Lucid Dream Inducers – Techniques, Devices and Supplements

Lucid dreams may occur spontaneously, but the practice of inducing lucidity in the dream state can be more difficult to achieve for beginners.

Lucid dream inducers may increase the odds of purposefully achieving lucidity. Lucidity in this respect refers to having self-knowledge of dreaming without waking up.

Lucid dreaming has been a topic of widespread interest for thousands of years. It occurs when a dreamer becomes aware that she is in the midst of a dream. It is a small degree of consciousness transcending into the dreaming mind.

Clinical studies show certain benefits of lucid dreaming. Lucid dreams can be used to stop recurring nightmares, solve complex challenges, improve physical therapy effectiveness and explore alternate dreamstate dimensions.

Lucid Dreaming Aids

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How It Works:

• Increases acetylcholine activity for vivid dreams
• Promotes REM sleep stage
• Improves memory of dreams

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Lucid Dream Inducers

Various lucid dream inducers exist. Some options include behavioral techniques, administration of chemical inducers, electronic devices and nutritional supplements.

While many anecdotal reports exist of individuals using these techniques and strategies to achieve lucid dreaming, research suggests that none are very reliable.

However, combining multiple techniques together may improve results and increase the likelihood of experiencing lucidity.

These techniques may also improve your ability to remember dreams and increase the vividness of your dream-time adventures, even if you do not go lucid.

Techniques for Lucid Dreaming

Lucid dreaming is an art. It can be learned, practiced and improved on. There are several popular techniques for inducing lucid dreaming that require only the individual’s effort and patience.

Some of these include dream recall, keeping a dream journal, reality testing, meditation, visualization, napping and MILD (mnemonic induction of lucid dreaming).

Meditation is practiced by a large number of individuals in the lucid dreaming community to help improve control of thoughts. It may also help to support daytime lucid dreaming.

Another popular technique is called the Wake-Back-to-Bed or Wake Induced Lucid Dream (WILD) method. In this method, users will set an alarm for about 6 hours after they fall asleep.

When they are awake, users will often take supplements and focus their minds on lucid dreaming, and then fall asleep again.

Users often set their alarms for 2 hours after this so that they wake up shortly after experiencing any lucid dreams, which can increase the likelihood of remembering the events.

Lucid Dream Inducing Chemicals

There are also chemical approaches to inducing lucid dreaming. Various substances are believed to be helpful including certain medications, herbal supplements and vitamins.

These substances may improve an individual’s capacities for lucidity by altering sleep cycle patterns and by increasing dream activity.

Lucid dreaming is most likely to occur during REM (rapid eye movement) sleep periods. Substances like alcohol and marijuana may affect the sleep cycle and cause prolonged REM periods.

LSD, psilocybin (“magic” mushrooms) and neuromodulators like tryptamine are also thought to stimulate increased REM sleep.

Lucid Dreaming Devices

There are electronic lucid dream inducers available from a variety of manufacturers. These devices function by giving a dreamer signals when she enters into REM sleep.

Some studies have shown that flashing light cues work effectively for this purpose without waking the dreamer.

Some electronic lucid dream inducers also use sounds to signal the dreamer. The principle is similar to the sound of a thunderstorm (or other external stimulus) entering into a dream without fully waking the dreamer.

For some people who sleep very “deeply” sounds and light flashes may both be used to induce lucidity during dreaming.

Lucid dreaming masks have also been used by some. The REM-Dreamer Pro is one of the best known lucid dream inducers. It is a soft mask that contains electronic REM sleep detectors, a speaker and flashing lights.

It detects rapid eye movements during REM sleep and then delivers a user-customized “dream alarm”.

Users may choose between light, sounds or both. The length, volume and intensity of the alerts can all be dictated by the user. Experimentation is required to determine the settings that accommodate lucidity without causing wakefulness.

Lucid Dream-Inducing Supplements

A number of supplements are purported to increase the likelihood for experiencing lucid dreams.

Many of these supplements work by optimizing levels of key neurotransmitters involved in sleep patterns, dreaming, consciousness and dream recall.

Neurotransmitters are brain chemicals that modulate numerous physiological and cognitive processes, including sleep.

Certain neurotransmitters are known to affect lucid dreaming. Dopamine, serotonin, acetylcholine and norepinephrine are all important to lucid dreamers for different reasons.

Dopamine is commonly known as the “feel-good” brain chemical. It is associated with feelings of reward, love, contentment and joy.

It regulates various functions including memory, learning, movement and orgasm. Dopamine may be responsible for the exceptional powers and confidence we may experience in our dreams.

Many lucid dreamers use natural herbal supplements like Mucuna pruriens to elevate their dopamine levels. M. pruriens contains the dopamine precursor called L-DOPA.

By increasing dopamine in the brain, dreamers may become better able to direct the courses of their dreams. Higher dopamine also helps to increase libido, confidence and sustained motivation during waking periods.

Sleep Supplements for Lucid Dreaming

Optimizing levels of sleep-regulating neurotransmitters can also improve sleep quality and increase the likelihood of dream activity at night.

When sleep is regularly disrupted or very light, users may not get into the deep, restful sleep states that are necessary to allow the brain to dream.

Taking melatonin supplements, valerian root extract, GABA and lemon balm can improve sleep quality and potentially facilitate lucid dreams.

Serotonin is another neurotransmitter that can serve as a lucid dream inducer/enhancer. Some lucid dreamers use a supplement called 5-HTP (5-hydroxytryptophan).

5-HTP is a metabolic intermediate used to convert the amino acid tryptophan into serotonin and melatonin. Common 5-HTP doses for inducing lucidity range between 100 mg and 150 mg daily before bedtime.

Acetylcholine and Lucid Dream Induction

One of the most commonly used lucid dream inducers is Galantamine. This supplement is an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, helping to increase levels of acetylcholine in the brain.

Like dopamine, acetylcholine is a neurotransmitter that modulates functions including memory, learning, motor movement and cognition. It is directly involved with regulating sleep and wakefulness cycles.

Research shows that higher levels of acetylcholine promote prolonged REM sleep. Supplements used to elevate acetylcholine can be helpful with both dream induced lucid dreaming (DILD) and wake induced lucid dreaming (WILD).

The neurotransmitter norepinephrine also plays a role in lucid dreaming. It is a neurotransmitter that the brain uses to control focus, alertness and concentration.

Research suggests that norepinephrine allows dreamers to link their memories from waking periods with memories from dreamstates. This can benefit the dreamer by helping her to first recognize that she is dreaming, and then act to control the dream’s course.

Conclusions

Most lucid dream inducers cannot directly induce lucidity while dreaming. Like exercise machines, they are tools which may be helpful. They should not be looked at as guaranteed lucid dream inducers.

Experts agree that lucid dreaming success is largely determined by persistence and desire. Training the brain to recognize dreamstates without waking is a key consideration for success.

Technique-based, chemical, electronic and supplement-based lucid dream inducers may all help to develop consistent lucidity while dreaming. However, no one strategy is likely to deliver consistent, reliable results.

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