Vinpocetine Informative Speech

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It's time! We're ready to start diving into my specialty: performance-enhancing nutraceuticals. And No, I'm not referring to steroids or Viagra. I'm talking about probably the most-overlooked and maybe the most secretive performance-enhancing nutraceuticals available: nootropics, aka cognitive enhancers!

Let me just briefly tell you the story about how I stumbled upon this class of nutraceuticals. While in college, I quickly developed a strong dislike for the classroom. Not only was it utterly inefficient, but it also was almost entirely ineffective for learning purposes. I could not comprehend why students got up every morning at 7 A.M., sat through over 6 hours of lecture, and then went home only to relearn what was lectured in class. Am …show more content…

Vinpocetine!

This nootropic is included in almost every cognitive-enhancing product available. It should be a staple in every nootropic regimen.

Background

Vinpocetine comes from the plant Vinca minor. It's been used as a pharmaceutical in Europe and Japan for over 20 years to treat cerebrovascular diseases under the trade names Cavinton and Intelectol. In the U.S., scientists have actually been researching its benefits in patients that have had strokes. Even though the verdict is still out, there have been some very positive studies that have been published supporting its use as adjunct treatment for strokes. How it worksScientists have found numerous different ways in which vinpocetine not only has neuroprotective effects, but also cognitive-enhancing effects. Some of them include:

Its ability to inhibit sodium channels within brain cells thereby protecting the cells from hypoxia (lack of oxygen)

Its ability to inhibit phosphodiestarase type 1 leading to an increase in the concentration of cyclic AMP which is thought to result in its vasodilator effects

Its ability to counteract the effects of free radicals

Its ability to protect the brain cells from the excitatory neurotransmitters glutamate and

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