Human emotions are controlled by the brain, but our brain can be also affected by nootropics. People normally use nootropics for a lot of reasons, mainly for cognition enhancement, increase focus, others use them to reduce depression and anxiety, which can lead to increased focus and productivity. Now we are going to research how nootropics will boost mood.
The mood is very competitive to control by yourself, It is not only affected by the external aspects, but also by the hormone balance itself has a great relationship. Simply to say, what we’ve been putting in our bodies(food, water, drugs, etc), how things are going at work, and how things are going in our social relationships. It is usually said to be positive or negative. In other words, we are either in a good mood or in a bad mood.
Anyway, if you almost are in a good mood, it will bring you more productivity. A bad mood will have a negative effect on everything around you possible. That is why it’s important to make sure your mood is calm or even good.
By using drug or
stimulant to enhance your mood maybe not a good way,its side effetcs may pull
you to a deeper valley floor. These are serious medical conditions and should be treated by
a professional. The nootropics we’ll discuss below are not intended to treat
any of these conditions. That being said, there are countless reports around
the internet of people using them to successfully self-medicate their own mood
disorders. If you’re currently taking any prescription drugs, you should always
check with your doctor before taking any supplements, making changes to your
diet, or increasing your level of exercise.
Speaking of fitness and nutrition, they can both have a dramatic effect on mood. Before even thinking about using nootropics to improve your mood, you should make sure your diet is good, you’re getting enough exercise, and enough high-quality sleep.
Get to the points, let’s check the top natural nootropics which help boost mood.
Why we choose
nature nootropics but not compund ones,because our body will easirly absorb
nature herbs than compund medicines. All of these are either plants or mushrooms and have been
used in traditional medicine for centuries. Besides the side effetcs are
considered less than compound ones.
1. Ginseng, Ginseng could help improve brain functions like memory, behavior, and mood. Ginseng has been used for a quite long history in traditional Chinese medicine.
Some test-tube
and animal studies show that components in ginseng, like ginsenosides and
compound K, could protect the brain against damage caused by free radicals.
One study followed 30 healthy people who consumed 200 mg of Panax ginseng daily for four weeks. At the end of the study, they showed improvement in mental health, social functioning, and mood.
However, these
benefits stopped being significant after 8 weeks, suggesting that ginseng
effects might decrease with extended use .
Another study
examined how single doses of either 200 or 400 mg of Panax ginseng affected
mental performance, mental fatigue and blood sugar levels in 30 healthy adults
before and after a 10-minute mental test.
The 200-mg dose,
as opposed to the 400-mg dose, was more effective at improving mental
performance and fatigue during the test.
It is possible
that ginseng assisted the uptake of blood sugar by cells, which could have
enhanced performance and reduced mental fatigue. Yet it is not clear why the
lower dose was more effective than the higher one.
A third study
found that taking 400 mg of Panax ginseng daily for eight days improved
calmness and math skills.
What’s more,
other studies found positive effects on brain function and behavior in people
with Alzheimer’s disease
2.Lion’s Mane
his is a mushroom
that has a variety of health benefits. One of those benefits is improved mood.
Lion’s mane, which goes by many names, has been used all over the world for
centuries to reduce anxiety, improve productivity, boost mood, reduce
inflammation, and for a number of other reasons.
There are
countless reports around the internet of people using lion’s mane to boost
mood. In fact, mood improvement seems to be one of the most-widely reported
benefits of this fascinating mushroom. In addition to anecdotal reports, lion’s
mane has some science behind it to support its use as a mood booster.
A 2010 study
found that lion’s mane was able to reduce the symptoms of depression in
menopausal women.9 In addition to improving mood, the women that were given
lion’s mane also showed a reduction in anxiety.
A 2015 review
published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry looked at the
existing evidence for the use of lion’s mane.10 Though the review states that
further research is necessary, it found studies that support the use of lion’s
mane to improve mood, reduce anxiety, and improve overall cognition.
Many lion’s mane
users report that it improves their mood. Some users even claim that lion’s
mane has helped them to overcome serious depression. It seems to be incredibly
safe and most people who try it notice at least some positive effects.
3. Rhodiola Rosea
This is a plant
that grows naturally at high altitudes. It has been used for its many medicinal
properties for centuries in China, Russia, and in other parts of the world. In
recent years, nootropic users have been using rhodiola to improve mood, reduce
stress, and increase physical performance.
Rhodiola rosea,
often simply called rhodiola, appears to be a safe and effective way to boost
mood. Not only are there many reports from users, there is also a lot of
science to support both its effectiveness and safety.
In a study from
2007, researchers gave either rhodiola or a placebo to participants with
mild-to-moderate depression.11 The participants in the rhodiola group showed a
significant improvement in mood, while those receiving a placebo did not.
A 2011 review
published in the respected journal Phytomedicine looked at 11 randomized
controlled studies that had been done on rhodiola (one being the 2007 study
mentioned above).12 The review concluded that rhodiola could have a beneficial
effect on mood and other aspects of mental performance. It also concluded that
rhodiola was very safe.
Rhodiola rosea
has a long history of safety and effectiveness which is supported by plenty of
research.
4. Bacopa Monnieri
Here we have yet
another adaptogenic plant, bacopa monnieri. Often simply called bacopa, it is
an herb that has been used for centuries in traditional medicine to improve
mental functioning and to treat a variety of conditions.
In modern times,
bacopa is being used to improve mood, reduce anxiety, and to improve overall
cognition. Though it is often taken on its own, bacopa is sometimes stacked
with rhodiola rosea, mucuna pruriens, or other nootropics for increased
effects.
Bacopa has been
the subject of scientific study in both animals and humans. Human studies have
been done on healthy volunteers, elderly populations, and in people with
various illnesses. The results of these studies show that bacopa is very safe
and, quite often, very effective.
A 2008 study
done on elderly participants showed that after 12 weeks, those given bacopa had
lower depression scores while those in the placebo group actually had slightly
higher depression scores.13
A study from
2013 explored the acute effects of a single dose of a bacopa extract.14 This
study found that the participants given bacopa showed an improvement in mood
and a reduction in cortisol (sometimes called “the stress hormone”) after just
one hour. Unlike rhodiola and several other nootropics, which can take weeks
for their mood-boosting effects to become noticeable, bacopa has been shown to
improve mood much quicker.
Bacopa monnieri
can quickly boost mood and seems to be very safe. It also has powerful
anxiety-reducing and other effects.
5. Mucuna Pruriens
This is a bean
that grows naturally in several parts of the world. Mucuna pruriens, often
simply called mucuna, has been used for centuries in traditional medicine to
treat a variety of illnesses, including Parkinson’s Disease. More recently,
mucuna has been used to improve mood, increase motivation, and improve
productivity.
Mucuna contains
the amino acid l-dopa.15 L-dopa is a precursor to the neurotransmitter
dopamine, which is known to play a role in memory, mood, and motivation. This
may explain, at least in part, the nootropic effects that people report from
taking mucuna, including improved mood. There have also been both human and
animal studies done that support its use as a mood booster.
A 2014 study
found that a mucuna pruriens extract had an antidepressant effect in mice.16
The researchers concluded that this effect was likely do to mucuna’s influence
on the neurotransmitter dopamine. A human study from 2010 examined the effect
that mucuna has on fertility and stress in adult men.17 While the study didn’t
measure mood directly, it did find that mucuna was able to reduce stress and
improve overall well being.
In addition to
mucuna’s ability to improve mood, it’s also been found to have anti-diabetic,
anti-microbial, anti-venom, antioxidant, and neuroprotective properties.
As you can see,
there are a number of natural nootropics that can improve mood. Some of them
have even been found to be as effective as prescription antidepressants, but
without many of the same nasty side effects.
Your mood
dramatically affects how productive you are. If you’re looking to increase
productivity by improving your mood, you may want to try one or more of the
nootropics above.