Limitless Living: An Elemental Article on Smart Drugs & Nootropics

It’s 8am shortly after waking and I have an entire work day ahead of me. I slept in, feeling a bit behind; stacks of papers to process, assignments to get done, & inventive insights required for in-depth conversations & creations. I pop a handful of potent pills & drink it down. After some morning breathwork & movement, I sip my french press coffee at my desk & dive into today’s tasks clear-headed with a flawless flow of energy...

Who doesn’t like to feel superhuman with a quick-witted cognition? Ya know, superb word recall, memory, and boosted mood free from that brain fog we all know about. And what about being able to tap into that high-regarded “flow state” with ease, while still retaining a bright outlook on life? Well, nootropics can support just that. You may not become Bradley Cooper in the movie Limitless, but you will feel a smooth aura and thought-process come out-of-nowhere shortly after taking the right nootropic or smart drug.

Feeling like an unstoppable human with an ambitious attitude to march on through your days (without looking behind) is one of the greatest elements to life. If you’re looking to pour rocket fuel into your noggin and blast off to infinity & beyond like Buzz, then nootropics may be just for you. There are an endless array of different nootropics that affect each and every human differently, so the key is to keep an open mind—become a human guinea pig. Yes, you have to experiment with these unique potions and pills in order to truly grasp the limitless brain-boosting possibilities.

In this blog I am going to briefly discuss some of my personal favorites that AREN’T anywhere near the classification of adderall. These ADHD pharmacological drugs have some of the nastiest side effects that start off as...

• Sleep problems

• Decreased appetite

• Delayed growth

• Headaches and stomachaches

• Rebound (irritability when the medication wears off)

• Tics

• Moodiness and irritability

...and eventually, after long-term use, they can cause a plethora of deathly effects similar to meth, like:

• Heart disease

• High blood pressure

• Seizure

• Irregular heartbeat

• Abuse and addiction

• Skin discolorations

These types of drugs scare the f*ck out of me... seriously. I used to take adderall here n’ there in community college and it totally inhibited my emotional connection to others and the world. I lost empathy and had a degrading headache when I wasn’t on it— irritability through the roof! I also had many close friends experience the same dreadful, debilitating downsides from these synthetic poo-poos.

But don’t worry, these smart drugs on this list actually can improve reaction time, reading speed, memory, creativity, word recall, mood, conversation and can bring out the best in you. Even after these supplements fade away from your physiology, you will retain a smile and will not feel out-of-whack. **These are MY personal favorites and I definitely don’t think these are suitable for everyone... Always remember bio-individuality. Everyone is different!

I have experimented with each of these nootropic supplements. I highly recommend you do not take some of these every single day for months on end because you must give your brain a break. You certainly don’t want to overdrive specific neurotransmitters and become dependent on their potency.

Okay, with all this precautionary shizzle knocked out of the way, let's dive right in! I am going to begin by talking about the isolates you can take (specific herbs or compounds) then I will talk about my favorite all-in-one brands that encompass a variety of these powerful brain-boosting ingredients!

1. Piracetam & Aniracetam

Piracetam was first synthesized in the 1960s and has undergone many many MANY human trials, so it definitely should turn some heads (and make them smarter too). Aniracetam is a derivative of this guy and has similar effects with synchronizing the two hemispheres of the brain leading to amplified focus, mood and energy. When I take either one of these two (or both at the same time on given days) I immediately notice an elevated mood, better concentration and thinking, and my personality isn’t blunted like popping adderall. I usually will take in powder form 2-3x/week spread out on strenuous work days so I don’t get hooked (ha, go figure… I am on some right now!). Make sure you take aniracetam with a fat source to enhance its absorption because it is fat-soluble. You can get these online at https://nootropicsdepot.com/.

2. Alpha-GPC

Sounds like some crazy droid from Star Wars but alpha-GPC is one of my favorite smooth-flowing nootropics that doesn’t “feel” like much. It is very light and basically increases your brain’s natural production of acetylcholine which is a neurotransmitter required for focus and memory. You can get this online as well, or perhaps in most natural foods stores and shops.

3. Ginkgo Biloba

For thousands of years since ancient Chinese medicine originated, Ginkgo biloba leaves have been a common treatment for holistic health, namely for neurological enhancement. It has been shown to increase blood flow to your noggin and reduces Alzheimer's disease risk and a handful of other mental issues. I personally have noticed that after supplementing with this for 2 months a clearer mind and faster recovery from the same amount of sleep. I love this tree. I remember harvesting the leaves on the WWOOF farm I stayed at in Ukiah, CA this past summer 2020… bitter but brainy. Go Gingko!

4. Ashwagandha

One of my top-tier supplements for stress alleviation, energy and recovery, ashwagandha also sits at the top of the totem pole for nootropics and smart drugs. I don’t really notice any benefit or super brain enhancements from one dose, but after taking for over a month, my brain definitely felt more clear and stress-free. I recommend the brands Gaia Herbs or Organic India for a quality ash nootropic.

5. Omega-3s (Fish Oil)

Omega-3s aren’t a direct nootropic or brain-buster after taking once like aniracetam or alpha-GPC, but you will notice that after a couple of weeks of daily supplementation (2-5g minimum) a massive difference in whole-body inflammation and brain recall. DHA in particular is the predominant fatty acid high in concentrations in the brain tissue. Although EPA is equally important, the studies show that DHA has the most profound effect on cognition from mood, memory and a decreased reaction time. My favorite is Thorne or Carlson which you can buy on Amazon for fairly cheap for the AMAZING health benefits. Especially if you consume omega-6s rich in a lot of the food on the shelves today!

6. Bacopa

Bacopa, similar to Ashwagandha, has been around for thousands of years in Ayurvedic medicine. It is highly regarded for its cognitive-supporting benefits such as improving learning IQ. It is suitable for allll ages, young n’ old.

7. Lion’s Mane

One of my all time favorite mushrooms culinary-wise and medicinally, Lion’s Mane is one gorgeous white, puff-ball mushroom. Shown in numerous studies to increase brain function (i.e. memory), Lion’s Mane is a must in my cabinet. It is paired great with a cup of joe too! Be careful: the supplement industry is deceitful and will label something as something, but not put that something in the actual product you are buying. That’s why it is best to get your products from reputable brands. Real Mushrooms, Four Sigmatic, Host Defense and Life Cykel are the best brands on the market today for medicinal mushrooms.

8. The Classic: Nicotine, L-Theanine & Caffeine

Yes, nicotine in lower doses is the cleanest and smoothest brain boost buzz. Just think about it, nicotine has been around for thousands of years, mostly smoked tobacco. I certainly do not recommend smoking AT ALL, however, chewing a healthy low dose 2-4mg a day is quite amazing at boosting concentration without any gnarly side effects. It can be “addicting” to the same level as caffeine, so be aware of that.

I like to chew Lucy gum during my intense workouts, heavy reading or blogging sessions, or any memorization tasks (don’t puff on a damn Juul, okay).

Stacking a 4mg piece of this tasty gum with a cup or two of organic french press coffee and 200-400mg of L-Theanine really gets the smoothest, friendliest, focused attention. Theanine is an amino acid found most commonly in the leaves of tea, like green tea and matcha. It has a superb relaxing effect on the brain without a tendency to drowsiness, even though it can assist sleep too! It basically stimulates alpha-wave activity in the brain, which promotes a relaxed state. Get your mellowhype on!

All-in-One Brands

1. Qualia Mind

This nootropic supplement is the best of the best of the best on the market today, hands down. It can be a tad expensive, but what price would you pay to get work done at an accelerated speed and retain a SUPER BRAIN? Qualia Mind contains a scientific formulation of over 20 nutrients and botanicals that will help you abolish brain fog, amp-up willpower, increase energy and creativity, and decrease procrastination all inside 7 powerful pills. I notice within 40 minutes of poppin’ the 7 pills back with some MCT oil, I feel a surge of limitless clarity. There is a 100 day money back guarantee, so don't take my word for it, get quality Qualia today.

2. ONNIT Alpha Brain

Another one of my favorites is Alpha Brain by ONNIT. This guy supports memory, promotes focus, aids mental processing and for sureeee helps with flow state (the feeling of being “in the zone”). It is caffeine free so you can enjoy your coffee right after drinking either the powdered or pill version. You can find it at most grocery stores like Whole Foods or Natural Grocers, or can purchase online. Joe Rogan and Aubrey Marcus are the dudes who helped manifest this thing, so they contain some of the highest quality ingredients! I personally like the powdered version more because it absorbs quicker than the pills, but it's all fine and dandy on your busy days ahead!

BONUS FUN FACT STACKS

You can experiment like me and stack a lot of these nootropics together for an even greater RPM level! Here is a good stack that works well with me on busy busy days hitting the gym, the books, writing, and conversing with others when I don’t have access to Qualia or ONNIT: Aniracetam 500mg/2x day, Lion’s Mane Coffee (Four Sigmatic packet), L-Theanine 200mg, 2-4mg nicotine.

*Everyday I always take Gaia Herbs Ashwagandha and Carlson omega-3s fish oil (I need to get some more Gingko though!)