The use of supplements has become somewhat a bit of a revolution amongst lucid dreaming devotees. And the star of the show is definitely the supplement known as Galantamine. Finally the lucid dreaming community had a dependable reliable chemical aid that has been proven, time and time again, to improve our ability to become lucid.
Disclaimer: The following information is for educational purposes only. If you feel you would like to try out any of the lucid dreaming supplements in the following article you should only do so after discussing your plans with your doctor or a fully trained medical professional. Should you, the reader, choose to experiment with these supplements you do so at your own risk
Galantamine Lucid Dreaming
Ok here’s the science bit….Galantamine works by inhibiting the enzyme called Acetylcholinesterase. This enzyme breaks down the neurotransmitter Acetylcholine, known as Ach. Now Ach levels drop significantly during the NREM stage of the sleep process and come back up to near normal levels during the REM stage. The drop in Ach levels are associated with confusion, distraction, inability to think clearly and a poor memory. This is why galantamine has been used as a treatment for Alzhemer’s for some time.
The lower levels of ACh go some way to explaining the confusion and amnesia connected to our inability to remember our dreams, especially the finer details. By stopping or reducing the breakdown of the Acetylcholine, galantamine helps us achieve clearer thought, a better ability to think rationally and also improved memory recall. As you can see, this chemical can and does, take our ability to attain lucidity, to another level.
Increasing REM Sleep
Another added bonus of increasing our Ach level is we can extend and lengthen the time spent in the REM stage. This extra time spent in the key stage of lucidity is extremely valuable and can help you if you find that your lucid dreams seem to be over even before they have started.
One thing to remember though is that galantamine and other chemicals like it, help create an ideal environment in which your ACH levels remain high. Using supplements isn’t about the addition of chemicals into the body that it doesn’t already have. It is more about creating the ideal chemistry within the brain to improve of chances of success.
Sometimes it helps to combine a number of supplements. To improve our chances of creating this ideal environment, galantamine is usually used alongside the supplement Choline, this chemical being one of the building blocks to Ach. The supplement Choline comes in many different forms, but many people report that Alpha-GPC is the most effective
Now a quick Google search will tell you that there are many other supplements available for those who wish to experiment with different combinations. One in particular, 5-HTP, is often taken before sleep. This supplement is believed to suppress REM in the first half of the night, creating the REM Rebound effect.
With an ever increasing number of supplements and combinations of chemicals available this can become very confusing. If you want to learn much more about this fascinating subject you can find all the details in Advanced Lucid Dreaming – The Power of Supplements by Thomas Yuschak. This is the Bible of the use of supplements to aid and assist your lucid dreaming practice.
Galantamine Supplement
Even with the growing number of supplements available on the market today, galantamine is still the number one choice for those in this field. Its value lies in the fact that it is rapidly absorbed into the system, reaching its peak in around one hour. This rapid absorption means that it needs to be taken shortly before a period of REM. The best time is to take it after around 4 to 5 hours of sleep, so an ideal addition to the WBTB technique.
If galantamine were to be taken when you first go to bed it would be pretty useless and could result in restless sleep or even insomnia. This would be counter-productive and would disturb the deeper stage of the sleep pattern.
To avoid desensitization and intolerance issues, it’s probably best to leave a number of days between attempts with galantamine. This is open to experimentation, but do make sure you leave at least two days as prolonged usage, will not only be ineffective but could also cause disturbed sleep and some mild side effects.
As I’m sure you can see, the use of the various supplements and there combinations can be a difficult and costly process that requires much more information that this article can give you. But your main consideration should always be your health and wellbeing. But having said that,these additions to your lucid dreaming journey cannot be understated. These can and are powerful allies to becoming lucid more often and for longer periods of time.
What becomes very apparent when we look into the use of supplements such as galantamine, is that how important the chemical environment of the brain is to our ability to become lucid. And when combined with the various techniques available today, can become an incredibly powerful combination. Doing further reading and your own research could provide a platform for some incredible lucid experiences.
So How Do We Use Them
Although there are many different stage of sleep, it is generally considered that sleep can be broken down into two distinct parts, each one fuelled by completely different neurotransmitters. Usually what encourages deep sleep will suppress REM and vice verse.
This means that the time you take these supplements is crucial to their success. Some are taken when you go to bed and others should be taken 4 or 5 hours later. This requires you to set an alarm to wake you after around 4 to 5 hours of sleep. Not only does this allow you to take the second lot of pills but it is also an effective way of becoming lucid, as practiced with the wake back to bed technique.
The reason for the gap between the supplements is important because to have quality sleep, we need around 4 hours of deep sleep followed by 4 hours of REM sleep. If both of the supplements were taken at the same time, when you go to bed, they are both trying to do opposite things to your brain chemistry, so a conflict would occur. It is always preferable to take supplements which promote deep sleep when you first go to bed and then the REM boosters after a period of deep sleep.
Also by promoting deep sleep the brain creates the REM Rebound effect which is a tremendous asset to lucidity. With the two stage approach to taking the correct supplements, you will sleep much better and have greater success with achieving lucidity.
Lucid Dreaming Herbs
The best supplements you can take after the 4 to 5 hour mark are Choline Bitartrate, Huperzine A or good old Galatamine (not to be taken together) and DHEA. When taken as a cocktail, this group of supplements will not only slow down the breakdown of acetylcholine but will also fire up those memory boosting neurotransmitters. This combination of effects can have an amazing effect on, not only your ability to become lucid, but also improve the quality of those dreams.
Dream Leaf Reviews
There are many combination pills on the market today. One of the best ones in my opinion is ‘Dream Leaf – The Advanced Lucid Dreaming Supplement’created by respected lucid dream researchers Alex Southworth and his co-founder Connor Southworth. If you want to try it here’s the link
