INTRODUCTION
Congratulations to our inaugural Nootropics 100 winners! A group of extraordinary people working with the most extraordinary substances - but what exactly are “Nootropics”? And what is the difference between a Nootropic and an “Adaptogen”?
We delve into these questions and more in this short guide. But perhaps more important is why we need to know about these products: as life in the modern world continues to put stresses and strains on our bodies and minds, increasingly people are looking at their options for managing unprecedented levels of pressure. Many of us may still be feeling overwhelmed, with much uncertainty and questions being raised about how best we can work together to maintain a society which works in the best interests of everyone. As we face these increasing demands, we can look towards collaboration and sharing of innovative ideas about how best to manage our energy and resources more effectively, whilst maintaining our resilience and cognitive abilities in order to work well with others to achieve certain goals. Collaborating with others requires a sense of trust, along with feelings of safety and confidence to know that the task at hand can be achieved. But this can become difficult when we’re in a stressed situation, and we might be acting in fight or flight mode, which could limit our ability to make well-thought out decisions. If we can engage in practices which help to reduce stress and also improve our thinking, this might allow us to engage with the world in a way which is more in line with the balance of nature.
Traditional practices and modern science converge in the use of natural substances known as nootropics and adaptogens, which have been shown to support cognitive function, stress management, energy, immunity, and overall longevity. These powerful allies, often in the form of plants and fungi, can help us adapt to stress and manage the demands placed upon us by being more focused and resilient in the face of an increasingly stressful world.
This guide is for those who are interested in cognitive enhancement and stress management through natural means. Join us as we delve into the world of adaptogens and nootropics, providing an insight into how certain plant and fungi products can benefit our lives by including them into our daily routine!
UNDERSTANDING NOOTROPICS
Nootropics (pronounced “no-eh-troh-piks”) have been more commonly referred to as “smart drugs” over the past few years, and refer to substances which have gained popularity for their perceived benefits in enhancing cognitive function, memory, and learning - the name consists of two Greek words: nöos, which means thinking, and tropein, which means to guide. Whilst many of the synthetic nootropics have been marketed to those who suffer with cognitive impairment, there has been growing popularity of substances which can enhance the cognitive abilities of healthy individuals, particularly when it comes to memory and learning. The availability of synthetic nootropics is largely limited to prescription use, but the majority of natural nootropics are freely available in the form of food supplements and herbal extracts.
Natural nootropics have been proven to improve cognitive function, whilst also maintaining the health of our brains by acting as a vasodilator inside the brain. This increases blood flow, which helps provide more energy, nutrients, and oxygen to the brain. Our brain depends on a huge percentage of oxygen and blood in comparison to its size to the rest of the body, and we can help support it through the introduction of natural nootropics into our daily regime, which can provide protection against inflammation and brain ageing. These substances also help to stimulate new neuron cells, which enhances brain activity and contributes to neuroplasticity, allowing the brain to re-organise its connections and functions.
TRADITIONAL USE OF NOOTROPICS
Since ancient times, natural medicines have been used to prevent and treat many ailments, as well as being used to promote overall well-being and longevity. However, the term ‘nootropic’ only came about in the early 1970s after Prof. Dr. Corneliu E. Giurgea described a group of substances which activate cognitive functions involved in memory and learning. The popularity of natural nootropics is increasing, with many preparations available in herbal forms such as tea, pills, or capsules, with extractions being made to access the important active compounds within the plants or fungi. There are some species of herbs, shrubs, and also fungi which have gained popularity since being tested for their nootropic potential due to their long traditional use.
At Product Earth, our passion is focused on natural medicines, and we will be exploring some of the more popular types of nootropics found in nature!
COMMON NATURAL NOOTROPICS
ASHWAGANDA
This plant has been used for over 3,000 years, and is highly prized in ayurvedic medicine as an aid for rejuvenation and longevity! The roots are the most commonly used part, often being prepared into a tea, and taken as a remedy for insomnia and neurological disorders. Research into ashwaganda has shown that it can help strengthen the antioxidant defence system, as well as enhancing nerve cell growth and communication.
GINKGO BILOBA
One of the oldest plants on earth, and related to ferns and conifers, having first flourished around 250 million years ago! Traditional use wasn’t recorded until the 10th century, however, when Chinese monks began cultivating ginkgo and chewing its leaves for mental alertness. In more recent times, people in Japan have considered this as a tree of hope, after one hardy tree survived the atomic bomb explosion in Hiroshima! Studies have shown that this plant has strong neuroprotective qualities, and may protect nerve cells that are damaged in Alzheimer disease. Several studies show that ginkgo has a positive effect on memory and thinking in people with Alzheimer disease or vascular dementia.
PANAX GINSENG
Referred to as the ‘root of life’ in Korea, this plant plays a vital role in ancient East Asian medicine. It was introduced into Europe at the beginning of the 9th century, and gained popularity in the 18th century as a remedy for vitality, youth, as well as being an aphrodisiac. The genus name Panax, comes from the Greek words pan, which means ‘everything,’ and akos, meaning ‘medicine’, with ginseng still ranking high among traditional natural medicines. Research has shown promising nootropic effects in regards to memory, visual tasks, management of anxiety, and prevention of inflammation within the brain.
LION’S MANE
This increasingly popular mushroom was revered by the Yamabushi Buddhist monks of Japan, who used it for mental clarity during meditation. For centuries this mushroom has been studied for its cognitive enhancing abilities, with recent studies showing its ability to enhance the ‘nerve growth factor’ due to the active ingredients, known as erinacenes, which comes from its Latin name Hericium erinaceus. Erinacenes are a group of compounds which have been shown to stimulate nerve growth factor, and could be a potential treatment for neurodegenerative disorders, such as Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s. Taking something like an extract powder or tincture (either made using a hot water extraction, alcohol extraction, or using both in a dual extraction) allows these compounds to be more bioavailable, compared to taking dried mushroom powder, or even cooking and eating fresh lion’s mane. People experiencing other conditions such as depressive disorders or neuropathic pain may also find benefit from consuming this mushroom on a regular basis.
REISHI
Known as the ‘mushroom of immortality’ in ancient China and used for over 2,000 years, this powerful fungus has been revered by many to bring about balance and restore the body’s harmony. Some of the traditional benefits of reishi include anti-aging and enhancing memory, with more recent studies showing increased blood flow to the brain and effects on neurotransmitters, suggesting a positive nootropic effect. Dual extractions using hot water and alcohol may provide benefit in making the beneficial compounds, known as triterpenes, more bioavailable - one compound in particular, Ganoderic acid A (related to the Latin name for reishi, Ganoderma lucidum) has been shown to be responsible for improvement in brain function and metabolism, cell recycling, and prolonging telomere length which serves as a biological clock to determine the lifespan of cells.
UNDERSTANDING ADAPTOGENS
Naturally occurring adaptogens are plants and fungi which can help benefit the body’s nonspecific resistance to stress by increasing the ability to adapt and survive. The nonspecific mechanism of action can make them a bit tricky to fit into a traditional model of reductionist pharmacology, as they interact with different networks in the body, particularly as mediators of stress hormones to bring the body back into a state of balance, also known as homeostasis. In this sense, we can look at adaptogens as being beneficial in times of protecting us against stress and helping our body as an organism adapt to the situation. They also have a wider benefit in protecting against chronic inflammation, hardening of arteries, neurodegenerative disorders, cognitive impairment, metabolic disorders, cancer, and age-related diseases. The popular use of adaptogens has risen significantly in recent years, as people look for different options to manage increasing demands and stressful situations, particularly when it comes to fatigue, cognitive function, and behavioural disorders, as well as preventative use to combat the effects of ageing and stress.
Regardless of the stimulus (also referred to as a stressor) adaptogens increase adaptability and resilience by activating the defence systems of our cells and organisms, combined with multi-target mechanisms of action which could also provide benefit for the prevention and treatment of stress-induced disorders, such as chronic fatigue, memory impairment, depression, anxiety, sleep disturbance, diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, chronic inflammation, autoimmune diseases, cold and flu, infections, skin diseases, liver diseases, and cancer.
TRADITIONAL USE OF ADAPTOGENS
Adaptogenic plants have been used in a variety of healthcare systems, such as Russian and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Ayurvedic medicine, Kampo (the study of TCM in Japan after being introduced in the 7th century) and other alternative medical systems. The term adaptogen first appeared in scientific literature in the middle of the 20th century in the Soviet Union, with the aim of understanding how these plant compounds work in helping the body maintain its resilience against harmful challenges. The definition of adaptogens is being continuously updated however to fit the ever-changing understanding of how these plants work as they gain more popularity, but it’s important to remember that it comes down to how our physiological processes are adapting to challenges, both inside and outside our cells.
COMMON ADAPTOGENS
SIBERIAN GINSENG
This plant has been used for centuries in places like Russia and China, but is a completely different species from Panax ginseng, or American ginseng, and has different beneficial compounds to these other types known as eleutherosides. These compounds may stimulate the immune system, and Siberian ginseng has a rich history of use as a treatment for colds and flu, as well as increasing energy, mental alertness, physical performance, vitality, and longevity.
MACA
Maca has been cultivated in the central Andes for over 2,000 years, growing exclusively between 4000-4500 m altitude! It’s been highly prized for its energy-enhancing properties, and there have been some historical reports of Inca warriors in the 13th century consuming maca right before battle! The first written description of maca was published in 1553, during the Spanish conquest of Peru - it was noted that the natives used maca root for maintenance, and over the past few centuries it has been used traditionally for its high nutritional content, fertility enhancement (in both humans and animals), sexual dysfunction, memory and learning, as well as protecting the skin against UV radiation. Its stimulating effect also seems to be beneficial for mood and mental well-being, placing maca high on the list of adaptogenic plants! It has traditionally been prepared by either boiling or extracting into alcohol, and the popularity of maca extracts in contemporary usage seems to be increasing, with different varieties such as red, black, and yellow maca now available for different uses (for example black and yellow maca seem to have more of a benefit for male sexual dysfunction compared to red)
CORDYCEPS
This is a genus of fungus which is uniquely weird in that it grows on the larvae of insects, with over 350 different species of cordyceps currently known about, and a rich history of traditional use for at least 300 years in Chinese and Tibetan medicine. Only one of these species however, Cordyceps sinensis, has been officially recorded in the Chinese pharmacopoeia since 1964, but it is one of the most famous Chinese medicines and medicinal mushrooms! It has been used as a treatment to manage fatigue, weakness after illness, lung and kidney dysfunction, as well as sexual dysfunction. Folk healers in the Himalayan region of Sikkim have used it as a tonic for “all illnesses”, with claims that it improves appetite, stamina, libido, endurance, and sleeping patterns. Its contemporary use has gained popularity as an adaptogenic functional mushroom, particularly in regards to performance as it stimulates the body’s cells to produce more of the molecule adenosine triphosphate, which is essential for delivering energy to the muscles and improving the way in which your body uses oxygen during exercise. The potential for this mushroom for improving exercise was famously noted in 1993, when the Chinese Olympics female running team broke records for 1,500, 3,000 and 10,000 metres, causing much suspicion and accusations of using performance-enhancing steroids - however, tests showed zero steroid use and their coach revealed that he had requested the team to take cordyceps after each training session. Similarly to other mushrooms, extracts made using alcohol and hot water are useful in allowing us to access the beneficial compounds, such as cordycepin in the case of cordyceps.
SCHISANDRA
This berry has been highly regarded in Traditional Chinese Medicine, being used alongside other natural medicines such as reishi and ginseng as a remedy for stress and adrenal fatigue. The first studies into the stimulating properties of schisandra were published during the Second World War in Soviet Russia, after ethnopharmacological investigations in the late 1800s into traditional use of the plant. The berries and seeds were used by Nanai hunters to reduce hunger, thirst, and exhaustion, whilst also improving night vision and stamina. In the 1960s it was published in the Official Medicine of the USSR handbook, with its reported uses including boosting liver function, supporting hormonal balance, nourishing the skin, improving mental performance, lowers inflammation, supports digestion, and improves sexual dysfunction. Schisandra comes with relatively few side-effects, and people find they are able to tolerate it long-term, making it a useful adaptogen to include into your daily routine!
RHODIOLA
This plant has a long history of use in Russia, Scandinavia, and other parts of Europe with it traditionally being used to combat fatigue, increase endurance, and manage weakness particularly in high altitude regions. Contemporary uses of rhodiola have included energy maintenance, stamina, strength, mental performance, athletic performance, and stress management, as well as treating anxiety and depression, which makes it one of the more popular adaptogens around!
Saliroside, one of the active compounds within rhodiola extracts, has been shown to have neuroprotective activity, which helps reduce stress associated with hormonal and immune disorders. Similarly to other adaptogens, rhodiola can provide a stimulating effect for stress-protecting activities within the body.
SUMMARY
We hope this guide has been useful in helping you understand more about the world of nootropics and adaptogens! As we continue to face more challenges in society and increasing demands, we can feel confident in knowing that we have many natural allies to help our bodies adapt to stress and improve our cognitive function. This guide has explored the historical use and benefits of these natural compounds, highlighting how they can support mental clarity, improve focus, and help the body’s natural processes to be more resilient. Understanding and incorporating nootropics and adaptogens into our daily regimes can be a useful way to manage these increasing demands, and work with different plants and fungi to optimise our health.
The exciting potential for more research in this area can help us discover new benefits and allow us more insight in how best to integrate these substances into our world, creating more opportunities to enhance our cognitive function and manage stress.
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