ADHD

 

To Jesus:

 

Use this as an aide to your own research and share with your doctor as appropriate.

 

 

Saving this to a “Health” email folder may ease access.

 

 

You can use drugs.com or other trusted health websites to look up the latest information on prescription & herbal drugs possible side & interaction effects.

 

 

What may help to avoid:

 

Anticholinergic medications

 

Pesticides/herbicides/fungicides

 

Acetominophen (Tylenol)

 

Flouride

 

Mercury

 

Feingold diet- avoid salicylates & selective additives especially MSG & FD&C food coloring (blue #, red #, yellow #)

 

latitudes.org/are-food-processing-and-commercial-chemicals-hurting-your-kids/

 

 

 

ADHD & diet

 

Eating processed foods, anything other than organic whole foods, can increase ADHD symptoms by adding a lot of mercury, lead, cadmium & arsenic.

Renee Dufault in the FDA found mercury & lead added in processing FD&C food colorings (blue#, red#, yellow#), mercury in refined oils-GMO soy & corn worst for health (formaldehyde is in heated polyunsaturated fat), mercury in high fructose corn syrup (may be hidden ingredient in any nonorganic corn product like corn starch or dextrose), refined (white) wheat & rice.

 

FD&C food colorings are shadow banned in Europe for increasing behavior problems & lowering chilren’s IQ & test scores.

 

organicauthority.com/energetic-health/banned-in-europe-food-coloring-linked-to-behavior-problems

focusforhealth.org/chemical-cuisine-7-food-additives-that-are-legal-in-the-us-but-banned-in-other-countries/

 

wjgnet.com/2222-0682/full/v11/i4/144.htm

www.iatp.org/documents/not-so-sweet-missing-mercury-and-high-fructose-corn-syrup

 

 

 

 

Increases concentration & neural growth:

 

 

spirulina (with a vegetable)

 

resveratrol (especially in red wine vinegar)

 

Lion’s mane mushroom

 

blueberries

 

nonalkalized/nonDutch cocoa or dark chocolate

 

 

Sustained release vitamin B complex (methyl)

 

Guanfacine extended release (blood pressure, ADHD, autism, aggression, Tourette’s)

 

Clonidine (blood pressure, ADHD, autism, aggression, Tourette’s)

 

flavenoids in fruits & veges

 

caffeine

 

curcumin or turmeric & a little black pepper

 

calorie restriction

 

intermittent fasting (12 hour diet)

 

learning

 

exercise (exercise right before or after meals)

 

Movement & exercise

 

Meditation

 

tDCS

 

Near infrared therapy

 

Binaural beats or isochronic- 9-90hz, higher is better

 

sex

 

 

 

Slows/stops neural growth-

 

high sugar diet

 

high saturated fat

 

vitamin E deficiency

 

vitamin B deficiency

 

vitamin A deficiency

 

soft foods diet

 

alcohol

 

stress

 

lack of sleep

 

age

 

inflammation

 

 

 

What else helps-

 

 

Modafinil (Provigil) & Armodafinil (Nuvigil) & adrafinil (OTC)

 

Nootropics- pira/ani/prami/phenylpi/oxi racetams, Noopept, Sulbutiamine

 

Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA)- made in our body to increase PPAR to relieve inflammation, increase energy & burn fat, turn on CB1 & CB

 

Supplements-

 

spirulina (with a vegetable) is the source of all EPA & DHA omega3s

 

acetyl-L-carnitine

 

huperzine

 

ceylon cinnamon

 

CBD oil

 

PhosphatidylSerine Lecithin

 

Alpha-Lipoic Acid

 

Vinpocetine

 

Vincamine

 

Theanine

 

Tyrosine

 

Bacopa Monnieri

 

Phosphatidylserine (PS)/choline

 

Rosemary

 

Thyme

 

Sage

 

Peppermint

 

Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

 

 

ADHD is characterized by an inability to concentrate for more than short periods, a difficulty sitting still, and feelings of depression & anxiety.  People with ADHD often feel a sense of guilt from being perpetually late, from forgetfulness, and from often achieving less than their abilities would seem to allow.

 

 

 

Causes:

 

 

 

Anticholinergics

 

 

The first thing to look for in people showing signs of lowered concentration or dementia (cognitive confusion, memory loss) is to see if they are taking a drug that causes temporary dementia-like symptoms by lowering the concentration chemical in the brain- choline.  Anticholinergics appear to cause people to make poorer decisions, be more physically unstable, and to die earlier (in a two year study of people 65 or older, people who had heavy anticholinergic use had a 68% higher death rate).  Common drugs that cause anticholinergic effects are Benadryl (diphenhydramine) , Seroquel (quetiapine), Zyprexa (olanzapine), Paxil (paroxetine), and oxybutynin to name a few.  Other anticholinergics are Coumadin (warfarin), Xanax (alprazolam), Wellbutrin/Zyban (bupropion), and Valium (diazepam).

 

 

Anticholinergics cause:

 

 

Drowsiness or sedation

 

Blurred vision

 

Dizziness

 

Urinary retention

 

Confusion or delirium

 

Hallucinations

 

Dry mouth

 

Constipation

 

Reduced sweating and elevated body temperature

 

Falls and risk for fracture

 

 

 

Other conditions that may be exacerbated by anticholinergics:

 

 

Benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH)

 

Angle closure glaucoma

 

Myasthenia gravis

 

Alzheimer’s disease

 

Bowel blockage

 

Urinary tract blockage or urinary hesitancy

 

 

http://www.drugs.com/article/anticholinergic-drugs-elderly.html

 

 

Fox C1, Richardson K, Maidment ID, Savva GM, Matthews FE, Smithard D, Coulton S, Katona C, Boustani MA, Brayne C. Anticholinergic medication use and cognitive impairment in the older population: the medical research council cognitive function and ageing study. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2011 Aug;59(8):1477-83. doi: 10.1111/j.1532-5415.2011.03491.x. Epub 2011 Jun 24.

 

 

Anticholinergic effects of medication in elderly patients.

 

Tune, L E;

 

J Clin Psychiatry 2001 ;62 Suppl 21:11-4.

 

 

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21707557

 

http://www.health.harvard.edu/newsletters/Harvard_Health_Letter/2009/November/anticholinergic-cognitive-burden-scale

 

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&ved=0CCcQFjAB&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.indydiscoverynetwork.org%2Fresources%2Fantichol_burden_scale.pdf&ei=J637U–fJ43noASkgIH4DA&usg=AFQjCNFQgEZuvdKzbp7pRINYP-Nsnzw6rw&sig2=USw1ZryYDayG8kZmZwhc8A&bvm=bv.73612305,d.cGU&cad=rja

 

 

Only in Parkinson’s disease may anticholinergics have a positive effect on cognition.

 

 

List of anticholinergics:

 

 

http://www.agingbraincare.org/uploads/products/ACB_scale_-_legal_size.pdf

 

http://www.agingbraincare.org/tools/abc-anticholinergic-cognitive-burden-scale/

 

 

Categorical Scoring:

 

 

Possible anticholinergics include those listed with a score of 1: Evidence  from  in  vitro  data  that  chemical

 

entity has antagonist activity at muscarinic receptor.

 

 

Definite anticholinergics include those

 

listed with a score of 2 or 3

 

Score   of   2:   Evidence   from   literature,   prescriber’s

 

information, or expert opinion of clinical anticholinergic

 

effect.

 

 

Score  of  3:  Evidence  from  literature,  expert  opinion,

 

or prescribers information that medication may cause

 

delirium.

 

 

Numerical Scoring:

 

Add the score contributed to each selected medication in each scoring category

 

Add the number of possible or definite Anticholinergic medications

 

Notes:

 

Each definite anticholinergic may increase the risk of cognitive impairment by 46% over 6 years. 3

 

For each on point increase in the ACB total score, a decline in MMSE score of 0.33 points over 2 years has been suggested. 4

 

Additionally, each one point increase in the ACB total score has been correlated with a 26% increase in the risk of death. 4

 

 

 

Drugs with ACB Score of 1

 

Generic Name/Brand Name

 

Alimemazine Theralen™

 

Alverine Spasmonal™

 

Alprazolam Xanax™

 

Aripiprazole Abilify™

 

Asenapine Saphris™

 

Atenolol Tenormin™

 

Bupropion Wellbutrin™, Zyban™

 

Captopril Capoten™

 

Cetirizine Zyrtec™

 

Chlorthalidone Diuril™, Hygroton™

 

Cimetidine Tagamet™

 

Clidinium Librax™

 

Clorazepate Tranxene™

 

Codeine Contin™

 

Colchicine Colcrys™

 

Desloratadine Clarinex™

 

Diazepam Valium™

 

Digoxin Lanoxin™

 

Dipyridamole Persantine™

 

Disopyramide Norpace™

 

Fentanyl Duragesic™, Actiq™

 

Furosemide Lasix™

 

Fluvoxamine Luvox™

 

Haloperidol Haldol™

 

Hydralazine Apresoline™

 

Hydrocortisone Cortef™, Cortaid™

 

Iloperidone Fanapt™

 

Isosorbide Isordil™, Ismo™

 

Levocetirizine Xyzal™

 

Loperamide Immodium™, others

 

Loratadine Claritin™

 

Metoprolol Lopressor™, Toprol™

 

Morphine MS Contin™, Avinza™

 

Nifedipine Procardia™, Adalat™

 

Paliperidone Invega™

 

Prednisone Deltasone™, Sterapred™

 

Quinidine Quinaglute™

 

Ranitidine Zantac™

 

Risperidone Risperdal™

 

Theophylline Theodur™, Uniphyl™

 

Trazodone Desyrel™

 

Triamterene Dyrenium™

 

Venlafaxine Effexor™

 

Warfarin Coumadin™

 

 

Drugs with ACB Score of 2

 

Generic Name/Brand Name

 

Amantadine Symmetrel™

 

Belladonna Multiple

 

Carbamazepine Tegretol™

 

Cyclobenzaprine Flexeril™

 

Cyproheptadine Periactin™

 

Loxapine Loxitane™

 

Meperidine Demerol™

 

Methotrimeprazine Levoprome™

 

Molindone Moban™

 

Nefopam Nefogesic™

 

Oxcarbazepine Trileptal™

 

Pimozide Orap™

 

 

Drugs with ACB Score of 3

 

Generic Name/Brand Name

 

Amitriptyline Elavil™

 

Amoxapine Asendin™

 

Atropine Sal-Tropine™

 

Benztropine Cogentin™

 

Brompheniramine Dimetapp™

 

Carbinoxamine Histex™, Carbihist™

 

Chlorpheniramine Chlor-Trimeton™

 

Chlorpromazine Thorazine™

 

Clemastine Tavist™

 

Clomipramine Anafranil™

 

Clozapine Clozaril™

 

Darifenacin Enablex™

 

Desipramine Norpramin™

 

Dicyclomine Bentyl™

 

Dimenhydrinate Dramamine™, others

 

Diphenhydramine Benadryl™, others

 

Doxepin Sinequan™

 

Doxylamine Unisom™, others

 

Fesoterodine Toviaz™

 

Flavoxate Urispas™

 

Hydroxyzine Atarax™, Vistaril™

 

Hyoscyamine Anaspaz™, Levsin™

 

Imipramine Tofranil™

 

Meclizine Antivert™

 

Methocarbamol Robaxin™

 

Nortriptyline Pamelor™

 

Olanzapine Zyprexa™

 

Orphenadrine Norflex™

 

Oxybutynin Ditropan™

 

Paroxetine Paxil™

 

Perphenazine Trilafon™

 

Promethazine Phenergan™

 

Propantheline Pro-Banthine™

 

Propiverine Detrunorm™

 

Quetiapine Seroquel™

 

Scopolamine Transderm Scop™

 

Solifenacin Vesicare™

 

Thioridazine Mellaril™

 

Tolterodine Detrol™

 

Trifluoperazine Stelazine™

 

Trihexyphenidyl Artane™

 

Trimipramine Surmontil™

 

Trospium Sanctura™

 

 

1.

 

Boustani MA, Campbell NL, Munger S, Maidment I, Fox

 

GC.  Impact of anticholinergics on the aging brain: a review

 

and practical application. Aging Heatlh. 2008;4(3):311-320.

 

2.

 

Campbell  N,  Boustani  M,  Limbil  T,  et  al.  The  cognitive

 

impact     of     anticholinergics:     a     clinical     review.

 

Clinical    Interventions    in    Aging.    2009;4(1):225-233.

 

3.

 

Campbell N, Boustani M, Lane K, et al. Use of anticholinergics

 

and  the  risk  of  cognitive  impairment  in  an  African-

 

American    population.    Neurology.    2010;75:152-159.

 

4.

 

Fox  C,  Richardson  K,  Maidment  I,  et  al.  Anticholinergic

 

medication   use   and   cognitive   impairment   in   the

 

older    population:    the    Medical    Research    Council

 

Cognitive  Function  and  Ageing  Study.  Journal  of  the

 

American   Geriatric   Society.   2011;   59(8):   1477-1483.

 

5.

 

Cai  X,  Campbell  N,  Khan  B,  Callahan  C,  Boustani  M.

 

Long-term   anticholinergic   use   and   the   aging   brain.

 

Alzheimers Dementia. 2012; epub ahead of print.

 

 

http://www.agingbraincare.org/tools/abc-anticholinergic-cognitive-burden-scale/

 

 

 

Pesticides

 

 

A study of 687 children found that boys with pyrethroids in their urine were three times as likely to be diagnosed with ADHD.

 

Hyperactivity and impulsivity increased by 50 per cent for every 10-fold increase in 3-PBA levels in boys.

 

 

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-3109035/Exposure-common-household-pesticide-TRIPLES-boys-risk-ADHD-experts-warn.html#ixzz3cWYT6psQ

 

 

 

Acetominophen

 

 

Taking acetominophen when pregnant increases later ADHD in the child by 13%.

 

 

Acetaminophen Use During Pregnancy, Behavioral Problems, and Hyperkinetic Disorders

 

Zeyan Liew et al.

 

JAMA Pediatr. 2014;168(4):313-320. doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2013.4914.

 

 

Antenatal Acetaminophen Use and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity DisorderAn Interesting Observed Association But Too Early to Infer Causality

 

Miriam Cooper et al.

 

JAMA Pediatr. 2014;168(4):306-307. doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2013.5292.

 

 

 

Flouride

 

 

Flouride appears to lower learning & memory in 32 of 34 animal studies and lowers IQ in 43 of 50 human studies.  Some studies have found a drop in IQ at levels lower than 1mg/L.

 

Flouride is absorbed in largest amounts in toothpaste, where it is highly concentrated and used in the mouth where the tongue & gums absorb drugs & chemicals easily.  Flouride could be banned as a drinking water additive as well because the form that is added is highly toxic and contaminated.  Too much flouride can cause dental & skeletal flourosis, which can be painful & disabling.

 

 

Fluoride & IQ: 76 Studies

 

 

Flouride research:

 

 

“Over 100 animal studies showing that prolonged exposure to varying levels of fluoride can damage the brain, particularly when coupled with an iodine deficiency, or aluminum excess;

 

43 human studies linking moderately high fluoride exposures with reduced intelligence;

 

32 animal studies reporting that mice or rats ingesting fluoride have an impaired capacity to learn and/or remember;

 

12 studies (7 human, 5 animal) linking fluoride with neurobehavioral deficits (e.g., impaired visual-spatial organization);

 

3 human studies linking fluoride exposure with impaired fetal brain development.”

 

 

The National Research Council in 2006, the EPA in 2007, and a Team of Harvard researchers in 2012 all have come to the conclusion that flouride is a neurotoxin and reduces mental function.

 

 

Brain

 

 

Flouride causes brain damage in children, dropping IQ levels.

 

 

Impact of fluoride on neurological development in children

 

http://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/1104912/

 

Environ Health Perspect; DOI:10.1289/ehp.1104912

 

Volume 120 | Issue 10 | October 2012

 

Developmental Fluoride Neurotoxicity: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

 

Anna L. Choi, 1 Guifan Sun, 2 Ying Zhang, 3 and Philippe Grandjean1, 4

 

 

 

Children in low iodine, low flouride areas had 31% higher scores on the Wexler intelligence tests than children in low iodine, high flouride areas in one Chinese study.

 

 

A STUDY OF THE INTELLECTUAL

 

ABILITY OF 8–14 YEAR-OLD

 

CHILDREN IN HIGH FLUORIDE, LOW IODINE AREAS

 

Dali Ren, Kecheng Li, Dawei Liu

 

Chinese Journal of Control of Endemic

 

Diseases 1989;4(4):251.]

 

 

 

Flouridation lowers thyroid function, increasing depression & weight gain.

 

 

Are fluoride levels in drinking water associated with hypothyroidism prevalence in England? A large observational study of GP practice data and fluoride levels in drinking water

 

S Peckham, D Lowery, S Spencer

 

J Epidemiol Community Health doi:10.1136/jech-2014-204971

 

 

A comparative study of fluoride ingestion levels, serum thyroid hormone & TSH level derangements, dental fluorosis status among school children from endemic and non-endemic fluorosis areas

 

Navneet Singh,corresponding author Kanika Gupta Verma,corresponding author Pradhuman Verma,corresponding author Gagandeep Kaur Sidhu,corresponding author and Suresh Sachdevacorresponding author

 

Springerplus. 2014; 3: 7.

 

doi:  10.1186/2193-1801-3-7

 

PMCID: PMC3890436

 

 

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2015/03/10/water-fluoridation-thyroid-dysfunction.aspx?e_cid=20150322Z1_SNL_B_MV_1&utm_source=snl&utm_medium=email&utm_content=mv1&utm_campaign=20150322Z1_SNL_B&et_cid=DM72155&et_rid=884934998

 

 

http://www.naturalnews.com/044057_fluoridated_water_ADHD_mental_disorders.html

 

 

 

Each 1ppm of flouride in drinking water of women who are pregnant appears to drop 5-6 IQ points in their children (US standard is 0.7ppm-4 IQ point drop).

 

 

Environ Health Perspect; DOI:10.1289/EHP655

 

Prenatal Fluoride Exposure and Cognitive Outcomes in Children at 4 and 6–12 Years of Age in Mexico

 

Morteza Bashash et al.

 

 

 

Mercury

 

 

Mercury fillings are toxic and poison the dental workers who deal with them.  They release mercury vapor during chewing that gets breathed in by the lungs and poison the body.

 

 

http://www.toxicteeth.org/mercuryfillings.aspx

 

 

A single amalgam filling may release as much as 15 micrograms of mercury per day, and according to some estimates, 10 micrograms per day is average.

 

 

Inorganic mercury attacks the kidneys & gastrointestinal system, methylmercury can be converted in the body from inorganic mercury, causes central nervous system (CNS) damage, organic mercury is in fish & thimersol in flu & other vaccines (just in amounts lower than currently required for listing) damaging the peripheral & CNS.

 

 

Organic mercury often in predator fish & thimerisol in vaccines.  It harms peripheral nervous system & central nervous system (CNS).

 

 

Elemental mercury comes from fossil fuel emissions, mercury thermometers, flourescent lights, dental amalgams and damages the lungs, skin, PNS & CNS.  It can cause insomnia, memory loss, fatigue, irritability, excessive dreaming, and weakness, delirium, hallucination, & seizures.

 

 

Mercury fillings are completely unnecessary, and require removal of a lot of tooth to put in and often cause the tooth to crack with its expansion & contraction.  The alternatives are a lot healthier & cause less tooth damage.  They only reason they are still used since both the FDA & 47 countries have called for an end to their implantation is because they are faster to put in.  They cause so much tooth damage the tooth breaks more often than with the other composits, requiring further & more extensive and expensive dental work.

 

 

When getting the mercury amalgams removed make sure your dentist is:

 

 

Providing you with an alternative air source and instructing you not to breath through your mouth

 

Using a cold-water spray to minimize mercury vapors

 

Putting a rubber dam in your mouth so you don’t swallow or inhale any toxins

 

Using a high-volume evacuator near the tooth at all times to evacuate the mercury vapor

 

Washing your mouth out immediately after the fillings have been removed (the dentist should also change gloves after the removal)

 

Immediately cleaning your protective wear and face once the fillings are removed

 

Using room air purifiers

 

 

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2012/04/07/dangers-of-mercury-contamination.aspx

 

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2015/09/22/mercury-filling-risks.aspx?e_cid=20150922Z1_DNL_art_2&utm_source=dnl&utm_medium=email&utm_content=art2&utm_campaign=20150922Z1&et_cid=DM86146&et_rid=1133595131

 

 

 

Overdiagnosis

 

 

Kids who are closest to the age cutoff for their grade, the youngest, have 200% more ADHD drugs prescribed to them than children just days older who miss the cutoff and are nearly a year older before they start school.  They are being prescribed ADHD drugs because they are younger than their older classmates.

 

 

The importance of relative standards in ADHD diagnoses: Evidence based on exact birth dates ☆

 

Todd E. Elder,

 

Journal of Health Economics

 

Volume 29, Issue 5, September 2010, Pages 641–656

 

 

http://msutoday.msu.edu/news/2010/nearly-1-million-children-potentially-misdiagnosed-with-adhd/

 

http://www.naturalnews.com/049171_ADHD_Ritalin_kindergarten.html

 

 

 

Treatments

 

 

Feingold diet

 

 

For people with ADHD, the Feingold diet may reverse it.  Dr. Benjamin Feingold discovered that children who stopped eating specific foods (with salcilates) & food additives changed their behavior drastically & did much better in their classes.  The list of foods & additives are in the references below.  It works for about 70% of people with ADHD.

 

 

I’ve had severe ADHD all my life.  When I read the foods on the list it explained to me why when I ate berries or other foods on the list I couldn’t concentrate the rest of the day.  So I immediately stopped everything on the list, and my ADHD was greatly helped.

 

 

http://www.everydiet.org/diet/feingold-diet

 

http://www.thebetterhealthstore.com/Newsletter/041610_Feingold-Diet_02.html

 

 

 

Britain just banned food colorings because their research showed it was causing lots of ADHD. Nutrition Action, CSPI’s newsletter, has called for their banning here in the US. That’s half of the dietary changes called for for the last 30 years in Feingold’s ADHD diet.

 

 

The Feingold Program eliminates these additives and chemicals:

 

 

* Synthetic coloring (are made from petroleum – crude oil)

 

* Artificial flavoring (combinations of many natural and synthetic chemicals – eg imitation vanilla flavoring or “vanillin” might originate from the waste product of paper mills). There has been little research carried on these chemicals.

 

* Artificial preservatives (BHA, BHT, and TBHQ, made from petroleum; also termed “anti-oxidants” because they prevent or delay the “oxidization” of fats in foods, which make them rancid)

 

* Salicylates (a group of chemicals related to aspirin, which are a naturally occurring pesticide in particular food plants – see ‘Food sources of salicylates’ below; also manufactured and used in many products including medicines, perfumes and solvents). Only some are eliminated on the Feingold diet.

 

* Artificial sweeteners (only aspartame is eliminated)

 

* Other food additives considered undesirable (such as MSG, sodium benzoate, nitrites, sulfites) – these are not eliminated – but are noted in the food list.

 

 

Food Sources of Salicylates

 

 

Almonds, Apples, Apricots, Aspirin, Berries, Cherries, Cloves, Coffee, Cucumbers, Currants, Grapes, Nectarines, Oil of wintergreen, Oranges, Peaches, Peppers (bell & chilli), Pickles, Plums, Prunes, Raisins, Rose hips, Tangelos, Tangerines, Tea, Tomatoes

 

A Staged Dietary Plan

 

 

A less rigorous approach than the Feingold Program, given that many studies have shown the sensitivity of some children to dyes, is to start by eliminating only those foods (and vitamins, drugs, and toothpastes) that contain artificial colorings.

 

 

If initial dietary changes have little benefit (i.e. excluding only dyes), try the complete Feingold diet. It is important to use a diet diary or journal.

 

 

If that doesn’t help, the Feingold Association recommends eliminating:

 

 

* corn syrup, high-fructose corn syrup, and corn sugar (in soft drinks and other sweetened foods)

 

 

Glutamate rich foods

MSG (monosodium glutamate)

Soy protein isolate

 

 

* sodium nitrite (in luncheon meats)

 

* calcium propionate (in baked goods)

 

 

After several weeks, if the child’s behavior has improved, every few days restore one eliminated food or ingredient at a time. Repeat that two or three times if a problem occurs, to confirm that the food is really a culprit.

 

 

If the child’s behavior did not improve on the Feingold diet, try a “few-foods” diet, which involves more extensive restrictions (see Elimination diets). Studies show that some children are sensitive not just to food additives but also to such foods as:

 

 

* wheat

 

* eggs

 

* milk and other dairy foods

 

* chocolate (increases concentration in most)

 

* soybeans/tofu

 

* corn products (including corn sugar and syrup)

 

 

Eliminate as many of those foods as possible, plus artificial colorings and other additives. Children can eat fresh meat and poultry, any vegetable (except corn and soybeans), fruits and fruit juices (but not citrus fruit/juice and not beverages normally consumed daily), rice, and oats.

 

http://www.everydiet.org/diet/feingold-diet

 

 

 

 

Modafinil (Provigil) & Armodafinin (Nuvigil) & adrafinil (OTC)

 

 

Adrafinil is an OTC supplement that turns into modafinil.  People often try it to see if they will like modafinil or when they only need to stay awake occasionally like with emergencies.  With long term daily use liver problems may occur so people who want it more often often shift to modafinil (safer).  Modafinil & armodafinil are prescription medications used for narcolepsy & for night shift workers to stay awake, and they may reduce impusitivty.  If a person isn’t using stimulants (including caffeine) they also increase concentration & mood.  They don’t appear to cause the irritability or addictiveness of stimulants.  For people with bipolar or unipolar depression, in one review of six studies & almost 1000 people found modafinil effective for depression & fatigue for people bipolar & unipolar depression.

 

 

They appear to give the benefits of caffeine or stimulants of mood elevation, increased concentration, & wakefulness but without the increased irritability, impulsiveness when driving (road rage), or withdrawal symptoms of depression & anxiety.

 

 

Also unlike caffeine, when people are on modafinil to stay awake they commit many fewer errors on work performance tasks than when they are taking caffeine to stay awake.

 

 

They are much cheaper using sites like Goodrx, up to 90% off.

 

 

J Goss, Alexander & Kaser, Muzaffer & G Costafreda, Sergi & J Sahakian, Barbara & Fu, Cynthia. (2013). Modafinil Augmentation Therapy in Unipolar and Bipolar Depression: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. The Journal of clinical psychiatry. 74. 1101-1107. 10.4088/JCP.13r08560.

 

 

 

Nootropics- racetams like pira/ani/prami/phenylpi/oxi, Noopept, Sulbutiamine

 

 

Piracetam

 

 

Aniracetam may improve concentration & also work against anxiety.

 

 

Pramiracetam works the longest of the racetams & may be the strongest to increase concentration, memory, & brain protection

 

 

Noopept is popular because it increases concentration & perhaps memory, reflexes, reduce anxiety & stimulate nerve growth.

 

Caffeine

 

When most people start taking caffeine or other stimulants, they reliably at first get an increase in concentration & mental performance.  But after tolerance builds within a couple months, and because caffeine takes 24 hours to leave the body & interferes with REM sleep, the lack of restorative sleep & the withdrawal effects when people stop taking the caffeine reduces people’s performance to the same levels on average as before they started using caffeine.  Unlike before, they now need caffeine just to perform at previously normal levels.  There are effective supplements & medications for ADHD that don’t have a tolerance or withdrawal effect & increase concentration & mental performance more reliably & without the addiction that caffeine can cause.

 

Journal of Caffeine Research 2013 3:3, 114-130

 

 

Paraxanthine

 

Paraxanthine is a metabolite of caffeine that may have less adverse effects.  It appears to have the increase in focus, mood, energy, strength & endurance but with less or little of the withdrawals, sleep disruption, & irritability seen in high caffeine doses.  People often take 100mg once or twice a day.

 

outliyr.com/paraxanthine-supplement-review-dose-benefits-uses

nootropicsexpert.com/paraxanthine/

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8875973/

 

 

Theacrine

 

 

Theacrine is made from caffeine from plants, and appears to have many of it’s benefits without it’s drawbacks. Theacrine may reduce inflammation & pain, liver damage, increase concentration, mood, & physical performance at 100-300mg, and may have a greater effect with a small amount of caffeine (or paraxanthine) added to it.  Theacrine appears to improve sleep when taken at 10-30mg (or when blood levels drop after higher doses), so unlike caffeine may be able to be taken later in the day.  Unlike caffeine, theacrine appears to cause less or little irritability, anxiety, impulsivity, tolerance or addiction and may last 2x as long.  People usually start with 50mg in the morning (sometimes paired with caffeine or paraxanthine) & if desired 50mg at noon.

 

selfhacked.com/blog/theacrine-benefits/

 

bodybuilding.com/content/your-expert-guide-to-theacrine.html

 

https://examine.com/supplements/theacrine/

 

 

 

 

 

Selegiline (Emsam patch or Eldepryl) & rasagiline (Azilect)

 

 

At low doses selegiline is a selective MAO-B inhibitor- 5mg 2x per week or 1.5mg orally daily, rasagiline at 1mg daily orally, both increasing dopamine.  At these doses taken orally they don’t appear to inhibit MAO-A and cause high blood pressure spikes after eating foods with tyramine.  At these low doses they both apparently may increase the life span by 40% at 40% higher physical ability than usually at older ages and slow the progression of Parkinson’s (slows neuronal death) & help some of the physical symptoms.  They also potentiate phenylethalamine (below).

 

 

At high doses they may increase mortality, so the high doses needed for antidepressive effect may not be safe.  At high doses they also may not slow the progression of Parkinson’s.  Taken orally at high doses they also appear to trigger high blood pressure spikes when eating foods with tyramine unless taken under the toungue (sublingually).

 

 

Selegiline taken orally (not in patch form) breaks down to L-methamphetamine & then to L-amphetamine, both may be detectable in blood tests.  Rasagiline does not break down to these metabolites.

 

 

 

Phenylethalamine (PEA)

 

 

PEA in our body appears to increase mood, concentration, & motivation for exercise.  PEA levels in urine tests have been found to be low in people with ADHD.  Exercising appears to significantly and temporarily increase PEA levels, likely causing feelings of a “runners’ high”.  Taking phenylethalamine for people who’s levels are low due to ADHD appears to raise mood & concentration & athletic motivation & performance, but for a very short time.  If taking an MAOI (especially MAOI-B) like prescription selegiline or the herbs kava kava or green oat extract, phenylethalamine levels rise significantly as the smaller amount in people with ADHD takes much longer to metabolize.  Supplementing with PEA after taking an MAOI-B works for a lot longer and at very low doses (10mg to start), or an overdose of dopamine may occur.

 

 

Taking too much PEA when on an MAOI may be treated by mild to moderate exercise.

 

 

Children with ADHD who responded successfully to stimulant drugs show a very large increase in urinary PEA levels.  Taking PEA directly may be a safer alternative to the stimulant drugs used to treat ADHD.

 

 

PEA may be the primary compound in predators urine that scares away rodents, and may be effective for that purpose when used in sprays.

 

 

 

What else raises phenylethalamine?

 

 

If not taking an MAOI, very large doses of PEA have to be taken to even get an effect for an hour.  Taking PEA under the toungue (sublingually) should bypass the MAOs in the small intestine, but PEA is very bitter & astringent when taken under the toungue, rendering this route impractical.

 

 

Taking vitamin B6, vitamin C, and the amino acid phenylalanine appears to raise PEA levels significantly & for hours, especially when also taking an MAOI.  Our bodies make PEA from phenylalanine, moreso when taken with those two vitamins.  These are all inexpensive & well tolerated as they are present in many of our foods as well and are all essential nutrients for our bodies.

 

 

Sustained antidepressant effect of PEA replacement

 

Sabelli H, Fink P, Fawcett J, Tom C

 

J Neuropsychiatry Clin Neurosci 1996 Spring; 8(2):168-71

 

 

Scassellati C, Bonvicini C, Faraone SV, Gennarelli M (October 2012). “Biomarkers and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: a systematic review and meta-analyses”. J. Am. Acad. Child Adolesc. Psychiatry. 51 (10): 1003–1019.e20. doi:10.1016/j.jaac.2012.08.015. PMID 23021477.

 

 

Irsfeld M, Spadafore M, Prüß BM. β-phenylethylamine, a small molecule with a large impact. WebmedCentral. 2013;4(9):4409.

 

 

https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Phenethylamine#section=Top

 

 

National Center for Biotechnology Information. PubChem Compound Database; CID=1001, https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/1001 (accessed Aug. 9, 2018).

 

 

https://liftmode.com/blog/what-is-phenylethylamine/

 

 

https://examine.com/supplements/phenylethylamine/

 

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phenethylamine

 

 

phenylpiracetam

 

 

Agmatine- may reduce pain, help with depression and anxiety, promote muscle growth, protect the brain from damage due to stroke, improve recording of spatial memory, suppress tumor growth, improve weight loss and prevent weight gain, improve insulin sensitivity and reduce blood sugar, help with alzheimer’s disease, protect against hardening of the arteries, increase nerve repair, protects against seizures, protect against stress, reduce inflammation, help with alcohol and morphine withdrawal

 

2+ Benefits of Agmatine + Side Effects

 

 

Phenylalanine- may enhance working memory, executive function, creative flow states, stress reduction, better mood, increase T3 & T4 thyroid hormones, and lessen anxiety and symptoms of ADHD.  It turns into tyrosine-L-dopa-dopamine-neurotransmitters.

 

 

Centrophenoxine- may be neuroprotective, improve learning and memory, improve mood, increase lifespan, and enhance cancer treatment.  Low doses and a intermediate use may be best.

 

Centrophenoxine: Potential Uses & Side-Effects

 

 

Oxiracetam

 

 

palmitoylethanolamide PEA

 

 

Coluracetam

 

Nefiracetam

 

 

Rasagiline

 

Deprenyl

 

 

Semax

 

 

Hydergine

 

Nicergoline

 

 

 

 

Kratom? IN?

 

 

 

Polygala tenuifolia-Yuan Zhi, Chinese Senega

 

Expectorant, Works on same system as ketamine, spatial organization & memory, may increase NGF & BDNF, mood, inhibits breakdown of acetylcholine, MAO inhibitor, depression, anxiety, anti-inflammatory, insomnia, antipsychotic, dermatitus, cancer

 

2 Polygala Tenuifolia Benefits + Side Effects

 

 

Shilajit-

 

Energy for workout & chronic fatigue, infertility (women), aphrodisiac reduces orofacial pain & opiate tolerance, diabetes, cancer, inflammation, gastric ulcers, antiviral, bones, lots of iron, withdrawal from opiates & alcohol, high altitude stress

 

https://draxe.com/shilajit/

 

 

Prl-8-53-

 

Memory, cognition, reverses stupor & eyelid droop of rserpine

 

 

Sulbutiamine is synthetic B1 & may increase concentration, cognition, mood & wakefulness.

 

 

Uridine monophosphate UMP-

 

Seizures 3 injections/day, insomnia, brain plasticity, memory, inflammation, heart good & thickening bad, inhibit bone, liver, depression, cystic fibrosis to normal mucus, anemia, autoimmune, may increase cancer by P2RY2 receptor activation

 

7 Uridine Benefits + Sources, Side Effects, Stacks & Dosage

 

 

PYRITINOL-

 

One of two types of B6, increases choline & repair of cholinergic neurons,  hangovers, cognition, memory, reduces brain inflammation, infection, rheumatoid, mood, anxiety, stress, Tourettes, dementia, 20yrs use in European medicine brain trauma

 

https://reviews.trackmystack.com/supplements-Pyritinol

 

https://examine.com/supplements/pyritinol/

 

 

 

Dimethylaminoethanol (DMAE)

 

 

DMAE (found in anchovies & sardines) in prescription form was used to treat children’s attention problems in the 1960s & 70s (Deaner, Deanol) and to improve cognition including memory by speeding the production of acetylcholine in the brain.  It has low side effects in most people and in one study of 75 children at 500mg/day was as effective as methylphenidate. Applied topically it may reduce sagging of the skin and age spots.  It may be contraindicated in people with epilepsy or bipolar and in pregnancy or women trying to conceive.

 

 

http://www.lifeextension.com/magazine/2004/11/aas/page-01

 

https://examine.com/supplements/dmae/

 

 

 

Nootropic mixes often include:

 

 

Citicholine- may help make phosphatidylcholine (PC) and acetycholine and to protect & repair brain cells

 

 

American ginseng, Asian/Korean/Chinese/panax ginseng, eluthero (Siberian ginseng), rhodiola, ashwaganda, maca, spikenard root, schisandra — adaptogens that improve physical & mental performance especially if fatigued/sick/tired/sleepy

 

 

Amino acids L-

 

Carnitine-may increase mood, concentration, & energy

 

Theanine- may increase concentration & protect brain cells and reduce anxiety and improve mood

 

Tyrosine- used to make dopamine & norephinephrine, may increase cognition & concentration, memory & multitasking

 

 

Phosphatidylserine (PS)- may increase concentration, memory, mood & reduce anxiety, especially as we age & make less of it

 

 

Bacopa monnieri- may increase brain blood flow, cognition, & memory

 

 

Forskohlii (with artichoke extract)-

 

Ginkgo-

 

 

Vinpocetine- may increase brain blood flow, cognition, & memory

 

 

Lion’s mane mushroom- may increase nerve growth factor, protect against brain damage, and reverse cognitive impairment

 

 

Huperzine- may increase acetylcholine, nerve growth factor, cognition & reverse cognitive impairment in Alzheimer’s

 

 

Pterostilbene- resveratrol derived anti-inflammatory that may improve cognition

 

 

Vitamin B50s or 100s- the B vitamins may increase concentration & mood

 

 

Matcha-

 

 

https://top10supplements.com/best-nootropic-supplements/

 

 

 

Spirulina- the source of fish EPA & DHA fatty acids

 

 

Spirulina for concentration and a mood boost (helps depression & anxiety), schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, ADHD, autism, and violence

 

 

The EPA & DHA fatty acids in spirulina (whats in fish oil) increase concentration and mood, which increases “will power”, which is the ability to follow through on difficult tasks.  For people who are recovering from addiction, spirulina helps increase self control.

 

 

If you want to get the EPA & DHA omega3 fatty acids that are great for the brain that are in some kinds of fish oil without the taste or worry about pesticides, mercury or radiation, you can get EPA & DHA from where fish get them- from taking the algae called spirulina.  At ovega.com is a good explanation of how EPA & DHA omega 3 fatty acids in fish come from eating the algae spirulina.  Ovega.com is the company inspected by the FDA that has supplied 99% of the baby formulas with EPA & DHA for supplementation.  You can go with them or another company, just make sure that the other company isn’t getting it from the ocean.  I use and trust NOW Foods and Source Naturals.  Ovega.com grows theirs in stainless steel vats for purity.

 

 

Spirulina needs to be taken with a meal with a vegetable.  Vegetables may have the enzymes need to digest spirulina more fully.  Only 1/4 teaspoons of the powder form (500mg capsule equivalent) 2-3X a day with a meal with a vegetable is needed to significantly improve mood and concentration.

 

 

Children from low income families who get the most DHA and the least omega6 fatty acids from corn & soybean oil had better academic achievement than even children of wealthy parents.

 

www.anth.ucsb.edu/sites/secure.lsit.ucsb.edu.anth.d7/files/sitefiles/people/gaulin/Lassek%20%26%20Gaulin%202013%20DHA%20PISA%20math.pdf

 

Lassek, W. D. & S. J. C. Gaulin (in press) “Breast milk DHA content predicts cognitive performance in a sample of 28 nations.”  Maternal & Child Nutrition:

 

 

Many of the disorders that EPA & DHA fatty acids treat appear to be from an inability to retain enough in the brain, making extra supplementation essential for people with mental illness.

 

www.biomedcentral.com/content/pdf/1475-2891-7-8.pdf

 

http://www.biomedcentral.com/content/pdf/1476-511X-3-25.pdfDoesYou

 

http://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2009/12/dha-omega.aspx

 

 

On study found that the lower the EPA & DHA, the lower the activity in learning & memory areas of the brain.

 

The Plexus Encyclopedia of Medicine, Science, and Technology

 

Volume 12, Issue 46

 

May 21, 2017

 

Loraine Page

 

 

Improves memory:

 

 

Alzheimers Dement. 2010 Nov;6(6):456-64. doi: 10.1016/j.jalz.2010.01.013.

 

Beneficial effects of docosahexaenoic acid on cognition in age-related cognitive decline.

 

Yurko-Mauro K, McCarthy D, Rom D, Nelson EB, Ryan AS, Blackwell A, Salem N Jr, Stedman M; MIDAS Investigators.

 

 

 

Spirulina has low/little/no side effects for most people. It is important to get it from a trusted source like Now Foods or Source Naturals.

 

http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-923-spirulina%20%28blue-green%20algae%29.aspx?activeingredientid=923&activeingredientname=spirulina%20%28blue-green%20algae%29

 

 

 

Cocoa and the brain

 

 

Eating dark or sugar free chocolate appears to increase visual spatial memory & organization, working memory, scanning, tracking, abstract reasoning, & performance in the mini-mental state examination in one study over five years and nearly 1000 people independent of age, education, heart health, & diet.  Eating chocolate appears to improve cognitive performance (even in Alzheimer’s & dementia), reduce mental fatigue, and improve mood.

 

 

Appetite

 

Volume 100, 1 May 2016, Pages 126-132

 

Chocolate intake associated with better cognitive function: The Maine-Syracuse Longitudinal Study

 

Georgina E.Crichton, Merrill F.Elias, Ala’aAlkerwi

 

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2016.02.010

 

 

J Psychopharmacol. 2010 Oct;24(10):1505-14. doi: 10.1177/0269881109106923. Epub 2009 Nov 26.

 

Consumption of cocoa flavanols results in acute improvements in mood and cognitive performance during sustained mental effort.

 

Scholey AB, French SJ, Morris PJ, Kennedy DO, Milne AL, Haskell CF.

 

 

Smith, H.J., Gaffan, E.A. & Rogers, P.J. Psychopharmacology (2004) 176: 412. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-004-1898-3

 

Methylxanthines are the psycho-pharmacologically active constituents of chocolate

 

 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2016/03/04/the-magical-thing-eating-chocolate-does-to-your-brain/?utm_term=.8a55acdf3cad

 

 

 

Non Dutch/alkalyzed cocoa & chocolate only

 

 

Dutching/alkalyzing cocoa can reduce its health & heart improving phenol content by 92%.  Organic, nonDutch/nonalkalyzed cocoa has the highest phenol content.

 

 

When mixing cocoa for a chocolate drink, avoid milk & sugar to get the greatest heart benefit.  Stevia, monk fruit, & erythritol appear to be the safest noncaloric sweeteners.

 

 

Cocoa increases hdl, slowsLDL oxidation, cleans arteries, prevents cardiac deaths, stops aging skin, skin cancer & prevents sunburns, reverses chronic fatigue, & prevents diabetes & extends life.  Two studies, one by Harvard med school dark chocolate improved blood flow & mental performance in elderly, another study helped people with mild cognitive impairment.

 

How often to eat?

 

 

For cognitive benefit, heart benefit, & to help stop type II diabetes, a measured amount of dark/sugarfree cocoa/chololate can be ingested every two to three hours. Doing this provides a cognitive boost throughout the day, helps clean out the heart, and and reduces often to zero the cravings for sweets, cakes, & cookies that worsen diabetes.

 

 

 

Sugar free chocolate/cocoa

 

 

Besides cocoa sweetened with your choice of stevia, erythritol, and/or monk fruit (all zero calories) alone or in combination, there are companies that make sugar free chocolate with erythritol.  Most people find it doesn’t have the laxative or stomach cramping effect of sorbitol, mannitol, or xylitol.  Best may be chocolate chips stored in the freezer- they last much longer in the mouth.  Not only does cocoa & sugar free chocolate (as long as they are not Dutch or alkalyzed) apparently clear the arteries, they substitute successfully for cakes & cookies for most people.

 

 

 

Making your own sugar free chocolate bar

 

 

Organic cocoa powder (nondutch/nonalkalized is healthiest) can be mixed with water & sweetened with stevia, monk fruit and/or erythritol, a sugar alcohol that has no calories & may not cause the problems of xylitol, sorbitol, and mannitol.  When using water use the exact amount in the recipe (look online)- too much or too little doesn’t taste good.

 

 

Sugar free chocolate bars can be made far cheaper by melting Baker’s brand baking chocolate (in the baking section) and adding the right amount of stevia, monk fruit, and/or erithritol.

 

 

 

 

Acetyl L- Carnitine

 

 

Acetyl L- Carnitine is an amino acid (its in many foods we eat) that increases concentration and boosts mood (relieves depression & anxiety).   It has worked very well for me, I recommend Now Foods or Source Naturals.  Its good to take multiple times a day as needed.  As it is an amino acid found in many foods, the side effects are minimal.

 

 

http://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/ntp/htdocs/chem_background/exsumpdf/carnliposupp_508.pdf

 

 

http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-834-ACETYL-L-CARNITINE.aspx?activeIngredientId=834&activeIngredientName=ACETYL-L-CARNITINE

 

 

Acetyl-L Carnitine Benefits & Side Effects

 

 

http://www.raysahelian.com/acetylcarnitine.html

 

 

J Psychiatr Res. 2014 Jun;53:30-7. doi: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2014.02.005. Epub 2014 Feb 15.

 

A review of current evidence for acetyl-l-carnitine in the treatment of depression.

 

Wang SM, Han C, Lee SJ, Patkar AA, Masand PS, Pae CU

 

 

Acetyl-L-carnitine appears safe with low/little/no side effects for most people.

 

http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-1026-l-carnitine.aspx?activeingredientid=1026&activeingredientname=l-carnitine

 

 

 

Huperzine

 

 

Huperzine is an herb that increases concentration by increasing choline in the brain and calming overactive glutamate activity in the brain.  This is what two separate types of Alzheimer’s drugs do, but in one pill and without their side effects.  Huperzine helps most people’s concentration but especially people with autism, ADHD, Alzheimers, and/or schizophrenia that also have overactive glutamate.  200mg one to three times a day was what I eventually built up to that worked well.  Huperzine worked very well for me.  Note that if you take huperzine it is good to take supplemental choline or get it in foods it is common in, like cauliflower.  You can look up what foods have the most choline.  I used source naturals brand but always recommend buying in bulk (often powder) once you know it works for you.

 

http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-764-HUPERZINE%20A.aspx?activeIngredientId=764&activeIngredientName=HUPERZINE%20A

 

http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-764-HUPERZINE%20A.aspx?activeIngredientId=764&activeIngredientName=HUPERZINE%20A

 

http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=6779761

 

http://www.synmr.com/index.php?ac=article&at=read&did=156

 

 

Huperzine appears safe.  It may cause nausea, congestion/mucus, slow the heart & may affect seizures.

 

http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-764-huperzine%20a.aspx?activeingredientid=764&activeingredientname=huperzine%20a

 

 

 

Ceylon cinnamon

 

 

Ceylon cinnamon may help people who are having trouble learning by increasing two chemicals that help learning/decreasing a chemical that interferes with learning.  It may also help people with Parkinson’s.

 

 

Khushbu K. Modi, Suresh B. Rangasamy, Sridevi Dasarathi, Avik Roy, Kalipada Pahan. Cinnamon Converts Poor Learning Mice to Good Learners: Implications for Memory Improvement. Journal of Neuroimmune Pharmacology, 2016; DOI: 10.1007/s11481-016-9693-6

 

 

 

Vitamin B100s

 

Taking 100mg of all of the different vitamin Bs improves cognition & concentration, especially as we grow older.

 

http://psychsocgerontology.oxfordjournals.org/content/56/6/P327.short

 

http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0012244

 

 

 

Ginkgo biloba

 

 

Ginkgo is the leaf from the tree of the same name that appears to help cognition, especially as we get older.  A standardized ginkgo supplement has at least 22% flavone glycosides, 5% terpine lactones, 3% lobelia, below 5ppm ginkcolic acids- standardized EGB761.  It appears to be most effective 1x/day 240mg (no split dosage).

 

 

improves mental function-memory & learning even in healthy people

 

improves equilibrium (vertigo, dizziness)

 

tinnitus

 

reduces blood viscosity, improves circulation

 

improves mood (modulates neurotransmitters)

 

reduces inflammation

 

antiallergy & antiasthma

 

antiradiation

 

ischemic stroke recovery

 

retinal edema

 

retinopathy

 

peripheral artery disease

 

arthlerosclerosis

 

chronic sinusitus

 

chronic bronchitus

 

vitelligo

 

altitude sickness

 

cardiovascular disease

 

improved glucose tolerance

 

 

Many studies produced to fail & discredit gingko by not using standardized extract & dosage

 

 

80,000 studies on google scholar

 

 

Doesn’t appear to cause bleeding problems in people with warfarin but may interact.

 

Ginkgo can raise blood levels of PPI’s, calcium channel blockers.

 

May affect MAOI inhibitors.

 

 

human studies

 

3700 subjects slowing mental decline, reduces beta amyloid, 4yrs best effects

 

World J of Biological Psychiatry 4 trials review 22wks decrease caregiver distress rating, increased activities, global clinical impression, improved quality of life

 

96 Alz neuropsychiatric features (behavior problems)- cognitive benefits equal to Erecept w/little side effects, lowered Erecept side effects

 

Int J of Geriactric Psychiatry 160, double blind placebo, signficant improvement of symptoms with no side effects (equal placebo)

 

J of Psychiatric Research significant & clinically relevant cognition & psychopathology improvement

 

1201 Austria dementia patients 22wks 22months delay in dementia progression, saved up to $60,000

 

29 studies slowing dementia if taking standardized dosage, reduces beta amyloid

 

188 people Phytomedicine improved recall, reversed aging memory loss

 

52 people with stroke improved significantly faster than controls

 

15 dyslexic children improved scores

 

J of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism

 

hyperthyroid- reduced radioactive iodine damage to normal tissues

 

Psychiatry Research 8 studies 1000 people reduced symptoms of schizophrenia

 

J of Clinical Psychiatry reduced tardive dyskinesia in schizophrenia meds

 

J of Anesthesia ruptured disk with nerve entrapment stopped nerve pain of sciatica

 

 

Dr. Richard Becker with Cindy Becker on “Your Health” 01/11/16, #1522 Ginko Review  2/23/17

 

 

Hofferberth, B. (1994), The efficacy of EGb 761 in patients with senile dementia of the alzheimer type, a double-blind, placebo-controlled study on different levels of investigation. Hum. Psychopharmacol. Clin. Exp., 9: 215–222. doi:10.1002/hup.470090308

 

 

Phytother Res. 1999 Aug;13(5):408-15.

 

The effects of acute doses of standardized Ginkgo biloba extract on memory and psychomotor performance in volunteer.

 

Rigney U, Kimber S, Hindmarch I.

 

 

A double-blind, placebo controlled study of Ginkgo biloba extract (‘Tanakan’) in elderly outpatients with mild to moderate memory impairment

 

G. S. Rai, C. Shovlin, and K. A. Wesnes

 

Current Medical Research And Opinion Vol. 12 , Iss. 6,1991

 

 

 

Movement & exercise

 

 

Sitting on an exercise ball in school improves the academic performance of boys, and boys & girls with ADHD.

 

 

 

 

 

Meditation

 

 

Meditation helps increase concentration, boosts mood/relieve depression, and reduces anxiety/increases calm.

 

 

In a double blind study, a meditation group had 76% fewer sick days, while an exercise group had 48% fewer sick days.  Learning to meditate reduces prison recidivism by 50%.

 

Meditation has been shown to help anxiety, depression, ADHD, aggression, addiction, and stroke/TBI recovery and make the mind/brain more malleable & easier to change.  I finally learned how to meditate easily despite my ADHD.

 

 

Sit at a table with a countertop at rib level or put your elbows on your legs while sitting & put your face in your hands.  Rub your eyelids for a couple minutes.  This is very physiologically refreshing.  Then keep your hands under your eyelids & allow your head to rest while in staying in complete darkness.  Most meditation practice is to concentrate on a focus word of your choosing or to just concentrate on your breathing, whichever you find easier.  It is also finding your center in your mind, also called “chi” (pronounced chee), or essence.  Being in complete darkness puts your brain waves into an alpha state, like concentration does.  The refreshing eye rubbing & darkness make it far easier to meditate than even just closing your eyes normally.

 

 

Mindfulness meditation (with a focus on immediate sensations, emotions, & experience) in one study was almost three times more effective than sleep hygiene education in improving sleep quantity & quality and reducing fatigue & depression.  The key is to concentrate on your breathing or your center (chi) and observe whatever flows through the mind without judgement, and let it pass on, bringing your focus back to your breathing or center or focus word.

 

 

I have also found that meditating (on my center/chi), relaxing, meditating, relaxing at the speed of the song “Stayin Alive” puts me to sleep as fast as I remember starting it.  It literally puts me to sleep almost immediately.

 

 

Black DS, O’Reilly GA, Olmstead R, Breen EC, Irwin MR.  “Mindfulness Meditation and Improvement in Sleep Quality and Daytime Impairment Among Older Adults With Sleep Disturbances: A Randomized Clinical Trial.”  JAMA Intern Med. 2015 Feb 16.

 

 

http://www.worldhealth.net/news/simple-secret-sleep/

 

 

This type of restful meditation can recharge you for much longer than a traditional nap.  Mediation is cumulative and 5 & 10 minutes a day adds up over the long term & makes your life much better in many ways.  Using meditation when making decisions or in situations where you don’t know how to act can be very useful.  It also helps when trying to sort through emotions.  The more you do it the more it will help your life & help you feel peaceful.

 

 

The biggest benefit in napping/sleeping is that if you don’t fall asleep but just meditate for an hour or two with eyes closed, you will get nearly as much rest as with sleep.  And because meditation is cumulative you will have calmed your brain greatly in that hour or two of meditating.

 

 

Compassion/Gratitude Meditation

 

 

Meditating on the emotions of compassion & gratitude (either separately or moving back and forth between them) reduces anxiety & depression greatly and has been shown to have long lasting effects on the brain & on happiness.  And it increases empathy for others as well.  When I’m feeling the strongest depression or anxiety I contemplate/meditate for half a minute or longer on compassion for myself (no one should have to feel depression or anxiety) then compassion for others, then move it to contemplation of gratitude because I often don’t feel that way, & gratitude that most people don’t have to feel that way.  By far it has worked on my worst depression & anxiety like nothing else, and quicker than anything else.

 

 

 

Decision Meditation

 

 

Meditating when making decisions, like where to go and what to do and how to act can be very useful- it doesn’t require a long committment and you use it when you need it.  It helps me make decisions more in line with their long term happiness and less on impulse.

 

 

 

Social Meditation

 

 

When I use meditation in social situations, it reduces anxiety, I have a better time, & I am a better guest/friend.

 

 

 

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS)

 

 

tDCS is used by professional athletes to improve motor coordination (Golden State Warriors), pilots to improve learning, and patients to reduce pain, depression, & anxiety & for students to enhance concentration.

 

 

tDCS for depression & anxiety is usually done with a small 9 volt battery with a circuit and dial to regulate between 0.5-2milliamps and wires with clips to two small sponges & a headband.  The sponges are soaked in salt water (1cup water 1/4 ts salt works) and placed above the left eye around inch & a half above the hairline (positive red clip) at the F3 left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) about an inch & a half above the hairline above the left eyebrow (the main target for depression) and the other above the right eyebrow (negative black clip).  This placement appears to stimulate an area in the brain that is understimulated and understimulate an area that is overstimulated in depression.

 

 

People usually start at 0.5 milliamps and within the session or succeeding sessions ramp it up eventually to 2 milliamps, depending on comfort & side effects.  I have only noticed a buzz if the sponges are very wet at 2 milliamps.  People can use a lower amperage or frequency if they experience side effects.  Sponges can get very salty & conduct too strongly if not rinsed off each time.

 

 

I bought the kit off ebay for just under $80, and there are other kits available on the internet & Amazon for more money.  If you know someone who has one you can ask them to meet you to try it out & see if it lifts your depression before buying it.  Some people start off using it more frequently, then eventually use it less & less & until they find their best maintainance schedule.  If you own the kit you can use it whenever you feel you need it, if you aren’t experiencing side effects.  The clips & sponges last longer if rinsed thoroughly to get rid of the salt, and the battery replacement costs only a couple dollars for an alkaline.

 

 

People who are lefthanded may wish to try this on the other side of the head as well, if the F3 location doesn’t work, start with a shorter term so the effects won’t be as great if the normal spot doesn’t work, and put the cathode (negative, black clamp) on the opposite arm instead of right above the right eyebrow.

 

 

tDCS may be safe (but not recommended) up to 60 minutes and 4 mA, but the safe frequency of use has not been fully studied.

 

 

Contraindications/dangers are if you have open wounds at the sponge placement, seizures, are pregnant, have metal/implants in your head, have an infection in/on the head.  A normal itch & tingle may occur during the treatment.  Rarer chances of a headache or skin problems may be reduced with a lower amperage and/or lower frequency.

 

 

Clinical Neurophysiology Practice Volume 2, 2017, Pages 19-25

 

Adverse events of tDCS and tACS: A review

 

Hideyuki Matsumotoa et al.

 

 

Safety aspects of transcranial direct current stimulation concerning healthy subjects and patients

 

CsabaPoreisz et al.

 

Brain Research Bulletin Volume 72, Issues 4–6, 30 May 2007, Pages 208-214

 

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brainresbull.2007.01.004

 

 

Antal, A. et al. (June 2017). “Low intensity transcranial electric stimulation: Safety, ethical, legal regulatory and application guidelines”. Clinical Neurophysiology. doi:10.1016/j.clinph.2017.06.001.

 

 

Usefulness:

 

 

It works very fast, reliably, and is inexpensive per treatment. It can be used when needed and on a set schedule.  Personally it worked stronger than any other treatment I’ve used for depression & anxiety, by a large amount.  It is like other treatments- if it works for you, add it to your treatments and use them in combination.

 

 

Because it doesn’t take up to a month or two to work like some of the antidepressant drugs, having it available for immediate use for someone in deep depression &/or suicidal could help save a life if it works for them.

 

 

Transcranial direct current stimulation in severe, drug-resistant major depression

 

R.Ferruccia et al.

 

Journal of Affective Disorders Volume 118, Issues 1–3, November 2009, Pages 215-219

 

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2009.02.015

 

 

http://happierhuman.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Experimental-Neurology-219-2009-14%E2%80%9319-Treatment-of-depression-with-transcranial-direct-current-stimulation-tDCS-A-Review.pdf

 

Exp Neurol. 2009 Sep;219(1):14-9. doi: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2009.03.038. Epub 2009 Apr 5.

 

Treatment of depression with transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS): a review.

 

Nitsche MA, Boggio PS, Fregni F, Pascual-Leone A.

 

 

Brain Stimulation Volume 1, Issue 3, July 2008, Pages 206-223

 

Transcranial direct current stimulation: State of the art 2008.

 

Michael A.Nitsche et al.

 

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brs.2008.06.004

 

 

Transcranial direct current stimulation for depression: 3-week, randomised, sham-controlled trial

 

Colleen K. Loo, Angelo Alonzo, Donel Martin, Philip B. Mitchell, Veronica Galvez, Perminder Sachdev

 

The British Journal of Psychiatry Jan 2012, 200 (1) 52-59; DOI: 10.1192/bjp.bp.111.097634

 

 

Kalu, U., Sexton, C., Loo, C., & Ebmeier, K. (2012). Transcranial direct current stimulation in the treatment of major depression: A meta-analysis. Psychological Medicine, 42(9), 1791-1800. doi:10.1017/S0033291711003059

 

 

Transcranial direct current stimulation for major depression: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis

 

Pedro Shiozawa  Felipe Fregni  Isabela M. Benseñor  Paulo A. Lotufo  Marcelo T. Berlim Jeff Z. Daskalakis  Quirino Cordeiro  André. R. Brunoni

 

International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology, Volume 17, Issue 9, 1 September 2014, Pages 1539, https://doi.org/10.1017/S1461145714000807

 

 

 

 

What placement may have quicker and stronger effects?

 

 

The F3 area an inch and a half above the hairline above the left eyebrow anode (positive, red clip) has also been paired with placing the cathode (negative, black clip) on the right shoulder (extracephalic-outside the head).  There isn’t as much research, but the effects may be faster & stronger than placing the cathode above the right eyebrow.

 

 

Fronto-extracephalic transcranial direct current stimulation as a treatment for major depression: an open-label pilot study.

 

J Affect Disord. 2011 Nov;134(1-3):459-63. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2011.05.018.

 

Martin DM, Alonzo A, Mitchell PB, Sachdev P, Gálvez V, Loo CK.

 

 

IEEE Trans Biomed Eng. 2014 Sep;61(9):2488-98.

 

Comparison of cephalic and extracephalic montages for transcranial direct current stimulation–a numerical study.

 

Noetscher GM, Yanamadala J, Makarov SN, Pascual-Leone A.

 

 

Hypomania Induction in a Patient With Bipolar II Disorder by Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS)

 

Gálvez, Verònica et al.

 

Journal of ECT: September 2011 – Volume 27 – Issue 3 – pp 256-258

 

doi: 10.1097/YCT.0b013e3182012b89

 

 

 

ADHD & tDCS

 

 

Stimulating the F3 left DLPFC anode (the cathode should be fine attached to the sponge on the right shoulder) in one study also helped reduce impulsivity, inattention, & hyperactivity, with effects even greater after 7 days, and increased functional brain connectivity in another.  Another study found a benefit stiumlating the over the right inferior frontal gyrus (rIFG).

 

 

Transcranial direct current stimulation improves clinical symptoms in adolescents with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

 

Cornelia Soff et al.

 

J Neural Transm 2017 124:133-144

 

 

Front Cell Neurosci. 2016; 10: 72.

 

doi:  10.3389/fncel.2016.00072

 

Improving Interference Control in ADHD Patients with Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS)

 

Carolin Breitling et al.

 

 

 

How to use tDCS

 

 

Here’s the least expensive kit I’ve bought- $24 & buy your own 9volt alkaline (not heavy duty or rechargeable) battery.  Most kits are around $150 to do the same thing.  It takes 2 weeks to ship from Europe.

 

 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Transcranial-Direct-Current-Stimulation-TDCS-DIY-2mA-ELECTRODES-HEADBAND/292308817065?_trkparms=aid%3D111001%26algo%3DREC.SEED%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D49056%26meid%3D39174350c08b44ce8382ee5d4cafae90%26pid%3D100675%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D10%26sd%3D292308817065&_trksid=p2481888.c100675.m4236&_trkparms=pageci%253A4b3b0152-c3e3-11e7-bdc1-74dbd1808e4e%257Cparentrq%253A97954a9515f0a86bc8fc1605fffb9204%257Ciid%253A1

 

Includes sponges & headband.

 

 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Transcranial-Direct-Current-Stimulation-TDCS-DIY-2mA-or-from-0-2mA-to-3mA/292202799470?_trkparms=aid%3D111001%26algo%3DREC.SEED%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D49056%26meid%3D39174350c08b44ce8382ee5d4cafae90%26pid%3D100675%26rk%3D3%26rkt%3D10%26mehot%3Dlo%26sd%3D292308817065&_trksid=p2481888.c100675.m4236&_trkparms=pageci%253A4b3b0152-c3e3-11e7-bdc1-74dbd1808e4e%257Cparentrq%253A97954a9515f0a86bc8fc1605fffb9204%257Ciid%253A1

 

This one doesn’t include sponges & headband.

 

 

Most use salt to make the sponges conduct current better, I use baking soda to keep the sponges smelling good. It’s good to rinse the sponges occasionally & microwave them when wet.  The first time I use the sponges after cleaning I sprinkle baking soda on the top before spraying the baking soda & water solution on them.  I mix 1tb baking soda in a spray bottle and spray the sponges wet, put one on my right arm near my shoulder fastened with a rubber band for the negative/black electrode/clamp, and one starting at & above my hairline above my left eyebrow held by a headband and attack the positive/red electrode/clamp.  I plug in the 9 volt battery for 20-30 minutes at 2 amps.  I like the buzz/itch because it tells me it is working.  Touching the sponge on the right arm with the toungue will tell its working with a metallic taste.

 

 

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3339846/

 

thebraindriver.com/pages/tdcs-placement-montage-maps-studies

 

http://tdcsplacements.com/

 

 

 

Near infrared therapy (NIR-A)

 

 

Near infrared therapy bulbs around 810-830nm wavelength (look for NIR-A label) appear to increase ATP energy production in tissue- reducing inflammation, speeding up healing times of injuries, wounds, & sore muscles by penetrating up to 9 inches (23cm).  A 150W NIR-A infrared bulb can be bought for $10-$21 & used with a clampable lamp to target healing anywhere on the body for 15 minute applications every three hours.  Doing it too frequently appears to negate the benefits.  It can be used close enough to warm the skin but without burning/overheating it.  Near infrared therapy has been used by doctors and trainers for years to apparently increase metabolism, energy, circulation, endurance, strength, recovery, flexibility and reduce body fat, inflammation, and joint & muscle pain as well as to reduce anxiety, increase mood & concentration, and treat Alzheimer’s & Parkinson’s.

 

 

Infrared used for ADHD may be best targeted on the front of the head & forehead, but not hitting the eyes.  Avoiding line of sight is important as the eyes need to be protected against direct high intensity infrared light.  Aiming the infrared bulb on the front of the top of the head & the forehead but high enough to be out of sight of the eyes for 15 minutes at most every three hours appears to improve mood & concentration.  It has been used to decrease anxiety, improve mood & concentration & to treat Parkinson’s.  Doing it for longer or more frequently doesn’t seem to help & may reduce the benefits.

 

 

Saltmarche Anita E., Naeser Margaret A., Ho Kai Fai, Hamblin Michael R, and Lim Lew. Photomedicine and Laser Surgery. February 2017, ahead of print. doi:10.1089/pho.2016.4227.

 

 

EFFECT OF 670-NM LIGHT-EMITTING DIODE LIGHTON NEURONAL CULTURES

 

Margaret T.T. Wong-Riley _ and Harry T. Whelan 2

 

_Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Anatomy

 

2Department of Neurology,

 

Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA

 

https://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/20030001600.pdf

 

 

Neuroreport. 2001 Oct 8;12(14):3033-7.

 

Light-emitting diode treatment reverses the effect of TTX on cytochrome oxidase in neurons.

 

Wong-Riley MT, Bai X, Buchmann E, Whelan HT.

 

 

 

Sleep, anxiety, meditation, concentration and binaural beats

 

 

Meditation benefits from sound

 

Binaural beats are a sound in each ear that makes our brain go at 1-90 Hz.  A lot of studies have found that at 40 Hz binaural beats appear to help clear the tangles from the brain & reverse Alzheimer’s dementia.  Higher Hz didn’t work in a study nor did lower.

 

Isochronic

 

Isochronic tones have the same benefit as binaural but only need a speaker and can be heard by either or both ears.  Binaural beats or isochronic tones need to be occasionally varied to keep effective.  Using both binaural & isochronic at the same time prevents this & may be more than 50% effective than either alone.

 

 

What tone is best?

Using binaural beats/isochronic tones from 40-90 Hz increases mood, calmness, concentration, creativity, & emotional insight into self & others just like meditating does.  The difference is the binaural beats/isochronic tones can be used all day & night to provide the benefit, & when meditating while listening people can meditate at a much deeper level than before.  So it both gives the benefits of meditation & makes meditation much deeper.

 

90Hz appears to be the most benefit & possibly close to the upper range.  92 Hz & higher has no benefit at all for some.  90Hz may be subjectively 50% better than 60Hz.

 

Applications.

 

Besides working for self growth & productivity enhancement, binaural beats/isochronic tones has worked on people who have all variations of developmental ability, to as low as 1.5 years in increasing people’s apparent happiness, calmness, focus, creativity & emotional insight into self & others.

 

Sleep & binaural beats

 

For sleep, I use earbuds, headphones, or speakers on each side of the bed plugged into a music player with an mp3 or computer or phone connected to youtube and search for theta binaural beats.  I also use apps that have binaural beats.  I have used half hour theta beats to help me get to sleep, it works very well for me & other people I’ve introduced it to, and it makes me feel good for hours after waking up, very calm.  If I wake up in the middle of the night I turn the half hour back on again, and it puts me to sleep for hours more.

 

 

Binaural beats also significantly reduce anxiety, both at bedtime & during the day at the delta or theta frequency.  The key is to find what frequency keeps you alert & relaxed during the day.  For bedtime I’ve found the delta frequency (2-3Hz for me), on a 30 minute timer, not only helps sleep but helps to stop anxiety when trying to fall asleep.

Meditation Trekks has an app that on android goes up to/past 90Hz for both isochronic & binaural, Iphone 40Hz.

 

 

The science behind binaural beats

 

 

The gamma EEG pattern of cerebral activity as recorded by EEG has a frequency of 17 Hz to 100Hz associated with concentration, alertness, arousal and cognition; the beta frequency at 14-16Hz, the alpha pattern (8–13 Hz) with relaxation, meditation and creativity; the theta pattern (4–8 Hz) with random eye movement (REM) sleep; and the delta EEG pattern (0.1–4 Hz) is associated with deep, dreamless sleep.  The Hz of a binaural beat trains the brain to produce a corresponding beat, and the more its used the better the syncronicity between them.  Then name of the different frequencies aren’t important- experimenting with how the different frequencies affect each individual person is what matters.

 

 

In a double blind study of 29 people, binaural beats (16 and 24 Hz) improved performance on a visual vigilance task and subjects had a better mood than people exposed to beats at the theta/delta range (1.5 and 4 Hz) while studying.

 

Binaural Auditory Beats Affect Vigilance Performance and Mood

James D Lane, Stefan J Kasian, Justine E Owens, Gail R Marsh

Physiology & Behavior

Volume 63, Issue 2, January 1998, Pages 249–252

 

 

 

In a study of 108 patients about to undergo surgery, those that listened to a 10 Hz binaural beat had half of the anxiety as those listening to music without the beat.

 

 

A prospective, randomised, controlled study examining binaural beat audio and pre-operative anxiety in patients undergoing general anaesthesia for day case surgery*

 

R. Padmanabhan, A. J. Hildreth and D. Laws

 

Anaesthesia Volume 60, Issue 9, pages 874–877, September 2005

 

DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2044.2005.04287.x

 

 

 

In another study people who listened to binaural beats in the delta/theta range had a significant reduction in anxiety.

 

 

Use of binaural beat tapes for treatment of anxiety: A pilot study of tape preference and outcomes

 

Rene-Pierre Le Scouranec; Roger-Michel Poirier; Owens, Justine E; Gauthier, Jules; et al. Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine7.1 (Jan 2001): 58-63.

 

 

 

In a small study theta binaural beats increased theta activity in the brain and significantly increased the hypnotic susceptibility of people as measured on the Stanford Hypnotic Susceptibility Scale, Form C (SHSS:C).

 

 

Binaural-Beat Induced Theta EEG Activity and Hypnotic Susceptibility

 

Brian Bradya & Larry Stevensa

 

American Journal of Clinical Hypnosis Volume 43, Issue 1, 2000 pages 53-69

 

DOI:10.1080/00029157.2000.10404255

 

 

Eight people over sixty days listened to a delta binaural beat and experienced decreased anxiety, increased quality of life, and a decrease in insulin-like growth factor and dopamine.

 

E

 

 

 

 

 

They are available in apps & on youtube & other music sites, & I use speakers, earbuds, or headphones.

 

 

 

ADHD drugs

 

 

Stimulant drugs like methylphenidate (Ritalin), when they work, are only effective for an average of 2 years.  As the child’s body & mind change, so does the effects of stimulants.

 

 

SHORT-TERM EFFECTS

 

Loss of appetite

 

Increased heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature

 

Dilation of pupils

 

Disturbed sleep patterns

 

Nausea

 

Bizarre, erratic, sometimes violent behavior

 

Hallucinations, hyperexcitability, irritability

 

Panic and psychosis

 

Convulsions, seizures and death from high doses

 

 

LONG-TERM EFFECTS

 

Permanent damage to blood vessels of heart and brain, high blood pressure leading to heart attacks, strokes and death

 

Liver, kidney and lung damage

 

Destruction of tissues in nose if sniffed

 

Respiratory (breathing) problems if smoked

 

Infectious diseases and abscesses if injected

 

Malnutrition, weight loss

 

Disorientation, apathy, confused exhaustion

 

Strong psychological dependence

 

Psychosis

 

Depression

 

Damage to the brain including strokes and possibly epilepsy

 

 

http://www.drugfreeworld.org/drugfacts/ritalin/the-vicious-effects-of-prescription-stimulants.html

 

 

 

Neural growth & brain health

 

 

Grows-

 

 

resveratrol (especially in red wine vinegar)

 

omega3 fatty acids

 

blueberries

 

nonalkalized/nonDutch cocoa or dark chocolate

 

folic acid

 

zinc

 

flavenoids in fruits & veges

 

caffeine

 

curcumin or turmeric & a little black pepper

 

calorie restriction

 

intermittent fasting (12 hour diet)

 

learning

 

exercise (higher intensity best)

 

sex

 

 

slows/stops growth-

 

vitamin E deficiency

 

high sugar diet

 

high saturated fat

 

vitamin B deficiency

 

vitamin A deficiency

 

soft foods diet

 

alcohol

 

stress

 

lack of sleep

 

age

 

 

“You can grow new nerve cells- here’s how”

 

Ted (Talks)- Ideas worth spreading

 

Dr Sandrine Thuret , PhD

 

Principal Investigator & Lecturer in Neural Stem Cell Research

 

King’s College, London

 

 

Which one may be the most important?

 

 

Resveratrol is in all dark grapes, dark raisons, dark wines, & red wine vinegar.  Because alcohol & a high sugar diet slows/stops neural growth, the healthiest version for growing neurons without slowing neurons is red wine vinegar, which not only has no sugar or calories, but lowers blood sugar (by 20%), increases insulin sensitivity (by 64%) & decreases insulin desensitivity (by 45%), reversing diabetes.  So the resveratrol increases neural growth, & the vinegar decreases sugar to prevent the slowing of neural growth.

 

 

So the red wine vinegar MAY be the most important in growing new neurons!  But dark chocolate/cocoa & blueberries are likely the most enjoyable!

 

 

 

Supplements

 

 

Dr. Daniel Amen has brainMD.  I know a couple people who have found it to be very effective.  The ingredients are:

 

 

PhosphatidylSerine

 

Acetyl-L-Carnitine (ALC)

 

N-AcetylCysteine (NAC)

 

Alpha-Lipoic Acid

 

Ginkgo Biloba Extract

 

Vinpocetine

 

Huperzine A

 

 

I’ve tried all of these and found many of them effective.  You can also buy them separately.

 

 

 

Foods & Herbs

 

 

Cocoa reduces heart disease and extends life.  NonDutched cocoa/chocolate has a chemical in it that increases concentration as well as any nootropic.  The small amount of caffeine doesn’t often trigger tolerance, which also increases concentration.  Because sugar decreases neural growth, melting Baker’s chocolate (no sugar) & adding stevia, erythritol, and/or monk fruit & putting in freezer yields a very inexpensive chocolate bar with no extra calories.  Taking a piece every three hours may keep up concentration & performance all day & help people avoid desserts.

 

 

Peppermint may increase concentration for many. The cheapest way to use it is to buy it in an oil (essential oil) and put a little under the nose (lasts for a couple hours).  It may also boost athletic performance.  It also mixes well with chocolate.

 

 

 

Rosemary appears to improve memory in some.

 

Thyme may increase DHA levels in the brain.

 

Sage may help boost memory.

 

 

Kennedy, D.O., and A.B. Scholey. 2006 The psychopharmacology of European herbs with cognition-enhancing properties. Current Pharmaceutical Design. 12(35):4613-23.

 

 

Zoladz, P.R., and B. Raudenbush. 2005. Cognitive enhancement through stimulation of the chemical senses. North American Journal of Psychology 7(1):125-138.

 

 

Aggarwal, B.B., and S. Shishodia. 2004. Suppression of the nuclear factor-kappaB activation pathway by spice-derived phytochemicals: reasoning for seasoning. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences1030:434-41.

 

 

Youdim, K.A., and S.G. Deans. 2000. Effect of thyme oil and thymol dietary supplementation on the antioxidant status and fatty acid composition of the ageing rat brain. British Journal of Nutrition 83(1):87-93.

 

 

Nutrient Data Laboratory, Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture in collaboration with Arkansas Children’s Nutrition Center, ARS, USDA, Little Rock, AR. 2007. Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC) of Selected Foods. http://www.ars.usda.gov/Services/docs.htm?docid=15866.

 

 

Topic, B., E. Tani, K. Tsiakitzis, et al. 2002. Enhanced maze performance and reduced oxidative stress by combined extracts of zingiber officinale and ginkgo biloba in the aged rat. Neurobiology of Aging 23(1):135-43.

 

 

Kennedy, D.O., and A.B. Scholey. 2006. The psychopharmacology of European herbs with cognition-enhancing properties. Current Pharmaceutical Design 12(35):4613-23.

 

 

http://www.amenclinics.com/cybcyb/10-brain-healthy-spices/

 

 

 

Qualia

 

 

There’s a very expensive but reportedly very effective supplement called Qualia.

 

 

http://neurohacker.com/qualia/

 

 

 

Homeopathy for ADHD

 

 

latitudes.org/calming-hyperactivity/

 

 

Dihexa

 

Dihexa appears to increase neural growth & recovery

 

To: Jesus

 

Use this as an aide to your own research and share with your doctor as appropriate.

Saving this to a “Health” email folder may ease access.

You can use drugs.com or other trusted health websites to look up the latest information on prescription & herbal drugs possible side & interaction effects.

What may help to avoid:

Anticholinergics

Pesticides/herbicides/fungicides

Acetominophen (Tylenol)

Flouride

Mercury

Feingold diet- avoid salicylates & selective additives especially MSG & FD&C food coloring (blue #, red #, yellow #)

latitudes.org/are-food-processing-and-commercial-chemicals-hurting-your-kids/

ADHD & diet

Eating processed foods, anything other than organic whole foods, can increase ADHD symptoms by adding a lot of mercury, lead, cadmium & arsenic.

Renee Dufault in the FDA found mercury & lead added in processing FD&C food colorings (blue#, red#, yellow#), mercury in refined oils-GMO soy & corn worst for health (formaldehyde is in heated polyunsaturated fat), mercury in high fructose corn syrup (may be hidden ingredient in any nonorganic corn product like corns starch or dextrose), refined (white) wheat & rice.

wjgnet.com/2222-0682/full/v11/i4/144.htm

www.iatp.org/documents/not-so-sweet-missing-mercury-and-high-fructose-corn-syrup

Increases neural growth & concentration:

spirulina (with a vegetable)

resveratrol (especially in red wine vinegar)

Lion’s mane mushroom

blueberries

nonalkalized/nonDutch cocoa or dark chocolate

methylfolate

zinc

flavenoids in fruits & veges

caffeine

curcumin or turmeric & a little black pepper

calorie restriction

intermittent fasting (12 hour diet)

learning

exercise (exercise right before or after meals)

Movement & exercise

Meditation

tDCS

Near infrared therapy

Binaural beats or isochronic- 9-90hz, higher is better

sex

Slows/stops neural growth-

high sugar diet

high saturated fat

vitamin E deficiency

vitamin B deficiency

vitamin A deficiency

soft foods diet

alcohol

stress

lack of sleep

age

inflammation

What else helps-

Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA)- made in our body to increaae PPAR to relieve inflammation, increase energy & burn fat, turn on CB1&CB

Modafinil (Provigil) & Armodafinil (Nuvigil) & adrafinil (OTC)

Nootropics- pira/ani/prami/phenylpi/oxi racetams, Noopept, Sulbutiamine

Supplements-

spirulina (with a vegetable) is the source of all EPA & DHA omega3s

acetyl-L-carnitine

huperzine

ceylon cinnamon

CBD oil

PhosphatidylSerine Lecithin

Alpha-Lipoic Acid

Vinpocetine

Vincamine

Theanine

Tyrosine

Bacopa Monnieri

Phosphatidylserine (PS)/choline

Rosemary

Thyme

Sage

Peppermint

Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

ADHD is characterized by an inability to concentrate for more than short periods, a difficulty sitting still, and feelings of depression & anxiety.  People with ADHD often feel a sense of guilt from being perpetually late, from forgetfulness, and from often achieving less than their abilities would seem to allow.

Causes:

Anticholinergics

The first thing to look for in people showing signs of lowered concentration or dementia (cognitive confusion, memory loss) is to see if they are taking a drug that causes temporary dementia-like symptoms by lowering the concentration chemical in the brain- choline.  Anticholinergics appear to cause people to make poorer decisions, be more physically unstable, and to die earlier (in a two year study of people 65 or older, people who had heavy anticholinergic use had a 68% higher death rate).  Common drugs that cause anticholinergic effects are Benadryl (diphenhydramine) , Seroquel (quetiapine), Zyprexa (olanzapine), Paxil (paroxetine), and oxybutynin to name a few.  Other anticholinergics are Coumadin (warfarin), Xanax (alprazolam), Wellbutrin/Zyban (bupropion), and Valium (diazepam).

Anticholinergics cause:

Drowsiness or sedation

Blurred vision

Dizziness

Urinary retention

Confusion or delirium

Hallucinations

Dry mouth

Constipation

Reduced sweating and elevated body temperature

Falls and risk for fracture

Other conditions that may be exacerbated by anticholinergics:

Benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH)

Angle closure glaucoma

Myasthenia gravis

Alzheimer’s disease

Bowel blockage

Urinary tract blockage or urinary hesitancy

http://www.drugs.com/article/anticholinergic-drugs-elderly.html

Fox C1, Richardson K, Maidment ID, Savva GM, Matthews FE, Smithard D, Coulton S, Katona C, Boustani MA, Brayne C. Anticholinergic medication use and cognitive impairment in the older population: the medical research council cognitive function and ageing study. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2011 Aug;59(8):1477-83. doi: 10.1111/j.1532-5415.2011.03491.x. Epub 2011 Jun 24.

Anticholinergic effects of medication in elderly patients.

Tune, L E;

J Clin Psychiatry 2001 ;62 Suppl 21:11-4.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21707557

http://www.health.harvard.edu/newsletters/Harvard_Health_Letter/2009/November/anticholinergic-cognitive-burden-scale

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&ved=0CCcQFjAB&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.indydiscoverynetwork.org%2Fresources%2Fantichol_burden_scale.pdf&ei=J637U–fJ43noASkgIH4DA&usg=AFQjCNFQgEZuvdKzbp7pRINYP-Nsnzw6rw&sig2=USw1ZryYDayG8kZmZwhc8A&bvm=bv.73612305,d.cGU&cad=rja

Only in Parkinson’s disease may anticholinergics have a positive effect on cognition.

List of anticholinergics:

http://www.agingbraincare.org/uploads/products/ACB_scale_-_legal_size.pdf

http://www.agingbraincare.org/tools/abc-anticholinergic-cognitive-burden-scale/

Categorical Scoring:

Possible anticholinergics include those listed with a score of 1: Evidence  from  in  vitro  data  that  chemical

entity has antagonist activity at muscarinic receptor.

Definite anticholinergics include those

listed with a score of 2 or 3

Score   of   2:   Evidence   from   literature,   prescriber’s

information, or expert opinion of clinical anticholinergic

effect.

Score  of  3:  Evidence  from  literature,  expert  opinion,

or prescribers information that medication may cause

delirium.

Numerical Scoring:

Add the score contributed to each selected medication in each scoring category

Add the number of possible or definite Anticholinergic medications

Notes:

Each definite anticholinergic may increase the risk of cognitive impairment by 46% over 6 years. 3

For each on point increase in the ACB total score, a decline in MMSE score of 0.33 points over 2 years has been suggested. 4

Additionally, each one point increase in the ACB total score has been correlated with a 26% increase in the risk of death. 4

Drugs with ACB Score of 1

Generic Name/Brand Name

Alimemazine Theralen™

Alverine Spasmonal™

Alprazolam Xanax™

Aripiprazole Abilify™

Asenapine Saphris™

Atenolol Tenormin™

Bupropion Wellbutrin™, Zyban™

Captopril Capoten™

Cetirizine Zyrtec™

Chlorthalidone Diuril™, Hygroton™

Cimetidine Tagamet™

Clidinium Librax™

Clorazepate Tranxene™

Codeine Contin™

Colchicine Colcrys™

Desloratadine Clarinex™

Diazepam Valium™

Digoxin Lanoxin™

Dipyridamole Persantine™

Disopyramide Norpace™

Fentanyl Duragesic™, Actiq™

Furosemide Lasix™

Fluvoxamine Luvox™

Haloperidol Haldol™

Hydralazine Apresoline™

Hydrocortisone Cortef™, Cortaid™

Iloperidone Fanapt™

Isosorbide Isordil™, Ismo™

Levocetirizine Xyzal™

Loperamide Immodium™, others

Loratadine Claritin™

Metoprolol Lopressor™, Toprol™

Morphine MS Contin™, Avinza™

Nifedipine Procardia™, Adalat™

Paliperidone Invega™

Prednisone Deltasone™, Sterapred™

Quinidine Quinaglute™

Ranitidine Zantac™

Risperidone Risperdal™

Theophylline Theodur™, Uniphyl™

Trazodone Desyrel™

Triamterene Dyrenium™

Venlafaxine Effexor™

Warfarin Coumadin™

Drugs with ACB Score of 2

Generic Name/Brand Name

Amantadine Symmetrel™

Belladonna Multiple

Carbamazepine Tegretol™

Cyclobenzaprine Flexeril™

Cyproheptadine Periactin™

Loxapine Loxitane™

Meperidine Demerol™

Methotrimeprazine Levoprome™

Molindone Moban™

Nefopam Nefogesic™

Oxcarbazepine Trileptal™

Pimozide Orap™

Drugs with ACB Score of 3

Generic Name/Brand Name

Amitriptyline Elavil™

Amoxapine Asendin™

Atropine Sal-Tropine™

Benztropine Cogentin™

Brompheniramine Dimetapp™

Carbinoxamine Histex™, Carbihist™

Chlorpheniramine Chlor-Trimeton™

Chlorpromazine Thorazine™

Clemastine Tavist™

Clomipramine Anafranil™

Clozapine Clozaril™

Darifenacin Enablex™

Desipramine Norpramin™

Dicyclomine Bentyl™

Dimenhydrinate Dramamine™, others

Diphenhydramine Benadryl™, others

Doxepin Sinequan™

Doxylamine Unisom™, others

Fesoterodine Toviaz™

Flavoxate Urispas™

Hydroxyzine Atarax™, Vistaril™

Hyoscyamine Anaspaz™, Levsin™

Imipramine Tofranil™

Meclizine Antivert™

Methocarbamol Robaxin™

Nortriptyline Pamelor™

Olanzapine Zyprexa™

Orphenadrine Norflex™

Oxybutynin Ditropan™

Paroxetine Paxil™

Perphenazine Trilafon™

Promethazine Phenergan™

Propantheline Pro-Banthine™

Propiverine Detrunorm™

Quetiapine Seroquel™

Scopolamine Transderm Scop™

Solifenacin Vesicare™

Thioridazine Mellaril™

Tolterodine Detrol™

Trifluoperazine Stelazine™

Trihexyphenidyl Artane™

Trimipramine Surmontil™

Trospium Sanctura™

1.

Boustani MA, Campbell NL, Munger S, Maidment I, Fox

GC.  Impact of anticholinergics on the aging brain: a review

and practical application. Aging Heatlh. 2008;4(3):311-320.

2.

Campbell  N,  Boustani  M,  Limbil  T,  et  al.  The  cognitive

impact     of     anticholinergics:     a     clinical     review.

Clinical    Interventions    in    Aging.    2009;4(1):225-233.

3.

Campbell N, Boustani M, Lane K, et al. Use of anticholinergics

and  the  risk  of  cognitive  impairment  in  an  African-

American    population.    Neurology.    2010;75:152-159.

4.

Fox  C,  Richardson  K,  Maidment  I,  et  al.  Anticholinergic

medication   use   and   cognitive   impairment   in   the

older    population:    the    Medical    Research    Council

Cognitive  Function  and  Ageing  Study.  Journal  of  the

American   Geriatric   Society.   2011;   59(8):   1477-1483.

5.

Cai  X,  Campbell  N,  Khan  B,  Callahan  C,  Boustani  M.

Long-term   anticholinergic   use   and   the   aging   brain.

Alzheimers Dementia. 2012; epub ahead of print.

http://www.agingbraincare.org/tools/abc-anticholinergic-cognitive-burden-scale/

Pesticides

A study of 687 children found that boys with pyrethroids in their urine were three times as likely to be diagnosed with ADHD.

Hyperactivity and impulsivity increased by 50 per cent for every 10-fold increase in 3-PBA levels in boys.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-3109035/Exposure-common-household-pesticide-TRIPLES-boys-risk-ADHD-experts-warn.html#ixzz3cWYT6psQ

Acetominophen

Taking acetominophen when pregnant increases later ADHD in the child by 13%.

Acetaminophen Use During Pregnancy, Behavioral Problems, and Hyperkinetic Disorders

Zeyan Liew et al.

JAMA Pediatr. 2014;168(4):313-320. doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2013.4914.

Antenatal Acetaminophen Use and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity DisorderAn Interesting Observed Association But Too Early to Infer Causality

Miriam Cooper et al.

JAMA Pediatr. 2014;168(4):306-307. doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2013.5292.

Flouride

Flouride appears to lower learning & memory in 32 of 34 animal studies and lowers IQ in 43 of 50 human studies.  Some studies have found a drop in IQ at levels lower than 1mg/L.

Flouride is absorbed in largest amounts in toothpaste, where it is highly concentrated and used in the mouth where the tongue & gums absorb drugs & chemicals easily.  Flouride could be banned as a drinking water additive as well because the form that is added is highly toxic and contaminated.  Too much flouride can cause dental & skeletal flourosis, which can be painful & disabling.

Fluoride & IQ: 76 Studies

Flouride research:

“Over 100 animal studies showing that prolonged exposure to varying levels of fluoride can damage the brain, particularly when coupled with an iodine deficiency, or aluminum excess;

43 human studies linking moderately high fluoride exposures with reduced intelligence;

32 animal studies reporting that mice or rats ingesting fluoride have an impaired capacity to learn and/or remember;

12 studies (7 human, 5 animal) linking fluoride with neurobehavioral deficits (e.g., impaired visual-spatial organization);

3 human studies linking fluoride exposure with impaired fetal brain development.”

The National Research Council in 2006, the EPA in 2007, and a Team of Harvard researchers in 2012 all have come to the conclusion that flouride is a neurotoxin and reduces mental function.

Brain

Flouride causes brain damage in children, dropping IQ levels.

Impact of fluoride on neurological development in children

http://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/1104912/

Environ Health Perspect; DOI:10.1289/ehp.1104912

Volume 120 | Issue 10 | October 2012

Developmental Fluoride Neurotoxicity: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Anna L. Choi, 1 Guifan Sun, 2 Ying Zhang, 3 and Philippe Grandjean1, 4

Children in low iodine, low flouride areas had 31% higher scores on the Wexler intelligence tests than children in low iodine, high flouride areas in one Chinese study.

A STUDY OF THE INTELLECTUAL

ABILITY OF 8–14 YEAR-OLD

CHILDREN IN HIGH FLUORIDE, LOW IODINE AREAS

Dali Ren, Kecheng Li, Dawei Liu

Chinese Journal of Control of Endemic

Diseases 1989;4(4):251.]

Flouridation lowers thyroid function, increasing depression & weight gain.

Are fluoride levels in drinking water associated with hypothyroidism prevalence in England? A large observational study of GP practice data and fluoride levels in drinking water

S Peckham, D Lowery, S Spencer

J Epidemiol Community Health doi:10.1136/jech-2014-204971

A comparative study of fluoride ingestion levels, serum thyroid hormone & TSH level derangements, dental fluorosis status among school children from endemic and non-endemic fluorosis areas

Navneet Singh,corresponding author Kanika Gupta Verma,corresponding author Pradhuman Verma,corresponding author Gagandeep Kaur Sidhu,corresponding author and Suresh Sachdevacorresponding author

Springerplus. 2014; 3: 7.

doi:  10.1186/2193-1801-3-7

PMCID: PMC3890436

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2015/03/10/water-fluoridation-thyroid-dysfunction.aspx?e_cid=20150322Z1_SNL_B_MV_1&utm_source=snl&utm_medium=email&utm_content=mv1&utm_campaign=20150322Z1_SNL_B&et_cid=DM72155&et_rid=884934998

http://www.naturalnews.com/044057_fluoridated_water_ADHD_mental_disorders.html

Each 1ppm of flouride in drinking water of women who are pregnant appears to drop 5-6 IQ points in their children (US standard is 0.7ppm-4 IQ point drop).

Environ Health Perspect; DOI:10.1289/EHP655

Prenatal Fluoride Exposure and Cognitive Outcomes in Children at 4 and 6–12 Years of Age in Mexico

Morteza Bashash et al.

Mercury

Mercury fillings are toxic and poison the dental workers who deal with them.  They release mercury vapor during chewing that gets breathed in by the lungs and poison the body.

http://www.toxicteeth.org/mercuryfillings.aspx

A single amalgam filling may release as much as 15 micrograms of mercury per day, and according to some estimates, 10 micrograms per day is average.

Inorganic mercury attacks the kidneys & gastrointestinal system, methylmercury can be converted in the body from inorganic mercury, causes central nervous system (CNS) damage, organic mercury is in fish & thimersol in flu & other vaccines (just in amounts lower than currently required for listing) damaging the peripheral & CNS.

Organic mercury often in predator fish & thimerisol in vaccines.  It harms peripheral nervous system & central nervous system (CNS).

Elemental mercury comes from fossil fuel emissions, mercury thermometers, flourescent lights, dental amalgams and damages the lungs, skin, PNS & CNS.  It can cause insomnia, memory loss, fatigue, irritability, excessive dreaming, and weakness, delirium, hallucination, & seizures.

Mercury fillings are completely unnecessary, and require removal of a lot of tooth to put in and often cause the tooth to crack with its expansion & contraction.  The alternatives are a lot healthier & cause less tooth damage.  They only reason they are still used since both the FDA & 47 countries have called for an end to their implantation is because they are faster to put in.  They cause so much tooth damage the tooth breaks more often than with the other composits, requiring further & more extensive and expensive dental work.

When getting the mercury amalgams removed make sure your dentist is:

Providing you with an alternative air source and instructing you not to breath through your mouth

Using a cold-water spray to minimize mercury vapors

Putting a rubber dam in your mouth so you don’t swallow or inhale any toxins

Using a high-volume evacuator near the tooth at all times to evacuate the mercury vapor

Washing your mouth out immediately after the fillings have been removed (the dentist should also change gloves after the removal)

Immediately cleaning your protective wear and face once the fillings are removed

Using room air purifiers

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2012/04/07/dangers-of-mercury-contamination.aspx

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2015/09/22/mercury-filling-risks.aspx?e_cid=20150922Z1_DNL_art_2&utm_source=dnl&utm_medium=email&utm_content=art2&utm_campaign=20150922Z1&et_cid=DM86146&et_rid=1133595131

Overdiagnosis

Kids who are closest to the age cutoff for their grade, the youngest, have 200% more ADHD drugs prescribed to them than children just days older who miss the cutoff and are nearly a year older before they start school.  They are being prescribed ADHD drugs because they are younger than their older classmates.

The importance of relative standards in ADHD diagnoses: Evidence based on exact birth dates ☆

Todd E. Elder,

Journal of Health Economics

Volume 29, Issue 5, September 2010, Pages 641–656

http://msutoday.msu.edu/news/2010/nearly-1-million-children-potentially-misdiagnosed-with-adhd/

http://www.naturalnews.com/049171_ADHD_Ritalin_kindergarten.html

Treatments

Feingold diet

For people with ADHD, the Feingold diet may reverse it.  Dr. Benjamin Feingold discovered that children who stopped eating specific foods (with salcilates) & food additives changed their behavior drastically & did much better in their classes.  The list of foods & additives are in the references below.  It works for about 70% of people with ADHD.

I’ve had severe ADHD all my life.  When I read the foods on the list it explained to me why when I ate berries or other foods on the list I couldn’t concentrate the rest of the day.  So I immediately stopped everything on the list, and my ADHD was greatly helped.

http://www.everydiet.org/diet/feingold-diet

http://www.thebetterhealthstore.com/Newsletter/041610_Feingold-Diet_02.html

Britain just banned food colorings because their research showed it was causing lots of ADHD. Nutrition Action, CSPI’s newsletter, has called for their banning here in the US. That’s half of the dietary changes called for for the last 30 years in Feingold’s ADHD diet.

The Feingold Program eliminates these additives and chemicals:

* Synthetic coloring (are made from petroleum – crude oil)

* Artificial flavoring (combinations of many natural and synthetic chemicals – eg imitation vanilla flavoring or “vanillin” might originate from the waste product of paper mills). There has been little research carried on these chemicals.

* Artificial preservatives (BHA, BHT, and TBHQ, made from petroleum; also termed “anti-oxidants” because they prevent or delay the “oxidization” of fats in foods, which make them rancid)

* Salicylates (a group of chemicals related to aspirin, which are a naturally occurring pesticide in particular food plants – see ‘Food sources of salicylates’ below; also manufactured and used in many products including medicines, perfumes and solvents). Only some are eliminated on the Feingold diet.

* Artificial sweeteners (only aspartame is eliminated)

* Other food additives considered undesirable (such as MSG, sodium benzoate, nitrites, sulfites) – these are not eliminated – but are noted in the food list.

Food Sources of Salicylates

Almonds, Apples, Apricots, Aspirin, Berries, Cherries, Cloves, Coffee, Cucumbers, Currants, Grapes, Nectarines, Oil of wintergreen, Oranges, Peaches, Peppers (bell & chilli), Pickles, Plums, Prunes, Raisins, Rose hips, Tangelos, Tangerines, Tea, Tomatoes

A Staged Dietary Plan

A less rigorous approach than the Feingold Program, given that many studies have shown the sensitivity of some children to dyes, is to start by eliminating only those foods (and vitamins, drugs, and toothpastes) that contain artificial colorings.

If initial dietary changes have little benefit (i.e. excluding only dyes), try the complete Feingold diet. It is important to use a diet diary or journal.

If that doesn’t help, the Feingold Association recommends eliminating:

* corn syrup, high-fructose corn syrup, and corn sugar (in soft drinks and other sweetened foods)

* MSG (monosodium glutamate) and HVP (hydrolyzed vegetable protein, which contains some glutamate)

* sodium nitrite (in luncheon meats)

* calcium propionate (in baked goods)

After several weeks, if the child’s behavior has improved, every few days restore one eliminated food or ingredient at a time. Repeat that two or three times if a problem occurs, to confirm that the food is really a culprit.

If the child’s behavior did not improve on the Feingold diet, try a “few-foods” diet, which involves more extensive restrictions (see Elimination diets). Studies show that some children are sensitive not just to food additives but also to such foods as:

* wheat

* eggs

* milk and other dairy foods

* chocolate (increases concentration in most)

* soybeans/tofu

* corn products (including corn sugar and syrup)

Eliminate as many of those foods as possible, plus artificial colorings and other additives. Children can eat fresh meat and poultry, any vegetable (except corn and soybeans), fruits and fruit juices (but not citrus fruit/juice and not beverages normally consumed daily), rice, and oats.

http://www.everydiet.org/diet/feingold-diet

Modafinil (Provigil) & Armodafinin (Nuvigil) & adrafinil (OTC)

Adrafinil is an OTC supplement that turns into modafinil.  People often try it to see if they will like modafinil or when they only need to stay awake occasionally like with emergencies.  With long term daily use liver problems may occur so people who want it more often often shift to modafinil (safer).  Modafinil & armodafinil are prescription medications used for narcolepsy & for night shift workers to stay awake, and they may reduce impusitivty.  If a person isn’t using stimulants (including caffeine) they also increase concentration & mood.  They don’t appear to cause the irritability or addictiveness of stimulants.  For people with bipolar or unipolar depression, in one review of six studies & almost 1000 people found modafinil effective for depression & fatigue for people bipolar & unipolar depression.

They appear to give the benefits of caffeine or stimulants of mood elevation, increased concentration, & wakefulness but without the increased irritability, impulsiveness when driving (road rage), or withdrawal symptoms of depression & anxiety.

Also unlike caffeine, when people are on modafinil to stay awake they commit many fewer errors on work performance tasks than when they are taking caffeine to stay awake.

They are much cheaper using sites like Goodrx, up to 90% off.

J Goss, Alexander & Kaser, Muzaffer & G Costafreda, Sergi & J Sahakian, Barbara & Fu, Cynthia. (2013). Modafinil Augmentation Therapy in Unipolar and Bipolar Depression: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. The Journal of clinical psychiatry. 74. 1101-1107. 10.4088/JCP.13r08560.

 

 

Caffeine

 

Caffeine & the other addictive stimulants like amphetamines & cocaine all increase concentration & mood when first used, then quickly tolerance sets in with continued usage & they cause depression & anxiety when not used (withdrawal) and cause anxiety when too much is used.

 

 

 

 

Nootropics- racetams like pira/ani/prami/phenylpi/oxi, Noopept, Sulbutiamine

Piracetam

Aniracetam may improve concentration & also work against anxiety.

Pramiracetam works the longest of the racetams & may be the strongest to increase concentration, memory, & brain protection

Noopept is popular because it increases concentration & perhaps memory, reflexes, reduce anxiety & stimulate nerve growth.

 

 

 

 

Theacrine

 

Theacrine is made from caffeine from plants, and has many of it’s benefits without it’s drawbacks. Theacrine may reduce inflammation & pain, liver damage, increase concentration, mood, & physical performance at 100-300mg, and may have a greater effect with a small amount of caffeine added to it.  Theacrine appears to improve sleep when taken at 10-30mg (or when blood levels drop after higher doses), so unlike caffeine may be able to be taken later in the day.  Unlike caffeine, theacrine does not appear to cause irritability, anxiety, impulsivity, tolerance or addiction and may last 2x as long.

Most people start with 100mg and see how that feels.  Then they add some caffeine (usually coffee or tea) and see if the combination helps concentration more than the theacrine alone.  Usually people are able to nurse a cup of coffee or tea a lot longer to extend the benefits without having to drink multiple cups like before.  If they want a stronger effect they often increase the theacrine to get the same benefits but keep the caffeine low but steady throughout the morning to avoid the side effects of increasing the caffeine intake.

 

bodybuilding.com/content/your-expert-guide-to-theacrine.html

selfhacked.com/blog/theacrine-benefits/

examine.com/supplements/theacrine/

 

 

 

Tianeptine-

 

mood & anxiety, seizures, modulates glutamine, ptsd, learning & memory, anti-inflammatory, antipain (multiple ways), IBS, asthma

Bad for bipolar depression, pregnancy, adolescent binge drinking but good for adult drinking

Mildly addictive & euphoric

4 Uses of Tianeptine (Stablon) + Mechanisms & Side Effects

Selegiline (Emsam patch or Eldepryl) & rasagiline (Azilect)

At low doses selegiline is a selective MAO-B inhibitor- 5mg 2x per week or 1.5mg orally daily, rasagiline at 1mg daily orally, both increasing dopamine.  At these doses taken orally they don’t appear to inhibit MAO-A and cause high blood pressure spikes after eating foods with tyramine.  At these low doses they both apparently may increase the life span by 40% at 40% higher physical ability than usually at older ages and slow the progression of Parkinson’s (slows neuronal death) & help some of the physical symptoms.  They also potentiate phenylethalamine (below).

At high doses they may increase mortality, so the high doses needed for antidepressive effect may not be safe.  At high doses they also may not slow the progression of Parkinson’s.  Taken orally at high doses they also appear to trigger high blood pressure spikes when eating foods with tyramine unless taken under the toungue (sublingually).

Selegiline taken orally (not in patch form) breaks down to L-methamphetamine & then to L-amphetamine, both may be detectable in blood tests.  Rasagiline does not break down to these metabolites.

Phenylethalamine (PEA)

PEA in our body appears to increase mood, concentration, & motivation for exercise.  PEA levels in urine tests have been found to be low in people with ADHD.  Exercising appears to significantly and temporarily increase PEA levels, likely causing feelings of a “runners’ high”.  Taking phenylethalamine for people who’s levels are low due to ADHD appears to raise mood & concentration & athletic motivation & performance, but for a very short time.  If taking an MAOI (especially MAOI-B) like prescription selegiline or the herbs kava kava or green oat extract, phenylethalamine levels rise significantly as the smaller amount in people with ADHD takes much longer to metabolize.  Supplementing with PEA after taking an MAOI-B works for a lot longer and at very low doses (10mg to start), or an overdose of dopamine may occur.

Taking too much PEA when on an MAOI may be treated by mild to moderate exercise.

Children with ADHD who responded successfully to stimulant drugs show a very large increase in urinary PEA levels.  Taking PEA directly may be a safer alternative to the stimulant drugs used to treat ADHD.

PEA may be the primary compound in predators urine that scares away rodents, and may be effective for that purpose when used in sprays.

What else raises phenylethalamine?

If not taking an MAOI, very large doses of PEA have to be taken to even get an effect for an hour.  Taking PEA under the toungue (sublingually) should bypass the MAOs in the small intestine, but PEA is very bitter & astringent when taken under the toungue, rendering this route impractical.

Taking vitamin B6, vitamin C, and the amino acid phenylalanine appears to raise PEA levels significantly & for hours, especially when also taking an MAOI.  Our bodies make PEA from phenylalanine, moreso when taken with those two vitamins.  These are all inexpensive & well tolerated as they are present in many of our foods as well and are all essential nutrients for our bodies.

Sustained antidepressant effect of PEA replacement

Sabelli H, Fink P, Fawcett J, Tom C

J Neuropsychiatry Clin Neurosci 1996 Spring; 8(2):168-71

Scassellati C, Bonvicini C, Faraone SV, Gennarelli M (October 2012). “Biomarkers and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: a systematic review and meta-analyses”. J. Am. Acad. Child Adolesc. Psychiatry. 51 (10): 1003–1019.e20. doi:10.1016/j.jaac.2012.08.015. PMID 23021477.

Irsfeld M, Spadafore M, Prüß BM. β-phenylethylamine, a small molecule with a large impact. WebmedCentral. 2013;4(9):4409.

https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Phenethylamine#section=Top

National Center for Biotechnology Information. PubChem Compound Database; CID=1001, https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/1001 (accessed Aug. 9, 2018).

https://liftmode.com/blog/what-is-phenylethylamine/

https://examine.com/supplements/phenylethylamine/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phenethylamine

phenylpiracetam

Agmatine- may reduce pain, help with depression and anxiety, promote muscle growth, protect the brain from damage due to stroke, improve recording of spatial memory, suppress tumor growth, improve weight loss and prevent weight gain, improve insulin sensitivity and reduce blood sugar, help with alzheimer’s disease, protect against hardening of the arteries, increase nerve repair, protects against seizures, protect against stress, reduce inflammation, help with alcohol and morphine withdrawal

2+ Benefits of Agmatine + Side Effects

Phenylalanine- may enhance working memory, executive function, creative flow states, stress reduction, better mood, increase T3 & T4 thyroid hormones, and lessen anxiety and symptoms of ADHD.  It turns into tyrosine-L-dopa-dopamine-neurotransmitters.

Centrophenoxine- may be neuroprotective, improve learning and memory, improve mood, increase lifespan, and enhance cancer treatment.  Low doses and a intermediate use may be best.

Centrophenoxine: Potential Uses & Side-Effects

Oxiracetam

palmitoylethanolamide PEA

Coluracetam

Nefiracetam

Rasagiline

Deprenyl

Semax

Hydergine

Nicergoline

Kratom? IN?

Polygala tenuifolia-Yuan Zhi, Chinese Senega

Expectorant, Works on same system as ketamine, spatial organization & memory, may increase NGF & BDNF, mood, inhibits breakdown of acetylcholine, MAO inhibitor, depression, anxiety, anti-inflammatory, insomnia, antipsychotic, dermatitus, cancer

2 Polygala Tenuifolia Benefits + Side Effects

Shilajit-

Energy for workout & chronic fatigue, infertility (women), aphrodisiac reduces orofacial pain & opiate tolerance, diabetes, cancer, inflammation, gastric ulcers, antiviral, bones, lots of iron, withdrawal from opiates & alcohol, high altitude stress

https://draxe.com/shilajit/

Prl-8-53-

Memory, cognition, reverses stupor & eyelid droop of rserpine

Sulbutiamine is synthetic B1 & may increase concentration, cognition, mood & wakefulness.

Uridine monophosphate UMP-

Seizures 3 injections/day, insomnia, brain plasticity, memory, inflammation, heart good & thickening bad, inhibit bone, liver, depression, cystic fibrosis to normal mucus, anemia, autoimmune, may increase cancer by P2RY2 receptor activation

7 Uridine Benefits + Sources, Side Effects, Stacks & Dosage

PYRITINOL-

One of two types of B6, increases choline & repair of cholinergic neurons,  hangovers, cognition, memory, reduces brain inflammation, infection, rheumatoid, mood, anxiety, stress, Tourettes, dementia, 20yrs use in European medicine brain trauma

https://reviews.trackmystack.com/supplements-Pyritinol

https://examine.com/supplements/pyritinol/

Dimethylaminoethanol (DMAE)

DMAE (found in anchovies & sardines) in prescription form was used to treat children’s attention problems in the 1960s & 70s (Deaner, Deanol) and to improve cognition including memory by speeding the production of acetylcholine in the brain.  It has low side effects in most people and in one study of 75 children at 500mg/day was as effective as methylphenidate. Applied topically it may reduce sagging of the skin and age spots.  It may be contraindicated in people with epilepsy or bipolar and in pregnancy or women trying to conceive.

http://www.lifeextension.com/magazine/2004/11/aas/page-01

https://examine.com/supplements/dmae/

Nootropic mixes often include:

Citicholine- may help make phosphatidylcholine (PC) and acetycholine and to protect & repair brain cells

American ginseng, Asian/Korean/Chinese/panax ginseng, eluthero (Siberian ginseng), rhodiola, ashwaganda, maca, spikenard root, schisandra — adaptogens that improve physical & mental performance especially if fatigued/sick/tired/sleepy

Amino acids L-

Carnitine-may increase mood, concentration, & energy

Theanine- may increase concentration & protect brain cells and reduce anxiety and improve mood

Tyrosine- used to make dopamine & norephinephrine, may increase cognition & concentration, memory & multitasking

Phosphatidylserine (PS)- may increase concentration, memory, mood & reduce anxiety, especially as we age & make less of it

Bacopa monnieri- may increase brain blood flow, cognition, & memory

Forskohlii (with artichoke extract)-

Ginkgo-

Vinpocetine- may increase brain blood flow, cognition, & memory

Lion’s mane mushroom- may increase nerve growth factor, protect against brain damage, and reverse cognitive impairment

Huperzine- may increase acetylcholine, nerve growth factor, cognition & reverse cognitive impairment in Alzheimer’s

Pterostilbene- resveratrol derived anti-inflammatory that may improve cognition

Vitamin B50s or 100s- the B vitamins may increase concentration & mood

Matcha-

https://top10supplements.com/best-nootropic-supplements/

Spirulina- the source of fish EPA & DHA fatty acids

Spirulina for concentration and a mood boost (helps depression & anxiety), schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, ADHD, autism, and violence

The EPA & DHA fatty acids in spirulina (whats in fish oil) increase concentration and mood, which increases “will power”, which is the ability to follow through on difficult tasks.  For people who are recovering from addiction, spirulina helps increase self control.

If you want to get the EPA & DHA omega3 fatty acids that are great for the brain that are in some kinds of fish oil without the taste or worry about pesticides, mercury or radiation, you can get EPA & DHA from where fish get them- from taking the algae called spirulina.  At ovega.com is a good explanation of how EPA & DHA omega 3 fatty acids in fish come from eating the algae spirulina.  Ovega.com is the company inspected by the FDA that has supplied 99% of the baby formulas with EPA & DHA for supplementation.  You can go with them or another company, just make sure that the other company isn’t getting it from the ocean.  I use and trust NOW Foods and Source Naturals.  Ovega.com grows theirs in stainless steel vats for purity.

Spirulina needs to be taken with a meal with a vegetable.  Vegetables may have the enzymes need to digest spirulina more fully.  Only 1/4 teaspoons of the powder form (500mg capsule equivalent) 2-3X a day with a meal with a vegetable is needed to significantly improve mood and concentration.

Children from low income families who get the most DHA and the least omega6 fatty acids from corn & soybean oil had better academic achievement than even children of wealthy parents.

www.anth.ucsb.edu/sites/secure.lsit.ucsb.edu.anth.d7/files/sitefiles/people/gaulin/Lassek%20%26%20Gaulin%202013%20DHA%20PISA%20math.pdf

Lassek, W. D. & S. J. C. Gaulin (in press) “Breast milk DHA content predicts cognitive performance in a sample of 28 nations.”  Maternal & Child Nutrition:

Many of the disorders that EPA & DHA fatty acids treat appear to be from an inability to retain enough in the brain, making extra supplementation essential for people with mental illness.

www.biomedcentral.com/content/pdf/1475-2891-7-8.pdf

http://www.biomedcentral.com/content/pdf/1476-511X-3-25.pdfDoesYou

http://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2009/12/dha-omega.aspx

On study found that the lower the EPA & DHA, the lower the activity in learning & memory areas of the brain.

The Plexus Encyclopedia of Medicine, Science, and Technology

Volume 12, Issue 46

May 21, 2017

Loraine Page

Improves memory:

Alzheimers Dement. 2010 Nov;6(6):456-64. doi: 10.1016/j.jalz.2010.01.013.

Beneficial effects of docosahexaenoic acid on cognition in age-related cognitive decline.

Yurko-Mauro K, McCarthy D, Rom D, Nelson EB, Ryan AS, Blackwell A, Salem N Jr, Stedman M; MIDAS Investigators.

Spirulina has low/little/no side effects for most people. It is important to get it from a trusted source like Now Foods or Source Naturals.

http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-923-spirulina%20%28blue-green%20algae%29.aspx?activeingredientid=923&activeingredientname=spirulina%20%28blue-green%20algae%29

Cocoa and the brain

Eating dark or sugar free chocolate appears to increase visual spatial memory & organization, working memory, scanning, tracking, abstract reasoning, & performance in the mini-mental state examination in one study over five years and nearly 1000 people independent of age, education, heart health, & diet.  Eating chocolate appears to improve cognitive performance (even in Alzheimer’s & dementia), reduce mental fatigue, and improve mood.

Appetite

Volume 100, 1 May 2016, Pages 126-132

Chocolate intake associated with better cognitive function: The Maine-Syracuse Longitudinal Study

Georgina E.Crichton, Merrill F.Elias, Ala’aAlkerwi

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2016.02.010

J Psychopharmacol. 2010 Oct;24(10):1505-14. doi: 10.1177/0269881109106923. Epub 2009 Nov 26.

Consumption of cocoa flavanols results in acute improvements in mood and cognitive performance during sustained mental effort.

Scholey AB, French SJ, Morris PJ, Kennedy DO, Milne AL, Haskell CF.

Smith, H.J., Gaffan, E.A. & Rogers, P.J. Psychopharmacology (2004) 176: 412. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-004-1898-3

Methylxanthines are the psycho-pharmacologically active constituents of chocolate

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2016/03/04/the-magical-thing-eating-chocolate-does-to-your-brain/?utm_term=.8a55acdf3cad

Non Dutch/alkalyzed cocoa & chocolate only

Dutching/alkalyzing cocoa can reduce its health & heart improving phenol content by 92%.  Organic, nonDutch/nonalkalyzed cocoa has the highest phenol content.

When mixing cocoa for a chocolate drink, avoid milk & sugar to get the greatest heart benefit.  Stevia, monk fruit, & erythritol appear to be the safest noncaloric sweeteners.

Cocoa increases hdl, slowsLDL oxidation, cleans arteries, prevents cardiac deaths, stops aging skin, skin cancer & prevents sunburns, reverses chronic fatigue, & prevents diabetes & extends life.  Two studies, one by Harvard med school dark chocolate improved blood flow & mental performance in elderly, another study helped people with mild cognitive impairment.

How often to eat?

For cognitive benefit, heart benefit, & to help stop type II diabetes, a measured amount of dark/sugarfree cocoa/chololate can be ingested every two to three hours. Doing this provides a cognitive boost throughout the day, helps clean out the heart, and and reduces often to zero the cravings for sweets, cakes, & cookies that worsen diabetes.

Sugar free chocolate/cocoa

Besides cocoa sweetened with your choice of stevia, erythritol, and/or monk fruit (all zero calories) alone or in combination, there are companies that make sugar free chocolate with erythritol.  Most people find it doesn’t have the laxative or stomach cramping effect of sorbitol, mannitol, or xylitol.  Best may be chocolate chips stored in the freezer- they last much longer in the mouth.  Not only does cocoa & sugar free chocolate (as long as they are not Dutch or alkalyzed) apparently clear the arteries, they substitute successfully for cakes & cookies for most people.

Making your own sugar free chocolate bar

Organic cocoa powder (nondutch/nonalkalized is healthiest) can be mixed with water & sweetened with stevia, monk fruit and/or erythritol, a sugar alcohol that has no calories & may not cause the problems of xylitol, sorbitol, and mannitol.  When using water use the exact amount in the recipe (look online)- too much or too little doesn’t taste good.

Sugar free chocolate bars can be made far cheaper by melting Baker’s brand baking chocolate (in the baking section) and adding the right amount of stevia, monk fruit, and/or erithritol.

Acetyl L- Carnitine

Acetyl L- Carnitine is an amino acid (its in many foods we eat) that increases concentration and boosts mood (relieves depression & anxiety).   It has worked very well for me, I recommend Now Foods or Source Naturals.  Its good to take multiple times a day as needed.  As it is an amino acid found in many foods, the side effects are minimal.

http://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/ntp/htdocs/chem_background/exsumpdf/carnliposupp_508.pdf

http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-834-ACETYL-L-CARNITINE.aspx?activeIngredientId=834&activeIngredientName=ACETYL-L-CARNITINE

Acetyl-L Carnitine Benefits & Side Effects

http://www.raysahelian.com/acetylcarnitine.html

J Psychiatr Res. 2014 Jun;53:30-7. doi: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2014.02.005. Epub 2014 Feb 15.

A review of current evidence for acetyl-l-carnitine in the treatment of depression.

Wang SM, Han C, Lee SJ, Patkar AA, Masand PS, Pae CU

Acetyl-L-carnitine appears safe with low/little/no side effects for most people.

http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-1026-l-carnitine.aspx?activeingredientid=1026&activeingredientname=l-carnitine

Huperzine

Huperzine is an herb that increases concentration by increasing choline in the brain and calming overactive glutamate activity in the brain.  This is what two separate types of Alzheimer’s drugs do, but in one pill and without their side effects.  Huperzine helps most people’s concentration but especially people with autism, ADHD, Alzheimers, and/or schizophrenia that also have overactive glutamate.  200mg one to three times a day was what I eventually built up to that worked well.  Huperzine worked very well for me.  Note that if you take huperzine it is good to take supplemental choline or get it in foods it is common in, like cauliflower.  You can look up what foods have the most choline.  I used source naturals brand but always recommend buying in bulk (often powder) once you know it works for you.

http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-764-HUPERZINE%20A.aspx?activeIngredientId=764&activeIngredientName=HUPERZINE%20A

http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-764-HUPERZINE%20A.aspx?activeIngredientId=764&activeIngredientName=HUPERZINE%20A

http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=6779761

http://www.synmr.com/index.php?ac=article&at=read&did=156

Huperzine appears safe.  It may cause nausea, congestion/mucus, slow the heart & may affect seizures.

http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-764-huperzine%20a.aspx?activeingredientid=764&activeingredientname=huperzine%20a

Ceylon cinnamon

Ceylon cinnamon may help people who are having trouble learning by increasing two chemicals that help learning/decreasing a chemical that interferes with learning.  It may also help people with Parkinson’s.

Khushbu K. Modi, Suresh B. Rangasamy, Sridevi Dasarathi, Avik Roy, Kalipada Pahan. Cinnamon Converts Poor Learning Mice to Good Learners: Implications for Memory Improvement. Journal of Neuroimmune Pharmacology, 2016; DOI: 10.1007/s11481-016-9693-6

Vitamin B100s

Taking 100mg of all of the different vitamin Bs improves cognition & concentration, especially as we grow older.

http://psychsocgerontology.oxfordjournals.org/content/56/6/P327.short

http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0012244

Ginkgo biloba

Ginkgo is the leaf from the tree of the same name that appears to help cognition, especially as we get older.  A standardized ginkgo supplement has at least 22% flavone glycosides, 5% terpine lactones, 3% lobelia, below 5ppm ginkcolic acids- standardized EGB761.  It appears to be most effective 1x/day 240mg (no split dosage).

improves mental function-memory & learning even in healthy people

improves equilibrium (vertigo, dizziness)

tinnitus

reduces blood viscosity, improves circulation

improves mood (modulates neurotransmitters)

reduces inflammation

antiallergy & antiasthma

antiradiation

ischemic stroke recovery

retinal edema

retinopathy

peripheral artery disease

arthlerosclerosis

chronic sinusitus

chronic bronchitus

vitelligo

altitude sickness

cardiovascular disease

improved glucose tolerance

Many studies produced to fail & discredit gingko by not using standardized extract & dosage

80,000 studies on google scholar

Doesn’t appear to cause bleeding problems in people with warfarin but may interact.

Ginkgo can raise blood levels of PPI’s, calcium channel blockers.

May affect MAOI inhibitors.

human studies

3700 subjects slowing mental decline, reduces beta amyloid, 4yrs best effects

World J of Biological Psychiatry 4 trials review 22wks decrease caregiver distress rating, increased activities, global clinical impression, improved quality of life

96 Alz neuropsychiatric features (behavior problems)- cognitive benefits equal to Erecept w/little side effects, lowered Erecept side effects

Int J of Geriactric Psychiatry 160, double blind placebo, signficant improvement of symptoms with no side effects (equal placebo)

J of Psychiatric Research significant & clinically relevant cognition & psychopathology improvement

1201 Austria dementia patients 22wks 22months delay in dementia progression, saved up to $60,000

29 studies slowing dementia if taking standardized dosage, reduces beta amyloid

188 people Phytomedicine improved recall, reversed aging memory loss

52 people with stroke improved significantly faster than controls

15 dyslexic children improved scores

J of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism

hyperthyroid- reduced radioactive iodine damage to normal tissues

Psychiatry Research 8 studies 1000 people reduced symptoms of schizophrenia

J of Clinical Psychiatry reduced tardive dyskinesia in schizophrenia meds

J of Anesthesia ruptured disk with nerve entrapment stopped nerve pain of sciatica

Dr. Richard Becker with Cindy Becker on “Your Health” 01/11/16, #1522 Ginko Review  2/23/17

Hofferberth, B. (1994), The efficacy of EGb 761 in patients with senile dementia of the alzheimer type, a double-blind, placebo-controlled study on different levels of investigation. Hum. Psychopharmacol. Clin. Exp., 9: 215–222. doi:10.1002/hup.470090308

Phytother Res. 1999 Aug;13(5):408-15.

The effects of acute doses of standardized Ginkgo biloba extract on memory and psychomotor performance in volunteer.

Rigney U, Kimber S, Hindmarch I.

A double-blind, placebo controlled study of Ginkgo biloba extract (‘Tanakan’) in elderly outpatients with mild to moderate memory impairment

G. S. Rai, C. Shovlin, and K. A. Wesnes

Current Medical Research And Opinion Vol. 12 , Iss. 6,1991

Movement & exercise

Sitting on an exercise ball in school improves the academic performance of boys, and boys & girls with ADHD.

Meditation

Meditation helps increase concentration, boosts mood/relieve depression, and reduces anxiety/increases calm.

In a double blind study, a meditation group had 76% fewer sick days, while an exercise group had 48% fewer sick days.  Learning to meditate reduces prison recidivism by 50%.

Meditation has been shown to help anxiety, depression, ADHD, aggression, addiction, and stroke/TBI recovery and make the mind/brain more malleable & easier to change.  I finally learned how to meditate easily despite my ADHD.

Sit at a table with a countertop at rib level or put your elbows on your legs while sitting & put your face in your hands.  Rub your eyelids for a couple minutes.  This is very physiologically refreshing.  Then keep your hands under your eyelids & allow your head to rest while in staying in complete darkness.  Most meditation practice is to concentrate on a focus word of your choosing or to just concentrate on your breathing, whichever you find easier.  It is also finding your center in your mind, also called “chi” (pronounced chee), or essence.  Being in complete darkness puts your brain waves into an alpha state, like concentration does.  The refreshing eye rubbing & darkness make it far easier to meditate than even just closing your eyes normally.

Mindfulness meditation (with a focus on immediate sensations, emotions, & experience) in one study was almost three times more effective than sleep hygiene education in improving sleep quantity & quality and reducing fatigue & depression.  The key is to concentrate on your breathing or your center (chi) and observe whatever flows through the mind without judgement, and let it pass on, bringing your focus back to your breathing or center or focus word.

I have also found that meditating (on my center/chi), relaxing, meditating, relaxing at the speed of the song “Stayin Alive” puts me to sleep as fast as I remember starting it.  It literally puts me to sleep almost immediately.

Black DS, O’Reilly GA, Olmstead R, Breen EC, Irwin MR.  “Mindfulness Meditation and Improvement in Sleep Quality and Daytime Impairment Among Older Adults With Sleep Disturbances: A Randomized Clinical Trial.”  JAMA Intern Med. 2015 Feb 16.

http://www.worldhealth.net/news/simple-secret-sleep/

This type of restful meditation can recharge you for much longer than a traditional nap.  Mediation is cumulative and 5 & 10 minutes a day adds up over the long term & makes your life much better in many ways.  Using meditation when making decisions or in situations where you don’t know how to act can be very useful.  It also helps when trying to sort through emotions.  The more you do it the more it will help your life & help you feel peaceful.

The biggest benefit in napping/sleeping is that if you don’t fall asleep but just meditate for an hour or two with eyes closed, you will get nearly as much rest as with sleep.  And because meditation is cumulative you will have calmed your brain greatly in that hour or two of meditating.

Compassion/Gratitude Meditation

Meditating on the emotions of compassion & gratitude (either separately or moving back and forth between them) reduces anxiety & depression greatly and has been shown to have long lasting effects on the brain & on happiness.  And it increases empathy for others as well.  When I’m feeling the strongest depression or anxiety I contemplate/meditate for half a minute or longer on compassion for myself (no one should have to feel depression or anxiety) then compassion for others, then move it to contemplation of gratitude because I often don’t feel that way, & gratitude that most people don’t have to feel that way.  By far it has worked on my worst depression & anxiety like nothing else, and quicker than anything else.

Decision Meditation

Meditating when making decisions, like where to go and what to do and how to act can be very useful- it doesn’t require a long committment and you use it when you need it.  It helps me make decisions more in line with their long term happiness and less on impulse.

Social Meditation

When I use meditation in social situations, it reduces anxiety, I have a better time, & I am a better guest/friend.

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS)

tDCS is used by professional athletes to improve motor coordination (Golden State Warriors), pilots to improve learning, and patients to reduce pain, depression, & anxiety & for students to enhance concentration.

tDCS for depression & anxiety is usually done with a small 9 volt battery with a circuit and dial to regulate between 0.5-2milliamps and wires with clips to two small sponges & a headband.  The sponges are soaked in salt water (1cup water 1/4 ts salt works) and placed above the left eye around inch & a half above the hairline (positive red clip) at the F3 left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) about an inch & a half above the hairline above the left eyebrow (the main target for depression) and the other above the right eyebrow (negative black clip).  This placement appears to stimulate an area in the brain that is understimulated and understimulate an area that is overstimulated in depression.

People usually start at 0.5 milliamps and within the session or succeeding sessions ramp it up eventually to 2 milliamps, depending on comfort & side effects.  I have only noticed a buzz if the sponges are very wet at 2 milliamps.  People can use a lower amperage or frequency if they experience side effects.  Sponges can get very salty & conduct too strongly if not rinsed off each time.

I bought the kit off ebay for just under $80, and there are other kits available on the internet & Amazon for more money.  If you know someone who has one you can ask them to meet you to try it out & see if it lifts your depression before buying it.  Some people start off using it more frequently, then eventually use it less & less & until they find their best maintainance schedule.  If you own the kit you can use it whenever you feel you need it, if you aren’t experiencing side effects.  The clips & sponges last longer if rinsed thoroughly to get rid of the salt, and the battery replacement costs only a couple dollars for an alkaline.

People who are lefthanded may wish to try this on the other side of the head as well, if the F3 location doesn’t work, start with a shorter term so the effects won’t be as great if the normal spot doesn’t work, and put the cathode (negative, black clamp) on the opposite arm instead of right above the right eyebrow.

tDCS may be safe (but not recommended) up to 60 minutes and 4 mA, but the safe frequency of use has not been fully studied.

Contraindications/dangers are if you have open wounds at the sponge placement, seizures, are pregnant, have metal/implants in your head, have an infection in/on the head.  A normal itch & tingle may occur during the treatment.  Rarer chances of a headache or skin problems may be reduced with a lower amperage and/or lower frequency.

Clinical Neurophysiology Practice Volume 2, 2017, Pages 19-25

Adverse events of tDCS and tACS: A review

Hideyuki Matsumotoa et al.

Safety aspects of transcranial direct current stimulation concerning healthy subjects and patients

CsabaPoreisz et al.

Brain Research Bulletin Volume 72, Issues 4–6, 30 May 2007, Pages 208-214

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brainresbull.2007.01.004

Antal, A. et al. (June 2017). “Low intensity transcranial electric stimulation: Safety, ethical, legal regulatory and application guidelines”. Clinical Neurophysiology. doi:10.1016/j.clinph.2017.06.001.

Usefulness:

It works very fast, reliably, and is inexpensive per treatment. It can be used when needed and on a set schedule.  Personally it worked stronger than any other treatment I’ve used for depression & anxiety, by a large amount.  It is like other treatments- if it works for you, add it to your treatments and use them in combination.

Because it doesn’t take up to a month or two to work like some of the antidepressant drugs, having it available for immediate use for someone in deep depression &/or suicidal could help save a life if it works for them.

Transcranial direct current stimulation in severe, drug-resistant major depression

R.Ferruccia et al.

Journal of Affective Disorders Volume 118, Issues 1–3, November 2009, Pages 215-219

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2009.02.015

http://happierhuman.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Experimental-Neurology-219-2009-14%E2%80%9319-Treatment-of-depression-with-transcranial-direct-current-stimulation-tDCS-A-Review.pdf

Exp Neurol. 2009 Sep;219(1):14-9. doi: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2009.03.038. Epub 2009 Apr 5.

Treatment of depression with transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS): a review.

Nitsche MA, Boggio PS, Fregni F, Pascual-Leone A.

Brain Stimulation Volume 1, Issue 3, July 2008, Pages 206-223

Transcranial direct current stimulation: State of the art 2008.

Michael A.Nitsche et al.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brs.2008.06.004

Transcranial direct current stimulation for depression: 3-week, randomised, sham-controlled trial

Colleen K. Loo, Angelo Alonzo, Donel Martin, Philip B. Mitchell, Veronica Galvez, Perminder Sachdev

The British Journal of Psychiatry Jan 2012, 200 (1) 52-59; DOI: 10.1192/bjp.bp.111.097634

Kalu, U., Sexton, C., Loo, C., & Ebmeier, K. (2012). Transcranial direct current stimulation in the treatment of major depression: A meta-analysis. Psychological Medicine, 42(9), 1791-1800. doi:10.1017/S0033291711003059

Transcranial direct current stimulation for major depression: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis

Pedro Shiozawa  Felipe Fregni  Isabela M. Benseñor  Paulo A. Lotufo  Marcelo T. Berlim Jeff Z. Daskalakis  Quirino Cordeiro  André. R. Brunoni

International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology, Volume 17, Issue 9, 1 September 2014, Pages 1539, https://doi.org/10.1017/S1461145714000807

What placement may have quicker and stronger effects?

The F3 area an inch and a half above the hairline above the left eyebrow anode (positive, red clip) has also been paired with placing the cathode (negative, black clip) on the right shoulder (extracephalic-outside the head).  There isn’t as much research, but the effects may be faster & stronger than placing the cathode above the right eyebrow.

Fronto-extracephalic transcranial direct current stimulation as a treatment for major depression: an open-label pilot study.

J Affect Disord. 2011 Nov;134(1-3):459-63. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2011.05.018.

Martin DM, Alonzo A, Mitchell PB, Sachdev P, Gálvez V, Loo CK.

IEEE Trans Biomed Eng. 2014 Sep;61(9):2488-98.

Comparison of cephalic and extracephalic montages for transcranial direct current stimulation–a numerical study.

Noetscher GM, Yanamadala J, Makarov SN, Pascual-Leone A.

Hypomania Induction in a Patient With Bipolar II Disorder by Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS)

Gálvez, Verònica et al.

Journal of ECT: September 2011 – Volume 27 – Issue 3 – pp 256-258

doi: 10.1097/YCT.0b013e3182012b89

ADHD & tDCS

Stimulating the F3 left DLPFC anode (the cathode should be fine attached to the sponge on the right shoulder) in one study also helped reduce impulsivity, inattention, & hyperactivity, with effects even greater after 7 days, and increased functional brain connectivity in another.  Another study found a benefit stiumlating the over the right inferior frontal gyrus (rIFG).

Transcranial direct current stimulation improves clinical symptoms in adolescents with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

Cornelia Soff et al.

J Neural Transm 2017 124:133-144

Front Cell Neurosci. 2016; 10: 72.

doi:  10.3389/fncel.2016.00072

Improving Interference Control in ADHD Patients with Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS)

Carolin Breitling et al.

How to use tDCS

Here’s the least expensive kit I’ve bought- $24 & buy your own 9volt alkaline (not heavy duty or rechargeable) battery.  Most kits are around $150 to do the same thing.  It takes 2 weeks to ship from Europe.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Transcranial-Direct-Current-Stimulation-TDCS-DIY-2mA-ELECTRODES-HEADBAND/292308817065?_trkparms=aid%3D111001%26algo%3DREC.SEED%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D49056%26meid%3D39174350c08b44ce8382ee5d4cafae90%26pid%3D100675%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D10%26sd%3D292308817065&_trksid=p2481888.c100675.m4236&_trkparms=pageci%253A4b3b0152-c3e3-11e7-bdc1-74dbd1808e4e%257Cparentrq%253A97954a9515f0a86bc8fc1605fffb9204%257Ciid%253A1

Includes sponges & headband.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Transcranial-Direct-Current-Stimulation-TDCS-DIY-2mA-or-from-0-2mA-to-3mA/292202799470?_trkparms=aid%3D111001%26algo%3DREC.SEED%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D49056%26meid%3D39174350c08b44ce8382ee5d4cafae90%26pid%3D100675%26rk%3D3%26rkt%3D10%26mehot%3Dlo%26sd%3D292308817065&_trksid=p2481888.c100675.m4236&_trkparms=pageci%253A4b3b0152-c3e3-11e7-bdc1-74dbd1808e4e%257Cparentrq%253A97954a9515f0a86bc8fc1605fffb9204%257Ciid%253A1

This one doesn’t include sponges & headband.

Most use salt to make the sponges conduct current better, I use baking soda to keep the sponges smelling good. It’s good to rinse the sponges occasionally & microwave them when wet.  The first time I use the sponges after cleaning I sprinkle baking soda on the top before spraying the baking soda & water solution on them.  I mix 1tb baking soda in a spray bottle and spray the sponges wet, put one on my right arm near my shoulder fastened with a rubber band for the negative/black electrode/clamp, and one starting at & above my hairline above my left eyebrow held by a headband and attack the positive/red electrode/clamp.  I plug in the 9 volt battery for 20-30 minutes at 2 amps.  I like the buzz/itch because it tells me it is working.  Touching the sponge on the right arm with the toungue will tell its working with a metallic taste.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3339846/

https://thebraindriver.com/pages/tdcs-placement-montage-maps-studies

http://tdcsplacements.com/

Near infrared therapy (NIR-A)

Near infrared therapy bulbs around 810-830nm wavelength (look for NIR-A label) appear to increase ATP energy production in tissue- reducing inflammation, speeding up healing times of injuries, wounds, & sore muscles by penetrating up to 9 inches (23cm).  A 150W NIR-A infrared bulb can be bought for $10-$21 & used with a clampable lamp to target healing anywhere on the body for 15 minute applications every three hours.  Doing it too frequently appears to negate the benefits.  It can be used close enough to warm the skin but without burning/overheating it.  Near infrared therapy has been used by doctors and trainers for years to apparently increase metabolism, energy, circulation, endurance, strength, recovery, flexibility and reduce body fat, inflammation, and joint & muscle pain as well as to reduce anxiety, increase mood & concentration, and treat Alzheimer’s & Parkinson’s.

Infrared used for ADHD may be best targeted on the front of the head & forehead, but not hitting the eyes.  Avoiding line of sight is important as the eyes need to be protected against direct high intensity infrared light.  Aiming the infrared bulb on the front of the top of the head & the forehead but high enough to be out of sight of the eyes for 15 minutes at most every three hours appears to improve mood & concentration.  It has been used to decrease anxiety, improve mood & concentration & to treat Parkinson’s.  Doing it for longer or more frequently doesn’t seem to help & may reduce the benefits.

Saltmarche Anita E., Naeser Margaret A., Ho Kai Fai, Hamblin Michael R, and Lim Lew. Photomedicine and Laser Surgery. February 2017, ahead of print. doi:10.1089/pho.2016.4227.

EFFECT OF 670-NM LIGHT-EMITTING DIODE LIGHTON NEURONAL CULTURES

Margaret T.T. Wong-Riley _ and Harry T. Whelan 2

_Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Anatomy

2Department of Neurology,

Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA

https://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/20030001600.pdf

Neuroreport. 2001 Oct 8;12(14):3033-7.

Light-emitting diode treatment reverses the effect of TTX on cytochrome oxidase in neurons.

Wong-Riley MT, Bai X, Buchmann E, Whelan HT.

Sleep, anxiety, meditation, concentration and binaural beats

Meditation benefits from sound

Binaural beats are a sound in each ear that makes our brain go at 1-90 Hz.  A lot of studies have found that at 40 Hz binaural beats appear to help clear the tangles from the brain & reverse Alzheimer’s dementia.  Higher Hz didn’t work in a study nor did lower.

Isochronic

Isochronic tones have the same benefit as binaural but only need a speaker and can be heard by either or both ears.  Binaural beats or isochronic tones need to be occasionally varied to keep effective.  Using both binaural & isochronic at the same time prevents this & may be more than 50% effective than either alone.

What tone is best?

Using binaural beats/isochronic tones from 40-90 Hz increases mood, calmness, concentration, creativity, & emotional insight into self & others just like meditating does.  The difference is the binaural beats/isochronic tones can be used all day & night to provide the benefit, & when meditating while listening people can meditate at a much deeper level than before.  So it both gives the benefits of meditation & makes meditation much deeper.

90Hz appears to be the most benefit & possibly close to the upper range.  92 Hz & higher has no benefit at all for some.  90Hz may be subjectively 50% better than 60Hz.

Applications.

Besides working for self growth & productivity enhancement, binaural beats/isochronic tones has worked on people who have all variations of developmental ability, to as low as 1.5 years in increasing people’s apparent happiness, calmness, focus, creativity & emotional insight into self & others.

Sleep & binaural beats

For sleep, I use earbuds, headphones, or speakers on each side of the bed plugged into a music player with an mp3 or computer or phone connected to youtube and search for theta binaural beats.  I also use apps that have binaural beats.  I have used half hour theta beats to help me get to sleep, it works very well for me & other people I’ve introduced it to, and it makes me feel good for hours after waking up, very calm.  If I wake up in the middle of the night I turn the half hour back on again, and it puts me to sleep for hours more.

Binaural beats also significantly reduce anxiety, both at bedtime & during the day at the delta or theta frequency.  The key is to find what frequency keeps you alert & relaxed during the day.  For bedtime I’ve found the delta frequency (2-3Hz for me), on a 30 minute timer, not only helps sleep but helps to stop anxiety when trying to fall asleep.

Meditation Trekks has an app that on android goes up to/past 90Hz for both isochronic & binaural, Iphone 40Hz.

The science behind binaural beats

The gamma EEG pattern of cerebral activity as recorded by EEG has a frequency of 17 Hz to 100Hz associated with concentration, alertness, arousal and cognition; the beta frequency at 14-16Hz, the alpha pattern (8–13 Hz) with relaxation, meditation and creativity; the theta pattern (4–8 Hz) with random eye movement (REM) sleep; and the delta EEG pattern (0.1–4 Hz) is associated with deep, dreamless sleep.  The Hz of a binaural beat trains the brain to produce a corresponding beat, and the more its used the better the syncronicity between them.  Then name of the different frequencies aren’t important- experimenting with how the different frequencies affect each individual person is what matters.

In a double blind study of 29 people, binaural beats (16 and 24 Hz) improved performance on a visual vigilance task and subjects had a better mood than people exposed to beats at the theta/delta range (1.5 and 4 Hz) while studying.

Binaural Auditory Beats Affect Vigilance Performance and Mood

James D Lane, Stefan J Kasian, Justine E Owens, Gail R Marsh

Physiology & Behavior

Volume 63, Issue 2, January 1998, Pages 249–252

In a study of 108 patients about to undergo surgery, those that listened to a 10 Hz binaural beat had half of the anxiety as those listening to music without the beat.

A prospective, randomised, controlled study examining binaural beat audio and pre-operative anxiety in patients undergoing general anaesthesia for day case surgery*

R. Padmanabhan, A. J. Hildreth and D. Laws

Anaesthesia Volume 60, Issue 9, pages 874–877, September 2005

DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2044.2005.04287.x

In another study people who listened to binaural beats in the delta/theta range had a significant reduction in anxiety.

Use of binaural beat tapes for treatment of anxiety: A pilot study of tape preference and outcomes

Rene-Pierre Le Scouranec; Roger-Michel Poirier; Owens, Justine E; Gauthier, Jules; et al. Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine7.1 (Jan 2001): 58-63.

In a small study theta binaural beats increased theta activity in the brain and significantly increased the hypnotic susceptibility of people as measured on the Stanford Hypnotic Susceptibility Scale, Form C (SHSS:C).

Binaural-Beat Induced Theta EEG Activity and Hypnotic Susceptibility

Brian Bradya & Larry Stevensa

American Journal of Clinical Hypnosis Volume 43, Issue 1, 2000 pages 53-69

DOI:10.1080/00029157.2000.10404255

Eight people over sixty days listened to a delta binaural beat and experienced decreased anxiety, increased quality of life, and a decrease in insulin-like growth factor and dopamine.

E

They are available in apps & on youtube & other music sites, & I use speakers, earbuds, or headphones.

ADHD drugs

Stimulant drugs like methylphenidate (Ritalin), when they work, are only effective for an average of 2 years.  As the child’s body & mind change, so does the effects of stimulants.

SHORT-TERM EFFECTS

Loss of appetite

Increased heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature

Dilation of pupils

Disturbed sleep patterns

Nausea

Bizarre, erratic, sometimes violent behavior

Hallucinations, hyperexcitability, irritability

Panic and psychosis

Convulsions, seizures and death from high doses

LONG-TERM EFFECTS

Permanent damage to blood vessels of heart and brain, high blood pressure leading to heart attacks, strokes and death

Liver, kidney and lung damage

Destruction of tissues in nose if sniffed

Respiratory (breathing) problems if smoked

Infectious diseases and abscesses if injected

Malnutrition, weight loss

Disorientation, apathy, confused exhaustion

Strong psychological dependence

Psychosis

Depression

Damage to the brain including strokes and possibly epilepsy

http://www.drugfreeworld.org/drugfacts/ritalin/the-vicious-effects-of-prescription-stimulants.html

Neural growth & brain health

Grows-

resveratrol (especially in red wine vinegar)

omega3 fatty acids

blueberries

nonalkalized/nonDutch cocoa or dark chocolate

folic acid

zinc

flavenoids in fruits & veges

caffeine

curcumin or turmeric & a little black pepper

calorie restriction

intermittent fasting (12 hour diet)

learning

exercise (higher intensity best)

sex

slows/stops growth-

vitamin E deficiency

high sugar diet

high saturated fat

vitamin B deficiency

vitamin A deficiency

soft foods diet

alcohol

stress

lack of sleep

age

“You can grow new nerve cells- here’s how”

Ted (Talks)- Ideas worth spreading

Dr Sandrine Thuret , PhD

Principal Investigator & Lecturer in Neural Stem Cell Research

King’s College, London

Which one may be the most important?

Resveratrol is in all dark grapes, dark raisons, dark wines, & red wine vinegar.  Because alcohol & a high sugar diet slows/stops neural growth, the healthiest version for growing neurons without slowing neurons is red wine vinegar, which not only has no sugar or calories, but lowers blood sugar (by 20%), increases insulin sensitivity (by 64%) & decreases insulin desensitivity (by 45%), reversing diabetes.  So the resveratrol increases neural growth, & the vinegar decreases sugar to prevent the slowing of neural growth.

So the red wine vinegar MAY be the most important in growing new neurons!  But dark chocolate/cocoa & blueberries are likely the most enjoyable!

Supplements

Dr. Daniel Amen has brainMD.  I know a couple people who have found it to be very effective.  The ingredients are:

PhosphatidylSerine

Acetyl-L-Carnitine (ALC)

N-AcetylCysteine (NAC)

Alpha-Lipoic Acid

Ginkgo Biloba Extract

Vinpocetine

Huperzine A

I’ve tried all of these and found many of them effective.  You can also buy them separately.

Foods & Herbs

Cocoa reduces heart disease and extends life.  NonDutched cocoa/chocolate has a chemical in it that increases concentration as well as any nootropic.  The small amount of caffeine doesn’t often trigger tolerance, which also increases concentration.  Because sugar decreases neural growth, melting Baker’s chocolate (no sugar) & adding stevia, erythritol, and/or monk fruit & putting in freezer yields a very inexpensive chocolate bar with no extra calories.  Taking a piece every three hours may keep up concentration & performance all day & help people avoid desserts.

Peppermint may increase concentration for many. The cheapest way to use it is to buy it in an oil (essential oil) and put a little under the nose (lasts for a couple hours).  It may also boost athletic performance.  It also mixes well with chocolate.

Rosemary appears to improve memory in some.

Thyme may increase DHA levels in the brain.

Sage may help boost memory.

Kennedy, D.O., and A.B. Scholey. 2006 The psychopharmacology of European herbs with cognition-enhancing properties. Current Pharmaceutical Design. 12(35):4613-23.

Zoladz, P.R., and B. Raudenbush. 2005. Cognitive enhancement through stimulation of the chemical senses. North American Journal of Psychology 7(1):125-138.

Aggarwal, B.B., and S. Shishodia. 2004. Suppression of the nuclear factor-kappaB activation pathway by spice-derived phytochemicals: reasoning for seasoning. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences1030:434-41.

Youdim, K.A., and S.G. Deans. 2000. Effect of thyme oil and thymol dietary supplementation on the antioxidant status and fatty acid composition of the ageing rat brain. British Journal of Nutrition 83(1):87-93.

Nutrient Data Laboratory, Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture in collaboration with Arkansas Children’s Nutrition Center, ARS, USDA, Little Rock, AR. 2007. Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC) of Selected Foods. http://www.ars.usda.gov/Services/docs.htm?docid=15866.

Topic, B., E. Tani, K. Tsiakitzis, et al. 2002. Enhanced maze performance and reduced oxidative stress by combined extracts of zingiber officinale and ginkgo biloba in the aged rat. Neurobiology of Aging 23(1):135-43.

Kennedy, D.O., and A.B. Scholey. 2006. The psychopharmacology of European herbs with cognition-enhancing properties. Current Pharmaceutical Design 12(35):4613-23.

http://www.amenclinics.com/cybcyb/10-brain-healthy-spices/

Qualia

There’s a very expensive but reportedly very effective supplement called Qualia.

http://neurohacker.com/qualia/

Homeopathy for ADHD

latitudes.org/calming-hyperactivity/

 

 

 

Dihexa

 

Dihexa appears to increase neural growth & recovery (Alzheimers, Parkinsons, TBI) & enhance cognition, especially when learning music, language, or other heavy cognitive tasks.

wholisticresearch.com/dihexa

genemedics.com/dihexa

Wright, John W, and Joseph W Harding. “The Brain Hepatocyte Growth Factor/c-Met Receptor System: A New Target for the Treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease.” Journal of Alzheimer’s disease : JAD vol. 45,4 (2015): 985-1000. doi:10.3233/JAD-142814 ↩

Weiss, Jessica B et al. “Stem cell, Granulocyte-Colony Stimulating Factor and/or Dihexa to promote limb function recovery in a rat sciatic nerve damage-repair model: Experimental animal studies.” Annals of medicine and surgery (2012) vol. 71 102917. 8 Oct. 2021, doi:10.1016/j.amsu.2021.102917 ↩

Musazzi, L et al. “Pharmacological characterization of BDNF promoters I, II and IV reveals that serotonin and norepinephrine input is sufficient for transcription activation.” The international journal of neuropsychopharmacology vol. 17,5 (2014): 779-91. doi:10.1017/S1461145713001685 ↩

McCoy, Alene T et al. “Evaluation of metabolically stabilized angiotensin IV analogs as procognitive/antidementia agents.” The Journal of pharmacology and experimental therapeutics vol. 344,1 (2013): 141-54. doi:10.1124/jpet.112.199497 ↩

 

Benoist CC, Kawas LH, Zhu M, et al. The procognitive and synaptogenic effects of angiotensin IV-derived peptides are dependent on activation of the hepatocyte growth factor/c-met system. J PharmacolExpTher. 2014;351(2):390–402. doi:10.1124/jpet.114.218735

Nagahara and Tuszynski (2011) Potential therapeutic uses of BDNF in neurological and psychiatric disorders. Nat Rev Drug Discov 10:209-19

Calissano P, Matrone C, Amadoro G. Nerve growth factor as a paradigm of neurotrophins related to Alzheimer’s disease. DevNeurobiol. 2010;70(5):372-83.

McCoy AT, Benoist CC, Wright JW, et al. Evaluation of metabolically stabilized angiotensin IV analogs as procognitive/antidementia agents. J PharmacolExpTher. 2013;344(1):141–154. doi:10.1124/jpet.112.199497

Wright JW, Kawas LH, Harding JW. The development of small molecule angiotensin IV analogs to treat Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. ProgNeurobiol. 2015;125:26-46.

Wang QG, Xue X, Yang Y, Gong PY, Jiang T, Zhang YD. Angiotensin IV suppresses inflammation in the brains of rats with chronic cerebral hypoperfusion. J Renin Angiotensin Aldosterone Syst. 2018;19(3):1470320318799587. doi:10.1177/1470320318799587

Koike H, Ishida A, Shimamura M, et al. Prevention of onset of Parkinson’s disease by in vivo gene transfer of human hepatocyte growth factor in rodent model: a model of gene therapy for Parkinson’s disease. Gene Ther. 2006;13(23):1639-44.

Salehi Z, Rajaei F. Expression of hepatocyte growth factor in the serum and cerebrospinal fluid of patients with Parkinson’s disease. J ClinNeurosci. 2010;17(12):1553-6.

Friedman LG, Price K, Lane RF, et al. Meeting report on the Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation 14th International Conference on Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery. Alzheimers Res Ther. 2014;6(2):22. Published 2014 Apr 28. doi:10.1186/alzrt252.

Koike H, Ishida A, Shimamura M, et al. Prevention of onset of Parkinson’s disease by in vivo gene transfer of human hepatocyte growth factor in rodent model: a model of gene therapy for Parkinson’s disease. Gene Ther. 2006;13(23):1639-44

Gard PR. Cognitive-enhancing effects of angiotensin IV. BMC Neurosci. 2008;9Suppl 2:S15.

Benoist CC, Wright JW, Zhu M, Appleyard SM, Wayman GA, Harding JW. Facilitation of hippocampal synaptogenesis and spatial memory by C-terminal truncated Nle1-angiotensin IV analogs. J PharmacolExpTher. 2011;339(1):35-44.

Pederson ES, Krishnan R, Harding JW, Wright JW. A role for the angiotensin AT4 receptor subtype in overcoming scopolamine-induced spatial memory deficits. RegulPept. 2001;102(2-3):147-56

Albiston AL, Fernando RN, Yeatman HR, et al. Gene knockout of insulin-regulated aminopeptidase: loss of the specific binding site for angiotensin IV and age-related deficit in spatial memory. Neurobiol Learn Mem. 2010;93(1):19-30

Date I, Takagi N, Takagi K, et al. Hepatocyte growth factor improved learning and memory dysfunction of microsphere-embolized rats. J Neurosci Res. 2004;78(3):442-53.

Braszko JJ, Kupryszewski G, Witczuk B, Wiśniewski K. Angiotensin II-(3-8)-hexapeptide affects motor activity, performance of passive avoidance and a conditioned avoidance response in rats. Neuroscience. 1988;27(3):777-83

Gard PR. Cognitive-enhancing effects of angiotensin IV. BMC Neurosci. 2008;9Suppl 2:S15.

Sun, X., Deng, Y., Fu, X., Wang, S., Duan, R., & Zhang, Y. (2021). AngIV-Analog Dihexa Rescues Cognitive Impairment and Recovers Memory in the APP/PS1 Mouse via the PI3K/AKT Signaling Pathway. Brain sciences, 11(11), 1487. https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11111487

Ho, J. K., & Nation, D. A. (2018). Cognitive benefits of angiotensin IV and angiotensin-(1-7): A systematic review of experimental studies. Neuroscience and biobehavioral reviews, 92, 209–225. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2018.05.005.

Doeppner TR, Kaltwasser B, Elali A, Zechariah A, Hermann DM, Bähr M. Acute hepatocyte growth factor treatment induces long-term neuroprotection and stroke recovery via mechanisms involving neural precursor cell proliferation and differentiation. J Cereb Blood Flow Metab. 2011;31(5):1251-62.

Faure S, Chapot R, Tallet D, Javellaud J, Achard JM, Oudart N. Cerebroprotective effect of angiotensin IV in experimental ischemic stroke in the rat mediated by AT(4) receptors. J PhysiolPharmacol. 2006;57(3):329-42.

Kramár EA, Harding JW, Wright JW. Angiotensin II- and IV-induced changes in cerebral blood flow. Roles of AT1, AT2, and AT4 receptor subtypes. RegulPept. 1997;68(2):131-8.

Shang J, Deguchi K, Yamashita T, et al. Antiapoptotic and antiautophagic effects of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor and hepatocyte growth factor after transient middle cerebral artery occlusion in rats. J Neurosci Res. 2010;88(10):2197-206

Kato S, Funakoshi H, Nakamura T, et al. Expression of hepatocyte growth factor and c-Met in the anterior horn cells of the spinal cord in the patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS): immunohistochemical studies on sporadic ALS and familial ALS with superoxide dismutase 1 gene mutation. ActaNeuropathol. 2003;106(2):112-20.

Ebens A, Brose K, Leonardo ED, et al. Hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor is an axonal chemoattractant and a neurotrophic factor for spinal motor neurons. Neuron. 1996;17(6):1157-72.

Kitamura K, Fujiyoshi K, Yamane J, et al. Human hepatocyte growth factor promotes functional recovery in primates after spinal cord injury. PLoS ONE. 2011;6(11):e27706.