DH23004 Nootropics

 

 This unusual term not in common use refers to Cognitive Enhancers or more popularly these days they are called Smart Drugs. They are medicinal substances whose action improves human thinking, learning and memory especially medically where these functions are impaired. Nootropics is a large subject that branches out into many subcategories.

1.    Classical Nootropic Compounds

2.    Substances increasing brain metabolism

3.    Cholinergics is at branch of the nervous system with a link to digestion

4.    Plant and plant extracts

 

Use this link to find out more detail

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9415189

 

Quoted from this link is this extract on Nootropics :-

At one time or another, everyone has dreamed of becoming more intelligent, learning more things in less time, thinking and reacting faster, and having a better memory. There are compounds currently available on the market that promise various combinations of the benefits mentioned above. This group of substances is known as the nootropics [1]. Although these substances are more effective in cases where cognitive functions are obviously impaired, they are of interest to healthy individuals because of their ability to increase intelligence and improve memory [2]. The vast majority of these substances are of natural origin [3], not subject to prescription, and can usually be easily obtained in the form of food supplements or herbal extracts. Their availability in synthetic form is somewhat limited and some preparations do require a valid prescription to obtain them. Nootropics tend to be well tolerated in patients with cognitive impairments; the incidence of side effects is low, and those that do occur are usually mild [4,5,6]. Most nootropics do not have an immediate effect after a single dose, and therefore long-term use is necessary to achieve the desired results [7]. However, their long-term effects on healthy individuals are still unknown [8].

It should be noted that this subject has been commercially exploited by those claiming that if you use their products you will achieve a variety of positive outcomes. The science behind supporting these claims is very weak to nonexistent.

My interest in it as a subject stems from the use of herbs by Monks in the Anglo Saxon and earlier Norman periods in England. (circa 1000 AD) with their comprehensive documentation of this form of medicinal treatments and the importance of herb gardening within a monastery setting. The plants from the herb garden were used in the monastery’s hospital as medicine.

Importantly I want to understand scientifically the bio chemistry of these herbs and how their effects changed both mental and bodily functions. Going back to basics the monks with so few remedies available would have witnessed the effects of these herbs thereby applying very purest scientific principles. As a child I remember (1950’s) most medicines arriving in a bottle administered a teaspoon at a time. From memory they worked. The pharmaceutical industry has now moved the majority to tablet form and one wonders at this type of delivery for all ailments and illnesses. Has the economic convenience exceeded the logic of a liquid delivery medium rather tan a tablet. Our digestive system was never designed to process tablets but designed for solid bulky material and liquids. Not designed for highly concentrated chemical tablets which must enter the blood stream over very small areas. The rate at which they are absorbed and their concentration within the blood stream must have their own biological dynamics. This whole subject of the delivery of drugs including inoculation. Inoculation covers the introduction of vaccines, serum or any antigenic substance into the body so as to boost immunity against particular diseases.   

This whole subject warrants “on mass” investigation possibly using Artificial Intelligence (AI) techniques in particular to assess the natural approach verse the synthetic (man made) approach. I hold a unsubstantiated view that the synthetic approach to medicines is failing to acknowledge the biological sophistication of the human body. Natural remedies developed over millions and millions of years whilst our synthetic approach is not even 100 years of years old. Our scientific approach has not yet reached the level of true validation necessary to fully sign off many of these new synthetic drugs.

My view is to stay as natural as you can at all times but be prepared to move to synthetic drugs when necessary. The repeat prescriptions of synthetic drugs has to be the most major concern. You are permanently changing the chemical make up of your body. If this is the only way to address your condition then fine but just check out if they are still needed. Has it just become a habit. It’s a strange thing to end upon but has you ever just accessed your daily water intake. Yes just pure tape water. Not water taken after processing with tea, coffee, flavourings, brewing, fermenting or distilling. Just pure water.