Nootropics are brain health boosting supplements that have been created from natural resources, like mushrooms. Nootropics are usually eaten or swallowed in capsule form, but can also come in sprays, tinctures and other vehicles. They can consist of a huge variety of ingredients, including caffeine, Maritime Pine Bark Extract, L-tyrosine, L-theanine and much more. Each of these ingredients cater to different brain functioning, and so the blend of nootropics you choose will need to be selected carefully.
Nootropics can be administered in a number of ways. You can take them orally as capsules, in a powder form (added to drinks or foods), as a spray, a tincture oil or as an edible. They are usually very easy to take but some people have preferences as to how they are consumed.
There are more nootropics than are available to list, but they fall into two main categories. Synthetic - which are lab created compounds. And herbal, like ginkgo biloba and panax quinquefolius. More than 100 nootropics can be used to improve brain health. Some of the most commonly used ones are vitamin b, turmeric, St John’s Wort, iodine and Lion’s Mane.
Nootropics come in different forms and doses. Each will impact the body in a unique way. When a nootropic is taken as per the instructions, nootropics are considered safe - but this doesn’t exempt them from having side effects. It is still important to read about any potential side effects on the label. For example, some nootropics might interact with other medications, including hormonal contraceptives. Others might have side effects like sleepiness / drowsiness and might not be safe to take before driving. Some side effects can be quite pleasant (like feeling extra relaxed) and others can be unpleasant (such as having an upset stomach). If you are having an unpleasant side effect, stop taking the nootropic and consult with an expert on which nootropic might be better suited.
Nootropics can be purchased over the counter or on the website like JM Wholesale. You do not need a prescription to access the healing effects of nootropics. However, that does not mean medical supervision is unnecessary. It really depends what you are using the nootropic for. For example, if you are being treated for a neurological disorder or mood disorder like bipolar, you should consult your doctor before taking nootropics. This is because some nootropics can interact with medications and change the way they work. If you are taking nootropics for general better brain health and are not taking any other medications, then you won’t need medical supervision. However we recommend you always let healthcare practitioners know if you are taking nootropics.
Everyone is different. If you are taking nootropics for enhanced alertness and energy, it might be a good idea to take them in the morning with breakfast. Always take supplements with food, and not on an empty stomach. If you are taking nootropics for better sleep, it is wise to do this in the evening. There is no standardised time to take nootropics and it might be a case of trial and error to see what works for you.
Nootropics have been used by people to counteract the symptoms of various neurological disorders including narcolepsy, dementia / alzheimer's disease, memory impairment, ADHD, symptoms associated with autism, anxiety, insomnia, parkinson's disease, epilepsy and adjustment disorders.
It is important to buy from a reputable brand. A reputable brand will be transparent about the ingredients within the nootropics and offer third party lab testing reports so that you know the product has been safely tested. It is not safe to buy nootropics from unregulated sources, and it is not advisable to try and make your own nootropics.
Please note, this content is not medical advice. We make no medical claims about our products.
The brain is by far the most complicated and mysterious structure in the human body. Advances in science are being made to understand how the brain works in relation to nootropics.
There are thought to be numerous brain pathways enhanced by nootropics within this complex network. Some of these are as follows:
Like any organ, the brain needs energy to work. The brain consumes around 20% of the body’s total energy reserve. Without sufficient energy you will suffer from memory issues, cognitive problems, learning difficulty and brain fog.
Nootropics support your brain by:
Neurogenesis is a person’s ability to regrow brain cells. It used to be that scientists thought we had a finite amount of brain cells, but this is not the case. In 1998 it was discovered that brain cells can grow again in the hippocampus, and that nootropics can help assist in this process, keeping the brain young, functioning properly and able to learn more.
Nootropics for neurogenesis can be sorted into three main categories. These are:
Your brain is packed with neurotransmitters, which just means ‘brain chemicals’. Neurotransmitters are responsible for sending and receiving messages around the body. These messages might be to perform a physical movement or task, or it might be to regulate hormones or respond to a change in temperature. There are billions of processes happening in the brain and they all require neurotransmitters. There are many types of neurotransmitters, including those listed below:
In a healthy functioning brain, there is a sufficient reserve of each neurotransmitter to perform the function. But in many cases, there isn’t. When there is an imbalance of brain chemicals, many different disorders and diseases can form. For example, it is hypothesised that people with depression can have a dysfunction in the way serotonin (5HT) is processed by brain cells. Antidepressants are called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, and help to aid the process of the neurotransmitter serotonin being signalled in the brain. But this type of medication is not without its side effects and many people cannot tolerate it, which is where nootropics can make for a pleasant alternative.
Nootropics may optimise neurotransmitters by:
Brain waves are the electrical activity inside of your brain and are linked to your state of cognition and consciousness. Some brain waves are listed below:
Nootropics can have an effect on the way your brain waves behave and occur.
Cognition is a vague term that refers to numerous different processes within the brain. Nootropics can help with various forms of cognition, including:
Everyone is different and has different brain structures, energy levels and chemistry, so what works for one person may not work for another. Trying a nootropic for the first time should be done with great consideration. Ask yourself the following.
CBD is a compound derived from cannabis and is legal, safe and gentle. Sometimes nootropics are combined with CBD to create an even greater health experience. Much like nootropics, CBD works on the brain and can help with mood, sleep and other neurological problems like epilepsy. But CBD also works on the whole body, relieving pain, regulating hormones and even helping with more serious diseases or side effects from heavy medications. If you are blending CBD with nootropics, make sure that you are buying your CBD from a reputable source with third party lab testing. You should also take note of the strength of the CBD (it should say on the package how many mg of CBD are in the product) as well as the type (isolate, full spectrum etc).