Photo: Rhodiola Rosea by Bjoertvedt via Wikimedia Commons.

What Are Adaptogens?

Adaptogens are compounds that can help to limit the amount of stress your body experiences if taken in advance of an event that itself causes stress. Adaptogens are a somewhat understudied group of compounds; though many have been in use for centuries, there’s no single accepted definition for them. They’re a very diverse group of substances; they don’t come from one family or have one use. Also, adaptogens don’t all necessarily have the same mechanisms. Some adaptogens aren’t even really nootropics at all, by some estimations. Most people in the nootropic community agree that an adaptogen must be a naturally occurring nontoxic and nonspecific compound that has a normalizing impact on the user’s physiology.

Since there are so many things adaptogens can be, companies use them to make a wide variety of claims ranging from longer lifespan to increased libido to heightened well-being.

What Are Some Examples of Adaptogens?

Since the word adaptogen covers a wider variety of herbs, it’s no surprise that there’s some debate about what is and isn’t part of this group. There are a few common adaptogens that aren’t as controversial, though rhodiola rosea and ashwagandha make the cut and are agreed upon as adaptogens by most people in the nootropics community.

Ashwagandha is widely considered an adaptogen because it can help prevent the mental slowing that comes with aging and stress. For example, ashwagandha can act as an anti-anxiety agent, which helps some users lower the amount of stress their bodies experiences in tough situations. Over time, the stress that comes from anxiety can wear on your nervous system, which may make you less sharp and clear.

Rhodiola rosea is another very popular adaptogen in many nootropic supplements. It has been used for centuries as an anti-fatigue supplement, and there is some research that suggests it can also help the body repair after exercise. Like ashwagandha, rhodiola rosea can also help regulate anxiety in users, which helps keep stress and the damage that follows it at bay.

While the research is not yet conclusive, many users report that taking a supplement that contain adaptogens has helped them achieve the cognitive and physical benefits they’re seeking in their nootropic stack.

Where Can I Get Adaptogens?

Since the word adaptogen covers so many different supplements, there are lots of ways to work them into your stack. Nootrobox RISE contains both rhodiola rosea and bacopa monnieri, another herb some consider adaptogenic. Many users say Nootrobox RISE helps them deal with stress like a well-designed adaptogen compound should. Neurofuse also contains both of these herbs but in different amounts and stacked with other things, so Neurofuse could work well for a user who wants the stress reducing effects of an adaptogen but wants a boost of energy, too.

Have you tried an adaptogen in your stack? What’s your favorite? Tell us about your experience in the comments.

The post What Are Adaptogens? appeared first on Brain Wiz.

But a look at the label doesn’t tell the full story, so we put Neurorise to the test to see if its stack hit an effective sweet spot or proved to be overkill. Read below to find out our take.

The Ingredients

Vitamin D3, Vitamin B6, and Vitamin B12

These are some of the most common vitamin ingredients, in forms good for brain-friendly metabolization, we see in nootropic formulas. They also interactions with other ingredients in the formula that boost individual and combined effects on cognition, memory recall, and focus.

Rhodiola Rosea (3% Rosavins, 2% Salidrosides)

Rhodiola Rosea is an herb and noted adaptogen used to combat fatigue and fight the effects of stress. Many of our testers like it on its own as a stress-fighting supplement, and it’s been linked to very few negative side effects, if any.

L-Theanine

L-Thanine is an amino acid that supports mood, helps with repetitive tasks, and is often paired with caffeine to prevent jitteriness.

Caffeine Anhydrous

The world’s most popular stimulant, caffeine actually blocks androgen receptors in the brain, fighting fatigue. We like the pairing with L-Theanine in this supplement.

Bacopa Monnieri P.E. 20%

Bacopa Monnieri is an herb used as an antidepressant and a cognitive booster. While performing stressful cognitive tests, subjects taking Bacopa Monnieri experienced the herb’s nootropic effects and reduced both stress and cortisol levels.

DMAE Bitartrate

Also known as Deanol, DMAE is a chemical used to improve memory and boost brain function. It’s especially important in the production of choline (see Choline-Bitartrate, below), one of the building blocks of acetylcholine, vital for nervous system function.

Soybean Extract (standardized to 20% Phosphatidylserine)

This form of phosphatidylserine is a phospholipid that is involved in maintaining healthy nerve membranes. It supports the brain’s ability to learn and process new information.

Choline-Bitartrate

Choline-Bitartrate is a vitamin-like chemical thought to help enhance levels of acetylcholine.

Alpha Lipoic Acid

Alpha Lipoic Acid is an antioxidant that has been used to treat memory loss and chronic fatigue.

Vinpocetine

Vinpocetine is a chemical derived from the periwinkle plant. It can increase cerebral blood flow.

Huperzine A

Huperzine A is a compound that has been used to improve cognitive performance in patients with Alzheimer’s.

Other Ingredients: Gelatin, brown rice bran, silicon dioxide, vegetable magnesium stearate, titanium dioxide.

Usage Guidelines

To help support increased mental performance, begin by taking 1-2 capsules preferably with food. Depending on desired effect, tolerance, and body type, you may increase the dosage to a single serving of 3-4 capsules. Do not exceed 4 capsules per serving or 6 capsules in any 24 hour period.

What Our Testers Say

“I’ve seen these ingredients before across a lot of nootropic supplements, and this particular combination worked well for me. On their site, Neurorise says the supplement can ”˜boost your performance and exercise capacity’ in the gym, so I’ve been trying it before workouts, with great results.”

“I really liked this supplement and worked up to four capsules in a morning serving, always with breakfast (pills on an empty stomach is a nausea risk for some, and I’m not immune from that). With its caffeine content, Neurorise is a supplement I’d probably want to cycle, maybe a week on and then a few days off before going back to it. I appreciated the energy and clean-feeling focus it gave me.”

“I’d definitely recommend sticking to the usage guidelines on this one, it can be powerful! One or two capsules in the morning does plenty for me; I also had success by taking one capsule with breakfast and one with lunch, splitting up the dosage. Nothing in this stack is blow-you-out-of-the-water innovative, but it’s got some tried and true compounds in a good combination. I liked the focus and sense of motivation I got while taking it. It doesn’t act as fast as Lumonol, but it felt nice and sustained.”

“I’ll never give up my morning coffee (unless I have some serious prodding), but this is a supp that can stand on its own, no additional caffeine required. I worry too many capsules in one serving would cause jitteriness, but I kept to the recommendations and only experienced energy.”

BrainWiz Tips

• Consider taking Neurorise without coffee, you probably won’t need the additional stimulation.
• Take with food to boost absorption and for more sustained energy throughout the day.
• Two of our testers felt diminishing effects after roughly a week of taking Neurorise. After a few days off from the supplement, taking one or more capsules  of Neurorise once again produced a good rush of energy. We recommend cycling it every week or so.
• As with any supplement or nutritional regimen, you should talk to your doctor or medical professional before use, especially if you have a sensitivity to any ingredients in the supplement.

Supplement Summary

Neurorise may not be the most innovative stack on the market, but after testing it out, we actually respect that. Instead of trying to reinvent the wheel and falling flat, Neurorise built a supplement that delivers on its promise of both energy and focus.

It’s not the fastest acting or quite the longest lasting nootropic we’ve tested, but it’s probably all you need for a brain boost in a convenient delivery system (as opposed to combining multiple supplements or trying to time things precisely).

The post Proven Ingredients In The Right Combo? Reviewing Neurorise appeared first on Brain Wiz.