[disclaimer: I am not a doctor. None of my statements should be construed as medical advice. You alone are responsible for what you do to your brain. Consult with your doctor/healthcare provider before you use any drug.]
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Semax (1%, red):
Semax is a sneaky, wonderful little nootropic. Intranasal administration resulted in a slight burning feeling in my nose and near-instant physiological effect (-5 minutes). I call it Zen in a bottle.
The effects are subtle, but I found them to be very noticeable. I tried it, not knowing much of what to expect. It definitely speeds the mind up- but it's not an uncomfortable, artificially stimulated feeling. Gives me a very profound clarity and a sense of calm that isn't easily disturbed...even when I "should" be feeling stress. The feeling is hard to define in writing- but it seems to do a lot of things simultaneously. I felt somewhat spacey and yet fully functional. I feel that my first dose "changed" me- permanently- in a good way. Vivid dreams. The anxiolytic properties definitely last for a while. I'd use this more often if it was less expensive. The active ingredient is very, very, very temperature sensitive. Extremes in temperature can turn a sealed Semax bottle in to a rare, precious, useless nasal irrigator. Don't let it freeze and don't let it get above 70° F.
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Pramiracetam (600mg):
This was the first nootropic that I ever tried. It's a kick in the face. Made me feel robotic, commanding, emotionless. Helped with cognition- for the first couple of hours it was like having an auto-fill app for whatever information I needed to recall. E.g, "Where did I put my-- oh, by the microwave." It blunts a lot of stress and anxiety- and a lot of normal feelings (sense of humor, empathy). Colors became more vivid and eyesight was subjectively "sharper." For me, it was very strong- although the strongest effects wear off with prolonged use. Seems to work better on an empty stomach when I've eaten lots of eggs the night before. It may be that it helps improve some areas of cognition and then hits a "limit" with what it can do. After prolonged use it seems to be mostly anxiolytic and emotionally blunting- though you can still tell a difference in speed of thought and cognition. Pramiracetam tastes horrible- and horrible is an understatement. Think of the movie "Alien" and putting a powdered form of that oozing acid spit in your mouth. I drank a swallow of milk before ingesting raw powder to coat my mouth, then washed it down with a whole glass of milk. As strange as it may seem, I've learned to love the taste and aftertaste. It's a Spartan, powerful nootropic.
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Piracetam (3+ grams):
There's not much I can say that hasn't already been said for years. I love Piracetam. It's a gentle and somewhat subtle nootropic. First use gave me "vivid" colors and a little bit of euphoria. Haven't felt that again, but I do feel it working. Long term use has helped me with overall cognition and made me a more creative, intelligent person. I've used Piracetam in an e-cig, I've taken it in powdered form, I've used it with and without a choline source. It never disappoints me and it's a part of my daily supplement stack.
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tDCS device:
There is a lot of potential in tDCS. I've used a tDCS device (purchased as a kit) off-and-on for a few months. It definitely seems to improve cognition in whatever area that you stimulate with it. It seems that tDCS use always makes me sleepy initially and then I begin to notice the desired effects over the course of several days following. I use it occasionally to boost creativity and "right-brained" thinking. It does the trick.
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Cordyceps sinensis (alohaensis)
Drastically improves my physical stamina for some hours when I take it. I've never used anything quite like C. sinensis. There seems to be a nootropic/euphoric effect- it imbues the sense of wanting to conquer and get things done. One of favorite supplements- the most useful to me in terms of energy, strength, overall well-being. Especially useful when I'm exhausted and I know there's still a long, important day ahead of me. I've read that it helps with oxygen absorption and there is some interesting history behind it.
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A.
“Think lightly of yourself and deeply of the world around you. Rise above your human passion and your human grief. Understand that you may abandon your own body, but that you must preserve your honor.”
- Musashi, c. 1640
