Something to consider,
This is not directly related to your inquiry, but it is very interesting readin
g. There seems to be a host of things that I am just now becoming aware of tha
t countries such as France, Germany, South Africa have known about for some tim
e. I spoke to several people in the medical profession as well as professors i
n the school of Pharmacology and Veterinary Medicine about various aspects of t
hese substances. The general belief is that most US MD's will reject the claim
s made by the post and books. However, the claims are substantiate in several r
eputable journals such as Science or Nature that are referenced in the books.
Enough said -- here they are (it is a HTML to TEXT conversion):
<HTML>
<HEAD>
<LINK rev="made" HREF="mailto:[log in to unmask] (Samu Mielonen">
<title>A short introduction to smart drugs</title></head>
<body>
<IMG align="bottom" SRC="smarts.gif">
<P>
<EM>This article was originally written for a Belgian rave zine thus it may not
be the most scientific piece of writing on earth. It is however better - in
my humble opinion - than any of the popular press articles I've come across.
If you notice any serious mistakes or omissions send me e-mail - I'm always
eager to update this page. <B>AND READ THE DISCLAMER IN THE END!</B> Thanks :)</
EM>
<H1>Better Thinking Through Chemistry</H1>
<STRONG>
Smart drugs are everywhere. Face runs a story on them, Time puts them on the
cover and CNN does the special report on latest findings. And on top of it all
your favourite new rave publication tells you how to use them. Delve
deeper...</STRONG>
<h2>Why 'smart' and even more, why 'drugs'?</h2>
For starters let's get a few things straight: Some pharmaceuticals are called
'smart drugs' because of their ability to enhance brain's functions, not
because they're smart genetic drugs or nanorobots. Smart drugs
aren't addictive either (not in the physical sense anyway) and some of the
stuff is not even medicine (see Smart Nutrients). So, whoever thought of this
wonderful term must have been on a heavy dose of 'dumb drugs' as the name is
about as informative as a road sign to a native Zulu warrior. A better word for
chemicals that can boost your brain performance would be nootropics (from
Greek, 'acting on the mind'), but as it's not nearly as catchy or marketable
we're stuck with 'smart drugs' for now.
<p>
Many a drug can be labelled a smart drug and the current number of such
pharmaceuticals is now more than fifty. Most of these pharmaceuticals were
originally used to treat a disease such as dementia or for something completely
different than brain enhancing, like controlling your bladder. Even though
studies these drugs and their effects have been available for over a decade now
their use among healthy individuals has not been widespread. Some of the
pioneers of the field, Durk Pearson and Sandy Shaw, have been promoting smart
drugs since the seventies, but the movement didn't become a bandwagon until the
late 80's. Since then at least four popular books have been published on the
subject, scientific research interest has escalated and mail order firms have
been popping up by the dozen. And the wagon rolls forward: the authors of
<i>Smart Drugs II</i> forecast that the smart drugs will become a billion
dollar business in the 90's.
<p>
This article will help you to wade through some of the misinformation that is
scattered around this considerably young field and provide you with a chance to
get a head start with smart drugs. After all, who wouldn't want to think, feel
and remember better all for the price of few bucks.
<h2>A very short introduction to your brain</h2>
Smart drugs can basically do three different things to your brain: either
minimise the damage to the brain and the natural deterioration of one's brain
functions, repair some of the damage already done or enhance brain functions
above usual levels. Human nervous system deteriorates with age through natural
ageing process and sometimes due to drinking or smoking. This deterioration is
usually caused by an oxidation process, which destroys brain cells and form
free radicals that cause further havoc in one's brain. Even though brain cells
likely cannot regenerate, it is possible to deactivate free radicals and repair
some of the other damage (such as low levels of electric current transmitting
chemicals in the brain). And this is can be achieved with smart drugs and some
nutrients, such as vitamins.
<p>
It is also possible to enhance the brain's natural properties with smart drugs
by helping the brain to build new connections. Neurones (brain cells) are
connected to thousands of other neurones, which together form a huge neural
net. The more connections you have the easier it is for one neurone to send
information to another neurone, thus the better your brain works. It is
possible to help the brain to grow more of these connections by taking smart
drugs. As these connections are formed when new memories formed, one can
actually memorise and learn new things easier if a chemical is there to help
your neurones to connect. Smart drugs can also enhance one's mental functions
by feeding the brain with more oxygen or increasing the levels of
neurotransmitting chemicals that carry electric signals from a neurone to
another. The whole picture of neurochemistry is a lot more complex than
pictured here, but this is as scientific as this article is going to get. So if
you want more information on how the brain works and what is it exactly that
smart drugs do, you might try reading <i>Brain Boosters </i>for a basic
explanation or a good book on neurochemistry for a more profound explanation.
<h2>The great smart drugs debate</h2>
It's all terribly mind boggling to know that one's brain is working more
efficiently (while actually wearing out less) while on smart drugs, but what
does it all mean in practise? Will you be able to memorise the whole R&S
discography in 20 seconds or calculate cube roots in a snap? No you will not.
Even though memory enhancement can be significant in some cases, the reality is
often far less glorious. People report effects ranging from: "It changed my
life" to "I got a funny sort of buzz out of them", but not all of the effects
are scientifically validated. Although the process of how neurochemicals and
smart drugs work is somewhat agreed upon, scientists haven't agreed on whether
smart drugs really are effective in healthy people. Many of the test have been
done with animals and with mentally dysfunctional patients (esp. those
suffering from dementia or Parkinson's disease), but studies on healthy adults
also exists. For example, a double blind study on late-middle-aged test
subjects showed increase in mental functions after four weeks of taking
Piracetam. Studies showing benefits from other drugs in normal test subjects
also exist (<i>Smart Drugs II</i>, p. 61).
<p>
Still many researchers and doctors are willing to claim all of the above bogus
and encourage people not to self-medicate themselves. But if we keep in mind
that the earth was once flat and that even scientists do make mistakes, we
might as well look into these drugs and their supposed effects. After all some
of these drugs are so cheap and safe that trying them out for yourself might
not be a bad idea at all.
<h2>What brain boosting substances are there? </h2>
Smart drugs are basically of three different variety: drugs, nutrients &
herbs. One would think that the definition is clear as anybody can tell an
aspirin from a hot dog, but that's not the case really. Many nutrients are
classified as drugs when they are potent enough and in some cultures the
difference between a medicine (usually synthetic) and a herb (natural) is very
hazy. But all of this doesn't really matter that much, if you know the effects,
correct dosage and precautions about each product. When you know these things
you can quite safely take some of these substances on your own. It is advisable
to contact a doctor before starting medicating yourself, even though
open-minded and knowledgeable doctors may be hard to find.
<h3>Smart Drugs</h3>
<b>Piracetam </b>(aka Avigilen, Cerebroforte, Cerebrospan, Cetam, Dinagen,
Encefalux, Encetrop, Euvifor, Gabacet, Genogris, Meo-Puren, Nootron, Nootropil,
Normabrain, Norzetam, Novocetam, Pirrozil, Psycoton, Stimucortex and
UCB-6215)
<p>
The most common smart drug out there is probably Piracetam, probably because
it's not the most recent, it has a wide variety of uses and is quite
inexpensive. It is used to treat several illnesses, like alcoholism, dementia
and stroke, but should also improve memory and learning in healthy humans. It
is supposed to increase the flow of information between the right and left
hemispheres of the brain, thus helping in creative problem solving. It is sold
as pills and the effective dose is 2400-4800 mg in three divided doses
(<i>Smart Drugs & Nutrients</i>, p. 43), although some sources report
significantly smaller dosages ranging from 800 mg to 2400 mg (<i>Brain
Boosters</i>, p. 97). It has no know serious side effects, although insomnia,
headaches, nausea and stomach disturbances are possible. As with any other
smart drug it is the best to try and find out the dose that is good for you
while keeping in mind the possible toxicity of the drug (Piracetam has no know
toxicity meaning that one probably can't overdose it). Piracetam has a
synergistic effect with DMAE, centrophenoxine, choline and Hydergine, which
means that the effects of Piracetam are amplified when taken at the same time
with these drugs. Piracetam is a prescription only drug in many countries, but
is widely available via mail-order (see Mail Order).
<p>
<b>Hydergine </b>(Circanol, Coristin, D-Ergotox forte, L.U.T., Dacoren,
Deapril-ST, Decme, Decril, Defluina, DHE, DHET, dihydroergotoxine, Dulcion,
Enirant, Ergodesit, Ergohydrin, ergoloid mesylates, Ergoplus, Insibrin,
Nehydrin, Novofluen, Orphol, Perenan, Progeril, Redergin, Simactil, Sponsin,
Trigot and Unergol)
<p>
Another well known smart drug is Hydergine, which is used to treat senility. It
is also supposed to increase intelligence, memory and recall, and prevent
various type of brain deterioration. Furthermore it is supposed to repair some
of the damage done by free radicals. One of the strongest effects Hydergine has
is it's ability to prevent damage to the brain caused by too little oxygen and
therefor it is used as an emergency treatment for stroke patients. Known
side-effects are mild nausea, dizziness and headaches, but Hydergine is
considered virtually non-toxic. A danger of adverse reactions still exists at
very high doses and people suffering from psychosis should not use it. An
effective dose can be anything from 3 mg to 9 mg, even though doses as high as
12 mg have been tried on healthy humans with no side-effects. Hydergine pills
range usually from 1 mg to 5 mg per pill. It is notable that the daily dose
should be divided to three equal doses and that the effects may not be
noticeable until after several months of use (unless a high dosage is taken).
The legal status of Hydergine is similar to that of Piracetam.
<p>
<b>Vasopressin </b>(Diapid, LVP, Lypressin, Postacton, Syntopressin, Adiuretin,
SD, DAV Ritter, DDAVP, Desmopressin, Desmospray, Minirin and AVP)
<p>
Another prescription drug called Diapid (a trade name for Vasopressin) is
widely known for its nootropic effects. Diapid is a brain hormone that is
naturally present in your body and which helps in learning new information. It
has been used to treat a form of diabetes, because it reduces the need to
urinate. It has also been used to treat several conditions leading to memory
impairment. Vasopressin is taken in the form of a nasal spray - 2 to four
sniffs three times a day. Its effects are imminent and noticeable; clear headed
feeling and increased attention are among reported effects. It is usually sold
in c. 12 ml bottles and runs out very quickly if used continuously. Continuous
use is also discouraged, because it may cause headaches, nose irritation or
abdominal cramps. People with diagnosed hypertension or cardiovascular problems
should also proceed with caution (if you don't know what these mean, ask a
doctor first). After all this, it might be odd to say that Vasopressin is a
generally safe drug, but it is just that. One has to keep in mind that milk or
even wheat can produce unfortunate symptoms in a single individual even though
most of the people in Europe consume them daily. Vasopressin is a prescription
drug and available in many countries (see Mail Order for non-prescription
orders).
<P>
<b>Centrophenoxine (Lucidril)</b>
<P>
Centrophenoxine is know for its anti-ageing effect (increases the life-span up
to 30% in laboratory animals) and for its intelligence boosting properties. It
clears out cellular waste product called liposfucin that prevents the normal
functioning of neurones. When taken (usually as pills) it breaks down to DMAE
in your blood. The effects of these two drugs are believed to be very similar.
A suggested dosage is anything between 1000 and 3000 mg daily, although the
dose should be reduced if side effects occur (excitability, muscle stiffness or
headaches). Nursing mother should not use Centrophenoxine (<i>Smart Drugs &
Nutrients</i>, p. 77) as it's safety for infants hasn't been determined.
Although Centrophenoxine is not sold in the US, DMAE is widely available from
health food stores and pharmacists (see DMAE for more information). In Europe
Centrophenoxine is a prescription drug and DMAE is less common.
<p>
<b>DMAE (Dimethylaminoethanol)</b>
<p>
Also known as a drug under the name Deanol-Riker in Europe and widely available
as a nutritional supplement in the US. DMAE increases intelligence, memory,
energy levels and learning, extends the life span and even elevates mood. Its
effects are usually noticeable within half an hour after ingestion (more
quickly when taken as a liquid) and continue for a few hours. Some people have
reported a build up of tolerance to DMAE after several weeks of use. If
tolerance builds up it can be handled by discontinuing the use for a few weeks.
Adverse contraindications are rare, but minor side effects include muscle
tension or hypertension. Overdosing may cause insomnia or dull-headedness, so
it is better to start with a low dose first. A suggested dose is from 300 mg up
to 1000 mg daily in two divided doses (usually morning and afternoon).
Determining the correct dose should be easy: just start with a low enough dose
and gradually build up until you notice no improvement. It is important to
notice that DMAE may cause the opposite of the desired effect (dull-headedness)
when overdosed. So this time its up to you whether this drug is a smart or a
dumb one. One common misconception about DMAE is that its like caffeine, which
it is not. DMAE does not cause nervousness nor depression and is a much safer
and better general purpose stimulant than coffee.
<h3>Smart nutrients</h3>
<h4>Antioxidants</h4>
There are several vitamins that are classified as antioxidants, namely vitamin
E, C and A (beta-carotene). Reported benefits from antioxidants are anti-ageing
effects and protection from damage to brain cells. Recommended dosages vary
greatly, but here's general dosage suggestion: water soluble vitamin E (100-500
IU daily), Vitamin C (200-500 mg daily) and beta-carotene (25 000 - 30 000 IU
daily). Note that Vitamin A is toxic even if not lethal when overdosed, so
taking beta-carotene (which your body turns into vitamin A) instead is
recommended. Pregnant women should not supplement with vitamin A (nor
beta-carotene) unless prescribed by a doctor. All of these should be readily
available at your local pharmacist.
<h4>B vitamins</h4>
There are twelve different B vitamins, of which four have been shown to have
positive effects on the nervous system. Thiamine (vitamin B1) is also
considered an antioxidant and the recommended dosage is between 25 and 150 mg
daily although some sources report doses as high as 1 000 mg (<i>Smart Drugs
& Nutrients</i>, p. 131).
<p>
Niacin (B3) helps to improve memory and to combat stress. Recommended dosage is
100-200 mg daily taken with an antacid (e.g. bicarbonate of soda). Doses
exceeding 50 mg may first cause flushing i.e. a feeling of blood rushing to the
head. Some people have also reported itching as a side-effect. These effects
should go away after continued use.
<p>
Pyridoxine (B6) helps your brain to manufacture neurotransmitters and as such
is vital for your brain to function properly. It has also shown to increase
life-span and to decrease stress. Recommended dosage is 50-100 mg daily. Doses
over 125 mg can be neurotoxic over longer periods of time and should be
avoided. B6 is the only vitamin of these four B vitamins that has been know to
be toxic.
<p>
Cyanocobalamin (B12) is useful when fighting fatigue as it helps the release of
energy from food. It has also been show to increase learning in laboratory
animals. A daily amount of 100-200 mcg is suggested along with 400 mcg of folic
acid. All of these vitamins are best taken as a B-complex, so that
supplementing one type of vitamin B will not cause a deficiency of another
type. Available at the pharmacist.
<h4>Choline and Lecithin</h4>
Lecithin and choline are precursors of asetylcholine (they are turned into
asetylcholine in your body) which transmits electric impulses in your brain.
They have been show to improve short term memory in normal humans. Both of the
nutrients offer basically the same benefits, although you can get away with
taking smaller amounts of choline as all of lecithin is not transformed into
asetylcholine. Suggested intake is 3 grams of choline four times a day (that
means 12 grams/day) and a bit more for lecithin in two doses. Both should be
taken with a large amounts of B5 (c. 1 gram per dose) to help the conversion to
asetylcholine. Choline can cause a fishy odour (which is not dangerous, unless
you're in a crucial part of your relationship) that can be avoided by eating
yoghurt. In large doses it can also cause diarrhoea, which is a sure sign to
cut down the dosage. Both can be bought at health food stores as liquid or as
capsules. Both should be stored in your fridge in an airtight container.
<h4>Amino acids</h4>
Although the use of amino acids are usually attributed to body builders, some
of the aminos are generally known as smart nutrients also. They are essential
in building neurotransmitters in your brain and low levels of amino acids in
one's diet can result in tiredness and lack of concentration. Supplementing
them should be considered especially if one is a vegetarian on a low fat diet
(low fat diet is sometimes missing in proteins). <b>Phenylalanine</b> is the
most common of brain boosting amino acids; it will help one to fight off stress
and it may also elevate one's mood and increase alertness. A compound called
DL-phenylalaninen taken daily at the dose of 1 000 to 1 500 mg should be
enough, followed by 50mg of vitamin B5 and half a gram of vitamin C.
Phenylalanine is best taken on an empty stomach. A word of precaution should if
you're psychotic or taking MAO-inhibitor drugs (such as Deprenyl).
<p>
There are also several other amino acids, such as Glutamine, Arginine,
Tryptophan and Taurine, but as the safety and usefulness of all these have not
been settled. Only future research will show their ability as safe nootropics
and until then it is wiser to settle for other types of supplements. There's
plenty to choose from after all.
<h3>Herbs</h3>
Herbs are probably the most controversial brain boosters in the sense that they
have little scientific backup for their claimed effects. Although people
in the medical profession may not deny the power of herbs altogether they
usually will not recommend them unless the active ingredient in the herb is
known along with its effects. This is only applies to western medicine, as
herbs are widely accepted and used in the traditional medical craft of China.
As long as western medicine will scorn herbs as a just another snake oil,
people using them will use folk wisdom in choosing the right ingredients for
their mix. Mixing of herbs is considered essential as herbalists claim that
many herbs have little effect on their own, but combined they're supposedly
very potent. For us busy westerners unable to pick our own herbs two forms of
preserved herb essences remain, mainly freeze-dried and alcohol based extracts.
These two preserving methods are supposed to retain the power of the herbs for
long periods. Here's a sampling of some of the most well known brain boosting
herbs.
<p>
<b>Ginkgo Biloba</b>
<p>
The leaf extract from the oldest tree on earth, Ginkgo Biloba is a widely used
brain booster. It increases blood circulation in the tiny blood vessels of the
brain and effects usually attributed to it include improved memory, reasoning
and alertness. Ginkgo extract is also accepted by the medical community in
Europe and it is widely prescribed by doctors. In addition to its other
properties ginkgo is also an antioxidant and it helps your brain to build its
own fuel called ATP. It comes usually in the form of liquid, although powder is
also available and should be preferred. The suggested dosage is 120-160 mg of
ginkgo extract that contains 24% active ingredients ginkgo flavonoids. The
extract should be taken in three divided doses as gingko leaves the body within
six hours of ingestion. Extracts are available from health food stores almost
everywhere, but the potency may not be that great. The ingredient to keep an
eye on when choosing gingko products is gingko flavonoids or gingko
heterosides. The more extract has this the better it is. If only low potency
extracts are available one should up the dosage even up to 1000 mg. There are
no reported side-effects in the medical literature, but some users have
complained about stomach troubles at high doses. Effects are usually noticeable
after two or three weeks of continued use, although sometimes it may take as
long as two months.
<p>
<b>Ginseng</b>
<p>
Chinese medicine has used ginseng root successfully for 4 000 years and during
that time it has had several medical uses. Ginseng has been used to treat
fatigue, abnormal blood pressure and quite oddly even insomnia and cancer. It
is generally thought of as an all around medicine that has no specific use, so
people use it to get various different results. Stress and fatigue relief are
among the most commonly give reasons for taking ginseng extract. It works by
regulating the blood sugar levels and heart beat, increasing blood flow and
metabolism - to name just a few. It is often referred to as the 'wonder drug'
due to its multitude of uses. As ginseng has a long tradition of use it is
available in several different forms, such as powder, pastes, tablets, ginseng
tea and the root itself. Tea and extracts are the best forms, because the
active ingredients gets into your blood faster from these forms. Both products
have a distinct bitter taste as does the root itself. If you plan to use the
root, you're better of chewing than swallowing it, because ginseng is very hard
to digest. Dosage is anything from 500 to 4000 mg daily in divided doses
according to <i>Smart Drugs and Nutrients</i>. When buying one should look for
Korean or Siberian ginseng as these are usually thought to be most potent,
whereas American ginseng is least potent. One should start noticing effects
after two months of continuous use, although ginseng may have much faster short
term effects as well. People with high blood pressure should start at the lower
end of the dose spectrum.
<p>
<b>Gotu-kola</b>
<p>
Another eastern medicine-wonder, gotu-kola is a plant that has been used to
improve wound healing and different types of skin conditions. It is also
believed to affect brain functioning by reducing stress and anxiety. Gotu-kola
has a mild tranquillising effect. Very little scientific studies on this plant
exist (unlike with ginseng and gingko biloba, both of which are well
researched), but at least one study shows it to improve concentration. It can
be bought from health food stores in various forms and a dose of two leaves a
day (chewed not swallowed) should give the desired effect. A plant very similar
to gotu-kola in its effects and use if fo-ti-tieng, which can be used in place
of gotu-kola.
<p>
<b>Caffeine </b>
<p>
Now would you believe that! Your breakfast is on the menu and it's a smart
drug. Well, sort of. Caffeine is used and claimed by many people to be the only
thing that gets them going in the morning, thus it is generally considered to
improve performance. What is not so often mentioned are the side-effects of
caffeine, namely that it makes its users anxious and irritable. Caffeine is
also very addictive and should be considered a drug when taken as potent pills.
Research on caffeine's benefits is divided: some claim it improves performance
while others proclaim it actually decreases performance. What is for sure is
that several million people swear by it daily. <p>
If we leave the performance claims aside, caffeine is really a poison: it
messes up your digestion, raises cholesterol levels, causes severe withdrawal
symptoms such as migraines and with extensive use can lead to condition not all
too different from anxiety neurosis. So drink up your coffee boys and girls,
see if I care.
<h2>
Getting a life through mail order</h2>
Smart drugs and nutrients can either be bought at a health store or from a
pharmacy (usually with prescription), but the exact details vary from country
to country. It is usually best to go and ask at your local pharmacy first and
if you can't find it there then resort to mail order. Mail order is the most
common form of obtaining smart drugs if the they are unavailable to you
otherwise. There are dozens of places you can order drugs from, but as always
there's a catch: depending on your country's legislation you may or may not
import the drugs. For instance, in the USA smart drug shipments have been
seized by the Federal Drug Administration during the past year and a half. FDA
has put several companies under surveillance (the most common smart drug
suppliers) and all shipments from those companies will be seized when they
cross the border to US. What's even worse, you may not even get a refund for
your confiscated goods, although it is possible to ask FDA to return your
package to the sender. If the package is returned some suppliers are willing to
refund you or try sending the package to an alternative address.
<p>
For people living in Europe, Canada, Australia or practically anywhere except
probably Singapore, it is quite possible to order smart drugs via mail order.
The usual procedure is to send a money order or a cheque to the company you are
ordering from along with the order. Then it's about a months wait (sometimes
two months) and you can pick the stuff from your local post office or - in best
scenario - from your doorstep. It is advisable to check the law on importing
prescription drugs for personal use before ordering, even though it has become
quite common since experimental AIDS drugs started spreading through mail
order. Most companies will fax or mail a list of drugs for sale along with
their prices in case you haven't ordered anything previously. This service is
free, but sending an international reply coupon along with your query will not
hurt your case (IRCs can be bought from the post office).
<p>
Here's a list of smart drug suppliers that you can contact for product
information:
<p>
<b>B. Mougios & Co. O.E.</b> <BR>
Pittakou 23 T. K. <BR>
54645 Thessaloniki <BR>
GREECE <BR>
Smart drugs.<BR>
<p>
<b>Big Ben Export Co.<BR>
Tudor Trading Co</b>.<BR>
P.O. Box 146<BR>
Mill Hill<BR>
London NW7 3DL<BR>
ENGLAND<BR>
Smart drugs.<BR>
<p>
<b>Longevity Plus Buyer's Club</b><BR>
U Dubu 27<BR>
147 00 Prague 4-Branik<BR>
THE CZECH REPUBLIC<BR>
Smart drugs.<BR>
<p>
<b>Masters Marketing Co. Ltd.</b><BR>
Masters House No. 1 Marlborough Hill<BR>
Harrow<BR>
Middx. HA1 1TW<BR>
ENGLAND<BR>
Fax: +44 81-427-1994<BR>
Smart drugs.<BR>
<p>
<b>Qwilleran</b><BR>
Box 1210<BR>
Birmingham<BR>
B10 9QA<BR>
ENGLAND<BR>
Smart drugs.<BR>
<p>
<b>World Health Services</b><BR>
P.O. Box 20<BR>
CH-2822 Courroux<BR>
SWITZERLAND<BR>
Smart drugs.<BR>
<p>
<b>Nutrient Cafe Smart Drinks</b><BR>
Chris Beaumont<BR>
Box 170156<BR>
San Francisco<BR>
CA 94117<BR>
USA<BR>
Tel: + 1 415-267-6178<BR>
Smart drinks.<BR>
<p>
<b>Source Naturals</b><BR>
PO Box 2118<BR>
Santa Cruz<BR>
CA 95063<BR>
USA<BR>
Tel: + 1 408 438 6851<BR>
Smart nutrients, amino acids & gingko extract.<BR>
<p>
<b>Twinlab</b><BR>
Ronkonkoma<BR>
NY 11779<BR>
USA<BR>
Tel: +1 516 467 3140<BR>
Nutrients, DMAE, extracts.
<p>
<b>Life Extension Services</b><BR>
<STRONG>FDA has recently (beginning of August '94) been busted by the FDA
and has stopped taking orders or filling in previous orders. A criminal
investigation is likely to be in process. It might be wise to take one's
business elsewhere :) </STRONG>
<h2> Where to find more infomation?</h2>
If this short introduction wasn't enough for you on smart drugs you can find a
wealth of information in a few books and newsletters. I have personally read
<i>Brain Boosters</i>, <i>Smart Drugs </i>and <i>Smart Drugs II</i>,
all three of which were referred to when writing this article. Of the
three books <i>Brain boosters</i> is a better general introduction to
the genre, but the smart drugs series offers a better do-it-yourself
approach to smart drugs. If you want to learn everything you should
consider buying them all and a good book on neurochemistry to
accompany their sometimes unscientific claims. The most well known
newsletter is <i>Smart Drugs News. </i>
<h3> Books</h3>
<i>The amino revolution, Robert Erdmann</i>, Meirion Jones, Simon &
Schuster, 1989, ISBN: 0-671-67359-9
<p>
<i>Brain Boosters: food & drugs that make you smarter</i>,
Beverly Potter, Sebastian Orfali, Ronin Pub., 1993, ISBN: 0-914171-65-8
<p>
<i>The biochemical basis of neuropharmacology</i>, Jack R. Cooper, Floyd
E. Bloom, Robert H. Roth, Oxford University Press, 1991, ISBN:
0-19-507118-2
<p>
<i>Chinese herbal medicine : formulas & strategies</i>,
Dan Bensky, Randall Barolet, Eastland Press, c1990,
ISBN: 0-939616-10-6
<p>
<i>From chocolate to morphine : everything
you need to know about mind-altering drugs</i>, Andrew Weil and
Winifred Rosen, Houghton Mifflin, 1993, ISBN: 0-395-66079-3
<p>
<i>The healing herbs : the ultimate guide to the curative power of
nature's medicines</i>, Michael Castleman, Rodale Press, c1991, ISBN:
0-87857-934-6
<p>
<i>How to live longer and feel better, </i>Linus
Pauling, W.H. Freeman, c1986, ISBN: 0-7167-1775-1<i><p> <p> Hydergine
: pharmacologic and clinical facts</i>, Claude Weil, ISBN:
0-387-19282-4
<p>
<i>Mega brain power : using mind machines and
smart drugs to improve your mind and your life</i>, Hutchison,
Michael, Hyperion, c1994, ISBN: 1-56282-770-7
<p>
<i>Mind Food and Smart Pills</i>, Ross Pelton, Doubleday, 1989,
ISBN: 038526138
<p>
<i>Proof of therapeutical effectiveness of nootropic and
vasoactive drugs : advances in clinical and experimental nicergoline
research</i>, H. Heidrich (ed.), Springer-Verlag, c1986.
<p>
<i>The Psychotherapist's Guide to Psychopharmacology</i>, Michael J Gitlin
MD, Maxwell Macmillan Int., 1990, ISBN: 002911781X
<p>
<i>Smartdrugs & nutrients : how to improve your memory and increase your
intelligence using the latest discoveries in neuroscience</i>, Ward
Dean, John Morgenthaler, B&J Publications, 1990, ISBN: 0962741892
<p>
<i>Smart Drugs II: The Next Generation</i>, Ward Dean, John
Morgenthaler, Steven Fowkes, Health Freedom Publications, 1993, ISBN
0-9627418-7-6
<p>
<i>Smart nutrients : a guide to nutrients that
can prevent and reverse senility</i>, Abram Hoffer, Morton Walker,
Avery Pub. Group, c1994, ISBN: 0-89529-562-8
<p>
<i>The scientific validation of herbal medicine : how to remedy and prevent
disease with herbs, vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients</i>, Daniel B.
Mowrey, Cormorant Books, c1986, ISBN: 0-936261-00-5
<p>
<i>The way up from down : a safe new program that relieves low moods and
depression with amino acids and vitamin supplement</i>, Priscilla Slagle,
Random House, 1987, ISBN: 0-394-55194X
<h3>Serials</h3>
<i>Biogeron ... life extension manual</i>, Biogeron Laboratories, Inc., ISSN:
1055-5129.
<p>
<i>Brain mind bulletin</i>, Interface Press, ISSN: 0273-8546
<p>
<i>Life extension report</i>, Saul Kent, ISSN: 0889-9169
<p>
<i>Smart drug news : the newsletter of the Cognitive Enhancement Research
Institute</i>, The Institute, ISSN: 1060-8427.</p>
<P>
For an even comprehensive list of books and mail order services you can look
at my <A HREF="nootropics_resources.html">Smart Drugs Resources </A> [3rd May]
list that I update independently of this article.
<P>
<STRONG>(C) 1994 Samu Mielonen</STRONG>
<P>
<EM>Reproduction of this article for non-commercial, non-profit use is granted a
s long as the Copyright notice and claims for authorsh remain as they are.
Any other type of reproduction is prohibited, including printing this article in
a paper publication or including it on a CD-ROM or other media for which a pri
ce is charged. This information is free - keep it that way!</EM>
<BR>
<EM>The author cannot be held responsible for any actions prompted by this
article. Information is provided as is. If you really want to get to the core
of all this conduct your own research and talk to a nutrition specialist.</EM>
<HR>
(C) 1995 <A HREF="http://www.uta.fi/~samu/author.html">Samu Mielonen</A>. Last m
odified 13th of May '95. Go back to my <A HREF="http://www.uta.fi/~samu/index.h
tml">home page</A>.
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