Limitless Mindset

Having used Heartmath’s emWave for a while, I decided to take my optimization of heart rate variability to the next level and got the Inner Balance Bluetooth sensor.

In this review, I’ll honestly discuss the pros vs cons, share how I saved nearly 50% on both mindfulness-enhancing devices, compare them to other Biohacking tech I’ve used, and summarize the state-of-the-art science and studies done evaluating Heartmath’s HRV technology.

Inner Balance vs emWave

The major difference is that the Inner Balance is a Bluetooth sensor that gives you real-time HRV biofeedback with a slick Android or IOS app. The app displays your general state of coherence in red, blue, or green along with a heart rate graph. It also gives you a more detailed readout of your coherence score and graphs your performance. I logged into the app with my old Heartcloud account and was pleased to discover that it still had my emWave session data from back in 2014, when I first started making HRV training videos in Medellin, Colombia...

What I like about the emWave is that it's a subtly pleasant and mindful technology; the rising and falling light bar on it is sort of mesmerizing. Unlike my smartphone, it's a zero-distraction piece of technology. When I sit down with my emWave, I'm not going to get sucked down the clickbait rabbit hole on Facebook or Twitter. When I use the Inner Balance, I have to staunchly resist checking social media or being distracted by dinging and vibrating app notifications. The advantage of the emWave is that you use it without your smartphone, which some will find more conducive to real mindfulness.

Inner Balance is an innovative self-monitoring and HRV training system for Android and IOS

Biohackers who rigorously self-quantify and experiment will love the Inner Balance as it allows you to run endless HRV tests to see how different things affect your autonomic nervous system’s well-being...

* Wear it while doing mundane things; watching TV, reading, driving, working on your computer, etc., to establish your baseline HRV.

* Do HRV sessions first thing in the morning and in the evening before bed to see how they compare.

* Measure HRV to see how different supplements and Nootropics affect you - interestingly enough, the smart drug that I get the highest coherence scores on is (reliably) nicotine.

* Measure your HRV while working and listening to focus-inducing music vs a podcast.

* Measure how different meals and foods affect your HRV.

* Get crazy and measure HRV making love (like I did).

HRV training helps you to habituate energetic “nootropic” breathing

When you need a pick-me-up in the afternoon, a 15-minute HRV session will energize you and give you a very clear head.

I like to passively use the Inner Balance sensor while I’m working on my computer and keep an eye on my coherence score on my iPad. It reminds me to be a little more conscious of my breathing, typically while sitting in front of my computer working, my breathing is shallow. The coherence feedback encourages deeper, more energizing breathing, which naturally makes me more productive and pepped up. In this regard, the Inner Balance trains you to breathe better - like a tantric Taoist practitioner or even a Jedi.

Last year, my wife got very upset (actually, the most upset I've ever seen her) about the catastrophic wildfires in Australia and the 500 million animals that have apparently perished in them. She kept going on her phone and looking at pictures of cute Koalas and kangaroos, and she would start crying at their plight there in the fiery forests down under. Eventually, I sat her down, took away her phone, and we did a 15-minute HRV meditation session together - this did a lot for her mood.

A few negatives...

“Mindfulness technology” is nearly an oxymoron; technology is, of course, the main thing robbing us of mindfulness in modernity. A while back, I tried meditating with a friend’s Muse Headband, and I found it kind of irritating to use; it was very tricky to get the band aligned right on my head to read my brainwaves. The Bluetooth that it uses to connect to my smartphone is also not the most reliable technology. The Inner Balance suffers from some of the same issues...

I’d really rather be able to just plug the sensor into my smartphone instead of using Bluetooth. Fortunately for the EMF-avoidant like me, Heartmath now offers the Inner Balance Wired that can just be plugged into an iPhone or Android. I’ve noticed an issue (that probably has something to do with the Bluetooth connectivity), the app chimes different tones as you reach different levels of coherence; however, it sporadically makes this distorted, unpleasant chiming noise that robs a bit of tranquility from meditating with the Inner Balance. But it’s not a big problem because the chiming can just be muted.

The Inner Balance app

It’s not bad, but considering that it’s a mindfulness app for a not-inexpensive device, there’s a lot of room for improvement...

* I’d love it if it had a bit more artistic and hypnotic mandala mode.

* I’m annoyed every time I use it that the app requires that I turn on location services - why the hell does Heartmath want to know where I live? And who are they sharing this information with? I have to deduct a star from my review for this violation of privacy.

* It would be very cool if it played algorithmic music or audio tracks that would rise and fall in intensity with the coherence I reach - the Muse headband does this.

* The app’s chiming noises can be muted, but this also totally mutes my smartphone, so I CAN NOT listen to a Brain.FM meditation. track on my smartphone and have the chiming muted, which is a little annoying but not a big deal because I also have both apps on my iPad.

This feels like an app for a $20 product, not a $160 product.

My main criticism of Heartmath’s products is their underwhelming aesthetics

They look and feel like things that should cost about $15, not well over $100. I paid just $90 for my Inner Balance (it retails for $160) because I bought a lightly used one off eBay. Frankly, I think it’s a bit overpriced at $160. Also, I live in a European country where it would be exceedingly inconvenient to take advantage of Heartmath’s warranty if the device broke, so I decided to take a chance on a used one - so far it works great, you couldn’t tell that it’s not new. I managed to get both the emWave and the Inner Balance for $140, less than what I’d pay for a single brand-new device. My reasoning was that one of them would likely break, so I might as well get two used - an antifragile biohacker is all about redundancy.

The plastic clip on the back of the Inner Balance broke after about 280 sessions of very gentle use, which shouldn’t happen with a $160 product - one star deducted! I’d be out of luck even if I had purchased it directly from Heartmath, as their warranty is for just one year. Although it’s not a big problem for me as I do most of my HRV sessions lying down meditating, I just lay the sensor next to me.

There was some guy on YouTube who was calling this device a scam because the app continues to register a heartbeat and HRV even when it’s not connected to your body, which might lead one to believe that this $160 device is not actually doing anything and that the app is just outputting bullshit HRV and heartbeat measurements. I don’t think the app is giving me fake biofeedback because I’ve noticed that my quality of mindfulness, focus, and breathing definitely make a difference in the green, red, or blue coherence feedback. But Heartmath should have engineered either the app or the Inner Balance sensor to be smart enough to know when it’s disconnected from my body.

Inner Balance vs Samsung Health’s HRV Stress Test

On our Galaxy smartphones, my wife and I sometimes use the stress test function of the Samsung Health app. I was a bit skeptical that holding our thumbs …

The emWave, a screen-LESS, minimalist Biohacking tech for mood and energy, that I've had an on-again/off-again relationship with. It’s mindset tech for Biohackers, mindfulness practitioners, stress hackers, and flow state junkies

Initial impressions...

I’ve been using the emWave2 device for over a month now consistently. It’s a fascinating device!

It’s not an instant satisfaction biohacking technology; unless you have a lot of first-hand experience with a mindfulness practice, you may be pretty disappointed with your first few emWave sessions. Initially, getting into and out of coherence is going to seem pretty random.

I’ve let a couple of my non-Biohacker friends use the device who’ve never heard of Heart Rate Variability; they had a lot of trouble getting into coherence, and their initial reactions have been “this is fake.” I think this speaks to how unaware the average person is of their mindset state and how they are handling their stress.

The core value of emWave is as a tool for measuring and habituating mindfulness and conscious management of stress. Most of us have a baseline level of stress that we are so accustomed to that we think we are totally relaxed when we are actually in a baseline state of unhealthy stress.The emWave device is teaching me what that state of baseline stress actually feels like, because the green light goes on when I’m coherent. Now, while I’m working, commuting, or doing something social, and I detect a telltale sign that I’m not in coherence, I adjust my breathing, body language, and change my internal dialog to the few mantras that I know work for me, and I find the world getting a little brighter.

For example, the other night I was very tempted by self-pity, a combination of an issue with a client and frustration over something personal put me in a gloomy mood, I didn’t feel like chit-chatting with my roommates or going out to socialize with friends. It was a rainy night to match my mood. I felt like walking to the grocery store with my umbrella, buying some fruit snacks, and just feeling sorry for myself.But I hadn’t checked into the emWave habit on Coach.me yet, leaving habits unchecked bothers me, so I figured I might as well get in a quick emWave session.I turned off my phone, powered on the emWave2, forced a smile, began to breathe deeply, and did a meditative session, which quickly put my melancholic mood in perspective. Halfway through the session, a great idea for a business model emerged from my mind, which I tabled. As I finished the 3rd green level, I powered off the emWave, said “no” to the self-pity, and got back to work.

My emWave2 practice

I aim for two sessions daily...

* A Non-Screen session - This fits into my mindfulness practice and is time away from glowing screens. I go somewhere private and spend 5-10 minutes alone (without my computer or smartphone), in a meditative state. I do this either first thing in the morning or after work in the evenings, but before I do anything social. My objective is to power through three green Coherence levels. If I’m relaxed and positive, that’s a breeze, but if I’ve had a stressful day, it takes some work. Once I get more skilled, I predict I’ll do more levels at a time.

* Passive emWave session - I will connect my emWave to the computer via USB and fire up the emWave software. I will do a 20-minute session while working on something. I’ve found that if I do this at the beginning of a writing session, I’ll reach a nice creative flowstate.

My training program: About 5-10 minutes a day for two weeks, and scoring 1500 Coherence points a week.

Self-monitoring

I’m glad I mastered Dual N-Back before diving into Heart Rate Variability training because the emWave2 can reinforce your negative self-monitoring. The red light is a tangible indicator that your negative thoughts are getting the best of you; it’s super easy to get self-critical - I suck at emWaving! - but this is a self-perpetuating cycle of thoughts, and it’s key to remember to practice emotional compartmentalization while emWaving. A couple of my non-Biohacker friends used the device, and when they couldn’t even reach Coherence, they were disappointed.

Reaching Coherence

Coherence is tied to our emotions on a fundamental level, especially the emotions of...

* Gratitude

* Thankfulness

* Security

Does this mean that a Coherent lifestyle means never thinking negative thoughts? No, the notion that you should never think negative thoughts has been thoroughly disproved. Everyone is going to have different Coherence triggers like...

* Thoughts of a loved one.

* A memory that takes you back to your happy place.

* Or a positive affirmation that is true for you.

Observations and findings

* Smiling. I found that smiling helps Coherence a lot! More proof that this simple body language is profoundly beneficial

* Watching funny videos on YouTube doesn’t improve Coherence but curiously, I did find a correlation between watching Hip Hop or Reggaeton videos and the green light.

* Breathing, HRV training is a breath meditation exercise as well. I’ve already noticed the transfer effects to using holistic breathing to mitigate stress.

A couple of negatives...

* The aesthetics are a little lacking; other than the cool flashing lights, it’s made of cheap-feeling plastic. It feels like the kind of thing that would break if you dropped it on the ground, although I actually did drop it on the ground once, and it still works fine.

* Battery life is unimpressive. This might just have been my device, but it seemed like I needed to charge it a lot.

* Social integration. On my wishlist for heart rate variability training is being able to share my progress via social media or maybe even compete with my friends for the highest coherence scores.

How does it work?

* Power on the emWave2 by pressing the bottom of the black button (without plugging it into a computer via USB cable)

* Attach the heart rate clip to your ear (two hands-free, hooray!)

* You will start to see the blue light on the bottom of the emWave device blinking - it’s reading your heart rate.

* The light on top will usually start red, as we spend very little of our waking existence in a true state of stress-free Coherence.

* You want to breathe in and out deeply with the rising and falling blue lights.

* It takes 5-10 seconds to get into or out of a state of Coherence; the light will turn from red to blue and finally green.

* As you stay in Coherence, the blue lights will reach higher on the display. If you fall out of Coherence they will decrease, once the blue lights reach the greenlight you start another Coherence level.

For a truly quantified session, plug it into your computer, fire up the emWave software, and press the play button to begin a session.

emWave2 vs Stress Test app

I measured my stress with an Android HRV stress test app simultaneously with the emWave2. I found a decent correlation between my Coherence scores and stress and the app’s stress score. So I do recommend downloading and trying the heart rate variability smartphone app. However, the major difference is that the emWave2 is an actual biofeedback device, and it provides immediate HRV feedback. I’ve since done hundreds of training sessions with Heartmath tech. What I like about it is the immediate biofeedback that trains you to manage your “state” better. I’ll just set my device on my desk next to my computer while working and adjust my breathing as I dip into the red. This you CAN’T do with any of the free-ish HRV smartphone apps. Also, you don’t have to worry about the EmWave2 burning your finger!

emWave® science

emWave® technology is based on +20 years of research on the mindset state of “coherence” between the heart, brain, and autonomic nervous system. Achieving Coherence, basically feeling zenned-out, has been linked to mental, emotional, and physical benefits like decreased stress levels.

Impressively, there are over 70 scientific papers (including 13 human clinical trials) about Heartmath’s technology on PubMed.

* emWave® technology is used by more than 10,000 health profess…

I wrote about May...

A month I’ve always loved not just because it’s the month of my birth but because it’s the month when (in the northern latitudes, at least) spring ceases its teasing. The changing of the seasons reminds us that life is profoundly cyclical. A sense of optimism has always infused my being as the snow melts away, the sky’s gloomy grayness retreats, and the green leaves of the trees bud. Spring also urges us to seize the moment; as a glorious summer beckons, we’re compelled to drink deeply of the sunny joys of life as the chilly fingers of winter yet stroke the backs of our necks.

In this podcast, I hope to share some much-needed optimism with you - I explain in an epic rant, why I’m white-pilled about the future.

We recorded this while I was pepped up with beta brain waves PEMFs (for alertness) administered directly to the back of my head with the IC Hummer, hopefully, it makes me a perkier podcaster!

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.

#35 Questions

Someone asked on Twitter in response to…

Since I did this interview I’ve grown a bit less #blackpilled on the future of mankind. The global acceleration of entropy, that we’ve all experienced in this young new decade, does not bode well for those that aim to enslave us all...

Q

What is the main thing that’s given you a more positive outlook?

A

I’ve infrographically broken down reasons for optimism (even in the technocratic dystopia of modernity...

My interview with Jean-François Gariépy

My book review of At Our Wits' End

Read: Why I’m “white-pilled” about the future... and my book review of Bitcoin: Hard Money You Can’t F*ck With

Too often, our livers don’t get the love they deserve - actually, they take a lot of abuse!

TUDCA is a rarefied supplement that supports the function of this organ, which does so much to support us.

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

Tauroursodeoxycholic Acid

Which I’ll refer to with the phonetically uncumbersome acronym TUDCA from now on, has a not-insignificant amount of science backing it up; 18 human clinical trials can be found on PubMed.

TUDCA is a bile salt naturally made by our bodies. The etymology geeks might note that its long, hard-to-pronounce Latin name contains urso, “the bear,” because (fun fact!) in traditional medicine, according to legend, one had to kill an angry bear to get this medicine in its naturally occurring form. The stuff must have some pretty fantastic medicinal properties if our ancestors were willing to go toe-to-toe with a snarling grizzly to get some.

In this article, I’ll break down the science and what practical benefits it translates into...

Liver Support for Bodybuilders

TUDCA is loved in the bodybuilding space because it restores, rehabs, and maintains the liver, which bodybuilders throw endless strange molecules at. Bodybuilders take Steroids and SARMs in “bulking cycles” to cut fat fast and accelerate muscle growth, oral anabolic steroids, increasing ALT and AST liver enzyme levels, TUDCA mitigates this along with...

* Preventing liver cell death

* Prevents the buildup of liver bile

* Blocks the formation of toxic metabolites

If you’re going to take steroids or SARMs to enhance your fitness or bodybuilding, five human clinical trials indicate that TUDCA supplementation is a pretty smart idea.

Treats Cholestasis

As our livers labor day in and day out, bile acid builds up between the liver and the gall bladder. Bile acid manifests in Cholestasis when our livers are chronically overworked and underappreciated because we take too many supplements, drugs, drink booze, or eat toxic, non-organic food in excess. Cholestasis can result in liver disease and symptoms of itchiness, jaundice, dark urine, and pale stools (whatever you do, don’t Google image search that last one, you’ll regret it!)An adult would want to take 1000 - 1500 milligrams daily to treat Cholestasis.

Hangover Hack/Alcohol Recovery

TUDCA isn’t the first supplement that I would recommend to boozing biohackers, but it certainly qualifies as a hangover hack because of all the good it does for your liver. As opposed to blocking alcohol from converting into toxic acetaldehyde, it just reverses liver damage, so it’s probably more effective for recovering alcoholics to take than it is for averting a hangover.Importantly: Don’t take it before drinking (it actually does more liver damage), take it during or after drinking.

Combats Liver Cirrhosis

This condition is as nasty as it sounds, basically, it means that your liver becomes scarred resulting in a lack of sex drive, severe cramps, weakened bones, and a number of other nasty symptoms leading up to and including death.A trial of 23 Italians, concluded that TUDCA was an effective treatment for cirrhosis, well tolerated and no patient complained of side effects...

Treating Hepatitis

A few decades ago, an Italian placebo-controlled, multicenter study of One hundred and fifty patients with chronic hepatitis evaluated it for 6 months and concluded simply:

[TUDCA] improves the biochemical expression of chronic hepatitis.

Diabetes and Insulin Sensitivity

* It’s an anti-aging Nootropic in that it does cross the blood-brain barrier where it decreases beta-amyloid, it’s speculated that it might be a potent preventative measure for Alzheimer’s.

* TUDCA prevents apoptosis - the death of liver cells. I have mixed feelings about apoptosis; in one sense, you want your old cells to die at the right time and be replaced by young cells. You don’t want your body’s cells to be like Japan, with a disproportionately old population.

Cancer Prevention

A handful of studies and papers suggest that TUDCA mitigates cancer cell proliferation, particularly Colon cancer, according to a 2017 paper published in PLOS.I would wager that it has a downstream effect of preventing cancer via its liver support effect. The general toxicity of nearly everything we consume results in cancer, the risk of which increases as our livers get worse at filtering out toxins. Even if you’re not a roided-up bodybuilder, it’s probably a wise cancer prevention measure to order a bottle of TUDCA once or twice a year and take it for a month or two.

Risk Grade: A-

* In a human study, 1500 milligrams were taken daily for 6 months by subjects, and no adverse events occurred - meaning that nobody experienced any unpleasant side effects bad enough that they were reported to the scientists running the study.

* 500 milligrams daily was safely tolerated for a year by patients in an Italian liver transplant study.

Side Effects

While it has a long, scary-sounding name, it’s a natural chemical produced in the body, so the negative effects documented are minimal. Stomach discomfort occurs in some people, and it’s not recommended for pregnant women or children.

Dosage and Usage

If you’re a bodybuilder taking steroids or SARMs, be responsible and use TUDCA during your bulking cycles. Ideally, you would want to get liver enzyme tests done to see how the drugs are affecting your liver. If not, pay attention to your urine; the darker it is, the more concerned you should be with liver rehab. If hangovers hit you hard, then it’s time for some liver maintenance.

Recommended daily

* As low as 250 milligrams for treating primary biliary cholangitis

* 500 milligrams daily was taken by patients recovering from a liver transplant

* 1000-1500 milligrams is the standard dose for bodybuilders or healthy adults.

* 1750 milligrams is the higher end of the dosage range. This kind of dosage would be appropriate for someone treating fatty liver disease.

TUDCA’s notable cofactor is N-Acetyl Cysteine.

The TUDCA Scam...

Apparently, there’s a TUDCA scam to be wary of; companies mislabel UDCA as TUDCA. UDCA is less bioavailable and pharmacologically active. TUDCA should cost $40-60 per bottle if it costs less... no bueno, ne khorosho, ni dobre, it’s no good, my friend!

You’ll want to take TUDCA as a stand-alone supplement, not as an ingredient in a pre-workout stack or multivitamin that contains a bunch of other ingredients. The more ingredients a supplement cocktail contains, the more likely it is that the individual ingredients are of shoddy quality.Finally, you can and should demand to see a COA (certificate of analysis) for the TUDCA before you purchase or ingest it.

Sources

Tudca Prime™ by INB4 is a next-generation solution that moves beyond the basic single-ingredient TUDCA capsules found in most “normie” health stores. Formulated by world-renowned biohacker Lucas Aoun, this stack pairs 500mg of high-quality Tauroursodeoxycholic Acid with 20mg of MitoPrime® (L-Ergothioneine), a potent “longevity vitamin” that targets mitochondrial health and cellular resilience. This dual-action approach doesn’t just promote superior bile flow and liver detoxification; it helps protect your neurological and metabolic systems from the “full-spectrum toxicity” of modernity. If you are yielding research chemicals or operating at a high-performance “NZT-48” level, I highly recommend Tudca Prime as a foundational tool to ensure your internal filtration system remains as optimized as your cognitive stack.

Double Wood Supplements in the USA takes purity and quality SERIOUSLY and proves it by publishing product quality assurance lab testing of TUDCA Capsules.

* 60 250 milligram capsules

* Manufactured in the USA

* View COA - verified Tauroursodeoxycholic Acid

* Limitless Mindset Secret Society recommended vendor

For Biohackers in the EU, supposedly, EuroSupps.nl carries COA-verified TUDCA. But I haven’t tried or worked with any of the TUDCA brands they carry.

Dow…

This active thyroid hormone supplement is turning heads in the bodybuilding and fitness world as it superpowers metabolism and accelerates fat loss.

3,5-diiodo-L-thyronine, which I’ll refer to from now on as T2, is discussed in over 120 scientific papers on PubMed and has been the subject of a human clinical trial. Here, I’ll break down its benefits and some of the science done on it.

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

Increases Metabolism

One of the main effects of T2 is increasing metabolism. This means that you’ll burn more calories faster. If you’re an avid exerciser or lift weights often, you probably eat a bit more, but you probably don’t want those calories going to your tummy and covering up your six-pack.

The major difference between a Corolla and a Corvette is that one consumes fuel faster, producing a lot more power. No matter how much gas you put in the Corolla, it won’t go any faster. As an athlete, a bodybuilder, an entrepreneur, a professional, or just a health-conscious person, would you rather be more like a Corolla or a Corvette? If it’s the latter, T2 will empower your metabolism for peak performance.

While fully legal and non-prescription, it’s a secret weapon of some rather large and intimidating bodybuilders, we’ll call them T2erminators.

Fat Loss

Often, as we age, our metabolism slows, and we put on pounds. We go to the gym and exercise, we diet, but the pounds stick around on persistent fat sites, like our bellies. T2 is a potent accelerator of fat loss. 19 scientific papers delve into its mechanisms driving fat loss.

* It increases conversion from the problematic white adipose tissue into brown adipose tissue.

* From a 2015 study published in PLOS One: [T2] a thyroid hormone derivative, is capable of increasing energy expenditure, as well as preventing high fat diet-induced overweight and related metabolic dysfunction.

Prevents Insulin Resistance

If you have a family history of diabetes and obesity, you want to be vigilant about developing insulin resistance. Diet has a lot to do with this, of course, but if a personal genotyping report reveals that you have the apoE4 or any number of other problematic diabetes-predicting genes it would be really smart for you to supplement T2 which maintains healthy insulin sensitivity.A 2011 animal study concluded...

T2, by activating SIRT1, triggers a cascade of events resulting in improvement of the serum lipid profile, prevention of fat accumulation, and, finally, prevention of diet-induced insulin resistance.

Thyroid Support

Our livelihood and vigor rely fundamentally on the Thyroid, the function or dysfunction of this small organ in our necks, and the hormone it secretes throughout our bodies determines much about our quality of life. T2 is a precursor to thyroid hormone; it does not feed you excess hormone that’s going to put you into hormonal imbalance. T3 or T4 are more direct precursors to Thyroid hormone, and they have an even greater effect on metabolism, but there’s some concern with them upregulating the hormone too much. T2 feeds you the building blocks that your Thyroid needs to meet your body’s demands.A recent Italian paper identifies it as a Novel Thyroid Hormone Metabolite:

Over 30 years of research has demonstrated that 3,5-diiodo-L-thyronine (3,5-T2), an endogenous metabolite of thyroid hormones, exhibits interesting metabolic activities.

Jimmy, a T2erminator, reported...

Great stuff - After a couple of weeks I noticed a HUGE difference in my metabolism. Thyroburn gave me more energy and completely jump started my thyroid. Awesome product.

It could be a preventative of Thyroid disorders like Hashimoto’s disease, goiter, Graves’ disease, and thyroid nodules.

Skin Hack

For the vain, Thyroid downregulation is problematic; it results in conspicuously unhealthy skin - think of Gollum in The Lord of the Rings. Upregulating Thyroid hormone may restore such vibrancy and color to your skin that you no longer need to use filters on Instagram! T2 is a safe way to do that.

Energizing Nootropic

Nootropics are a secret weapon of high-performing entrepreneurs, students, and professionals. Nootropics give you an uptick in energy, motivation, and brainpower.The mechanism of T2 puts it more in the category of being a motivational Nootropic than a cognition-enhancing one. If you’re like many T2erminators, it will just give you loads of energy to get stuff done.With many Nootropics, you’ll develop a tolerance over time, or you need to implement a cycling strategy to avoid exhausting a particular neurotransmitter pathway. With T2, these are not concerns, as it just feeds the underlying energy generation system of the body.A collaborative European study identified that its Mitochondrial respiratory mechanism had a downstream effect as an antidepressant.

Mitochondrial Support

T2’s Nootropic effect is probably due to its mitochondria-empowering mechanisms. The Mitochondria are the powerhouse of the cell, the underlying energy generation system of the body.

* Several recent Italian studies found that it favorably modulates mitochondrial respiratory pathways.

* [T2] may actively regulate energy metabolism at the cellular, rather than the nuclear, level, according to a paper published in Molecular and cellular endocrinology.

Like the classic Mitochondrial Nootropic Creatine, T2 will give you an edge in the gym and your athletic performance.

Cancer Preventative

Cancer is often caused by oxidative stress; free radicals disrupt the normal replication of genes and cells, which results in cancer. A 2019 Italian study found that T2 protected from mtDNA oxidative damage. If you have a family history of cancer, you should be concerned with prevention. From a 2017 paper:

The inhibitory action on DNL exerted by T2 makes this compound a potential and attractive drug for the treatment of some metabolic diseases and cancer.

If you have a family history of cancer, check out my deep-dive piece, The Cancer Prevention Protocol.

Promotes Healthy Libido

Anecdotally, T2 makes you a Corvette in the bedroom as well. Its mitochondria-empowering effect will enhance sex hormones (for him and her).

Risk Grade: C

Throughout the scientific literature, it’s emphasized that T2 has not been rigorously studied in humans. The animal studies have not identified any concerning side effects, but T2 isn’t in the same risk category as more common supplements like Vitamin C or Nutraceuticals.

The Endocrinology article emphasized that it’s somewhat risky as a supplement.

it is not evident from the published studies what conditions allow for its safe and effective use in humans.

It urges...

more comprehensive studies in humans and animal models are clearly needed to fully evaluate any potential risks.

And it’s advised not to stack T2 with a bunch of other workout supplements, according to the article doing so according to the article, entails significant risk of untoward effects.

Sources

Before taking a supplement like this, you should demand to see a COA/spectroscopy report verifying purity. I found just one vendor, Dr. Westin Childs, of T2 supplements that measures up to the high standards I have when it comes to this sort of thing (check out their COAs here). They are based in the USA. If you’re in the EU, Australia, or elsewhere - sorry - I couldn’t find credible sources in your geographic neighborhood. I’d direct your attention to...

Downloadable Thyroid Support?

You may be interested in taking L-Thyroxine (similar to Thyronine) as an infoceutical - a non-pharmacological, side-effect-free version of the drug that takes advantage of the phenomenon of water memory - which is imprinted on water via quantum collocation and electromagnetism using this device...

Infocueticals typically have 1/3 or half the effect of the actual medicine being imprinted. If you're skeptical of Infopathy, that's understandable; it's a game-changing …

This is an Interferon immune-hack and anti-viral that you take nasally, as drops, or ointment.

Immune hacks are deservedly on the radar of sapient biohackers. It shouldn’t replace Vitamin D3 in your medicine cabinet, but tools like this have a place in the bio-prepper’s armamentarium.

Overview of the science

GRIPPFERON® research can be found on PubMed. Its active ingredient is human recombinant interferon alpha-2b, which has been widely studied in over 600 human clinical trials.

The notable clinical trial on GRIPPFERON® was done in Russia in 2016 with 103 patients, between the ages of 18 and 52. The study evaluated it as a preventative measure for acute respiratory viral infections (ARVI) and influenza. The researchers concluded...

The results of our study allow us to consider a new combined medication Grippferon with loratadine (nasal ointment) as an effective and safe medication for the prevention and treatment of influenza and acute respiratory viral infections in the complex therapy in adult patients, including patients with allergic history.

So if it’s flu season and people are getting sick around you, taking a few drops every few hours will help keep the flu at bay. The study noted no incidences of problematic side effects.

You put it in your nose because the nose is a common entryway for viral infections; It is where infections often start and then move on to trouble the rest of the body. An interferon medicine like this prevents viral replication and growth in your nose.

As an anti-viral drug, it can be used to prevent and treat...

* Seasonal flu

* Avian flu

* SARS

* MERS

* H1N1 “Human Swine Flu”

* Acute respiratory viral infections

* And...

Vs COVID-19

A well-translated article articulates the dual mechanisms of interferon alpha-2b...

1. Interferons block replication of all DNA and RNA viruses, including infectious agents that cause acute respiratory viral infections (ARVI) and influenza.

2. Interferons activate antiviral immunological reactions in the organism. As a result, all possible antiviral mechanisms are united against the virus. Interferons are important first line of defence against viruses and other pathogens.

It goes on to explain the evidence for GRIPPFERON® as a COVID-19 treatment

During the SARS epidemic in 2003, specialists from Research Institute of Influenza (WHO National Influenza Centre of Russia) assessed the efficacy of the medicine Grippferon® on the cell culture-based coronavirus infection model. The study results revealed that Grippferon® has a direct inhibitory effect on the human coronavirus. It was concluded that Grippferon® can be considered as one of the perspective medications for the prevention and treatment of human coronavirus infection.

The evidence base regarding the safety and efficacy of Grippferon® suggests that it can be considered as one of the perspective medications for the prevention and treatment of coronavirus infection, especially for high-risk groups, like pregnant women and children from the first days of life.

From an article that appeared in Science Translational Medicine

Interferon signaling has also been found to be important in the human response to coronavirus infection, of course, both in the direct antiviral aspect and in the overactive-immune-response part later on as well... it’s been shown that interferons such as IFN-alpha2 can block the coronavirus from infecting human cells...

About GRIPPFERON® (Interferon alfa-2b)

An antiviral drug that features antiviral activities by means of activating the immune system in the body. The preparation acts to make all antiviral mechanisms in the patient’s body unite against the virus. Grippferon belongs to a group of glycoprotein cytokines called interferons that are characterized with all properties mentioned above but this is the only drug that is suitable for different categories of population. The remedy is suitable for all ages.

To stay in the know about little-known immune hacks and medicines…

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You’ve been sold sweet lies by the mainstream personal growth pop culture.

That you should “just be yourself.” That you should “go with the flow” of life more. That you can “manifest” the life you want via positive thinking. That you should “be kind to yourself” no matter what. That obsessive self-improvement feeds an inherent psychological defect somewhere in the murky depths of your being. That you should do less to get what you want. These lies are comforting, and perhaps they work for some people. But not for me, and they probably won’t help you. Those peddling them, for profit, or just because they are popular, underestimate just how detrimental a physical imperfection can be (we’ll explore this more in chapter 2). Doesn’t it seem that these bland platitudes often come from people - authors, influencers, gurus - who are conventionally attractive (or were for decades of their lives)? They are almost certainly also underestimating the significant advantage of being good-looking while misattributing their success to personal growth principles that appeal to the natural human bent toward laziness.If you, like me, were cursed with a conspicuous physical imperfection, you must lifehack relentlessly. You need the underground, unconventional, barely legal, ride-the-ethical-edge shortcuts to what you want. If you’re not occasionally called a “control freak,” you’re underestimating the amount of agency you need to bring to bear in life. And when you’re called that, just do what I do: smirk.You need to bring sharper tools to the project of architecting a beautiful life.

As its subtitle implies, you don’t have to be cross eyed to read this book, but it is also not for a general audience of people interested in personal development. It’s for that one or two percent of the population that has a conspicuous physical imperfection.

Which I fall into. I’m cross eyed; if you’re reading this, perhaps you are too. I have fairly conspicuous strabismus, which you can see here…

I think this uniquely qualifies me to write a book on thriving despite having a physical imperfection. There are certainly people out there with more conspicuous physical imperfections—who have it worse than I do. However, the eyes are said to be the windows to the soul; they are indeed a part of nearly every important human interaction. Not having normal eyes has been a disadvantage that I’ve needed to develop a specific set of skills and life strategies to overcome.

I was discussing this book with my lovely fiancée, and she asked me if the book’s purpose was to help people with physical imperfections boost their self-esteem.Not really.This book is about the lifehacks that I’ve employed over the past 15 years: strategies, methods, and tools that really work to help you overcome the challenge of a physical imperfection and thrive. These things will likely improve your self-esteem, but they will also work if you have low self-esteem, or no self-esteem (or too much self-esteem — as I’m sometimes accused of having). Self-esteem is not my primary focus; there are better books on the subject. My focus is on things that work.

This is not your typical self-help book…

I don’t share my life on social media just to show off —actually, I hate our pop culture of digital narcissism and pixel-powered jealousy — I share because anyone can write anything online. Sharing photos and vlogs of my awesome life is just the best way of proving that my lifehacking philosophy actually works!

I’ve had a pretty interesting life. I’ve dated a politician’s daughter in Medellin, Colombia. I hung out with spies in Kyiv, Ukraine. I’ve almost died underwater twice, I participated in a bank robbery, and I lost my virginity to a spy (yes, really! That story is in my second book) I’m a pretty good storyteller so I think a memoir is the right format for me to write a book as opposed to the problem>generalization>platitude>strategy formula that most personal development books follow.

About the third edition

This is actually a slimmer version of the book I first published in 2018, which will serve you better.

Since then, I’ve become a real stickler for good grammar. As a few reviewers pointed out, the original book contained more than a few glaring grammatical imperfections. I’ve done my best to correct those here, with the one remaining that cross eyed is actually supposed to be hyphenated (cross-eyed). These two words appear so many times in this work, reflecting my own persistent physical imperfection, that I’ll leave them as they are.

The original book contained numerous lurid tales and details of my life as a seducer across three continents. This element of the book was there to illustrate how someone might overcome their conspicuous physical imperfection and enjoy a lively dating life by employing an uncommon set of social dynamics strategies. But this may sully the empowering message of the book for some; it may come across as bragging, or compel female readers to throw the book away in disgust. So I’ve cut some chapters and stories.If lurid tales and details aren’t so off-putting to you, more recently, I wrote a book for men specifically about dating, seduction, and ultimately finding meaning in the enduring embrace of a virtuous woman. Gents, if you’re frustrated with dating or the quality of the women that you find yourself entangled with, read 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!

I was banned as an author by Amazon without a cogent explanation of what in my work was unacceptable. This is doubly frustrating, as I had made a genuine effort to adhere to their content guidelines in the manuscripts I uploaded. The book before you is the uncensored edition. I make no effort here to appease the nonsensical and vague sensitivities of our big tech overlords!

Getting the most out of this book

A few guidelines for high-leverage reading…

* I’m a big fan of digital books because it’s so easy to highlight, take notes, and bookmark resources that you want to implement.

* You’ll notice that the book consists of many short chapters, as opposed to a few longer chapters. This is to make it more consumable and easier for those who may want to jump between sections.

* Due to the book’s storytelling format, I think you’ll enjoy it more if you read it from cover to cover. However, it has been modularized, so you won’t be totally lost if you skip a chapter or two that doesn’t particularly interest you.

* While listening to audio programs is more convenient and allows you to multitask, your comprehension does take a hit. I’d encourage you to actually read the book if you can. When I listen to audiobooks that I want to learn something from, I usually listen to the chapters multiple times, and I listen to them while I’m doing something else that’s relatively mindless, like cardio at the gym or commuting.

* You’ll notice that this book contains a lot of discussion of brain science and health. I’ve tried to strike a balance between proving what I’m saying with scientific references and readability. If you’re skeptical of a biohack that I talk about, check out the science I cite or search on my website, where I have hundreds of detailed articles in which I provide significant clinical evidence for anything mentioned here.

* After you read, give your mind a little downtime to metabolize the information into wisdom. I try to read in the evenings before bedtime.

The digital and print editions are somewhat limited to just text on a page (what a book is supposed to be!) If you find a chapter particularly interesting, I encourage you to check out the version of it that I’ve published here. This is where I’ve created media-rich chapters with photos, videos, and additional links to resources.

Do yourself a big favor: If you’re reading the …

With April showers upon us, I address your Biohacking and Lifehacking questions in this rare livestream Q&A.

And we chat with our chipper friend Daniel about Psalm 23 and mental health...

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.

Q:

Greetings and good night, for months I have read about biohacking, nootropics, and I have consumed, piracetam, rhodiola among others, but I want to ask you a question, in order to have better control, or not have them, which supplement would give me a bonus to manage the obsessive compulsive thoughts, I would appreciate it very much, do not be afraid to answer, I ask other people questions and they tell me consult with your doctor, apparently they are afraid to answer, thank you.I am a person who thinks a lot.

A:

Recommendations

Mindfulness meditation practice

Ashwagandha - For anxiety

Reishi - The "Spiritual" Adaptogen

Dual N-Back brain training

Q:

my friend has a bad chronic case of dry eyes and nothing seems to help;the skin around her eyes is very dry, she says dry and hard like potato chips;what treatments do you recommend; do you recommend Visomitin for dry eyes;please recommend a natural eye lubricant;I am a chiropractor in Honolulu Hawaii; I write books about corrupt conventional medical doctors, vaccine dangers, chemotherapy, 5G, covid-19you are welcome to ask me any questions about those issues, etc.

A:

Recommendations

Visomitin - For dry eyes

Exomitin - SKQ1 Skin Cream

The Healthy Skin Show with Jennifer Fugo

Q:

Hi, @roselandjonathan ! I noticed online that you’ve had some experience with methylene blue from Health Natura. You’ve likely seen that methylene blue has potential to be helpful against Coronavirus. I’m curious if you ever were able to get a COA from Health Natura in regards to purity. Any chance you were able to?

A:

Recommendations

COA-verified Methylene Blue

Q:

Piracetam affects the kidneys, right???? I’m a long time diabetic with good kidney function but worried it could affect the kidneys.any alternatives for focus and cognitive enhancement?looking at Selank, p-21 for focus

A:

Recommendations

* Tonifying Herbs for the Kidneys (Schisandra, Eleuthero, Rhodiola)

* Piracetam and the Kidneys - Is it damaging or not? on Longecity

Q:

i wanted to please ask you if you have seen any improvements since using VISOLUTEN® I have retinal degeneration similar to Macular degeneration but not exactly the same.. Was hoping this product may at least slow or stop the progression.. thank you for any info you can give me.. Thank you for your response i really appreciate it. If i could also please ask you where did you get your Visoluten? i found a few different sites in North america selling them

A:

Recommendations

* Visoluten and Visomitin from RUPharma

Q:

Hi, I was just wondering if you know of any vendors that ship to Australia and use payment method of western union or credit card as I don’t have cryptocurrency? Thank you

A:

Recommendations

* Lucas Aoun’s BrainX stack

* See the vendors in Australia’s biohacker community page in Biohacker Connect...

Q:

Just discovered your website and I am very amused by the tons of information about the biohacker world, especially regarding nootropics.Quick questions:I’ve started taking Piracetam (800mg/2xday) (Nootropil) about 2 weeks ago and I can already say that it improves consistently my overall wellbeing, ranging from anxiety to concentration and cognitive benefits. My two questions are:1) Since I’ve got results from the 800mg twice a day, it would be a better idea to reduce this dosage to just one pill a day?2) I currently use it about 6x per week, with sundays as my day off. This is a smart approach?Thanks in advance!

A:

Read my meta-analysis of Piracetam

Q:

Daniel from the UK discusses using triune brain theory and conscious breathing to manage his mental health. He explains that his brain operates through three structures—the reptilian, mammalian, and neocortex—and he uses deep breathing to shift from a reactive “reptilian” state to a mindful “neocortex” state. This practice helps him control anger and anxiety. Specifically, he notes that these techniques are effective when his OCD tendencies, such as rumination and body-focused repetitive behaviors, begin to fade . He describes his internal experience of OCD as a “split personality” where an ambivalent, worrying side battles a strong, assertive side.

A:

Deep conscious breathing for anxiety and anger management. I recommend breathwork with Othership.

Triune brain theory - The Triune Brain Theory posits that the human brain is structured into three evolutionary layers: the primitive reptilian brain, the mammalian brain, and the advanced neocortex. In the context of mental health and personal growth, this model acts as a map for moment-to-moment self-awareness, helping individuals recognize when they have slipped into a “reptilian” state of impulsive anger, anxiety, or survivalist selfishness. To facilitate growth, one can use conscious, deep breathing as a physiological “hack” to override the automated responses of the lower brain and re-establish the dominance of the neocortex, which facilitates rational thought, altruism, and emotional regulation. By consistently practicing this shift, individuals can better manage OCD symptoms, rumination, and volatile emotional triggers by intentionally moving toward their “best version” through mindfulness.

For dealing with schizophrenia: respond to voices, “that’s a lie,” or read Psalm 23...

The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.He makes me lie down in green pastures,he leads me beside quiet waters,he refreshes my soul.He guides me along the right pathsfor his name’s sake.Even though I walkthrough the darkest valley,[a]I will fear no evil,for you are with me;your rod and your staff,they comfort me.You prepare a table before mein the presence of my enemies.You anoint my head with oil;my cup overflows.Surely your goodness and love will follow meall the days of my life,and I will dwell in the house of the Lordforever.

Your questions inspired this epic Biohacker dubstep remix of Psalm 23...

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 …

Codex Immortalis Aspirantis is a Latin phrase I invented, which means “The Code of the Aspirational Immortal.”

You can think of it as a Biohacker twist on a phrase and concept I love, “noblesse oblige” - the obligation of nobility. The idea that privilege entails a great and weighty responsibility. Responsibility to edify not just yourself but society. Responsibility to influence. Responsibility to be a rudder when those you love endure the storms of life. Responsibility to not just leave a legacy, but to be around to maintain its foundations.

You may be falling short of this. Here’s why...If you’re into Biohacking and anti-aging, you’re an aspirational immortal. But I’d challenge that the scope of your ambition might not match the potency of your aspirations.Your aims should include goals measured in not just months, years, and decades, but also centuries.This is your call to action to start thinking a lot bigger. As a person who aspires to live as long as you want in brilliant health, you’re probably underestimating what you might accomplish in your life.

I interview Dr. Jeffrey Gladden, a board-certified cardiologist and longevity pioneer who has dedicated his career to cracking the code of age reversal, moving beyond mere ‘healthcare’ into the realm of architectural human performance. He’s the author of a new book, 100 Is the New 30. I press him on this title--is it mere puffery, which is to say, a marketing claim that no reasonable person would take seriously? And he also operates Gladden Longevity, a boutique anti-aging clinic that is very much on the cutting edge of applied Biohacking.

As Biohackers, we are perpetually on the hunt for the “thrust” -- that elusive, boundless well of energy and motivation required to kick ass through the day. We obsess over stimulatory molecules, the latest Racetams, and those “limitless” compounds that promise to keep our cognitive engines revving. But any seasoned practitioner of the art of human optimization knows that this high-octane lifestyle requires a counterbalance.

If you aren’t prioritizing the quality of your downtime, you are effectively redlining your engine without ever changing the oil. I’ve recently been experimenting with a specific stack of anxiolytic sleep supplements and biohacking tech that has resulted in some seriously solid, restorative slumber. It’s time we acknowledge a fundamental truth often ignored by the “hustle culture” mainstream: Sleep is, in itself, a potent Nootropic.

The science of the “fresh reset“

I recently did a deep dive into Matthew Walker’s Why We Sleep, and while the book is a bit of a tome, the underlying science is undeniable. The mainstream “normie” approach to health treats sleep as a luxury or a nuisance, but the empirical data suggest otherwise. Sleep isn’t just a passive state of unconsciousness; it’s a highly active period of neurological maintenance.

When we talk about cognitive enhancement, we usually focus on memory consolidation and verbal horsepower. Well, guess what? Those processes are arguably more dependent on your REM cycles than on your morning caffeine intake. If you’re not hitting those deep, restorative stages of sleep, you’re essentially operating on a “leaky” brain.

I’ve been getting some seriously solid sleep lately by using anxiolytic stacks with some biohacking tech...

I fall asleep effortlessly, but the way I can tell I’m getting better sleep than ever is that in the first hour of my day upon waking, I don’t find myself making little mistakes in my work on the computer. I know I’ve got some imperfect sleep when, in the early morning, I notice myself missing things; copy-pasting in the wrong place, misplacing meta-tags, leaving my toiletries in the wrong place in the bathroom, losing track of browser tabs, etc. Being cognitively on point by 7:30 AM is obviously great for my productivity!

About stacking sleep supplements with sleep tech, around 40 minutes before bedtime (often while enjoying a documentary), I will attach this PEMF device to the back of my head, entraining my brain with sedating delta waves. If I want to take this to the next level, I’ll simultaneously listen to a 0.5-4 Hz binaural beat for auditory-induced entrainment.

Then I turn off the wifi, undress, get in bed, and for 10-15 minutes shine my red light therapy device on my back while I cuddle with my wife, and we chit-chat about the day.

And I am out like a lark (are larks sleep-hackers?)

Stacking sleep supplements, PEMF, and the red light therapy, I actually managed to get to sleep in about 10 minutes WITHOUT soothing rain noises playing in our bedroom - which, for the longest time, I needed to get to sleep as I have mild tinnitus. Quiet nighttime can be hell for those with tinnitus, as it’s when our ears seem to scream at us the loudest, making it hard to get to sleep.

Biohacker Review: This before-bed sleep stack helped me get through a brush with COVID

In January, my wife and I had a (thankfully mild) case of the wu-flu, of the Omicron variety we believe. In addition to feeling a bit oxygen-starved during the day, the illness messed with my sleep; I found myself waking up in the middle of the night. Quality sleep is, of course, crucial to immune function and recovery. I began taking three capsules of Deep Sleep, preceded by Just Relax, which certainly helped me sleep through the nights.

As soon as we suspected we were dealing with COVID, we began an aggressive immune support supplementation regimen of Quercetin, NAC, Zinc, Vitamin C, and higher-dose liposomal Vitamin D3. Melatonin is also a highly efficacious countermeasure against COVID infection that the Deep Sleep stack provides. With the supplements and good sleep, we managed to arrest and kick the COVID in about a week.

Let’s look at a few of the stack’s ingredients and discuss their synergies...

* Magnesium Glycinate - One of my favorite sleep supplements, Magnesium promotes crucial REM sleep that you need to maintain mental health, consolidate memory, and keep cognitive decline at bay. Deep sleep backs a punch with 450 milligrams of the good stuff, Magnesium Glycinate. Tip: Supplement forms that end with -ate are usually better absorbed.

* Melatonin - This household name hormone underlies the circadian mechanisms that put us to sleep when the time is right. This stack has just three milligrams, which might seem vanishingly small, but actually, that’s all the melatonin you would want to supplement unless you were trying to get through an illness.

* Valerian Root Extract - An herbal sleep aid used since time immemorial in traditional Asian and European medicine. There are over 14 published scientific papers on “nature’s Valium” - as it’s sometimes called.

* Passion Flower Extract - A German clinical trial concluded that this GABAergic nutriceutical is a full-spectrum mental health and well-being hack, 12 weeks of dosage mitigated disturbed sleep and nervous restlessness while improving stress resistance and general quality of life.

* B-Vitamins - Are not really sedating, but they play important roles in the regulation of healthy sleep cycles, and deficiencies will hurt your sleep quality or can even cause insomnia. It includes Vitamin B3 (Niacin), which is actually super-important; your PARP system needs it to repair while you sleep the damage that EMFs do to your genes (another good reason to turn off the wifi at bedtime).

* Zinc Glycinate- The brain’s dark horse, according to a Swiss research paper. There are over 10 clinical trials studying its effects as a natural regulator of sleep. A landmark 2011 clinical trial found it shared synergies with melatonin and Magnesium; together, they’re a dream team for insomniacs badly in need of some shut-eye.

About NeuroActive

This was originally a product review of a vendor serving European Biohackers. Unfortunately, they went out of business (like a lot of vendors of quality health products I’ve seen in my 14 years as a professional Biohacker).

The Discipline of the Descent

It is a fallacy to believe that a night of sleep is a “fresh reset” regardless of how you spent your evening. How you spend the final hour of your waking day directly dictates the quality of your neurochemistry the following morning. If you want to wake up with that “NZT-48” clarity, you must be disciplined about your descent into sleep.

I’ve found that even practicing new vocabulary in bed can quiet the mind, replacing “monkey mind” chatter with structured, useful knowledge. By yielding the right tools—both molecular and technological—you can turn sleep from a biological necessity into a competitive advantage. If you’re ready to stop losing out in life due to subpar recovery, it’s time to start treating your bedroom like the high-tech recovery lab it should be.

If you struggle with racing thoughts at night, listen to this song about sleep hacking...

For more guides to seraphic sleep…

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