Limitless Mindset

Here's something luridly lame: one of the very biggest influencers in the Biohacking/health space once REFUSED to talk to me because I have less than 100,000 followers. I had crafted a pitch proposing a micro-collaboration that would take less than 90 seconds of his time, literally. The response, "come back when you have more followers" (I have 15K real human followers across all platforms and a website that's been popular for over a decade in the space).

I argued that the number of social media followers is not the most meaningful metric, and the one that many influencers are faking. And they did not respond. A stinging rejection, as this is someone whom I’d been a superfan of for a while, sharing his content, clicking the buy buttons on his recommendations, and reviewing his books positively.

In the hollow, neon-lit world of the modern “influencer economy,” we have been conditioned to worship at the altar of the vanity metric. If you spend any time in the Biohacking, anti-aging, or personal growth subcultures, you’ll quickly realize there is a rigid, albeit invisible, caste system based entirely on follower counts. If your digital tail is shorter than five figures, you are effectively a ghost: a non-entity whose insights are disregarded by the self-appointed gatekeepers of “clout.”

The biggest influencer I know: Dr. Hany Demian

He currently has around 20,000 followers and probably wouldn’t love being called an “influencer.” When I interviewed him on my podcast last year, he had just 400 Instagram followers, but even then, he was vastly and profoundly more influential than the social media stars with five and six-figure followings in the Biohacking/health/personal growth space. Here’s why...

He operates a cutting-edge regenerative medicine practice that has treated hundreds of thousands of patients - liberating them from daily chronic pain. Think about that number for a moment and compare it to the “likes” on a generic fitness post. We aren’t talking about “manifesting” wellness or “going with the flow” of some bland platitude. We are talking about hundreds of thousands of lives transformed through the industrious application of advanced medicine and meticulous biohacking. When a patient who has been crippled by daily, agonizing pain is rapidly restored to a state of physical autonomy, that is a transformation that ripples outward with more force than any “viral” tweet could ever hope to muster. Here’s my interview with him...

Consider the sheer human impact of his work. The network effects here are truly exponential. When one person is freed from chronic pain, their entire family is also liberated from the shared burden of that suffering. The millions of family members who no longer have to watch their loved ones wither away are all part of the “reach” of Dr. Damian’s work. This is real influence: it is the tangible, measurable improvement of human ability to function and flourish in an increasingly toxic world.

Follow Dr. Hany Demian if you want to see what real influence looks like (yes, he has a Ferrari)...

If you think our race-to-bottom “influencer culture” worshiping at the altar of the follower count is lame, share this...

And comment, tag, or link to someone doing great work who doesn’t have a huge following. If this gets over a hundred shares, I will publicly name that ridiculously pompous influencer who turned me down because of my sub-100K follower count. I was a superfan and he Floccinaucinihilipilied me! Floccinaucinihilipilification - that’s a word meaning: “to make worthless.”

I don’t mind burning that bridge if this message gets the reach it deserves!

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Exclusively sponsored by Viktoria's Face and Body Architect

In architecture, there is a fascinating principle called Tensegrity, a portmanteau of tensional integrity.

It describes a structure that maintains its shape not through heavy, stacked pillars, but through a continuous web of tension. Think of a suspension bridge or a geodesic dome: if you push on one side, the entire structure distributes the stress to remain stable.

Well, it turns out the human face is a tensegrity structure. We aren’t just skin draped over bone; we are a complex network of fascia and muscle that ‘floats’ in a delicate balance of tension. When that tension becomes imbalanced, we don’t just get tired--we age. Our faces literally begin to collapse inward.

I’m a nearly 41-year-old new-ish dad, so sleep deprivation and some ‘facial collapse’ are expected. But this might surprise you; I recently took a selfie and realized my crow’s feet had essentially vanished. This has a lot to do with some applied Tensegrity techniques I’ve been doing to ‘re-wire’ this facial tension.

Judge for yourself: Facial symmetry enhanced?

The woman behind this natural facelift, Victoria Mortensen, is joining us today. She is an osteopathy-trained face and body architect who has taken the ancient beauty wisdom of her native Ukraine and fused it with modern fascia science. She is the creator of the 8-week Face Plasticity program.

Mentioned in this interview

One size fits all Biohacks: Niacin for EMF-protection, Dual N-Back training to increase brainpower, or breathwork (Othership is my favorite app for this)

Standing desk - Because “sitting is the new smoking”

Techniques

Mobility exercises: Against “whithers and stroop”

Lifting of the cheekbone (hanging head on thumb exercise) & releasing the jaw

Here's the full recording of the Face Plasticity session Mrs. Limitless and I did with Viktoria...

Books & Resources

Beauty Pays: Why Attractive People Are More Successful -- probably worth reading if you need any more motivation to lifehack your looks

Why Beautiful People Have More Daughters: From Dating, Shopping, and Praying to Going to War and Becoming a Billionaire -- Apparently, the core premise of the novel was statistically disproven.

My travel blog about living in Ukraine: A Spy in Kyiv?

Hourglass - My novel about Biohacking, featuring beauty hacking

Beauty Diet: Eat coconuts and/or avocados daily

SuperOxide Dismutase (SOD) supplements - See my deep-dive interview on the topic with François Vix, Virtue (& Beauty) Are Downstream of Health

Zone Therapy - Treating the body via the.. toes?

About Viktoria’s Face and Body Architect

Viktoria Mortensen is dedicated to helping individuals over 30—those ready to embrace age-defying changes in their lives. With 16 years of experience coaching clients through the natural ageing processes, she understands how daunting these challenges can appear. Together with clients, Viktoria takes small, meaningful steps toward a rejuvenated, youthful appearance.

Her approach is centred on mild osteopathic face plastic techniques, guiding, supporting, and providing the tools necessary for achieving a natural, younger look without surgery or needles. Believing firmly in the potential of every client, Viktoria is committed to helping clients achieve the rejuvenated life they’ve always envisioned.

From ViktoriaFacePlasticity.com. Connect with her on Instagram, Facebook, and for individualized face plasticity recommendations...

Three selfies (actually)

1) Close-up of your face

2) Frontal shot - including your shoulders

3) Side profile - from the shoulder up

Takeaway question: How do your medium-term life goals connect to your beauty hacking and appearance?

My conversation with Victoria inspired this song about facial anatomy...

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With the heat of June upon us, the year is half over. So (of course), you have accomplished half the things you named in your New Year’s resolutions (right?)

If not, you need more potent Biohacks and lifehacks, which I dispense in June Biohacking and lifehacking Q&A podcasts below...

Disclaimer

What you find here is NOT medical advice. I’m not a doctor. I’m just an experienced, unlicensed self-experimenter practicing free speech by talking about my own extensive experiences and my interpretations of published science. Please see my guide on How to Biohack Smart and Safe. You should consult a doctor about any biohacking you’re doing and, ideally, also get a second opinion.

#12 Questions

Q

1. How do you start taking the Piracetam? In your video, you mixed the Piracetam in your tea.

2. How do I add the other nootropics? Is better to them in a capsule?

3. You mentioned that I have to use a milligram scale to measure or would it suffice just to eyeball them?

4. Should I take it everyday?

5. Can I take other supplements like Tongkat Ali while taking the Piracetam Protocol?

6. How long should I be on the protocol before I cycle?

7. Can I transition to Social Anxiety Protocol since it also contains Piracetam?

8. Can I take other racetams like Pramiraceram along with Piracetam to maximize my verbal fluency?

A

Recommendations

The Piracetam Protocol - for Racetam Non-Responders

Q

Responding to The Nutritionally Deficient Diet Guru

Yes, but our ancestors are dead. And with respect to ageing and longevity (aren’t our most important issues?) we haven’t done much if anything at all. Lots of research on mitochondria, how to kill cancer, to tell you the truth, just seeing what they try to do, for me at least, makes no sense. It’s the wrong approach.And to prove it, I can point anyone, to the end result, what’s really is happening along with the current mainstream belief. That is you age, get sick and die while “health experts” call it a natural thing. So much like our ancestors, you can understand where we’re heading.Do you know De Grey’s diet? You would think for someone who’s so determined to find solutions to these fundamental problems, lifestyle would be of essence. It is not.Anyways, I should be a bit more focused, I would say, it’s a good article with valuable info and ideas but hard to verify. For various synthetic nootropics mentioned, it’s impossible to verify or test because of lack of access. As you are aware there are various restrictions in place, depending where you are and I tend to stay well away of controlled substances, including prescription drugs.For the rest of supplements, herbs etc, which can be obtained, have you used methods that demonstrate a consistent outcome, in a reasonable timeframe (other than how you felt). For example if you use a blood pressure instrument before and after taking a garlic based supplement and record its readings. You could then compare it with an expected value and verify whether a study has merit or not for yourself. It’s something I don’t see often happening.

A

My transhumanism content playlist

Q

Watching the last 3 videos. Plz don’t turn into a commercially controlled channel. Your the only person online that I trust online for reliable information.

A

If you don’t like “commercially controlled” channels, the best way to support me on Substack from $7 a month

Q

Responding to Exogenous Oxytocin: A biohack for meaningful monogamy (and superlative sex?)

not related to oxitocyn, but since u showed clips of a salsa , what would u recommand as nootropics before a salsa night ? :)

A

Recommendations

Modafinil - is a serious motor coordination hack

Mildronate - This performance enhancer was very "meh" for me

And here's an old clip of Mrs. Limitless and I dancing...

Q

bro, what about skin care? how do u stop d skin from aging???

A

Recommendations

What you eat has a lot to do with your skin; I eat coconuts almost every day and look pretty good for a 41-year-old

Skin creams: Tyrosine, DMAE, SKQ1, and MitoQ

Q

Do you prefer coluracetam or fasoracetam for motivation?

A

Recommendations

Coluracetam - I had a good experience with it, it’s a subtle yet powerful enabler of focus

Fasoracetam - The evidence is scant for this one

Your questions inspired this salsa song about Biohacking in June's heat...

INVEST at least $300 in your own mind with these recommended sources and get a Biohacking consultation

Lean Life Coaching biohacking consulting

As mentioned in the podcast, this is a very lean biohacking consulting/life coaching program. Here’s how this would work...

* The Biohacking Consultation is 1 hour and 45 minutes total - which is actually two consulting calls.

* First Call 1 hour - Discovery & Strategizing call, I need to ask you some questions, we’ll discuss your history, and outline a biohacking strategy and action plan to overcome your issues.

* Second Call 45 minutes - Follow-up call in 30 or 60 days to see how you’re doing with the plan we outlined; how you’ve improved, what you’re struggling with, etc

There are a few important reasons we split the time up into two calls

* It’s a significant motivation hack for you to follow through on the biohacking habits and plan we’ll outline because you’re accountable to me in 30 or 60 days.

* I’m incentivized to come up with a really effective biohacking strategy for you because I have to talk to you after you’ve been following it for a month or two.

* It timeboxes us with a deadline of 30 or 60 days for you to make improvements and accomplish your goals.

Your skin is in the game here, that you’re paying good money for this, and you’re accountable to me on another call in 30 or 60 days. You’ll have to explain your lack of action if you fail to follow through.

Take a few minutes to answer a few questions. If your issues are far outside my areas of expertise, I’ll decline the consultation. My time is finite and very valuable, so I only want to spend it consulting the people I can really help. Thanks in advance for your understanding!

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Nicotinic acid, in its various forms, is the subject of a fairly heated debate over its fantastic properties when it comes to anti-aging, Schizophrenia, alcoholism, and trauma.

This article is mostly going to focus on decoding what the human data is saying about Vitamin B3 and how this squares up with the anecdotal experiences of the Biohacking community.

Scientific Research

It has been widely studied worldwide as a Nootropic and general health-promoting agent with nearly +500 human clinical trials published. Its most prolific use is treating high cholesterol.

Niacin vs Niacinamide vs Nicotinamide

Niacin turns into Niacinamide in the body. Nicotinamide is just a different name for Niacinamide. They are also sometimes referred to as Nicotinic acid, not to be confused with nicotine, the addictive agent in cigarettes.A few key differences...

* Niacin and Niacinamide share the same psychiatric benefits. Niacinamide does not cause a flush, which some may appreciate.

* Niacinamide is not a cholesterol hack like Niacin.

* Niacinamide is more bioavailable. An imperfect metaphor - that should make sense to Biohackers - would be to say that Niacinamide is to Niacin what Alpha GPC is to Choline.

They all end up being converted into NAD+ and NADH, promising antiaging agents...

The Niacin Flush

Niacin will produce a warming, energizing sensation in your face and skin for 15 to 30 minutes. If the Niacin flush is too much for you, the following will reduce the sensation:

* Taking an Aspirin

* A cold meal or drink

* Taking it before a meal

Interestingly, the Niacin flush seems to be an indicator of general mental health; a 2015 Swedish study on Schizophrenia stated:

The small group of niacin non-responding patients exhibited an even lower overall test performance. Delayed niacin flush also correlated inversely with psychomotor function and IQ in the patients.

So, if you’re single, you could start offering Vitamin B3 to the people you date. If they flush, then it’s a good sign; if not, I’ll plan your escape! But that’s all the dating advice you’ll get from me here.

History

This vitamin falls under the shadow of Abram Hoffer, Ph.D., MD, a hotly debated character in the annals of psychiatric history. A YouTube search of Dr. Hoffer will produce several videos worth watching of this charming old doctor harshly criticizing Psychiatry for not curing suffering but merely pushing pills.

Conspiracy theories about the pharmaceutical-psychiatric industrial complex abound regarding Dr. Hoffer’s ostensibly debunked studies. What’s not debated is that he was a quintessential healer and highly committed to the advancement of orthomolecular medicine.

Pellagra is a tragic vitamin deficiency disease that humans in poor and nutritionally deficient communities have suffered from since time immemorial. Niacin was discovered by an Austrian chemist in the 1800s, who originally named it Vitamin PP (as in Pellagra Preventing) since it cured the disease so effectively.

Vs Schizophrenia

Abram Hoffer, Ph.D., MD, conducted some double-blind studies in the 1950s, “curing” Schizophrenics with Vitamin B3. This is hotly debated online, but it definitely falls under the category of things worth trying if you are dealing with something as horrifying as Schizophrenia. You can find a handful of reports of Schizophrenics improving while taking Niacin, for example:

“When I got myself out of the mental hospital I read an article about Abram Hoffer’s work with niacin and started taking 3,000 mg a day. It completely changed my life and is part of what continues to contribute to my better balance to this day at age 59. “

Another interesting account appears in a book published in 1998:

...his Mom and Dad somehow got him to take 3,000 milligrams of niacin and 10,000 mg of vitamin C. Formally a hyperactive insomniac, he responded by sleeping for 18 hours the first night and becoming surprisingly normal within days. I’d seen him before, and I saw him after. I’d talked to his parents during the whole process. It was an astounding improvement.

Dr. Hoffer recommends Niacin along with Vitamin C for Schizophrenics.

Vs Alcoholism

In an interesting episode of history, Dr. Hoffer introduced the founder of Alcoholics Anonymous, Bill Wilson, to LSD therapy for alcoholics. Dr. Hoffer also introduced Vitamin B3 to Wilson as an option for treating alcoholism:

Bill was very curious about it and began to take niacin, 3 g daily. Within a few weeks fatigue and depression which had plagued him for years were gone. He gave it to 30 of his close friends in AA and persuaded them to try it. Within 6 months he was convinced that it would be very helpful to alcoholics. Of the thirty, 10 were free of anxiety, tension and depression in one month. Another 10 were well in two months.

They went on to conduct studies on much larger groups, and the data produced was optimistic:

A five-year longitudinal field trial of nicotinic acid was conducted on 507 known alcoholics to determine what effects and benefits might result. Our experience strongly suggests that:1. Nicotinic acid can benefit 50 to 60 percent of alcoholics in the organic stage.2. Nicotinic acid can benefit about 30 percent of the total alcoholic population.

Niacin is an inexpensive and potentially transformative option worth the consideration of those struggling with alcoholism.

For Trauma Survivors

Another interesting case study is that of a Canadian officer who suffered for 4 years in a Japanese concentration camp during World War 2. Dr. Hoffer introduced him to Niacin. He began taking it and experienced significant recovery from some of the crippling disabilities he acquired while interned. Niacin was administered to numerous other prisoners of war who experienced similar recovery. Dr. Hoffer pondered:

...every human exposed to severe stress and malnutrition for a long enough period of time will develop a permanent need for large amounts of this vitamin and perhaps for several others. This is happening on a large scale in Africa where the combination of starvation, malnutrition and brutality is reproducing the conditions suffered by the veterans. Those who survive will be permanently damaged biochemically, and will remain a burden to themselves and to the community where they live. Will society have the good sense to help them recover by making this vitamin available to them in optimum doses?

I doubt it...

The B Vitamin from Outer Space?

From Dr. Lee Know’s recent book...

Back in 2001, NASA scientists found traces of vitamin B3 in meteorites , adding support to the theory that life on Earth was seeded by extraterrestrial sources . Vitamin B3 ’ s importance to life is apparent when we consider that it is the precursor of the biological molecules NAD + and NADH (2690-2693)

Antiaging Mechanism

It is hypothesized to promote mitochondrial biogenesis and DNA repair. Niacin also helps the production of hormones by the adrenal gland.A 2014 UK paper stated regarding its anti-aging and cognition-affecting properties:

Meat offers significant sourcing challenges and lack causes a deficiency of nicotinamide and tryptophan and consequently the energy carrier nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) that gets consumed in regulatory circuits important for survival, resulting in premature ageing, poor cognition and brain atrophy... we propose a hypothetical hypervitaminosis B3... as the trade-off for increased brain power and longevity, a recently evolved human characteristic.

Women’s bodies naturally convert more Tryptophan into Niacin than men’s. Dr. Hoffman hypothesizes that this is evidence of Niacin’s antiaging properties...

“Women, on average, live longer then men. It has been shown for men that giving them niacin increases their longevity. [2] Is the increased longevity in women the result of greater conversion of tryptophan into niacin under the stimulus of their increase in estrogen production?”

Obesity vs Antiaging

However, there’s some debate regarding its anti-aging properties. A 2003 paper, Key Gene For Life Extension By Cal…

Yohimbine is a fat-burning Nutraceutical with a dark side that is worth the attention of those seeking to sculpt themselves into an Adonis or those intent on reincarnating a tribal African chief’s libido.

Although I would not recommend this potent performance enhancer to everyone, there are a couple of specific use cases for which it’s quite good, which this article will explain.

This article will mostly focus on decoding what the human studies are saying about Yohimbine and how this squares up with the anecdotal experiences of Biohackers online.

History

Yohimbine vs Yohimbe

Yohimbine is a supplement derived from the bark of the Corynanthe Yohimbe West African tree, which no doubt was infamous among African medicine men since time immemorial as an aphrodisiac (Afro-disiac?) Proto-Viagra.

Scientific Research

It has 100 human clinical trials conducted since the turn of the millennium, even though it’s of African origin, the majority of the good science was done in the United States and other Western countries.

Unleashing Your Inner Incubus

When I was a young dude chasing skirts in Denver almost every night, one of my friends started dating a real-life witch. No, she did not ride a broomstick or sacrifice cats, but she did cast various spells and perform rituals with candles and pentagrams. Even though I don’t really believe in that sort of thing, I asked her one time...

Is there a special spell you could cast that would result in me having some kind of intensely pleasurable sexual experience?

She responded that she was willing to cast just such a spell that would give me the kind of peak sexual experience I was curious about, but there would be a major downside...

If, after enjoying a metaphysically potent sexual romp, I betrayed the spirit of the spell by disregarding or disrespecting whoever I slept with, I would have a steep cost to pay in bad karma or rotten luck.

I’m not very superstitious, but my sex life was not bad at the time, so I decided not to take the chance that her magic might backfire.

Upon reading or listening to numerous guys’ anecdotal accounts of Yohimbine, I got the eerie impression that it’s similarly a high-reward, high-risk hack for peak sexual hedonism...

* It enhances the sexual sensations and intensity of orgasms, quite a bit for some guys, sometimes.

* Men anecdotally report that it makes them very horny and aggressive. I would only use it if I was sure I was going to have sex. It might not be a good supplement for guys who are really committed to no fapping.

* It might cause premature ejaculation, so make sure to practice those Kegels!

* It takes effect pretty quickly, and you would want to take it within about two hours of having sex, so perhaps add a bit of Yohimbine to your date night stack.

* Although this clever dude advises using it for morning sex because it is a stimulant that will disrupt your sleep if taken within a few hours of bed.

It’s also worth the attention of guys who want to treat erectile dysfunction. A meta-analysis of 7 Yohimbine studies out of a prestigious university concluded:

The benefit of yohimbine medication for erectile dysfunction seems to outweigh its risks. Therefore, yohimbine is believed to be a reasonable therapeutic option for erectile dysfunction that should be considered as initial pharmacological intervention.

According to another study of 18 American men struggling with erectile dysfunction, it increased penile girth. So it makes your penis just slightly girthier (which is a word according to urbandictionary.com!) Yohimbine might just make your boners great again!

A Powerful Fat Burner

Its most notable effect is fat loss, although I’m not sure if the scientific research supports the notion of the average chubby couch potato using Yohimbine to lose weight.

One of the more notable human studies was conducted with 20 soccer players in Serbia. They gave 10 milligrams to the athletes twice a day. The study concluded

The results of the current study indicate that supplementation with yohimbine combined with resistance training does not significantly alter the body mass, muscle mass, or performance indicators in professional soccer players. Nonetheless, yohimbine supplementation appears to be suitable as a fat loss strategy in elite athletes.

Yohimbine has a novel mechanism that burns stubborn fat in areas of the body that are usually hard to lose weight. Perhaps you’ve been exerting herculean efforts in the gym for years or months, but frustratingly, you have some determined-to-stay fat on your lower stomach that prevents you from developing a sexy six-pack. Yohimbine might help!

Anecdotally, pretty close to 100% of the users are reporting that it worked as advertised for weight loss combined with serious exercise. If you’re willing to do work to lose weight, Yohimbine will help.

A Fasting “Cofactor”

It only works if you use it while fasting - if you are eating within a few hours of dosing Yohimbine, it won’t burn any of your fat. You would want to use Yohimbine in combination with...

Intermittent fasting - Spending 14-16 hours a day NOT eating or snacking. Often means eating a late dinner, skipping breakfast, and eating a late lunch.OrA 24-hour fast - Easiest when done between lunch and the next day’s lunch.

I would NOT use it during a two or three-day fast, as it is very stimulating, during a multiple-day fast you don’t want to be really stimulated and burning a lot of calories.This excellent interview explains why fasting is crucial to a holistic biohacker’s lifestyle and long-term health.

Appetite Suppressant

Some animal studies suggest that it eradicates appetite, which may make it doubly effective as a weight-loss measure. There’s no good human research on this, though.

Pre-Workout

It’s used by bodybuilders as a pre-workout supplement because many find it extremely stimulating...

Sleep

An older Canadian study found that 10 milligrams of Yohimbine supplementation by women did not affect their sleep hormone levels. However, several of the anecdotal accounts advise against using it before sleep, as it may keep you up. I used it myself several times in the early evenings before a gym session and lower doses of 5 milligrams later in the evenings before sex, and I didn’t notice it hurting my sleep quality or keeping me up.

Experiential

Watching the YouTube testimonials of Yohimbine is pretty entertaining and will give you a good idea of what to expect from this very experiential performance enhancer, although a lot of these guys are clearly pitching products or playing cartoonish characters.

Testosterone Enhancer?

You might think that Yohimbine is a testosterone promoter. It’s not. A 2002 American study of 18 men found it did not affect testosterone.

Mechanism of Action

This alkaloid burns fat and energizes our biology via several mechanisms

* Release of adrenaline and noradrenaline - the survival neurotransmitters of panic and aggression.

* Vasodilation increases blood flow throughout the body.

* Inhibits the Alpha2 fat receptors responsible for the stubborn fat around your belly

Sources

There’s an important distinction to be made between Yohimbe and Yohimbine HCL.

* Yohimbine HCL is the specific molecule that has been demonstrated in human clinical trials to have the kinds of beneficial effects on fat loss, libido, and energy levels praised by all those giant guys on YouTube.

* Yohimbe is just the name of the tree bark that it is derived from. Like anything in nature, it contains numerous other pharmacologically active molecules. Despite what the marketing or the product labeling claims, you really have no idea how much Yohimbine HCL is contained in a Yohimbe supplement. It may be none, or it may be way too much and give you an unpleasant panic attack.

You are really playing Russian roulette if you just pick up a random Yohimbe or Yohimbine supplement from the shelves of your local pharmacy or take it as part of a branded pre-workout product. This is why I highly recommend that you get your Yohimbine HCL from...

* A pharmaceutical-grade source that isolates t…

In the technocratic dystopia of modernity, things are undeniably grim, and they are getting worse at an accelerating rate.

This is not merely an observation for the hopelessly naive normie who still believes the evening news; it is a reality that even the most savvy lifehacker must confront daily. We find ourselves trapped in a pincer movement of economic instability and biological decline. If you are a Millennial or a member of Gen Z (I shall dub thee: Gen Zer), looking at the sordid state of affairs and deliberating between the career options of selling your body on OnlyFans, becoming some specie of online scammer/grifter, or signing up to die in some utterly pointless foreign war, I have a contrarian option for you.

There is a shockingly simple, personal, and pragmatic solution that my mind keeps returning to. It is a solution that addresses the very core of what ails both society and the individual. Before I reveal it, we must first categorize the five specific crises that this path mitigates, for we are meticulous empiricists here, and we must define our problems before we solve them.

Five horsemen of the modern apocalypse

First, we have the technological unemployment crisis. Growing numbers in our society simply will not have work in the near future because of the “enshittification” of the economy via AI, outsourcing, and corporations running leaner and meaner. These unemployment and underemployment numbers are only going to tick upward for the foreseeable future.

Second, we face a dire food quality and cost problem. Especially in America, the food of the masses has become overpriced poison. The cholesterol-rich eggs you need for neurological repair have become a luxury item, while the mainstream options are laden with glyphosate and metabolic disruptors.

Third, many of us are developing chronic health problems related to a sedentary lifestyle. We spend our lives in front of glowing, dopamine-draining screens for both work and play, incurring a massive biological cost.

Fourth, our formerly first-world cities are devolving into urban dystopias of crime, chaos, and a total loss of community. These centers (where the housing crisis intensifies as the cost of living skyrockets) are increasingly succumbing to socialism, which, as history dictates, only serves to make everything worse.

Finally, we face a “meaning crisis.” The work available feels meaningless, starting a family feels impossible, and we have become agency-less passengers on a crazy train hurtling toward a cliff of nihilism.

The solution

Early in the mornings, in those contemplative moments after I have taken my smart drugs, or after a cold shower, or after a non-ejaculatory tantric lovemaking session with my wife, my mind oddly keeps returning to one specific solution to the modern “everything crisis.” Why aren’t more people talking about THIS? Is it really that simple? My solution, which you should be dying to hear by now, is this: Become a farmer.

I am suggesting that you reject the digital panopticon and return to the land. This is not some “back-to-nature” hippy sentiment; it is a hard-nosed, AI-proof career strategy. Farming is actually far cooler than the stereotypes of the old man on a tractor would suggest. With modern regenerative farming practices, there is an incredible amount of science and natural engineering involved in the production of food.

I’d suggest rebranding “farmer” to something cooler, Sovereign Soil Hacker.

The AI-proof entrepreneurship of the soil

Farming is one of the few careers that will remain shielded from the voracious appetite of AI and robotics for a long time. There is an innovative movement in regenerative farming that results in a much higher yield of nutritious food while simultaneously regenerating the land.

Years ago, I read a compelling, albeit “fringe,” case that the Amazon rainforest was actually constructed by the Atlanteans thousands of years ago. They utilized Terra Preta, an incredibly rich, dark soil that is actually reproducible. This type of high-level agricultural engineering allows for the production of food that is biologically superior to what you’ll find in a mainstream supermarket.

And that’s not all, other innovations are fueling and multiplying the yields of forward-thinking independent farmers...

* Molecular Hydrogen (H2​) Agriculture: Research indicates that treating plants with hydrogen-rich water can significantly increase yield, improve antioxidant levels, and enhance resistance to environmental stress. This is effectively “Biohacking” the plant’s own stress-response systems. (Molecular hydrogen is a fascinating area of Biohacking that I’m going to be leaning into this year).

* Electroculture: This involves using atmospheric electricity (via copper antennas or coils) to stimulate plant growth. It appeals to the “hacker” mindset by utilizing neglected energies to increase fertility without chemical fertilizers.

* Nutrient-Dense Infusion: While colloidal silver is primarily used as an antimicrobial (an alternative to nasty pesticides) for seeds, the broader biohacker move is Regenerative Agriculture, which uses compost teas and microbial inoculants to restore the soil’s “microbiome,” mirroring the human gut-health focus common in lifehacking.

According to the USDA 2022 Census of Agriculture, there is currently a major deficit of farmers, which is a significant reason why food prices are skyrocketing. This creates a massive entrepreneurship opportunity. There will always be a market of discerning people who want their food produced by humans rather than big corporate factory farms. If you produce organic, regenerative food, you are creating a product with intrinsic value that inflation cannot easily erase. Furthermore, as a farmer, you can always eat your own product. You don’t have to worry about the inflated prices at the grocery store when you are the source of the supply.

Biohacking the agrarian lifestyle

This path also solves the health crisis of sedentary life. Farmers spend their time outside, under the sun, and in nature.

In the past, this meant back-breaking labor and mobility problems. However, we are Biohackers. By yielding the tools we have, such as high-dose collagen supplementation, red light therapy for recovery, an injection of BPC-157 from time to time, and meticulous ergonomic practices, one could maintain a high-performance body while doing vigorous work. It is about taking the toll of physical labor and tempering it with advanced recovery protocols.

This lifestyle also addresses the “meaning crisis.” Have you ever heard of a “depressed” farmer? Me neither! Working with your hands to produce something essential is a freedom-oriented existence.

Become a farm-life “influencer”

You have probably played with the idea of pursuing a career as an “influencer.” This isn’t as vain and vapid as it may seem; it is actually a viable entrepreneurship option that connects directly to being a Sovereign Soil Hacker. In an era of AI-driven technological unemployment (a crisis I saw coming way back in 2012, listening to the ever-prescient Singularity.FM), the “influencer” model is one of the few paths that may prove AI-proof for the foreseeable future. People are biologically wired to form parasocial relationships. In the coming AI economy, they will continue to buy from, support, and trust recommendations from humans who have earned that trust through transparency and expertise.

I certainly don’t regret the career pivot I made a decade ago from web developer to what could be broadly described as “influencer.” Building an audience and establishing trust is a form of entrepreneurship that survives the “crazy train” of modernity. As a Sovereign Soil Hacker, you will need to market your produce; the “influencer” model of content syndication, collabs, and podcasting is the most cost-effective way to build that market.

On social media, I’ve seen a new breed of “farmer-influencers” who produce high-quality organic products and use content creation as their marke…

There is a specific question I refuse to answer. A question I get privately from members of the Limitless audience from time to time: How much money do I make doing what I do?

Here is why I refuse that question: I have no desire to dilute my field by producing a swarm of pseudo-experts who would, no doubt, awkwardly and melodramatically end up competing with me. The only reason to talk about my income would be if I wanted to sell you a course on how to ‘get rich quick’ as an Applied Neuroscience Strategist, like me.

But even if I created the greatest course on the planet about launching a lucrative career as a health or personal growth “influencer,” the data is clear: 80% to 90% of the students would fail to achieve even moderate success, simply because entrepreneurship is just that hard. The fact that I’ve never released such a course should make you think...We live in an era of endless digital pitches; gurus and influencers selling ‘masterclasses’ and ‘blueprints’ for day trading, crypto-investing, or building automated AI empires. But the big question you must ask when faced with these opportunities is simple: Why? If their niche is as profitable as the marketing claims, why are they spending their time selling you the map instead of just mining the gold themselves?

I don’t sell ‘secrets of smart drug dealing on the internet’ course because I’d rather spend my energy doing the actual work that provides for my family. That is why I’m not in the pyramid-building business. I want you to carry that same nugget of critical thinking with you the next time you see a four-figure price tag on a profit machine pitched. Because the moment you stop questioning critically is the moment your ‘Human Firewall’ begins to crumble.

Leading us deeper into this world of deception and defense is a man who goes to extremes to prove a point (once even buying a working ATM on Craigslist just to demonstrate how easily our ‘secure’ systems can be cracked). Robert Siciliano is an author, security analyst, and the Architect of the Strategic Human Firewall™. His expertise featured on CNN, Fox News, and CNBC, and in The Wall Street Journal and Forbes. While he is a world-renowned educator for corporate giants, today he’s here to help us harden our personal defenses.

Mentioned in this interview

Books & Resources

1 Habit: 100 Habits from the World’s Happiest Achievers - Robert contributed a chapter to this book on daily aphorisms to keep one’s mind ordered

Deep-dive chapter on the pitfalls of online dating in my book for men: Don’t Stick Your Dick in a Blender: How to meet a nice girl instead - from a tantric husband with a better sex life than you!

Catfished - Grade-A infotainment on the scourge of romance scams

Lie To Me - Excellent TV show about a fictional deception detection consultancy

The Strategic Human Firewall™: Identifying AI and Social Engineering Digital Deception Attacks

Listener takeaway

Be more attention to those tell-tale biological signs of discomfort as you’re interacting with strangers - even if they are making you feel good

About Protect Now

Protect Now creates meaningful changes in security culture by exposing the Human Blindspot—the natural tendency to trust that scammers exploit—and transforming your workforce into The Strategic Human Firewall™. We achieve this through CSI Protection Certification, our proprietary cyber security employee training program that teaches people why they should be personally invested in cyber security.Our program was developed by top cyber security keynote speaker Robert Siciliano CSP, CSI, CITRMS, who has been informing and entertaining audiences for more than three decades as a keynote speaker, event speaker and the host of cyber security seminars and a cyber security podcast.

Connect with Robert: ProtectNowLLC.com or LinkedIn

My conversation with Robert inspired this silly song about an aspirational scammer...

Support me on Substack? For $7/monthly?

For several months now, I've been alternating two workout stimulants that I like, Yohimbine HCL® and HMB.

Both enhance my workouts qualitatively and quantitatively. I'm able to move more weight for more reps on these stimulants. Subjectively, the big difference between the two is that Yohimbine works by releasing adrenaline, the fight or flight stress hormone. So it makes you feel a little more on edge and energized. I generally manage stress and anxiety well, so I haven't experienced any negatives from using Yohimbine, although I would want to be doing something visceral while on Yohimbine. I wouldn't want to be just sitting in my home office while on Yohimbine. HMB, on the other hand, does not make me feel energized as a classic Nootropic would, but there is a clear uptick in my gym performance.

It is hard to objectively say which enhances my workouts better. I would say that they both enhance my performance by 10% - 20%. I’m perhaps limited in evaluating these because I’m not a hardcore athlete; I go to the gym several times a week for 90-minute sessions to stay fit and healthy. I’m rather conservative at the gym; making gains and putting on muscle are secondary goals for me. I’d rather have slow, consistent growth in my lifts and weight than really push myself and risk injury.

I did experiment with combining the two.

One Sunday afternoon, I did a 90-minute workout on 1000 milligrams of HMB and 5 milligrams of Yohimbine, which was (unsurprisingly) very stimulating and resulted in a great workout. I made gains in my lifts and did 25 pull-ups. I usually do about 20 minutes of cardio at the gym while brain training with Dual N-Back Pro, which is usually a bit challenging because my gym often blasts awful Hip Hop music, which is, to say the least, a non-optimal audio background for brain training. My brain training scores while doing cardio are usually lower than when I do it sitting at home. I do think that Yohimbine, at least, is a bit of a cognitive enhancer because I had a nice uptick in my brain training scores on this stack despite the distracting music.

Cost and Dosage Comparison

Fifty 5-milligram Yohimbine tabs are 21 euros ($22). I've been doing 15 milligrams per workout session, which comes to $1.30 per workout. I found that 1000 milligrams of HMB has a similar effect; a bottle of 120 x 500 mg capsules costs $19.95, which is just 0.33 cents per workout. Both are pretty affordable, but HMB is a better deal!

Once I exhaust my supply of Yohimbine, I'm not sure if I'll be reordering it. I'd rather use HMB going forward and will continue using Creatine.

HMB Review: A notable uptick in gym performance

I’ve taken 1000 milligrams (two capsules) of HMB before workouts, and I believe there is a notable uptick in my gym performance. I’m able to lift more, along with doing more pull-ups and push-ups. I’ve been getting acquainted with some pre-workout supplements in the last few weeks. I’ve also tried Mildronate before workouts. It’s hard for me to compare and contrast the two from my subjective experience because I’ll admit that when it comes to my gym performance, it’s hard to tell the difference between pharmacologically enabled gains and me just being more aggressive or the placebo effect. There’s not much subjective experience with HMB as there is with many Nootropics.

What is the science saying about HMB

There are over 200 papers mentioning HMB, notably a 2019 Polish Meta-Analysis that describes the scope of clinical trials it’s undergone.

HMB supplementation has been carried out with various groups of athletes. In endurance and martial arts athletes, HMB supplementation revealed positive effects on specific aerobic capacity variables. Positive results were also disclosed in resistance trained athletes, where changes in strength, body fat and muscle mass as well as anaerobic performance and power output were observed.

A paper by the Sports Science Sports Medicine Centre at the Australian Institute of Sport synopsizes its mechanism and benefits to athletes:

[HMB] a metabolite of the essential amino acid leucine, is one of the latest dietary supplements promoted to enhance gains in strength and lean body mass associated with resistance training. Unlike anabolic hormones that induce muscle hypertrophy by increasing muscle protein synthesis, HMB is claimed to influence strength and lean body mass by acting as an anticatabolic agent, minimising protein breakdown and damage to cells that may occur with intense exercise.

Yohimbine Review: superpowers sex and workouts with adrenaline!

I did several workouts on 10 milligrams, which I think enhanced my performance somewhat. I made gains of 10%-20% in the quantity or repetition of the weight I moved. It’s hard to say if this is just because I’m pushing myself a bit harder or if it’s the Yohimbine. I’m not a bodybuilder and haven’t been lifting weights for years in the gym. Honestly, I have a bit of an on-again, off-again relationship with the gym, so I don’t push myself really hard to break previous personal records. I go to the gym just to maintain health and fitness, so I’m pretty conservative. The last thing I want is to injure myself, so I’m maybe not the typical Yohimbine user. I can see how I would probably get more out of Yohimbine if I wanted to compete in one of those bodybuilding competitions where guys strut around in little Speedos or if I wanted to do a triathlon.

I upped the dosage to 15 milligrams for my Sunday workout, and there was a noticeable uptick in my power output; my rep count increased from 6 to 10 squats, and I made some gains in quantity of reps across the board. I had taken about a week’s break from going to the gym and expected that my capacity to move metal would have decreased a little. Thankfully, its effect does not persist all day. After the workout, I didn’t feel fired up by Yohimbine’s adrenaline release. I was relaxed and enjoyed the rest of my Sunday. I was quite sore and very thankful for my wife’s loving massage before bed. Before working out, I had to do a little shopping at the mall, and I was mindful of my mood and state of mind. I wasn’t particularly irate or anxious, I felt energetic and happy, although I wouldn’t want to be cooped up in my home office on this dosage.

One Sunday, I did 10 milligrams before a double workout. I did some weight lifting at the gym, and then I joined my wife for a yoga class. I thought the yoga on Yohimbine might be interesting. The issue was that the yoga class turned out to be very long, nearly three hours! I thought it was supposed to be less than an hour! Around two hours into the yoga class, I started getting quite irate that the class was taking so long. Eventually, I stood up and announced to the class that I had other things to do and left early. I’m not sure if the Yohimbine made me irate or if it’s just that the yoga class ran so long, but I don’t think I’ll be doing Yohimbine and yoga again.

I think 10 milligrams is the dosage sweet spot for me. In the future, when I want to take the intensity to the next level, I may do 15 milligrams again.

Sex Hack

Sex on Yohimbine is intense! I did 15 milligrams one afternoon. After about 20 minutes, I could feel the adrenaline kick in, which is a pleasant sensation. My wife wanted to make love, so she made me some Horny Goat Weed tea and put on a sexy outfit to arouse me. The sex was vigorous and intense. The herbs made me a bit more horny and energized, and my erection was rock solid! Our afternoon lovemaking climaxed in one of the more intense orgasms that I can remember having. In my future adventures in sex hacking, I look forward to combining Yohimbine and Horny Goat Weed.

I used a lower dosage of 5 milligrams before sex in combination with Horny Goat Weed; the sex was not quite as intense, but I think it had an effect. I did the 5 milligrams around 10 PM and managed to fall asleep fine, but I wouldn’t do it later in the evening than that.

Typically, I take it in the afternoon or early evening before…

I answer the May Biohacking and lifehacking questions in the Q&A podcast below.

And I share some philosophical thoughts on the contraction of freedoms due to the global pandemic and explain why personal and interpersonal freedom matter more than political freedom in living a good life. Listen to it on the go here on Castbox.

Disclaimer

What you find here is NOT medical advice. I’m not a doctor. I’m just an experienced, unlicensed self-experimenter practicing free speech by talking about my own extensive experiences and my interpretations of published science. Please see my guide on How to Biohack Smart and Safe. You should consult a doctor about any biohacking you’re doing and, ideally, also get a second opinion.

#29 Questions

Q

I have something for you regarding this statement

“Personal and interpersonal freedom matters more than political freedom in living a good life.”

The issue is ultimately populatoin health, rather than personal liberty and the reality is, “equal for all and all are equal” is the deepest lie in this, thus, the most persistent expression of control...The controling bodies,(media outlets, branches of government, lobbyist, and Dr’s are also not in on this campagn) influence us to further control each other don’t they, and they do that by convincing us, we are all equal, when, that is THE aspect that is true less and less. Thus, we become blind to the specificities of our own lives, or our own health, in deed, of our neighbor and of population health. Your statement about persona and interpersonal freedom, is now about as false and useless as one could come up with.There literally is not population health, without measures of population control, and, you are promoting what the source of the problem is. My specialty is “the human condition” and that is one set of problems that just don’t change, not ever.

Responding to my newsletter, A funny story about tyranny...

Q

Regarding products for sale, I am a bit reticent about any exotic nootropics.I rely on caffeine (one weak coffee very early in the morning only every second day, no caffeine on the alternative day).I love the film “Limitless” starring Bradley Cooper and I guess that film is sort of describing Modafinil. However, as I mentioned, I prefer to keep my intake as natural as possible. Caffeine is about as exotic as I get and even that substance I limit to keep myself sensitive to its effects.I am, however, having trouble moving from Dual 1-Back to Dual 2-Back using some free software I downloaded (brainworkshop.net).I have an impaired working memory capacity due to anxiety. Do you have any strategies (techniques) that you could recommend for me to be able to progress from Dual 1-Back to Dual 2-Back?

A

Recommendations

The Adaptogens: Rhodiola, Chaga, Ashwagandha, Eleuthero, Red Reishi, etc

The Brain Rehab Protocol

Dual N-Back brain training

Q

I saw an article on your site about SuperMemo from 2013. Are you still using it? I’m not super familiar with your site but if you’re interested in better and more learning I’m not sure there’s a better way. If you’d like some help trying out the desktop version let me know. I’m not affiliated with them, I’m just a SuperMemo addict.

A

Recommendations

Use the Supermemo app

Update: I’ve since used SuperMemo to build my Bulgarian vocabulary, and I’ve created a Bulgarian course that any SuperMemo user can access

Q

hi Jonathan, I’m a long time subscriber and I have 2 questionsdo you drive a car? and do you think some smart drugs should not be taken when we drive?

A

I live in the center of a European capital where I don’t need a car (it’s pretty great).

Driving on almost all smart drugs while driving is OK (many of them enhance motor coordination). Driving on high doses of sedating anxiolytics (Phenibut, Ashwagandha, Kratom, etc) is not a good idea, though.

Your questions inspired this dramatic pop-rock track...

INVEST at least $300 in your own mind with these recommended sources and get a Biohacking consultation

Lean Life Coaching biohacking consulting

As mentioned in the podcast, this is a very lean biohacking consulting/life coaching program. Here’s how this would work...

* The Biohacking Consultation is 1 hour and 45 minutes total - which is actually two consulting calls.

* First Call 1 hour - Discovery & Strategizing call, I need to ask you some questions, we’ll discuss your history, and outline a biohacking strategy and action plan to overcome your issues.

* Second Call 45 minutes - Follow-up call in 30 or 60 days to see how you’re doing with the plan we outlined; how you’ve improved, what you’re struggling with, etc

There are a few important reasons we split the time up into two calls

* It’s a significant motivation hack for you to follow through on the biohacking habits and plan we’ll outline because you’re accountable to me in 30 or 60 days.

* I’m incentivized to come up with a really effective biohacking strategy for you because I have to talk to you after you’ve been following it for a month or two.

* It timeboxes us with a deadline of 30 or 60 days for you to make improvements and accomplish your goals.

Your skin is in the game here, that you’re paying good money for this, and you’re accountable to me on another call in 30 or 60 days. You’ll have to explain your lack of action if you fail to follow through.

Take a few minutes to answer a few questions. If your issues are far outside my areas of expertise, I’ll decline the consultation. My time is finite and very valuable, so I only want to spend it consulting the people I can really help. Thanks in advance for your understanding!

Support me on Substack? For $7/monthly?

This herbal alkaloid is a natural nootropic that boosts cerebral blood flow to the brain, has antioxidant properties, is a neuroprotective agent, and helps with subjective well-being.

It’s another Nootropic with a range of anti-aging effects to maintain a mind that has four, five, six, or more decades of wear and tear, but has limited value to otherwise healthy people or Biohackers looking to improve performance.

This article is mostly going to focus on decoding what the human studies are saying about Vinpocetine and how this squares up with the anecdotal experiences of Biohackers online.

Scientific Research

It has been the subject of +260 human studies, which you can find on PubMed. Vinpocetine is an alkaloid, technically not really a Nutraceutical since it's synthetically created, but is derived from vincamine, an extract of the Periwinkle plant.

Dopamine Blues

The mechanism of Vinpocetine (especially at higher dosages) has a net negative effect on dopamine.

The abstract of a 2001 Mexican study articulates this...

The effect of vinpocetine, a nootropic drug with anti-ischemic potential, on the release of [dopamine] and its main metabolite, DOPAC, was investigated in striatum isolated nerve endings under resting and depolarized conditions...It is concluded that, in addition to the inhibition of presynaptic [voltage-sensitive calcium channels] permeability, which selectively inhibits the transporter-mediated release of all neurotransmitters, vinpocetine increases DOPAC by impairing the vesicular storage of [dopamine].

This is why, in those who do not have cognition impaired by a deleterious condition, Vinpocetine may actually have an undesirable anti-Nootropic effect:Lack of motivationMid-afternoon productivity lullPoor focusBrain fog

A middle-aged Biohacker on Longecity reported:

“after thorough searching on the internet I came across very few stories of bad reactions to this supposed safe nootropic. I was attracted to it looking for something that would help my perimenopause brainfog and offer help for mild depression. After taking 2.5 mg for 6 days, I experienced an increasingly bad headache, dizziness, hot flashes and insomnia. I felt oddly wired and had trouble thinking clearly.”

Another Biohacker concurred:

“Two days ago I took both Vinpocetine tablets within an hour of each other. Yesterday I woke up with a headache and didn’t feel good for most of the morning. I was really tired, couldn’t focus, didn’t want to do anything...”

Subjective Well-Being

Amongst those for whom Vinpocetine works, it seems to be a common sentiment that it improves general mood and outlook.

Two Russian studies totaling over a thousand human subjects demonstrated a positive effect on the well-being of those over 45 years old...

Patients showed the significant improvement on a scale that assessed self-rated health, activity and mood. The emotional state was normalized in 50% of patients during the treatment with vinpotropile.

To quote Mind on Longecity:

“The positive effects are mild but noticeable. I seem a little sharper (mentally speaking) and it puts me in a good mood.”

These have the effects of...

* Improving concentration abilities

* Alleviating symptoms of menopause

* Combating chronic fatigue

* Helping with age-related memory impairment

The enhancement of auditory and visual perception is also reported. Some bloggers have even said of it:

“The mental clarity I experience is second to none. If your brain could take the most refreshing, cleansing shower it had ever experienced, then, the water would be vinpocetine without a doubt.”

Vasodilation

Vinpocetine widens the blood vessels, which increases blood flow to the brain. Delivering more blood and oxygen to the brain, fueling cognition. From a 2011 Indian study:

Vinpocetine, chemically known as ethyl apovincaminate, is a vinca alkaloid that exhibits cerebral blood-flow enhancing and neuroprotective effects. Non-clinical and clinical studies have suggested multiple mechanisms responsible for the beneficial neuroprotective effects of vinpocetine.

The benefit to Biohackers of Vasodilation is that whatever other Nootropic you’re consuming - caffeine, Racetams, Adaptogens, Modafinil - you get more of it flowing to your noggin.

Vs Neuroinflammation

It has a noteworthy helpful effect on the very challenging condition of Neuroinflammation. From a 2011 Shanghai study:

...the administration of Vinpocetine in hypoxic mice also inhibited inflammatory molecules, indicating that Vinpocetine as a unique anti-inflammatory agent may be beneficial for the treatment of neuroinflammatory diseases.

Also, an anti-inflammatory agent that has a positive effect on neurodegenerative conditions like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. In an English double-blind, placebo-controlled study on the elderly with dementia, those who were administered 30 Milligrams daily for a month scored consistently better than those on a placebo.

Memory

It’s not going to be my go-to recommendation for improving memory. There was just a single human study that showed an effect that would be desired by Biohackers. 40 milligrams daily of Vinpocetine significantly improves memory in healthy adults, from a placebo-controlled study of twenty women:

However, memory as assessed using the Sternberg technique was found to be significantly improved following treatment with vinpocetine 40 mg when compared to placebo and results suggested a localised effect of the drug on the serial comparison stage of the reaction process.

However, 40 Milligrams is a very high dosage of this Nootropic.

Anti-aging

From a 2011 Swedish study that compared otherwise healthy young Swedes to their elderly counterparts

The present data indicate that... vinpocetine may serve as a molecular imaging biomarker of the activity of the [translocator protein] system and, consequently, of the up-regulation of microglia during ageing and in neuroinflammatory diseases.

Reaction Time

The human study of women found that 40 milligrams improved reaction time in memory scanning tests by 70%.

A couple of other notable studies have shown improvements in reaction times when using Vinpocetine in combination with some other Nootropic cofactors. According to a study from The Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla, California, in combination with Ginkgo Biloba it improves reaction time by 50 milliseconds.

Ten tasks (perceptual, attention and short-term memory) were presented in a standardized manner designed to maximize performance, with substantial pre-test practice employed to minimize response variability... A ‘working memory capacity’ paradigm demonstrated a reliable 50 ms response time decrease between the placebo...

Another 2011 study of 30 retired NFL players found that Vinpocetine was a key ingredient in a cognitive enhancement cocktail that improved reaction time:

The trial average was six months. Outcome measures were Microcog Assessment of Cognitive Functioning and brain SPECT imaging. In the retest situation, corrected for practice effect, there were statistically significant increases in scores of attention, memory, reasoning, information processing speed and accuracy on the Microcog... This study demonstrates that cognitive and cerebral blood flow improvements are possible in this group with multiple interventions.

I don’t think a 50 or 100-millisecond reaction time improvement is going to make that big of a difference unless you are a professional gamer or marksman. If your Biohacking objective is reaction times, there are probably better options than Nutraceuticals.

Vs Cognitive Decline

From A review of nutrients and botanicals in the integrative management of cognitive dysfunction:

Dementias and other severe cognitive dysfunction states pose a daunting challenge to existing medical management strategies. An integrative, early intervention approach seems warranted. Whereas, allopathic treatment options are highly limited, nutritional and botanical therapies are available which have proven degrees of efficacy and generally favorable benefit-to-risk profiles...