[ExI] Which nootropics work best?

[Mike Dougherty]

On Sun, Mar 13, 2011 at 8:34 PM, spike <spike66 at att.net> wrote:
> Spike?  It was Will Steinberg who posted the above comments.  I am no
> hipster on these matters, this being waaaay outside of my area of expertise.
> I haven't commented at all on nootropics.  I am listening to those who know.
> Oh wait, perhaps you are referring to a comment I made recently where I
> suggested leaving all of it alone?  OK, ja no problem.  Still I want to see
> what others say about this topic.

Well, I knew you were reading. :)  Consider it a public aside then
that I gave a nod to another thread where you expressed some dismay at
our shortening attention span.  I too was once a multi-page poster.  I
have since tried to be more succinct in appreciation of others' time
as well as my own.

I agreed with Will regarding the perspective shift granted by
psychedelics.  I then went to the specific legality of that class of
drugs.  It's not a long leap to imagine there are good reasons that
those who maintain the status quo would keep any demonstrably
effective cognitive-enhancing drugs from being widely available.
Either keep them pricey enough that only those already well-off can
afford them or make them outright illegal.  If both of those fail,
discredit them as "silly ineffectual herbs, not FDA approved."

I take a ginko extract in the morning and most times don't stop to
even think about lunch.  If I don't restock when I run out, I do find
myself watching the clock around 11:30 for lunch.  I'm not suggesting
this has anything to do with appetite control, but when I'm focused on
work (which requires thinking) then I'm just not paying attention to
hunger.  As far as the reported memory improvement, I've not tried to
be aware of memory performance.  Ginko is a vasodilator, so it makes
some sense that improved blood circulation in the brain would have
some benefit  (even if all it does is get nutrients in and help
improved cooling)  I also don't take it on weekends because my wife
doesn't appreciate the attention to detail that my employer prefers -
I become pedantic about the use of words and their meaning, so it's
better to be casual on weekends.  :)

I have also had some positive experience with Gotu Kola.  I have a
slightly increased alertness much like a cup of coffee, but without
caffeine's somatic effects (including sleeplessness).  I just looked
it up again, there may be some concern for impact on the liver - so it
might not be a long-term daily supplement.  I mention it as an
occasional study aid (yeah, right) or for 3-days-to-deadline long work
hours.