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Turmeric (Curcumin)
A bright yellow spice derived from the Curcuma longa plant, turmeric contains curcumin as its primary active compound. Valued for its potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, curcumin shows promise in supporting cognitive function, memory, and mood.
Bromantane
An atypical psychostimulant with combined anxiolytic and stimulant properties - upregulates tyrosine hydroxylase to boost endogenous dopamine synthesis without the tolerance or withdrawal typical of traditional stimulants.
Mucuna Pruriens
Mucuna pruriens (velvet bean) is a tropical legume containing L-DOPA, the direct precursor to dopamine. It is used to enhance mood, motivation, libido, and stress resilience - with traditional use in Ayurvedic medicine spanning thousands of years.
Semax
A synthetic peptide derived from adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) developed in Russia as a prescription nootropic that potently increases BDNF levels, enhances focus and memory, and provides neuroprotection.
Tianeptine
An atypical antidepressant with a unique glutamatergic and mu-opioid receptor mechanism that promotes hippocampal neuroplasticity, enhances stress resilience, and improves cognitive function under depressive conditions - prescribed in over 60 countries as Stablon and Coaxil.
Ashwagandha
Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) is an ancient Ayurvedic adaptogenic herb renowned for its stress-reducing and neuroprotective properties. Widely used as a nootropic supplement, it helps enhance cognitive function, reduce anxiety, and improve overall mental resilience.
California Poppy
California Poppy (Eschscholzia californica) is a gentle sedative herb that interacts with GABA and opioid receptors to promote relaxation, reduce anxiety, and improve sleep quality - without the dependency risks of pharmaceutical sedatives.
Kanna (Sceletium Tortuosum)
Kanna is a South African succulent plant traditionally used by the San and Khoikhoi peoples for its mood-elevating and anxiety-reducing effects. It contains mesembrine alkaloids that act as natural serotonin reuptake inhibitors and PDE4 inhibitors, offering rapid-onset mood support.
Lion's Mane
Lion's Mane (Hericium erinaceus) is a medicinal mushroom renowned for its ability to stimulate nerve growth factor (NGF) synthesis in the brain. It contains unique bioactive compounds called hericenones and erinacines that support neurogenesis, cognitive function, and neuroprotection.
5-HTP
5-HTP is a naturally occurring amino acid and direct precursor to serotonin, the neurotransmitter that regulates mood, sleep, and appetite. It is primarily used to support emotional well-being, reduce anxiety, improve sleep quality, and manage stress.
St. John's Wort
St. John's Wort (Hypericum perforatum) is one of the most extensively researched herbal remedies for mild to moderate depression. It contains active compounds hypericin and hyperforin that modulate serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine to support mood balance and emotional wellbeing.
Magnolia Bark
Magnolia bark is a traditional Chinese and Japanese medicinal herb containing the bioactive compounds honokiol and magnolol. These powerful polyphenols modulate GABA receptors to promote calm relaxation without sedation, reduce anxiety, support sleep quality, and provide neuroprotective antioxidant effects.
Phenibut
Phenibut is a synthetic GABA derivative developed in Russia that crosses the blood-brain barrier. It activates GABA-B receptors to produce anxiolytic, sedative, and mood-enhancing effects. While effective for anxiety, it carries substantial risks of dependence and withdrawal with regular use.
CBD (Cannabidiol)
CBD is a non-psychoactive cannabinoid from the cannabis plant with significant anxiolytic, neuroprotective, and anti-inflammatory properties. It modulates the endocannabinoid system, serotonin receptors, and GABA signalling to reduce anxiety, improve sleep, and protect brain health.
Kava Kava
Kava Kava (Piper methysticum) is a traditional South Pacific root herb renowned for its powerful anxiolytic and relaxation-promoting effects. Its active kavalactones modulate GABA receptors to reduce anxiety, promote sociability, and improve sleep - without impairing cognitive function.
Lemon Balm
Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis) is a gentle calming herb from the mint family with over 2,000 years of traditional use. It reduces anxiety, promotes restful sleep, and may support memory and attention through GABA modulation and mild acetylcholinesterase inhibition.
DHEA (Dehydroepiandrosterone)
The most abundant neurosteroid in the human brain - a precursor to testosterone and oestrogen that declines sharply with age, supporting mood, memory, neuroprotection, and cognitive vitality when supplemented.
Emoxypine (Mexidol)
A Russian-developed neuroprotective antioxidant with combined anxiolytic, anti-stress, and cognitive-enhancing properties - modulates GABA receptors and protects neuronal membranes from oxidative damage.
Shilajit
Shilajit is a mineral-rich resin formed over centuries in Himalayan rock that enhances mitochondrial energy, supports cognitive function, and boosts testosterone levels through its primary bioactive component, fulvic acid.
Magnesium Glycinate
Magnesium glycinate is a highly bioavailable, chelated form of magnesium bound to the amino acid glycine, renowned for its superior absorption and gentle effect on the digestive system. It is widely used to support sleep quality, reduce stress and anxiety, and enhance cognitive function.
Tongkat Ali
Tongkat Ali (Eurycoma longifolia) is a traditional Southeast Asian herb known for supporting healthy testosterone levels, reducing stress hormones, and enhancing energy and libido. Research shows it can significantly improve the cortisol-to-testosterone ratio.
Selank
A synthetic peptide analogue of the endogenous immunomodulatory peptide tuftsin, developed in Russia as an anxiolytic and nootropic that modulates GABA and serotonin systems without sedation or dependence.
Holy Basil (Tulsi)
A sacred adaptogenic herb in Ayurvedic medicine with clinical evidence for reducing cortisol, combating stress-related brain fog, and improving cognitive function, mood, and immune resilience.
Eleuthero (Siberian Ginseng)
A powerful adaptogenic root used for millennia in Traditional Chinese Medicine to enhance mental stamina, physical endurance, and stress resilience - distinct from true ginseng (Panax) but with complementary adaptogenic properties.
L-Phenylalanine
L-Phenylalanine is an essential amino acid and the starting precursor in the synthesis chain that produces tyrosine, dopamine, norepinephrine, and epinephrine. It supports mental alertness, focus, mood, motivation, and stress resilience by fuelling the catecholamine neurotransmitter pathway.
Lithium Orotate
A low-dose, bioavailable form of lithium used as a nutritional supplement for mood stabilisation, neuroprotection, and support of grey matter volume and BDNF expression - distinct from high-dose prescription lithium carbonate.
Phenylethylamine (PEA)
A fast-acting trace amine neuromodulator that rapidly boosts dopamine and norepinephrine - produces an intense but short-lived burst of mood elevation, focus, and motivation often described as the "runner's high" molecule.
Glycine
Glycine is the simplest amino acid, serving as an inhibitory neurotransmitter and a key building block for proteins, collagen, and glutathione. It promotes deep, restorative sleep, reduces anxiety, and supports cognitive function through NMDA receptor co-agonism.
Saffron (Crocus sativus)
The world's most expensive spice, saffron contains crocin and safranal - bioactive compounds with robust clinical evidence for improving mood, reducing anxiety, and supporting cognitive function.
Aloracetam
A racetam-class nootropic with both cognitive-enhancing and anxiolytic properties, acting on cholinergic and glutamatergic systems to provide a balanced profile of cognition and anxiety reduction.
Maca Root
Maca Root (Lepidium meyenii) is a Peruvian adaptogenic plant traditionally used to enhance energy, stamina, and libido. Modern research supports its benefits for hormonal balance, cognitive function, and sexual health in both men and women.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) is an essential water-soluble vitamin and powerful antioxidant that supports cognitive function, neurotransmitter synthesis, and stress response. It plays a vital role in brain health through neuroprotection, dopamine production, and reduction of oxidative stress.
Cordyceps
Cordyceps is a medicinal mushroom renowned for boosting physical energy, endurance, and oxygen utilisation, while also providing neuroprotective benefits and supporting cognitive function through enhanced cerebral blood flow and antioxidant activity.
Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine)
Vitamin B6 is an essential vitamin involved in over 150 enzymatic reactions, including the synthesis of every major neurotransmitter - serotonin, dopamine, GABA, and norepinephrine. It supports mood balance, cognitive development, and healthy brain ageing.
Vitamin B8 (Inositol)
Inositol (often called vitamin B8, though technically not a true vitamin) is a carbocyclic sugar that plays a critical role in cell signalling, particularly in the serotonin and insulin pathways. It is widely used for anxiety, panic disorder, OCD, and mood support, with clinical evidence comparable to some prescription medications.
Yerba Mate
Yerba mate is a traditional South American beverage made from the leaves of Ilex paraguariensis. It contains a unique combination of caffeine, theobromine, and polyphenols that provides smooth, sustained mental energy and focus without the jitteriness or crash commonly associated with coffee.
Schizandrol-A (Schisandra Berry)
Schizandrol-A is the primary active lignan compound found in Schisandra chinensis (five-flavour berry), a traditional Chinese adaptogen herb. It has demonstrated anti-stress, neuroprotective, and cognitive-enhancing properties in research, supporting mental performance under stress while protecting the brain from oxidative damage.
Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)
A well-known aromatic herb whose standardised oral extract (Silexan/Lavela) has demonstrated anxiolytic efficacy comparable to benzodiazepines in clinical trials - without sedation, cognitive impairment, or dependence risk.
Polygala Tenuifolia (Yuan Zhi)
A cornerstone herb of Traditional Chinese Medicine used for over 2,000 years to "sharpen the mind and benefit the will" - modern research confirms its ability to enhance BDNF, improve memory, and reduce neuroinflammation.
Melatonin
Melatonin is a hormone naturally produced by the pineal gland that regulates the sleep-wake cycle. Supplemental melatonin is widely used to improve sleep onset, quality, and circadian rhythm alignment - with emerging evidence for neuroprotective and antioxidant benefits.
Reishi Mushroom
Reishi mushroom (Ganoderma lucidum) is a revered adaptogenic fungus that promotes calm, supports sleep quality, modulates the immune system, and reduces stress, making it a valued nootropic for relaxation and long-term brain health.
PQQ (Pyrroloquinoline Quinone)
PQQ is a powerful redox cofactor that uniquely stimulates mitochondrial biogenesis (the creation of new mitochondria), supports brain energy metabolism, and provides potent antioxidant neuroprotection for enhanced cognitive function and longevity.
Rhodiola Rosea
Rhodiola Rosea is a potent adaptogenic herb used for centuries in Scandinavian and Russian medicine to combat fatigue, enhance mental performance, and improve stress resilience. EMA-approved for temporary relief of stress symptoms.
Black Seed Oil (Nigella Sativa)
Black Seed Oil, derived from Nigella sativa, is a traditional remedy containing the potent bioactive compound thymoquinone, which supports cognitive function, reduces inflammation, enhances mood, and provides broad-spectrum antioxidant protection for brain health.
GABA (Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid)
GABA is the brain's primary inhibitory neurotransmitter, responsible for calming neural activity. As a supplement, it is used to promote relaxation, reduce anxiety, improve sleep quality, and support a balanced mood without sedation.
L-Tryptophan
L-Tryptophan is an essential amino acid and the precursor to serotonin and melatonin. It supports mood balance, promotes healthy sleep, and helps regulate appetite - serving as the upstream building block for the brain's key calming and sleep-regulating neurotransmitters.
Passionflower
Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata) is a traditional herbal sedative used for centuries to relieve anxiety, promote sleep, and calm nervous restlessness. Its flavonoids enhance GABA activity for gentle, non-drowsy relaxation during the day and restful sleep at night.
Rosemary
Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) is an aromatic herb with a long history of use as a cognitive enhancer, dating back to ancient Greece where students wore rosemary wreaths during exams. Modern research supports its benefits for memory, focus, and alertness through both oral supplementation and aromatherapy.
Psychobiotics
Psychobiotics are specific strains of probiotic bacteria that produce measurable effects on brain function and mental health through the gut-brain axis. Research has identified particular strains of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium that can reduce anxiety, improve mood, enhance cognitive function, and modulate the stress response.
Apigenin
A flavonoid found abundantly in chamomile that inhibits CD38 to preserve NAD+ levels, promotes BDNF expression, modulates GABA receptors for anxiolytic effects, and supports healthy sleep architecture.
Oatstraw (Avena Sativa)
Oatstraw is derived from the green, unripened tops of the common oat plant (Avena sativa). It has been used for centuries as a nerve tonic and brain food, shown in modern research to increase alpha brain wave activity, improve attention, and promote a state of relaxed mental clarity.
L-Tyrosine
L-Tyrosine is a non-essential amino acid and the direct precursor to dopamine, norepinephrine, and adrenaline. Most effective at preserving cognitive function under acute stress, sleep deprivation, and demanding conditions where catecholamine stores become depleted.
Omega-3 (DHA)
DHA is a long-chain omega-3 fatty acid constituting 20–30% of brain lipids. Essential for neuronal membrane integrity, synaptic plasticity, and neurotransmitter function - one of the most fundamentally important nutrients for cognitive health and neuroprotection.
Panax Ginseng
Panax Ginseng (Korean/Asian Ginseng) is one of the most extensively researched adaptogenic herbs. Its active compounds, ginsenosides, support cognitive function, reduce fatigue, modulate the stress response, and may enhance sexual health.
Zinc
Zinc is an essential trace mineral critical for neurotransmitter function, synaptic plasticity, and cognitive development. It acts as a neuromodulator in the brain, supporting memory, mood regulation, and immune defence.
Cat's Claw
Cat's Claw (Uncaria tomentosa) is a South American vine bark with potent anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective properties. It inhibits brain plaque formation, supports immune function, and shows early promise for preserving cognitive function during ageing.
Picamilon
Picamilon is a synthetic compound that combines GABA with niacin (vitamin B3) in a single molecule. The niacin component allows it to cross the blood-brain barrier, where it is cleaved to release GABA and niacin, providing both anxiolytic effects and improved cerebral blood flow.
BPC-157
A synthetic peptide derived from a naturally occurring gastric protein - researched for remarkable tissue repair, neuroprotection, and gut-brain axis modulation, increasingly used in the biohacking community for cognitive recovery.
Bacopa Monnieri
Bacopa monnieri (brahmi) is an Ayurvedic herb with well-studied nootropic properties, primarily enhancing memory and attention speed through cholinergic modulation and neuroprotection. Multiple meta-analyses support its cognitive benefits, particularly for delayed recall and processing speed, though effects require several weeks of consistent supplementation.
Phosphatidylserine
Phosphatidylserine is a phospholipid that constitutes 13–15% of the phospholipids in the human cerebral cortex. It plays a critical role in cell membrane integrity, neurotransmitter release, and synaptic function, with clinical evidence for memory improvement and cortisol reduction.
Creatine
Creatine is a naturally occurring compound that serves as a rapid energy buffer in the brain via the phosphocreatine/ATP system. Increasingly recognised as a nootropic, it supports memory, processing speed, and mental resilience under stress - with particular benefits for vegetarians and during sleep deprivation.
CoQ10 (Coenzyme Q10)
CoQ10 is a naturally occurring antioxidant and essential cofactor in mitochondrial energy production that supports brain health by powering neuronal ATP synthesis, reducing oxidative stress, and protecting against age-related cognitive decline.
Convolvulus Pluricaulis (Shankhpushpi)
Convolvulus pluricaulis, known as Shankhpushpi in Ayurvedic medicine, is one of the most revered brain tonics in the Indian tradition. It has been used for centuries to enhance memory, learning, and concentration, with animal research supporting its nootropic, anxiolytic, and neuroprotective properties.
Kratom (Mitragyna Speciosa)
Kratom is a tropical tree from Southeast Asia whose leaves contain alkaloids that interact with opioid receptors. At low doses it acts as a stimulant, while at higher doses it produces sedative and analgesic effects. Its legal status is contested in many countries, and it carries significant risks of dependence and withdrawal.
Fisetin
A flavonoid found in strawberries with potent senolytic, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective properties - shown to clear senescent cells, support long-term potentiation for memory, and protect against age-related cognitive decline.
Quercetin
A powerful bioflavonoid with strong antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and senolytic properties in the brain - protects against neurodegeneration, reduces neuroinflammation, and supports cerebral blood flow.
Spearmint Extract (Neumentix)
A polyphenol-rich spearmint extract clinically shown in multiple randomised controlled trials to improve sustained attention, working memory, and cognitive performance - one of the few herbal nootropics with robust modern clinical evidence.
Berberine
Berberine is a bioactive alkaloid found in several plants including goldenseal and barberry, known for its potent metabolic benefits (particularly blood sugar regulation) and emerging neuroprotective properties through AMPK activation and anti-inflammatory mechanisms.
Valerian
Valerian (Valeriana officinalis) is one of the most well-established herbal sedatives, used since ancient Greek and Roman times for insomnia and nervous restlessness. It increases GABA availability in the brain to promote deep, restorative sleep and reduce anxiety.
Clitoria Ternatea (Butterfly Pea)
Clitoria ternatea, commonly known as butterfly pea flower, is a traditional Ayurvedic herb used as a brain tonic for centuries in Southeast Asia. Animal research suggests it may enhance memory and learning through acetylcholinesterase inhibition and antioxidant neuroprotection, though human clinical data remains limited.
Agmatine Sulfate
A naturally occurring neuromodulator derived from the amino acid arginine that modulates NMDA receptors, nitric oxide, and multiple neurotransmitter systems for mood enhancement, pain relief, and neuroprotection.
Spermidine
A naturally occurring polyamine that induces autophagy - the body's cellular cleanup process - associated with improved memory, neuroprotection, and longevity in both animal and human observational studies.
Glutathione
The body's most abundant endogenous antioxidant and master detoxifier - protects neurons from oxidative damage, supports mitochondrial function, and is depleted by ageing, stress, and environmental toxins.
Ginkgo Biloba
Ginkgo Biloba is an ancient herbal extract derived from the leaves of the oldest living tree species. Widely used to support cerebral blood flow, memory, and cognitive function - particularly in older adults experiencing age-related cognitive decline.
Sulforaphane
A broccoli-derived compound that activates the Nrf2 antioxidant pathway - the body's master regulator of cellular defence - reducing neuroinflammation, supporting detoxification, and protecting against neurodegenerative disease.
NAC (N-Acetyl Cysteine)
N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC) is a supplement form of the amino acid cysteine that serves as a powerful antioxidant and precursor to glutathione, the body's master antioxidant. It supports liver health, respiratory function, and mental health through neuroprotective and neurotransmitter-regulating mechanisms.
Fenugreek
A traditional herb increasingly used to support healthy testosterone levels, sexual function, and blood sugar control. Fenugreek seeds contain unique compounds that may enhance libido, improve insulin sensitivity, and provide cognitive benefits through dopaminergic mechanisms.
Chaga Mushroom (Inonotus obliquus)
A parasitic fungus with one of the highest antioxidant capacities of any natural substance, traditionally used in Siberian and Nordic folk medicine for immune support and increasingly recognised for neuroprotective potential.
L-Glutamine
L-Glutamine is the most abundant amino acid in the body and a precursor to both glutamate (the primary excitatory neurotransmitter) and GABA (the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter). It supports cognitive function, gut-brain axis health, and mental clarity during periods of stress or intense physical activity.
Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic Acid)
Vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid) is an essential vitamin required for the synthesis of coenzyme A (CoA), a molecule involved in over 100 metabolic pathways including brain energy production, acetylcholine synthesis, and the production of steroid hormones that influence cognitive function.
Taurine
Taurine is a sulphur-containing amino acid that acts as a neuromodulator in the brain, supporting cognitive function, neuroprotection, and cardiovascular health. It has gained attention for its calming effects and potential role in healthy ageing.
Turkey Tail Mushroom (Trametes versicolor)
One of the most researched medicinal mushrooms, turkey tail contains polysaccharide-K (PSK) and polysaccharopeptide (PSP) - potent immunomodulators that influence neuroinflammation and support cognitive health through the immune-brain axis.