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Focus. Concentration. Memory Improvement.

TheSpade

TheSpade

Bluelighter
Joined
Oct 15, 2005
Messages
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Anyone have any experience with any supplements which have helped improve any of the above? My memory is terrible, I can't focus on anything without my mind wandering and I'm very easily distracted.

Have tried pirecetam without luck, the taste and dosage needed were just ridicolous too.

Take A-Z multi vits / minerals on daily basis and high quality Omega fish oils but haven't noticed any change.
 
everything stems from you state of consciousness ~ yes there could be bio-chemical reasons for lack of focus, but generally these are things that we need to cultivate within ourselves

the best way to get into it is find a meditation circle or group and remember that the aim or goal isn't to be in a state of bliss or transcnedance ... it is just a practice of learning to 'be' and just observe... and if that includes your mind wandering... you'll just have to guide it back to the focus of your breath ....

continuity of practice is the secret to success

sorry i couldn't be more helpful with pills and quick-fix solutions... our society does a great job of that if you want to go down that path
 
TheSpade said:
Anyone have any experience with any supplements which have helped improve any of the above? My memory is terrible, I can't focus on anything without my mind wandering and I'm very easily distracted.

Have tried pirecetam without luck, the taste and dosage needed were just ridicolous too.

Take A-Z multi vits / minerals on daily basis and high quality Omega fish oils but haven't noticed any change.
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Go have a deep (very deep) massage, accupressure or anything that is not superficial, tell the person to work deep, have a very long one if you can. IT will hurt a lot, but it will
move things in your system!

Your energy is stagnant! After that, start going to the gym if you can, or cycle or run or boxing or kick boxing etc. Your energy in motion will assist all those. It is inertia that causes those!
 
Spade, I guess the first question would be--and if you wish to decline to answer, I understand fully--are you taking any drugs, and with what frequency/dosage?
 
Not taking any drugs. Drink alcohol moderately a few times a week. One cider in the evening maybe 3 nights a week and a couple pints at the weekend maybe.
 
Meditation. Think of only the air going in and out of you. When you are focused, try to have no thoughts at all. Do this daily for ten to fifteen minutes at least. Ionno about its memory effects (if there are any), but it helps focus (and mood).

You could try ginkgo biloba, but I warn that it makes me irritable.

Quit caffeine and maybe nicotine if you do either of those.

Get adequate sleep.

Keep up with the fish oil.
 
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do you want supplements or lifestyle suggestions?
Beyond what's been said:
b-vitamins
regular exercise
elimination of distractions/task-switching
eating regularly (what's comfortable), consuming well-balanced meals with complex (that is, fiberous) carbs and lean proteins. This should help you avoid wildly fluctuating blood sugar.

ebola
 
Spade,

It might be worth seeing a doctor and having an assessment for ADD or ADHD.

Everything said here so far is good advice. Meditation really can improve concentration. There are also various mental games, and some expensive programs, that have shown some effectiveness for improving things like concentration and memory.

Ultimately, I would say follow the advice on this thread---including seeing a doctor---and practice at these skills. Set aside time to focus on one thing---a book, a task, etc.---and then before attempting it, remove as many distractions from your environment as possible. Turn off the TV. Turn off the email (and disconnect the internet). Turn off the cell. No music. With practice, you should become more comfortable focusing on a particular task.
 
Best herbal-type supplement for focus and memory?

Just started back up in school and I really wanna do the best I can and basically I don't have a great memory probably from past heavyish drug use within the past 3 years or so.

I was wondering what natural supplements work the best for memory and focus that I could take before my classes.

I've have Ginkgo (along with other ingredients in it) before as well as PHOSPHATIDYLSERINE i think it is.

Anyone know about those or other things I could try out? Thanks
 
Ginkgo biloba isn't even uniform in it's (supposed) effects of cognitive enhancement. I would never dream of taking it daily at doses >30mg.

If you're dead set on taking strictly herbal supplements you're left with few options unfortunately. Pretty much only quality lecithin and omega-3s. :\

I think your best bet for just one thing would be fish oil.
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Fish are not herbal.
 
I do take Fish Oil regularly with a good high dose, but sorry not herbal, but natural. if u can change my topic name
 
shit. i thought i could be inb4tehnootropicsmention. ah well. supplements such as ginkgo, that increase blood flow to the brain, can help but not if the brain isn't making use of the increased blood flow.

it helps to think of the brain as a muscle, because the brain requires glucose and oxygen to work just like all the other muscles. you don't take supplements and sit on your ass when you want to grow biceps, you take supplements to help increase the efficiency of your muscles so that you can get better gains.

you can increase the capacity of the blood flow in your brain to get more glucose and oxygen up in there, but the following conditions must also be met: 1) an adequate amount of fuel must occupy the blood plasma and 2) the brain must actually be WORKED to consume that energy if you expect it to grow more efficient at cognitive functions.

the most natural way of increasing blood flow to your brain is of course by exercising since that increases pressure in the cardiovascular system which means more blood is passing across the brain in each heartbeat. don't need to take any pills to run a block, but you're gonna have to crack a few textbooks and make the effort to learn because depending on hoax shit like lecithin won't get you far.
 
This might not be the most desirable response for the OP, but I'm going to piggy-back on what thujone mentioned.

If your goal is to really improve cognitive performance and memory to assist you in academic performance, don't even worry about supplements.

None of them compare to truly taking care of yourself by having good sleep hygiene and getting appropriate rest accompanied by a balanced diet and sufficient exercise. Avoiding drugs like poppy pods and heroin will certain benefit you in this capacity as well ;)

I don't mean to project my biases on to you, but it disturbs me how pervasive the desire for the 'quick-fix' is in our modern societies. If you really want to learn and grow at your age, teach yourself that anything worth it takes real effort and shortcuts are more likely to get you lost then get you there quicker.
 
delta_9 said:
Ginkgo biloba isn't even uniform in it's (supposed) effects of cognitive enhancement. I would never dream of taking it daily at doses >30mg.
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Just wondering why you would be so against it?

Even if the supposed memory enhancement wasn't effective, surely theres no harm in increased blood flow?
 
ginko works great for me. ashwaganda is one to try as well.

they are both subtle in their effects imo
 
I've just started taking a fish oil and ginkgo supplement on a friend's recommendation who is studying pretty hard right now.

AM and PM dosing after a meal. Each capsule has 750mg of Fish Oil and 3g of Ginkgo. AUD$15 for a month.

It's hardly a scientific result but I'm pretty sure my brain was operating well at work this week and usually I'm prone to forgetting at least one or two minor things.
 
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