Ephedrine HCL is more typically known as a diet pill and pre-workout supplement for bodybuilders who want to build muscle and burn fat.
But it has also been used as a brain booster and study aid both in ancient Chinese and Indian civilizations as well as by modern students.
Ephedrine is a central nervous system stimulant which is known to give you a major energy boost and dramatically increase concentration.
But can this supplement really be considered a Nootropic and are there better options out there if you want to experience serious focus enhancement?
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What Is Ephedrine?
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Ephedrine is an alkaloid that comes from the Ephedra Sinica or Ma Huang plant that grows in warm desert-like climates around the world.
It is typically taken in hydrochloride format in small dosages of between 8 mg and 24 mg.
While buying Ephedrine is difficult in the USA and many countries around the world, it is still legal to own and use in North America.
Typically, it is administered as a bronchodilator, nasal decongestant and asthma reliever for medical purposes. But most people who buy Ephedra or Ephedrine are actually looking to use it to help them get in shape.
Interestingly, this makes Ephedrine quite similar to many other nootropic supplements that also cross the cognitive enhancement and weight loss divide. Several nootropics are also used for weight loss and pre-workout energy because of how they promote greater energy levels, motivation and even improve neuromuscular connections for better exercise performance.
Ephedrine in particular works to suppress the appetite and promote thermogenesis which is the process by which your body converts calories into body heat. By raising your metabolism, Ephedrine can be used to burn away unwanted fat while still protecting muscle tissue.
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Ephedrine and Concentration Boosting
When Ephedrine reaches your brain cells, it stimulates the adrenergic system which responds during periods of stress. It imitates epinephrine (adrenalin) and increases the activity of norepinephrine (noradrenalin) at the post-synaptic alpha and beta receptors. Norepinephrine and Epinephrine are two important neurotransmitters that stimulate autonomic nerve action in the central nervous system.
This makes ephedrine effective as a concentration enhancer by causing vasodilation, increased blood flow to the brain, and a powerful surge of energy. Many students will take ephedrine when preparing for exams because it reduces signs of fatigue and helps you “zone in” on specific tasks. When using Ephedrine as a study aid, you will find
Is Ephedrine a Nootropic?
But is it really fair to classify ephedrine as a Nootropic? Should you be using this compound for this purpose or are there other nootropics that do a better job?
In more recent years, we have seen a lot of stimulants being called “Nootropics” because they do result in greater levels of alertness and increased mental energy.
Caffeine is the perfect example: this energizing substance does give you increased cognitive performance by virtue of the fact that it stimulates more activity in the central nervous system. But caffeine is not in the purest sense a “nootropic”.
The same thing goes for Ephedrine: While this herbal supplement does result in higher levels of awareness and greater attention span, it is a stimulant and not a nootropic. That means it works on increasing autonomic activity in the Central Nervous System rather than specifically targeting and optimizing cognitive functions.
In other words, Ephedrine HCL does not make your brain smarter, it just allows you to work harder for longer periods of time. That makes it inferior to other nootropic supplements that can both give you a powerful boost to concentration while also contributing to increased cognition and neural communication.
Ephedrine Side Effects
One of the main reasons that Ephedrine cannot be classified as a Nootropic has to do with its high risk of negative side effects. The original qualifications of Nootropics defined this class of brain boosters as substances with extremely low toxicity to the human body.
Piracetam – the very first Nootropic ever invented – has actually been called “devoid of toxicity” to humans. In fact, Nootropics on some scales have to be neuroprotective which means they must actually contribute to improving the health of your neurons and neurites over time.
Ephedrine is quite the opposite with a great degree of associated dangerous side effects. Some of these are minor such as jitters, restlessness, nausea and headaches. But more serious risks can occur such as heart palpitations, stroke, and even heart attack.
Several studies have also shown that with excessive stimulation of the adrenergic system, certain areas in the brain actually shrink in size. This is certainly not what you want from a nootropic supplement that is supposed to improve your brain’s ability to learn, remember, process and communicate.
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Best Nootropics for Concentration
So if you need a good “study pill” to use for your next exam or simply want to be more productive at work, what is a better alternative to Ephedrine and Ephedra?
There are actually a large number of nootropics for focus and increased attention span that may work for you while also improving different factors related to cognition at the same time.
These supplements can increase your motivation, concentration and drive in the short-term while also positively effecting synaptic plasticity and brain functions to help you raise your fluid intelligence.
The Racetam nootropics – consisting of Piracetam, Aniracetam, Oxiracetam, Pramiracetam and Phenylpiracetam – are noted for reducing brain fog, increasing clarity of thought and helping you focus.
Oxiracetam and Pramiracetam are particularly effective for concentrating on one task for extended periods of mental exertion without distraction. These supplements help you get into a productive and creative state of flow so you are thinking less about the work you need to do and instead just getting it done.
Two other great nootropics for boosting focus are Modafinil and its cousin Adrafinil. These agents are known to increase alertness and wakefulness, giving you the cognitive energy you need without the stimulant effects of caffeine.
Remember that Nootropics are very low on the human toxicity scale and less likely to put your health at risk than Ephedrine. While Ephedrine HCL can actually cause your Hippocampus to shrink, Nootropics support and enhance brain health, contributing to lasting improvements in brainpower.
