Natural Molecule That Pregnant Women Produce
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- October 8, 2021
If you have watched movies like Limitless[1] (both the movie and television series) and Lucy,[2] then you have likely come across smart drugs or nootropics. In the movie Limitless, you are introduced to NZT-48 (known as MDT-48 in the book The Dark Fields), which grants heightened intellectual abilities allowing one to pattern-match at lighting speed.
In the movie Lucy, you are introduced to the drug CPH4, which is actually based on a molecule that a pregnant woman produces after six weeks of pregnancy. The director of Lucy, Luc Besson, remarked,[3]
“But it’s totally real, and it’s true that the power of this product for a baby is the power of an atomic bomb. It’s real. It’s totally real. So its not a drug in fact, it’s a natural molecule that pregnant women produce.”
NZT-48 is fictional and CPH4 is a fictional drug based on a real substance. So, are there any real life smart drugs or brain boosters similar to either fictional drug? The answer is no. But powerful cognitive enhancing drugs do exist. And they are Nootropics.
Nootropics
Nootropics was coined by Romanian psychologist Corneliu E. Giurgea in 1972. The etymology of the word is nous or mind and trepein or to bend.[4] According to Smart Drug Smarts, nootropics is an umbrella term for a class of chemicals, some naturally-occurring and some man-made, that give cognitive benefits to the human brain. To be a nootropic, Giurgea found that the substance must meet five specific criteria:[5]
- Enhance memory and ability to learn.
- Help the brain function under disruptive conditions.
- Protect the brain from chemical and physical assaults.
- Increase the efficacy of neuronal firing control mechanisms.
- Possess few or no side effects and be virtually non-toxic.
Let’s now examine the 10 best brain power supplements that will supercharge your mind and 4 bonus tips (in no particular order – meaning #1 is not better than #2 nor #10). Very few of the brain boosters listed can be purchased in a local brick and mortar store.
For most, you will have to place an order online. However, be extremely cautious and diligently research each prior to ordering.
For a more detailed breakdown of each brain booster in the form of a wiki, I recommend visiting the website BrainTropic[6]. I will provide a summary for each smart drug below. Summaries will be from BrainTropic unless otherwise stated. In addition, visit my website (you can find the link in my bio) as I regularly write and provide advice on nootropics.
*Some of the supplements listed require a prescription and could be harmful. Consult with your doctor before consumption.
1. Qualia Mind
Qualia Mind is an extremely powerful smart drug created by Neurohacker packed with a variety of nootropics. It is a multi-nootropic leading to potential neurochemical and physiological enhancements.
Qualia Mind is specifically designed to lift brain fog, amplify willpower, upgrade energy, heighten creativity, and promote mental clarity. No prescription is required.
Side effects: headaches, sleep disturbance, muscle tightness, and upset stomach.
Summary
- Type: Multi-Nootropic (crucial ingredients include: Acetyl-L-Carnitine, DL-Phenylalanine, N-Acetyl L-Tyrosine, Taurine, L-Theanine, Alpha GPC, Citicoline, Anhydrous Caffeine, Huperzine A, and more)
- Good for: Energy, Focus, Learning, Memory, Motivation, and Physical Performance
- Typical Dose: 7 capsules per day (maximum of 12)
- Half-life: 4-6 hours
You can learn more about Qualia Mind in Neurohacker.
2. Modafinil
Modafinil is a stimulant to treat narcolepsy and has been shown to enhance our cognitive functions. Sold under the names Vigil, Nuvigil or Provigil, has became one of the most popular cognitive enhancing drugs on the market.
Bio-hacker and founder of Bulletproof Coffee, Dave Asprey, is just one of many advocating the drug. Some think Modafinil inspired the movie Limitless. For more on this discussion, read I Spent a Week on Nuvigil, the Drug From ‘Limitless’ and Modafinil: My Experience with the Real Life Limitless Pill by Joen Rude Falsner. Falsner remarked about Modafinil, it’s “Sort of like a real life pop-up blocker…”
In the US, Modafinil is classified as Schedule IV Controlled Substance and a prescription is required for it. Potential side effects: headache, dizziness, nausea, diarrhea, nervousness, and trouble sleeping.
Bonus Tip: Top Modafinil researchers have found that Modafinil combined with coffee can create a powerful combination.[7]
Summary
- Type: Stimulant
- Good for: Energy, Focus, Learning, Memory, Motivation, and Physical Performance
- Typical Dose: 50-200mg
- Half-life: 15 hours
3. Adrafinil
Adrafinil is a stimulant that can increase energy and prevent fatigue. It is metabolized and converted into Modafinil. In fact, the effects are similar to Modafinil; however, it is not as strong. No prescription is required for Adrafinil in the US, Canada, or the UK.
Potential side effects: headache, dizziness, nausea, diarrhea, nervousness, and trouble sleeping.
Summary
- Type: Stimulant
- Good for: Energy, Focus, Learning, Memory, Motivation, and Physical Performance
- Typical Dose: 150-600mg
- Half-life: 1 hour
4. Noopept
According to braintropic.com, Noopept is a powerful synthetic nootropic with cognitive enhancement and neuroprotective properties. It was developed in Russia in the mid-1990s and is used as a prescription treatment for cognitive impairments. Researchers found that, in animal studies, Noopept has been shown to stimulate the expression of two chemicals: Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF).[8]
Potential side effects: headaches, restlessness, dizziness, and irritability.
Summary
- Type: Peptide
- Good for: Anxiety, Energy, Focus, Learning and Memory
- Typical Dose: 10-20 mg
- Half-life: 30-60 minutes
