Huperzine A – Ancient Herbal Wisdom
Often times, people will get into nootropics because they have a need to learn. Learning is increasingly becoming a serious matter in society, with a college education becoming the norm and more jobs being centered on intellectual ability. Most people believe that they are limited in this aspect, and that they can only keep their minds and learning ability on a certain level throughout their lives.
Luckily, with the advent of today’s cognitive enhancers, we can push the natural limits of our brains in a safe and controlled manner. One of the newer substances that can help our minds adapt to new information (and do this more quickly) is the strange agent known as Huperzine A.
What is Huperzine A?
Extracted from the traditional Chinese herb Huperzia Serrata, Huperzine A has been in the picture of humanity for hundreds of years now. It is an alkaloid that has been recently shown to enhance memory and brain plasticity – both of which are key components for learning new skills and information. Huperzine A is also an extremely potent substance, requiring only microgram doses for noticeable effects.
The memory-enhancing properties of Huperzine A have garnered attention from scientists in America, where it is being investigated as a possible treatment for Alzheimer’s disease. In addition, a study involving Chinese university students showed that test scores were better among the users of Huperzine as opposed to non-users.
Compared to many other treatments of Alzheimer’s disease, Huperzine A was shown to be a safe alternative, only having side effects such as upset stomach or hyperactivity. For healthy individuals, the dosage is between 50 and 200 micrograms, whereas in Alzheimer’s patients it is 400 micrograms. It’s probably more likely that readers of this article would take the first number, though!
How Does It Work?
Huperzine A works by interacting with the nervous system in a similar fashion as the racetam class of nootropic drugs. There is an increase in the levels of acetylcholine in the brain, which helps to facilitate the writing of long and short term memory. However, the specific mechanism in which the levels rise is different.
Huperzine A is what’s called an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, which is a chemical that prevents the brain from breaking down the acetylcholine already in the synapses. Therefore, it’s not a good idea to mix to take Huperzine along with anything else that can contribute to the increase of acetylcholine. If you do, it might be too much, and you could suffer side effects such as muscle tension or irritability.
Not only does Huperzine A aid in storing memory, but it can help your brain rearrange itself in order to understand new concepts and ideas. It does this through its antagonism of the NMDA receptor, which is related to the release of Nerve Growth Factor (or NGF for short). Huperzine helps your nerves grow and reconnect to concretely form new thoughts, which is crucial for the ability to learn and study new material.
Effects of Huperzine A
Huperzine A has been reported by some people to have a slight stimulating effect, in addition to boosting memory and learning capacity. It’s a good idea not to take it at night, because it’s stimulating qualities can make it difficult to fall asleep. You should be able to start noticing the effects of huperzine at your first dose, and tolerance can build up over time due to its cholinergic nature.
Form and Sources
If you want to try Huperzine A yourself and attest to its great benefits, there are plenty of options online to purchase it! Amazon has some great options, and there are plenty of nootropics sale websites available such Liftmode (10% discount code: corpina10). Usually you will find it in the form of a tablet, given its very concentrated form. Handling mere micrograms of powder is a difficult thing to do! Of course, if you do happen to get powder, you can always fill your own gelatin capsules for convenience.
Conclusion
Huperzine A is a great nootropic to try if you’re trying to study for a big exam, learn a new hobby, or trying to remember the jersey numbers of your favorite sports team! It is helpful with everyday life to have an increased ability to learn and remember, and I highly recommend it for beginners since it’s straightforward to buy and dose.
Remember all: keep trying new things, keep nooting!