In previous blog entries, I have discussed how to use Kratom every day to kill anxiety, increase motivation and basically supercharge your life. I still live the Kratom lifestyle to this day. The increases in physical endurance, concentration, mood and overall quality of life are just too rewarding for me to pass up on a daily basis. After all, the best thing in life, IS LIFE – true words spoken by Ice Cube!
I understand not everyone will want to go all in on the Kratom lifestyle, especially after the barrage of negative press it has been receiving over the past year. The scientific consensus on this issue is drastically different than what has been portrayed in mainstream media, but that discussion is for another day.
Just know that dependence concerns can be avoided entirely by substituting Kratom with Nootropics a couple of days a week.
Let’s first break down some of the compounds before getting into how to cycle them.
Phenibut
Phenibut is a gem of a compound. I wish I would have discovered it many years earlier because it would have allowed me to interact with people much more freely. And there are few things more enjoyable than getting to know other human beings.
Developed in Russia and included as standard equipment in Russian cosmonauts’ medical kit, it is an extremely effective supplement for lowering stress levels and anxiety without negatively affecting performance like many commonly used anxiolytic compounds. Afraid of public speaking? Try Phenibut before a speech or discussion, and you’ll know why this is one of the highest selling Nootropics on the market.
When using Phenibut for the first time, you will find your mood is heightened (in a subtle type of way) and any stress or anxiety drastically reduced. That is it. There won’t be any slurred speech or absent-mindedness. People often fear the potential strength of unfamiliar substances, but this is not a concern with Phenibut.
When it kicks in, you’ll feel extremely calm and confident.
You can also stack Phenibut with a stimulant such as caffeine or Phenylpiracetam; using this combo will result in increased energy, mood and motivation to get things done.
The state of focus and concentration that results from the Phenibut and stimulant combination is often referred to as ‘Beast Mode.’
Whatever you do, don’t waste your Phenibut days!
Eliminate all possible distractions. Clear out a time window of 6 hours dedicated entirely to the task at hand and DO NOT DEVIATE. No email, no phone, no YouTube, no reading – only your objectives for the day. Checking email and taking a few minutes (or hours) to watch YouTube may not seem to impact productivity significantly, but they absolutely do. Once a task is paused, it takes a lot more willpower to resume and indeed many times never is.
Phenibut can take upwards of 6 hours to fully absorb, so don’t take more than the recommended dosage if you don’t feel much at first. Start with 500 mg, 6 hours before you want it to kick in. Depending on how you feel 5 to 6 hours later, you can take another 250 to 500 mg and repeat 3 to 4 times a day for a maximum of 2 grams. DO NOT GO OVER 2 GRAMS in a day as side effects can be more pronounced after passing this threshold.
As with Kratom, it’s important not to chase a buzz; we want to use just enough to enter ‘Beast Mode’.
Side effects will be slight and few. They could happen though. For example, the day after taking Phenibut, you might feel a mild drag on your mood ( although it is nowhere near the hangover from a couple of IPAs!). For me, this sometimes occurs after 2 gram days but has never happened if doses are kept to 1 gram total.
While researching Phenibut, you may come across threads and posts that discuss the dangers of addiction and withdrawal. Don’t let these testimonials freak you out! If you limit usage to 2 days a week (at the recommended dosage), you will be fine.
Just don’t use Kratom and Phenibut on the same day.
While I do not recommend using Phenibut on consecutive days, I have never had issues (other than lowered mood the next day) – even after taking it for two days in a row.
You’ll also be able to find many positive testimonials online from people that have had fantastic and even life-changing results from responsible Phenibut supplementation.
Phenylpiracetam
This compound is a stronger version of its predecessor, Piracetam. You may notice the only difference between the two names is that one has Phenyl at the beginning. That just means a group of atoms was added to the former to allow the compound to cross the blood-brain barrier, making it much more potent.
Like Phenibut, Phenylpiracetam was formulated in Russia to help cosmonauts manage the prolonged stresses of working in outer space.
What are some of the benefits of Phenylpiracetam? This compound can substantially improve the following:
- Motor Coordination
- Memory
- Attention Span
- Cognitive Ability
- Verbal Fluency
- Motivation
- Creativity
Phenylpiracetam increases brain function and makes cognitive exercises flow easier and faster.
Processes will take a fraction of the usual time.
Verbal fluency will increase significantly, and you will be more engaged in conversations.
Your reading speed will also improve.
The maximum effective Phenylpiracetam dose will vary from person to person.
A good starting point would be to try a minimal dose of 100 mg in the morning and see how you feel an hour later. Do you feel nothing? Do you feel more motivated than ever before? If you feel nothing, take another 100 mg capsule and see what the effects are afterward. If you feel fidgety, anxious or manic at 100 mg, you might want to try 50 mg instead.
Once you get your optimal dosage down to the T, you will notice a drastic effect on motivation levels.
The compound has a half-life of 3-4 hours, but I’ve lost plenty of sleep in the past when re-dosing in the early afternoon. A good rule of thumb is to not take Phenylpiracetam after 12 pm. You don’t want to offset the positive effects of this supplement by depriving yourself of sleep. Sleep should always be a priority.
Use of Phenylpiracetam seems to ramp up the brain’s demand for Acetylcholine, which is another essential nutrient for brain function. So, If you experience headaches after taking it, there is a good chance it is because of Acetylcholine depletion. To counteract this, you can supplement Choline (a precursor to Acetylcholine) by taking a high absorption version of the compound like Alpha-GPC or Citicoline.
You could also just eat a lot of eggs and steak, but that would be a little more cumbersome than swallowing a capsule.
How Does Phenylpiracetam Work?
To examine how Phenylpiracetam works, let’s refer back to its predecessor, Piracetam. If you’re like me, you only vaguely remember the term mitochondria from the days of middle school.
Mitochondria are essentially the power unit or battery of the cell.
Mitochondria need essential nutrients to produce energy and increase their output. With the proper fuel, your mitochondria create a usable form of energy for cells called adenosine triphosphate.
Piracetam directly enhances mitochondrial function and production of ATP (brain fuel). And since Phenylpiracetam is a much more potent form of Piracetam, it is exponentially more effective in boosting cellular energy and therefore cognitive performance. But don’t take my word for it. See for yourself.
The best place I’ve found to purchase these Nootropics is right here.
Psilocybin Mushrooms
Psilocybin mushrooms have been used in the United States as a recreational drug for decades, but have only recently begun to be discussed in the realm of performance enhancement.
The goal in micro-dosing is to take tiny amounts of the fungi so as to not feel any effects besides an improved mood, a clear head, and enhanced creativity.
Micro-dosing requires more precision than supplementing herbs and nootropics.
Going a bit overboard does not cause any hardcore psychedelic effects; it, nonetheless, is not optimal for achieving maximum focus and productivity, which is the ultimate goal.
If you’re curious about what it would feel like, check out this guy’s testimony.
As a side note, psilocybin mushrooms are incredibly safe in a controlled setting and are virtually impossible to overdose on. You can read more about mushroom safety here.
Let’s get to the logistics now. A proper and precise method of measurement is an absolute must for micro-dosing.
My friend Gabriella (this is an alias) has recommended buying mushrooms in liquid form. The vials she purchases contain a liquid extract amount that equals about 9 milligrams of pure psilocybin.
These vials produce tiny drops of extract when squeezed, and each contains a total of about 300 drops.
Gaby says a great starting point for micro-dosing beginners would be approximately 6-7 drops of psilocybin extract every 5-6 hours.
She also recommends not taking any micro-doses after 6 pm, as it could potentially impair sleep when taken too late.
If you’re not sure how or where to purchase psilocybin mushrooms, you can find out here. That’s the best I’m going to be able to do in terms of purchasing these, because they are, in fact, illegal.
Californians may be getting a pleasant surprise in the next couple of years though!
For more information on micro-dosing, performance enhancement techniques as well as testimonials from some of the most successful people of our generation, I highly recommend reading Tim Ferris’s book Tools of Titans.
Like most of Tim Ferris’s work, the book is extremely meticulous and methodical about human optimization.
It’s typical to assume that leaders and pioneers are all born farting fairy dust and excelling effortlessly from the very beginning, but that is rarely the case. Many of them need to struggle and persevere just like the rest of us.
Knowing this, why shouldn’t we do everything in our power to reach our fullest potential? I think it is an honorable cause. How about you?
Bonus Tips:
Already drink a bunch of caffeine? Try using a Kratom and Phenylpiracetam combination for a few days to reset your tolerance. Once your caffeine tolerance is reduced, you can reintroduce it into your supplement cycle with more effectiveness.
If you have the disposable income, you can also schedule a couple of sessions per week at your local float tank center.
Not familiar with floating?
Float tanks have a high concentration of Epsom salt, which creates a zero gravity environment for your body to relax weightlessly in.
After a float, my flexibility is significantly increased (as observed in Yoga) due to the high level of magnesium absorption. Sleep is also fantastic after a float, which increases energy and focus levels for a couple of days afterward.
In today’s chaotic and accelerated world, one of the best things you can do is make a concerted effort to slow down your mind. I have found that floating is the most convenient way of doing this EFFECTIVELY.
Even floating once a week would be guaranteed to have a significant impact on your sense of well-being.
