Disclaimer: This post is not an endorsement or recommendation for the use of GHB – in fact, we strongly advise against the recreational abuse of any illegal drugs, GHB or otherwise. We have written this post for informational purposes only, and our goal is solely to inform people about the science behind GHB’s side effects, mechanisms, and historical and current uses.

What is GHB?

Overview

Gamma-hydroxybutyrate – more commonly known as “GHB” – was first synthesized in 1960 by the French physician Dr. Henri Laborit [R, R].

Because of its ability to reduce or impair consciousness, it was first used as an anesthetic. However, it was abandoned because of its weak pain-killing (analgesic) effects and its tendency to cause seizures [R, R, R].

The drug later gained popularity as a bodybuilding supplement during the ‘80s and ‘90s due to its reported anabolic (muscle-building) effects. It also became a popular recreational drug as its euphoric effects become more widely known [R, R, R, R, R].

GHB affects a wide variety of biological functions such as sexual behavior and the sleep-wake cycle. The primary effects of GHB can range from mild relaxation to euphoria, but can also include negative effects such as amnesia, hallucinations, and even coma [R, R].

The effects vary from pleasant to dangerous or even life-threatening according to the dose [R, R, R].

This drug also has an extremely high potential for abuse and addiction. In fact, GHB is considered by some to be even more of a public and personal danger than alcohol abuse [R, R, R].

Unfortunately, most users remain unaware of the dangers associated with GHB abuse, and this lack of public awareness has led to misconceptions that GHB is safe [R, R, R, R, R].

As a result, GHB has become a major cause of overdose-related emergency room visits worldwide

The post GHB Side Effects, Street Names, Overdose & Withdrawal appeared first on SelfHacked.

What is a Neuropeptide?

Neuropeptides are protein-like molecules (“peptides”) used by neurons to communicate with other neurons. In this respect, they are quite similar in function to neurotransmitters (such as serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine), in that they act as the “chemical messengers” that allow one neuron to influence the activity of another.

Also similar to neurotransmitters, neuropeptides travel in “packets” called vesicles. These vesicles are packed and moved around (trafficked) through a neuron until a particular signal is given to release them. Once released, neuropeptides drift throughout the synapse or the brain until they are received by another cell, where they exert their effect on neural activity (R).

In other words, both neurotransmitters and neuropeptides are part of what allows neurons to “communicate” with each other in order to pass along signals and process information – which is obviously what allows the brain to function as a coherent whole, rather than just being a bunch of isolated cells.

However, there are two main differences between neuropeptides and neurotransmitters. The first difference is that neuropeptides are generally much larger molecules than neurotransmitters. The second – and more important – difference is that neurotransmitters are relatively fast-acting, and produce a very rapid and short-lived response in the neuron that receives them; in contrast, neuropeptides are much slower-acting, and produce significantly longer or more sustained effects on the receiving neuron [R, R].

It is also important to note that the label “neuropeptide” is contextual: for example, there are many hormones that act on the brain, which is why they are sometimes referred to as neuropeptides or neuropeptide hormones. In other words, these two labels are not mutually exclusive: a compound can be referred to as a hormone (or any other type of compound) when it is acting on the body in general, and can also be referred to as a neuropeptide when discussing

The post All About Neuropeptide Y (NPY): Potential Effects & Functions appeared first on SelfHacked.

Disclaimer: This post is not a recommendation or endorsement for galantamine. This medication is only FDA-approved for the treatment of certain specific medical disorders, and can only be taken by prescription and with oversight from a licensed medical professional. We have written this post for informational purposes only, and our goal is solely to inform people about the science behind galantamine’s potential effects, mechanisms, and uses.

What is Galantamine?

Galantamine is a nitrogen-containing compound that can be obtained synthetically, or from the bulbs and flowers of the Caucasian snowdrop (Galanthus caucasicus), Voronov’s snowdrop (Galanthus caucasicus), Galanthus woronowii, Daffodil (Narcissus) and red spider lily (Lycoris radiata ) [R, R, R].

Galantamine has been used for decades in Eastern Europe and Russia as a folk remedy for muscular weakness (myopathy), as well as for sensory and motor dysfunction associated with disorders of the central nervous system [R].

Galantamine is commercially available as Nivalin, Razadyne / Razadyne ER, Reminyl, and Lycoremine, and has sometimes been used in the treatment of mild cognitive impairment alone or in association with Alzheimer’s disease [R, R, R, R].

Official Medical Uses of Galantamine

1) Treating Alzheimer’s Disease

Galantamine is an effective treatment for Alzheimer’s disease, and has been officially approved by the FDA for this medical use.

Many Alzheimer’s patients report benefitting from galantamine therapy that is initiated early, soon after diagnosis, and continued for at least 1 year [R].

Galantamine is believed to act by increasing the concentration and overall activity of acetylcholine in the brain, which has been preposed to account for its effects on the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease [R, R].

A key sign of Alzheimer’s disease is a decrease in hippocampal episodic memory function due to the build-up of β-amyloid plaques which cause a breakdown of cholinergic signaling. Galantamine is believed to be a useful treatment for Alzheimer’s due to its ability

The post Galantamine Uses, Side-Effects and More appeared first on SelfHacked.

Disclaimer: This post is not an endorsement or recommendation for the use of GHB – in fact, we strongly advise against the recreational abuse of any illegal drugs, GHB or otherwise. We have written this post for informational purposes only, and our goal is solely to inform people about the science behind GHB’s effects, mechanisms, and historical and current uses.

What is GHB?

Definition

Gamma-hydroxybutyrate – more commonly known as “GHB” – was first synthesized in 1960 by the French physician Dr. Henri Laborit [R, R].

It was first used as an anesthetic since it impairs consciousness but was abandoned because of its weak pain-killing (analgesic) effects and its tendency to cause seizures [R, R, R].

The drug later gained popularity as a bodybuilding supplement during the ‘80s and ‘90s due to its reported anabolic (muscle-building) effects. It also started being used as a recreational drug because of its euphoric effects [R, R, R, R, R].

The effects vary from pleasant euphoria to dangerous or even life-threatening. GHB has a high potential for abuse and has become a major cause of overdose-related emergency room visits worldwide [R, R, R, R].

Legality

Because of its high abuse potential, GHB is scheduled as an illegal drug in most western countries. It was prohibited in the US by the FDA in 1990, followed by bans on GHB’s alternative forms in 2000.

Similar bans on GHB and its analogs were put into place throughout Europe during the late 2000s [R, R, R, R, R, R].

Nonetheless, it is still widely sold illegally by drug dealers across the world. “Street names” of GHB include “Fantasy”, “G”, “Gamma Oh”, “Georgia Home Boy”, and “liquid ecstasy” or “liquid X” [R, R, R].

Who Uses It?

This drug is mostly used by young people at clubs and raves. Most

The post What is GHB? Effects, Unapproved Uses & Drug Test appeared first on SelfHacked.

Read on to learn more about the potential uses of Suma root and how it may serve you as a nutritional supplement.

What Is Suma Root?

Hebanthe eriantha, commonly known as “Suma” or “Brazilian ginseng,” is a plant found throughout South America. Suma is a plant with deep roots that pull nutrients from the soil. For this reason, suma’s roots are the richest source of its bioactive compounds.

Suma has acquired different scientific names since its discovery, such as Pfaffia paniculata. This can lead to confusion as different sources may refer to the same plant by different names.

Suma is often referred to as “Brazilian ginseng,” although this name is a bit misleading, as the plant is not related to what most people commonly know as ginseng.

Snapshot

Proponents:

• Improves skin appearance
• May support fertility and sexual function
• May stimulate bone and muscle growth
• May have anticancer effects
• May protect the brain and liver
• May improve metabolic health

Skeptics:

• Clinical evidence is scarce
• Most studies tested purified components
• Long-term safety is unknown

Traditional Uses

Suma’s medical properties were originally discovered by indigenous cultures throughout South and Central America [R, R, R].

Suma has been used as a general “cure-all” for many different conditions including:

• Fatigue
• Anxiety
• Boosting the immune system
• Reducing pain
• Alleviating digestive issues
• Boosting physical energy
• As an aphrodisiac
• Erectile dysfunction
• Ulcers
• Stress

Interestingly, some of the medicinal applications of Suma root in traditional medicine have been confirmed by modern science, but strong clinical evidence is lacking.

Components & Mechanism of Action

Suma is rich in a large variety of nutrients, minerals, and other compounds.

The potent antioxidants in suma root play a key role in protecting the brain and other organ damage and are critical for preventing disease and fighting the long-term effects of aging.

The electrolytes, amino acids, minerals (magnesium, iron, and zinc),

The post Suma Root Potential Benefits, Side Effects + How to Use appeared first on SelfHacked.