala with her family and three dogs. In her free time, she cooks, reads, gardens, and goes on adventures with her family around Guatemala and the world.

The post Nootropics for Focus and Concentration appeared first on Nootropics Resources.

Nootropics don’t have magical powers, but they may boost your brain health.

First off, it’s important to establish that there are many, many different types of nootropics. Different types of nootropics act on the body in different ways, and so general statements cannot be made about all nootropics.

Some work with your body’s natural chemistry to help support the brain to have a steady supply of nutrients and oxygen, support certain neural receptors, and fight off potentially damaging toxins and free radicals.

In the same way that there are many different types of nootropics, there are different levels of safety and effectiveness for different people.

In this article, we will review the latest research on the safety and effectiveness of nootropics. After you read this, you can confidently make a choice about whether or not nootropics will work for you.

A Review: What Are Nootropics?

Nootropics are loosely defined as substances that help improve human cognitive abilities. They are found in the form of medicine (drugs), herbs and herbal extracts, and in food.

Cognitive abilities nootropics may help enhance include:

• Concentration
• Mood
• Learning
• Memory
• Creativity
• Clarity
• Focus

By increasing your brain’s abilities to intake, process, and retain information, you essentially boost your intelligence.

In the 1970s, the scientist that originally developed the concept of nootropics, Dr. Corneliu E. Giurgea, identified several chemicals and herbal substances that seemed to improve the brain’s function, unlike other drugs that had been developed up to that time.

One of the main differences he identified between this newly-grouped selection of substances is that they didn’t have a lot of the altering or damaging effects of other drugs acting on the brain, like anesthetics, antipsychotics, and antidepressants.

In addition to not having the usual brain-altering pharmacological effects of other drugs, nootropics also seemed to improve brain function in four other ways:

1. Enhanced the brain’s ability to learn.
2. Helped the brain resist or fight off agents that impair brain health.
3. Facilitated transfer of information between the right side of the brain, in charge of creativity and the arts, and the left side of the brain, in charge of logical functions.
4. Improved control over parts of the brain in charge of higher functions as well as those in charge of body movement.

To sum it all up, nootropics work with your brain chemistry to make the most out of your brain’s natural abilities, while protecting it from potential damage and deterioration. In other words, they claim to improve your brain’s function, as long as the potential exists; they do not claim to make new abilities appear, but they may enhance the abilities your brain already has.

Types of Nootropics

There are many ways to classify nootropics: by function (what they do to our brain), pharmacology (how they work), and form and origin (how they are found). One of the most straight-forward classifications of nootropics is by their origin.

The classification by origin and forms of nootropics includes drugs and medicines, natural nootropics, and supplements.

Drugs and Medicines

Drugs are defined by the FDA as “articles intended for use in the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease.” Any article that is claimed to be beneficial against diseases is categorized as a drug.

Some nootropic drugs are more powerful than others, some may have some adverse or unpleasant reactions, and some are free of known adverse reactions as long as they are used in the recommended doses.

Nootropic drugs are those that are made in the lab and have isolated chemicals that are known to produce a certain pharmacological effect on the brain. Once categorized as a drug, they are regulated by the FDA, and most are only available by prescription. These are usually used for therapeutic purposes alone or in combination with other treatments, with successful results. Some of the conditions nootropic drugs are used for include:

• Alzheimer’s
• Dementia
• Depression
• Epilepsy
• Memory impairments
• Vertigo
• Adverse blood flow

The types of nootropics that fall into this category are:

• Racetams (Examples: piracetam, oxiracetam, pramiracetam, and fosracetam)
• Stimulants (Examples: amphetamines, eugoroics, xanthines, adrenergic)
• Cholinergics (Examples: nicotine, acetyl-L-carnitine, Alpha-GPC, CDP choline, DMAE, Meclofenoxate)
• Glutamatergics
• GABAergics (Examples: fipexide, gabapentin, GHB, picamilon)
• Serotonergics (Examples: theanine, tryptophan, gerovital, hydergine, vinpocetine)

Natural Nootropics

Natural nootropics are herbs and foods that contain components that benefit brain activity.

They are referred to by their whole herb and food name, but there are specific chemicals within them that are responsible for the beneficial effects on the brain.

There are thousands of natural nootropics that have been used for centuries by ancient cultures all over the world, but only now are they beginning to be studied in labs to identify how and to what extent they work.

Herbs

Some of the most common herbal nootropics are adaptogens. Adaptogens are substances that help to increase bodily resistance to physical, chemical, or biological agents that could cause damage to cells, or that normalize disbalances without disturbing normal bodily function.

There are thousands of potential herbal nootropics, but only a few dozen have been thoroughly studied in clinics and laboratories for their brain enhancing effects. Some of the most-studied herbal nootropics include:

• Ginkgo Biloba
• John’s Wort
• Lion’s Mane mushroom
• Rhodiola Rosea
• Ashwagandha
• Bacopa monnieri

Foods

Foods, like herbs, contain substances that may help boost your brain health and thus allow you to take advantage of your brain’s potential. Some of these foods aren’t regarded as nootropics in the traditional sense, but evidence shows that they do act on the brain as other nootropics do by stimulating blood flow to the brain, ameliorating symptoms of depression, fighting off free radicals that may damage brain cells, and others.

Some popular nootropic foods include:

• Cocoa
• Cinnamon
• Coconut oil
• Almond oil
• Coffee and teas

Amino Acids

Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins, and they are found in large quantities in our body. Some amino acids can be made by our bodies, while others need to come from the food we eat (called essential amino acids). Certain amino acids have been found to have a particularly important impact on brain health, so pharmaceutical and supplement companies will extract them or make them synthetically to offer as a supplement. Note that you can also gain access to these amino acids by eating foods that have high quantities of each.

Some nootropic amino acids include:

• DL-Phenylalanine (DLPA)
• L-Tyrosine
• L-Lysine
• L-Cysteine
• L-Aspartic acid
• L-Methionine
• L- Glycine
• L-Taurine
• L-Glutathione
• L-Carnitine

How do Nootropics Work?

To understand the safety and effectiveness of nootropics, it is often helpful to have a general understanding of the different ways in which nootropics work.

Different nootropics act on the brain in a wide variety of ways. Some of these include:

• Those that provide key nutrients to the brain: These generally come from the diet and from supplements:
  • Dietary sources: Foods that contain phytochemicals (plant chemicals), micronutrients, and macronutrients that help your brain reach its full potential, beyond that
  • Supplements: Similar to dietary sources, they contain components from foods to ensure your brain has the micronutrients (vitamins and minerals) and macronutrients it needs. Supplements provide these components in higher doses and concentrations that are usually found in food.
• Racetams: Synthetic chemicals, some of which are used as nootropics and others that are used as medicine to treat seizures. They activate glutamate and acetylcholine receptors – important neurotransmitters in the brain that control action and cognitive functions.
• Stimulants and dopaminergics: Only some are considered nootropics. Activates dopamine and adrenoreceptors to improve alertness and performance.
• Memory enhancers: They enhance neurotransmitters associated with memory
• Serotonergics: They enhance the serotonin system and are associated with improving mood and the sleep cycle.
• Anti-depression, adaptogenic, and mood stabilization agents: They include modes of action, but all help to counteract processes that affect mood.
• Metabolic and blood flow enhancers: Help get oxygen, energy, and nutrients to the parts of the brain that need them.
• Nerve growth stimulators and agents that protect brain cells.
• Hormones: A small number are considered nootropics. They are cell messengers that improve brain function.
• Unknown enhancement: Their mode of action isn’t completely understood, but they have demonstrated effectiveness.

Are Nootropics Effective?

There is more information available on the effectiveness of some nootropics than others.

Nootropic drugs generally have much more research conducted on their effectiveness, but they are often the ones that are usually reserved for prescription and therapeutic purposes only.

In this section, we will briefly overview the effectiveness of nootropics for different diagnosable conditions (therapeutic purposes), and then we will explore the evidence of the use of nootropics as smart drugs.

Effectiveness of Nootropics for Cognitive Disorders

Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia

Dementia is the general term used to refer to a decline in mental ability that interferes with daily life. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia.

Alzheimer’s disease is a brain condition that slowly destroys the parts of the brain associated with memory and thinking skills. It is irreversible and progressive, and there are some estimates that it affects as many as 5.5 million people in the United States.

Alzheimer’s and dementia can be devastating for individuals and families, and since they are irreversible, researchers and physicians have a significant interest in finding new treatments that may help to slow the progression or improve certain cognitive functions of the brain.

Some of the drugs, herbs, and supplements with evidence for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease include:

• Nefiracetam: natural acetylcholine is reduced in people with Alzheimer’s disease, and nefiracetam may help to module the receptor channel.
• L-Arginine: naturally found in fish, chicken and dairy products.
• Gingko Biloba: Helps to reduce free radicals that arise in Alzheimer’s disease models and may help to prevent the disease.
• Piracetam and aniracetam: When administrated in high doses, piracetam may slow the progression of cognitive deteriorate in people with Alzheimer’s disease. Note that evidence is lacking for the use of piracetam for dementia and aniracetam for Alzheimer’s. Other nootropics with similar modes of action include aniracetam.
• Coconut oil: coconut oil contains medium-chain triglycerides, which are a direct source of cellular energy. Some evidence shows that administering coconut oil may help to improve the cognitive level of patients with Alzheimer’s and dementia.
• Ocimum sanctum: While only animal trials have been carried out to date, the use of Ocimum sanctum (holy basil), an ayurvedic herb, may be beneficial in the treatment of cognitive disorders in humans.
• Cerebrolysin: This mix of peptides derived from pig’s brains is shown to improve measures of cognition in some types of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
• Ashwagandha: May help to reconstruct neuronal networks and hold promise in treatment for dementia.

Depression

Clinical depression is a cognitive impairment that causes feelings of sadness or loss of interest in activities people normally enjoyed. About 6.7% of adults are affected by depression in any given year. It can be treated in many people with conventional drugs and psychotherapy, among other treatments, but there has been increasing interest in the use of nootropics as an alternative for the treatment of clinical depression.

Some of the nootropics that have shown effectiveness for the treatment of depression include:

• L-Arginine and L-Glutamine: amino acids found in fish, meat, and dairy. They help to improve blood flow to the brain and may help to reduce symptoms of depression.
• Phenylpiracetam: a more potent form of piracetam, it is currently under trial for use as an antidepressant.
• Reboxetine: a type of adrenergic stimulant that is approved for the treatment of clinical depression in Europe.
• Bupropion: a type of dopaminergic that moderates dopamine inhibition.
• Siberian Ginseng or Panax Ginseng: an adaptogen that exhibits anti-fatigue, anti-stress, improved CNS activity, and anti-depressive effects.
• Lemon balm: a GABA transaminase inhibitor
• John’s Wort: Existing studies show that St. John’s Word is safe, well-tolerated, and effective for treating mild to moderate depression.
• Rhodiola Rosea: Some studies show effectiveness for treating overall depression, insomnia, and emotional instability when administered daily over several weeks.

Epilepsy

Epilepsy is a disorder of the central nervous system characterized by unpredictable seizures and other health problems. According to the epilepsy foundation, it is the fourth most common neurological disorder that affects people of all ages.

• Piracetam: studies show a positive influence of piracetam on the cognitive disturbances of people with epilepsy without diminishing the effects of anticonvulsant drugs.
• Nefiracetam: inhibits proconvulsant action of certain agents, and is more potent than piracetam.
• Bacopa monniera: animal trials show that Bacopa monniera is effective for improving memory acquisition and retention without affecting the anticonvulsant activity of other drugs.

Effectiveness of Nootropics for Increasing Intelligence (“Smart Drugs”)

A sub-category of nootropics, often referred to as “smart drugs” are those that are used, not for treating cognitive disorders, but instead, are used for improving cognition and helping your brain access its full potential.

In this category, we usually find herbal and food-derived nootropics, though or rare occasions there may be some that are developed in the lab and require prescriptions.

Below we will overview the different categories of “cognitive enhancement” often sought after with nootropic use.

Concentration, Memory, Focus, and Learning

Some of the nootropics known to improve concentration include:

• Caffeine: the most commonly consumed nootropic in the world, it can help to improve concentration and work energy. It may, however, be less effective for some types of memory learning.
• DMAE (dimethylaminoethanol): naturally found in fish, but also found as a dietary supplement. It helps to increase the production and release of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. Evidence shows that it may reduce memory deficits in people with cognitive impairment.
• Theanine: an amino acid found in high amounts in green tea, but also marketed as a dietary supplement. It can improve concentration by enhancing nervous impulses in the brain.
• Ginkgo Biloba: contains flavonoids and terpenoids that protect brain cells and enhance blood flow, thus potentially improving memory over longer periods of supplementation.
• Vasopressin: a prescribed hormone nootropic that facilitates information retention in the memory centers of the brain.
• Piracetam: One of the first nootropics to demonstrate an improvement in verbal learning over several weeks of administration.
• Lion’s Mane: Supplementation is shown to improve recognition memory and learning.
• Ashwagandha: may help to improve general and immediate memory, executive function, attention and information processing speed in people with mild cognitive impairment.
• Rhodiola Rosea: A very versatile adaptogenic nootropic, it may support a positive mood and memory.

Note that for many of these herbal supplements and food components, there is still only initial research on their effectiveness. However, it is important to note that many non-western societies have held the application of many of these nootropics in high esteem for centuries, and people are currently successfully using them for their brain-enhancing effects.

Watch this video on the top 4 benefits of nootropics if you are considering taking them to boost your brain abilities.

Safety of Nootropics

If you are considering taking an over-the-counter (non-prescription nootropic), or if your physician has prescribed a nootropic as part of your treatment regiment, it is important to understand the safety and risks of each one.

In general, nootropics are known for not having any side effects at recommended doses, which is true for most herbal and food-based nootropics. However, there are some that may have adverse effects on specific people, depending on sensibilities, conditions, and other drugs and supplements you may be taking.

Those nootropics with more risk (nootropic drugs, in most cases) are available by prescription only.

Below, we summarize the safety of some of the most popular nootropics as described by Jay Siva, a nootropic expert.

A Note on Safety

In general, nootropics are considered safe, given the following conditions:

• They are taken at the recommended doses and for the recommended length of time.
• You have consulted with your doctor about potential interactions with other drugs you are taking.
• You have consulted your doctor about the effect of the nootropic on other health conditions you may have.
• You do not take prescription nootropics unless they are prescribed to you.
• You are not pregnant or breastfeeding.

If you are considering taking a nootropic supplement, it is recommended that you start with the lowest dose to measure your body’s reaction before increasing dosage or taking it for a long period.

Conclusion

Nootropics have been studied in the laboratory setting for over 50 years to determine their safety and effectiveness. There are dozens of nootropics that are currently used as part of prescribed treatments and therapies for cognitive-related disorders. Additionally, natural and herbal nootropics that can be purchased over-the-counter have gained significant attention for their use as Smart Drugs.

In general, herbal and food-based nootropics are considered safe for most healthy people, and there is growing evidence on their effectiveness for cognitive health and performance.

If you are considering taking nootropics to improve your brain health and cognitive abilities, talk to your healthcare provider about starting a nootropic regimen.

Sasha de Beausset Aparicio

Sasha is a Nutritional Anthropologist with an M.Sc. in Food and Nutrition. She has been a food, nutrition, and health researcher and writer for six years and also works as an international development consultant.

She is passionate about empowering people to make the best nutrition and health choices in a way that makes cultural and logical sense for each individual and community.

Sasha currently lives in Guatemala with her family and three dogs. In her free time, she cooks, reads, gardens, and goes on adventures with her family around Guatemala and the world.

The post Are Nootropics Safe and Effective? appeared first on Nootropics Resources.

At first read, who wouldn’t want to boost their brain power, naturally? However, the seemingly supernatural assurances nootropics offer may also raise a lot of skepticism.

What are nootropics? Do they safely and effectively allow us to reach our full cognitive potential?

In this article, we review foundational and up-to-date research to answer these questions.

But first, let’s start at square one and understand the history and use of nootropics over time.

Nootropics Before the Name: The Use of Nootropics in History

Nootropics aren’t a just a passing fad; they have they been around for thousands of years, and now several have dozens of years of research to back their effectiveness.

Some of the most popular natural nootropics, including Brahmi (Bacopa monnieri) and Ginkgo biloba, have been used in Ayurvedic medicine for thousands of years. Other brain-enhancing herbs and plants have been used in health systems far and wide – from Asia to South America.

For decades, the western biomedical systems often dismissed these herbs used for brain health as there was limited research that showed clinical proof of their effectiveness. Today, we know that medicinal herbs have a mode of action that can be studied just like any pill that fits within the western medicine system.

When the western health system started to look for alternative ideas for solving major health issues affecting people all over the world, they turned to age-old traditional medicine and began to identify how it affected our health, including our brain health.

Then and Now: Nootropics for Therapy and “Cosmetic Neurology”

Of course, the name “nootropics” is quite new. More research into how newly-identified components (natural, derived, and synthetic), and their effect on our brain gave rise to a much wider category of brain-enhancing drugs.

The term nootropic was proposed by Dr. Corneliu E. Giurgea in his 1973 paper, “The ‘nootropic’ approach to the pharmacology of the integrative activity of the brain.” Later, the term and concept was further explored by Dr. Corneliu E. Giurgea and Dr. Maurice Salama in 1977.

In the decade after these publications, dozens of researchers began to explore the pharmacology and clinical effectiveness herbs and active ingredients that had been known to have brain-enhancing effects in well-documented traditional systems of medicine, especially in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Ayurveda.

In the 80s and early 90s, the primary interest in the use of these drugs was to explore innovative treatments for brain and cognitive disorders, and several are used as part of standard treatments today.

When we welcomed the new millennium, new frontiers for the applications of nootropics began to emerge.

With the establishment of therapeutic effects of nootropics with no psychoactive effects, researchers began to explore the applications of nootropics for people without cognitive disorders like dementia and Alzheimer’s.

Instead, the uses of nootropics were explored from a different angle, thinking of people who wanted to access fuller learning, memory, and creative potential.

Beyond the therapeutic benefits which are well established, nootropics are now commonly referred to as “smart drugs” as they are considered in an era of cognitive enhancement and “cosmetic neurology.” (Cosmetic neurology refers to the idea that we can purposefully modify the way out brain works to have more favorable intellectual characteristics).

Now, interesting debates are arising. Nootropics have proven to result in improvement in cognitive abilities of healthy people, and dozens are available without the need for a prescription. Thus, some question whether the use of nootropics should be regulated, or even prohibited in certain fields (especially competitive sports) because for providing an unfair advantage.

It is important to note that, while the debate is interesting to follow, most researchers disagree that most non-prescription nootropics should or will be regulated for the general population. However, the American Medical Association will continue to promote further research on nootropic drugs to determine unknown effects.

What are Nootropics? Nootropics Defined

Giurgea and Salama, in their original 1977 article, named six features of natural or synthetic elements that could be considered nootropics:

• Enhances the ability to learn
• Resistance to agents that impair brain health
• Facilitates information transfer between right and left-brain hemispheres
• Enhanced resistance to brain “aggression.”
• Increased tonic, cortico-subcortical “control.”
• Absence of usual pharmacological effects of neuro-psychotropic drugs (like analgesics, anesthetics, antipsychotics, and antidepressants).

A few years later, Giurgea defined nootropics as follows:

A nootropic drug is characterized by a direct functional activation of the higher integrative brain mechanisms that enhances cortical vigilance, a telencephalic functional selectivity, and a particular efficiency in restoring deficient higher nervous activity.

However, nootropics aren’t only drugs. There are substances found in food and in herbs that also meet the criteria of nootropics. Thus, a more all-encompassing definition of nootropics is: “a substance that improves human cognitive abilities.”

Pharmacology of Nootropics: How They Work

The field of pharmacology studies the action of drugs and their effects on our body. Pharmacology includes many disciplines, including biomedical science, neuroscience, molecular biology, and immunology to understand how drugs impact our health and wellbeing on multiple levels.

Note that the term “drugs,” in the case of nootropics, has a wider definition; not only does it refer to synthetic elements made in the lab and those derived from natural ingredients. It also refers to food components with nootropic effects or whole herbs with identified active nootropic substances.

Nootropics may help to improve brain function in one or many different ways, including:

• Increasing circulation to the brain
• Providing chemical messengers to the brain
• Improving neuron function
• Preventing oxidative damage on the brain by free radicals
• Providing usable energy directly to the brain

It is important to note that the pharmacology of nootropics has perplexed accepted paradigms of drug-cell reactions. While we won’t go into that much detail here, the clinical effects of nootropics on behavior imply acting upon neurological receptors.

While some types of nootropics impact the transmission of brain signals on some levels, they don’t result from how we understand other drugs to impact brain receptors. In other words, they act in ways that challenge our current understanding of how drugs impact our brain.

Wider studies, especially those about how nootropics can improve symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease, have identified how nootropics interact. They’ve identified that they can interact, not only with receptors, but also with enzymes and other targets, like ion channels, nerve growth factors, re-uptake transporters, antioxidants, and others.

Uses of Nootropics

Since, then, the concept of nootropics has not changed significantly. Essentially, nootropics are substances that enhance the brain’s potential without side effects of other psychoactive drugs.

Nootropics were originally explored for their potential therapeutic effects on people who have cognitive and neurological disorders and deficits, including speech disorders, Alzheimer’s, epilepsy, dementia, and others.

However, because they don’t have the negative effects traditional drugs tend to have, they can also be effectively used to enhance and optimize the brain function of otherwise healthy people. Some of the positive effects on healthy people include, but are not limited to, improved:

• Memory
• Creativity
• Clarity and focus
• Learning capacity
• Mood

Logically, all of these elements, lead to improved intelligence through enhancing natural brain capacity to take in and process information.

Types of Nootropics and What They Do

One group of researchers divide nootropics components into 12 categories. Note that this table identifies the “active ingredient,” so it is possible that an herb or other substance naturally contain several nootropic components.  Each is categorized below by mode of action (pharmacology) and include examples.

Additionally, the same group of researchers has categorized natural and herbal cognitive enhancers that can be accessed through food and supplements derived from herbs. These include:

Conclusion

The field of nootropics is, without a doubt an exciting field with many applications.

The knowledge of the effects of certain herbs on our mental and intellectual health, however, is not new. In traditional medical systems like Traditional Chinese Medicine and Ayurveda, nootropic herbs and plants were used to improve functions associated with brain health.

When Giurgea pooled the knowledge on the dozens of components identified to have brain-enhancing effects, especially for people with brain disorders, he defined the concept of nootropics.

Today, nootropics are used by healthy people as well to improve their ability to learn, concentrate, memorize and understand. They are not often referred to as “smart drugs”: medicines, herbs, and components in foods that can help to boost our cognitive abilities without the effects of neuro psychotropic drugs. They work on our brain in several different ways, and even challenge traditional understandings of pharmacology.

The field of nootropics has taken an exciting new direction, and without a doubt, over time it will change the way we see how we see our full cognitive ability.

Sasha de Beausset Aparicio

Sasha is a Nutritional Anthropologist with an M.Sc. in Food and Nutrition. She has been a food, nutrition, and health researcher and writer for six years and also works as an international development consultant.

She is passionate about empowering people to make the best nutrition and health choices in a way that makes cultural and logical sense for each individual and community.

Sasha currently lives in Guatemala with her family and three dogs. In her free time, she cooks, reads, gardens, and goes on adventures with her family around Guatemala and the world.

The post What Are Nootropics and How Do They Work? appeared first on Nootropics Resources.