Please Note: Before you read my thoughts on Noocube as an alternative, this is based on ADULTS and not for children. This site is designed to cater for adults with ADHD (besides the pills are huge I doubt very much a child would take them) Also Noocube does NOT claim to cure ADHD, this is from my personal experience of using the product in reducing the symptoms of ADHD.
So if you have come this far in my alternative guide you would have read about the ways that stimulants can be found without the need for medical intervention. Caffeine and guarana are known alternatives to raise dopamine levels but with there own risks, such as higher blood pressure and risk to the heart, what if however there was a way to get the dopamine levels up without the heart being pushed up?
This is where Noocube brings that difference. Noocube is a supplement, kind of like what people would take for body building, except for your brain and far less dangerous. Noocube would be the best thing I would recommend as an adult that didn't want to take prescribed medication. The reason why I would say for adults is down to personal experience. As a man in his 30's I started to notice that the issues from my ADHD were getting more and more common. Now this could be because I was only got diagnosed when I was 30 so I am just noticing the differences now, but each year it just seemed that I was being more forgetful than I remember, and this is why I like Noocube. As I have mentioned before on this site this is not designed for children or teenagers, this site is designed for the adults that never got diagnosed in the 70s or 80s and are looking for ways to help themselves, and this is what I think Noocube can do.
Before though I explain why though I wanted to first explain what made me decide to opt away from traditional medication such as Methylphenidate, well this was down to the adverse effects that I was getting. If you have read the about me section that I wrote you will know that when I was diagnosed in my 30's I was basically given a book on ADHD and a handful of pills and so with that I was let loose to figure things out myself, and after 5 years of researching, reading and trying things out I have learned a lot (which was the reason why I created this site). The Methylphenidate made me irritable, moody, my wife didn't like what I had become on the pills and rather trying to go back (as I had been signed off by that point), I just stopped taking them and looked for something else.
Now perhaps it was just that the brand of stimulants I was using, but it wasn't something I wanted to keep experimenting with, especially as sometimes these stimulants can bring about suicidal thoughts, and with my occasional depression waves I get that was the last thing I wanted to have.
So anyway getting back to Noocube, this was something I discovered from my research into looking into what ADHD does to the brain and found that Noocube was ticking the boxes. To explain the reason why it was ticking the boxes let me just briefly recap the common issues that happen with the ADHD brain.
- Cognitive functions are hampered due to signals not being transmitted properly resulting in inattention.
- Hyperactivity due to the motor parts of the brain developing faster than the frontal cortex
- Impulsivity, which again is caused by the cognitive parts of the brain not working properly, resulting in doing things before you have had time to think it out.
Firstly it doesn't contain any caffeine, none at all. The reason why the people at Noocube decided this was not only because of the obvious side effects that caffeine brings, but also they are quoted to say that caffeine does not get you into a productive state of mind. Caffeine as you may already know is a stimulant much like Methylphenidate, so what it does is increase the dopamine levels which the brain with ADHD will loose so much faster. However, this boost will fade fast, so further caffeine is needed, which then of course raises the risks. So you can see why Noocube opted to leave caffeine out, as they are aiming to be the safer supplement, they have instead included ingredients that increase your overall cognitive ability, which will last longer than just a caffeine boost.
Their claims sound impressive but are they true? When I was looking for a replacement to medication the idea was to find something which I could research myself to ensure it would help, not just a sales pitch. Thankfully Noocubes website mentions all the ingredients that is contained in each capsule, so I started to read into each one to find just how useful it would be. Noocube is not sold as a alternative to traditional medication for ADHD, and you will not find anything on their website discussing the disorder. However the ingredients that are enclosed can certainly assist in the affiliation of symptoms without the side effects that are associated with medication, which you can find my individual findings below.
Alpha GPC (25mg per capsule)
Alpha GPC or Alpha Glycerylphosphorylcholine as it's full name is claimed to be able to increase the levels of Acetylcholine in the brain. The purpose of Acetylcholine is to be the chemical messenger between brain cells, and on the Noocube website, they stated a study was conducted in 2013 on Alzheimer's patients, where over 180 days of administering Alpha GPC they displayed constant improvements their cognitive abilities, which you can find the article here. However, I will summarize what Alzheimer's does in the brain and how Alpha GPC helps.
Science Direct is quoted to say that Alzheimer's disrupts the alpha and beta band within the brain, but what is alpha and beta band? These are two of five different wave bands, namely Alpha, Beta, Delta, Gamma and Theta. These brain waves refer to the way the neurons travel in the brain and scientists have been able to track these oscillations in the brain to better understand the workings of the mind.
So in regards to the two specific waves Alpha and Beta, according to Neuro Sky the reduction of Alpha and Beta waves can cause daydreaming, depression, poor cognition, anxiety, high stress, insomnia and OCD. So, of course, opening the channels for these neurons use would most certainly help lower these symptoms in theory.
So how does this relate to ADHD? Well if you have looked at the Neuro Sky site at Alpha and Beta waves you will notice that having too little in regards to Beta waves can cause ADHD. This I feel is not quite accurate it is more likely that the reduction in frontal tissue in the brain caused by ADHD is the likely cause of the reduction in Beta Waves. So if Alpha-GPC is assisting in opening the ports so to speak, would most certainly help as optimal Beta waves allow better memory & cognition skills.
Now although some studies have been carried out on Alzheimer's patients, it is not fully conclusive, but studies have been made on Alpha GPC and it has been found to increase blood flow to the brain, rather than boosting dopamine levels like stimulants do, which with more oxygen flowing and the ports more open, it would be the reason why this was selected as by Noocube.
Side effects of taking too much Alpha-GPC can be heartburn, but this has only been documented at around 2% of people, and compared to too much caffeine that can cause heart failure I think you find heartburn is a better trade-off.
Cat's Claw (87.5mg per capsule)
Cat's claw is found from a vine in the Amazon rain forest called Uncaria tomentosa and has been used by people indigenous to the Amazon rain-forest for at least 2000 years. Cat's claw is an anti oxidant and is thought to be able to repair damaged nerve cells, which of course includes the brain. It has had many years of research on humans and animals since as early as the 1970's, so it does have a strong backing of data to support its benefits.
Cat's claw has shown to control pain receptors, reduce cancer, prevent DNA damage as well as reduction of inflammations, so it has excellent healing properties, but what about benefits for the brain? After all, this is what we are looking for in the article.
Well, when you have stress and anxiety as examples it can actually damage your brain as certain stress namely Cortisol creates free radicals in your brain which is oxygen molecules which are not attached. This will damage brain cells which of course reduces your brain's ability to perform. The more stress you are under the damaged your brain cells gets, which then brings about memory loss, anxiety and depression.
So this is where the benefits of Cat's Claw comes into play, as the extract is a powerful antioxidant, so of course, reducing the rogue oxygen molecules that can damage your brain, and the anti-inflammatory reduces any brain swelling which might also occur from stress. While it is doing this it is also repairing damage to your brain cells which means an increase of memory and cognitive functions, and of course, with all this repairing going on stress levels will be reduced.
Side effects are rare but some people have experienced dizziness and nausea as well as diarrhoea. Another side effect is for people taking medication to suppress the immune system due to autoimmune diseases, as the effects of Cat's Claw is to boost the immune system, so if you have an autoimmune disease it is best to avoid this.
Oat Straw (75mg per capsule)
Oat straw is thought to have a selection of benefits in regards to cognitive abilities. a key point that is made on the Noocube website is reducing inflammation within artery walls which like Cat's claw is very good for allowing blood to flow easier in the brain, but that is not the only thing Oat straw does, it comes with a number of other benefits for people with ADHD.
One specific example is that Oat straw has been found to inhibit monoamine oxidase B. Now the reason why reducing the effectiveness of monoamine oxidase B is good for someone with ADHD is that its purpose is to degrade dopamine in the brain. So as you may already know prescribed stimulants boost dopamine in the brain, which means the monoamine oxidase B can't degrade the dopamine fast enough. So Oat straw is going the other way round and stopping what is absorbing the dopamine rather than adding more.
But there are more benefits to oat straw than just the control of dopamine. Oat straw is a natural sedative which may sound odd, I mean surely you want to be more awake than asleep when you are taking Noocube. However the basis of the sedative is a lot like a cup of warm milk. You know how a cup of warm milk is recommended at bed time to settle you off to sleep. Well oat milk does the exact same thing it soothes and calms the mind down which at the amount provided wont put you to sleep, but instead calm down any anxiety and stress you may have, and as you become more relaxed alpha brain waves will increase which means getting more down and with less damage to your cells from stress in particularly.
Another benefit is that within the oats are Avenanthramides compounds, and what this does is enhance the production of nitric oxide within your blood cells, and why this is good is down to what nitric oxide does in the brain. You see nitric oxide has the ability to open blood vessels wider, which of course means blood can travel around your brain more faster and easier than before. This means that your brain has an increased functional ability simply because more blood and thus more oxygen is getting to vital parts. With these vital parts getting more resources that it needs, and the dopamine levels not being reduced so easily, oat straw also benefits memory and cognition, which for someone with ADHD this is something really important, to help and improve upon. Oat straw is also an anti-inflammatory (much like cats claw) which means any form of swelling will be reduced, which can only further benefit blood flow.
One last thing I want to mention on the benefits side is that oat straw acts like an anti depressant. With stress lowered and alpha waves increased, you are going to start feeling a lot less depression, which from my own ADHD I found was annoying by-product of the disorder. I get occasional waves of depression, which although I understand a lot more of now is still something I have to contend with in my life. So to have something which makes that just a little bit easier to deal with, was something that was definitely an added bonus to taking Noocube.
So that is all the benefits what about the side effects? Well from research it is found that oat straw doesn't really have any side effects. It is all natural and non toxic, and is considered to be very safe to use. However one thing that studies have found that over using oat straw can suppress the monoamine oxidase B too much, which means having too much dopamine. Now you may be wondering how could this be bad? Well if you have too much of a good thing it wont feel as good anymore. You will start to get board and it will start to make you unmotivated, as there isn't that same reward anymore, and that means you are getting the exact opposite of what you a wanting out of this. So please always remember to stick to the recommended dosages.
Huperzine A (10mg per capsule)
Huperzine A is one of the natural herbal remedies the Chinese have been using in traditional medicine for thousands of years, and it is created from a Chinese club moss called Huperzia serrata. They are water soluble so will absorb into your system very quickly, and so can get to where you need it fast.
Speed it great but what it does is the important thing of course so let's go over this. Well Huperzia A has been used by the Chinese to treat Alzheimer’s in patients as it has been found to increase cognitive function and memory. How this is done is by a variety of ways Firstly let's go over its ability to inhibit the effects of acetylcholinesterase. Acetylcholinesterase is found throughout the body and is an enzyme which breaks down acetylcholine (I know, who named these things).
Why is breaking down acetylcholine bad? Well, the purpose of acetylcholine is to encode new memories, it allows greater concentration and cognition as well as growing new synapses, which is all part of the executive functions of the brain. So suppressing acetylcholinesterase in the brain gives it more chance to function higher than it did before, since the new memories are not being forgotten, like for example a new procedure at work, which of course means your work output can be higher.
Preventing the loss of new memories is one of the benefits of Huperzine - A but there are others such as preventing toxicity, caused by glutamate acid, which is the chemical that nerves use to send signals to other cells. Where the damage comes in though is when too much glutamate is released and causes overexcitation of the receiving nerve cells which then damages that nerve cell. Huperzine - A balanced this out so that glutamate is kept at a reasonable level and thus preventing cell damage and/or death. In fact Huperzine - A promotes growth within the neurons in your brain.
So it protects new memories and nerve cells in the brain, what else can it do? Well, Huperzine-A is also an antioxidant. Much like cats claw Huperzine-A reduces any free radicals of oxygen which as mentioned in cats claw damages your brain cells, but something else Huperzine-A does is enhances the antioxidant enzymes that you already have so that they can better remove free radicals as well.
So there are many benefits but what about the side effects? Well if you used Huperzine - A on its own in larger than recommended doses it can become toxic, and the fact that it lasts in your system for 24 hours, means that on its own it could become risky, Noocube thought of this however which is why the dosages are 10mg per tablet. so even if you took four tablets a day (which is the maximum dosage) you would be 10mg the lowest recommended dosage when Huperzine - A is taken on its own.
Another important thing to note is not to take Huperzine-A if you have epilepsy as studies have found that it is possible that heart rates lowered after taking it, and Huperzine-A can worsen asthma. as it has been known to cause mucous on the lungs. It also has risks for people suffering from the urinary tract or system blockages in the reproductive organs, as it can cause mucous build up there as well.
One last thing I want to note is to ensure that any product you try contains HUPERZINE-A and not HUPERZINE SERRATA. The difference between these two is within the production Huperzine-A is produced in a lab so the dosages are controlled, and it is produced from Huperzine serrata. If you use a product which contains Huperzine serrata then you will not know if the dosages are correct. It may be fine however as it is not created in controlled methods you may think you are taking 50mg when really you are taking 250mg. I always read the labels before buying a product and this is why I am recommending NooCube, as it has the highest quality ingredients in their supplements.
Bacopa Monnieri (125mg per capsule)
Bacopa monnieri (otherwise known as water hyssop) is a herb that comes from the wetlands of India. and comes with benefits which helps with cognition and lowering stress levels. There are a few areas of which to cover but the first I wanted to mention is the stress reveling abilities that Bacopa Monnieri provides. Prolonged stress causes the brain to have dulling effects and this causes depression in a person. What Bacopa Monnieri does is give the brain more energy and active thinking, so preventing the effects of stress anxiety and panic disorders, rather than suppressing it like the effects of modern antidepressants.
With some people that has ADHD waves of depression can occur, so to have something that can not only boost cognitive abilities but to control the depression waves, is something that is a real benefit with someone who has ADHD, and wants to be able to work without that particular distraction, as if your mood is better regulated you can focus easier, with some self-control.
Like other ingredients found within Noocube Bacopa Monnieri enhances cognitive and memory functions within the brain. It does this by improving the signal quality of the electrical impulses that the neurons in your brain uses to send messages. Another benefit is that it helps your body to repair any damaged neurons that you may have, allowing even better signal coverage. This has been studied and it was found that after 12 weeks people that were taking Bacopa Monnieri were recalling words better, had a greater attention span general memory retention had improved. So with better memory and reduced anxiety you can see why Bacopa Monnieri was included by Noocube.
So you understand the benefits what about the side effects and risks? Well, there are very few. and mostly only if you have a previous condition before taking it. For example, Bacopa Monnieri could have the potential to increase levels of the thyroid hormone, which would be an issue taking thyroid medication, or worsen fluid secretions in the lung, which would be an issue for people with asthma. However this would only normally be a risk for people who are taking way above the recommended dosages, as always follow the instructions when it comes to dosages, they are there to keep you safe.
L-Theanine (50mg per capsule)
Next on the list of ingredients is L-Theanine, sourced from green tea treat L-Theanine as more of a support role to the other ingredients you have read so far. it will add the following benefits, anti-anxiety, improved memory and cognition and boost alpha and theta brain waves, but L-Theanine also gives one thing extra, it improves the quality of your sleep. This is something to take note, as if you remember earlier Oat Straw helps you get to sleep, and L-Theanine improves the quality. Now wherever or not it lasts that long in your body, as you would tend to be taking this early in the morning. However sleep is absolutely important to ensure a more healthy brain. Wherever it not Noocube helps with sleep however I'm not so sure.
Moving on from that though like other ingredients in the list L-Theanine does help with getting focus and drive from the brain, as it has the ability to balance the brain chemistry, which means the other ingredients can get to work faster so you will find that L-Theanine has a sort of support role, allowing the other ingredients to work harder. L-Theanine is another booster for brain waves, namely alpha and theta, which brings about a more relaxed mind which has more creativity, as well as trauma relief for the brain. Another benefit you will receive is an increase in dopamine levels in the brain. Now when you link this to the effects of Oat Straw, where the monoamine oxidase B was being inhibited, and thus allowing more dopamine to stay in the brain, L-Theanine giving that boost is a great compliment and it is obvious to see why it was added to Noocube ingredient mix.
Another complimenting part of L-Theanine is that it balances out the release of Glutamate, which complements Huperzine - A preventing the chemicals that neurons are using for transmitting to damage cells, allowing more stress prevention, and reduced heart rates and like mentioned with Huperzine - A the reduced stress does really help with getting that focus needed to improve your memory.
Side effects are also almost non-existent. L-Theanine is a naturally occurring amino acid so it id considered non-toxic and thus very safe to take. The only risk is with higher amounts can lead to a potential decrease in blood pressure, so for people who take medication for high blood pressure, this could be a risk. So if you are taking medication then consult your doctor before trying Noocube.
L-Tyrosine (125mg per capsule)
Finally, we have reached the last ingredient within NooCube, L-Tyrosine. The chemical compounds of L-Tyrosine are naturally produced within your body, as it is an amino acid much like L-Theanine, so in essence, it can be seen as more of a supportive role rather than filling in things that are missing (like dopamine deliver). So if we look at dopamine as an example instead or producing more, or restricting what absorbs dopamine, it instead produced the fuel dopamine needs in order to function properly. So, of course, referring back to ADHD, having the materials needed for proper functioning dopamine is certainly a benefit when it comes to cognitive function.
What was found in a 2015 review in regards to L-Tyrosine was that although the body produced an amount of L-Tyrosine, supplementing the amount meant that participants had higher cognitive function and working memory as the materials needed was in abundance. It was found that in times of higher mental pressure L-Tyrosine allowed far more control of cognitive functioning, which of course means better performance and less stress, due to tasks not seeming as overwhelming as they were before.
There are two other areas of the brain which L-Tyrosine gives an overall "boost" and that is epinephrine and norepinephrine. Epinephrine is otherwise known as adrenaline, which controls your fight or flight responses. Boosting adrenaline has been known to help with clarity and focus for people who have ADHD, which is why people who do have the disorder have been known to take more risks, than others. The feeling in the brain after for example a bungee jump, or driving a car fast feeling the g's when taking corners brings the same feeling that dopamine brings.
The adrenaline forces your brain to function faster, which makes sense as in you need to be thinking fast to survive in a life or death situation. That clarity can also be triggered if you force yourself into (for example reducing the time deadline of a project to just a few hours). Now forcing yourself into situations to force adrenaline is something which personally is not something I like to do, however if you do end up in that kind of situation, having this kind of boost means that if for whatever reason that situation happened, you would have a far higher amount of internal coping mechanisms with higher epinephrine, which means lower stress and more focus.
Finally, we have norepinephrine, which is another naturally produced chemical in the body. Its purpose is to be your stress hormone and the transmitter of signals between your nerve cells. Norepinephrine controls the amount of glucose (sugar) in your blood, which is important as this fuel for your brain in the right amounts, as well as increasing alertness which of course is another help with getting things done in a work or study setting.
An interesting thing to mention is that low norepinephrine is known with people who have ADHD. Everyday Health mentions this, stating that it is related to the ability to concentrate and maintain focus. This would certainly be accurate as mentioned earlier the importance of sending signals in the brain so that recalling from memory and being able to think clearly is achievable. So having the basic amount amplified can most certainly be a benefit.
Now unlike L-Theanine, L-Tyrosine can bring side effects if a higher than recommended dosage is taken, as unlike L-Theanine it can be considered toxic (although to get to that you would need to take 12 grams daily). So with that in mind, the daily amount is recommended to be around 500 - 1000mg max, which means even if you work yourself up to four capsules a day of NooCube, you are well within the safety limits. The actual side effects include headaches, migraines, stomach upsets and issues with the intestines. Much like L-Theanine, this should not be taken by anyone with taking medication for high blood pressure, and it has not been proven to be safe for pregnant or breast feeding women.
Hyperactivity
Now for an adult with ADHD Hyperactivity should really have faded a lot, so you now just fidget in a chair rather than running around the office
, as by the time you are an adult your cognitive functioning part of your brain has grown and restraint can be done far more effectively than you could of as a child. While taking Noocube, I personally didn't notice a massive change in my hyperactivity per say, but as I was more focused in my work, I didn't want to shift around as much but it still happened.Now, this could be down to habit, as it is something I have been doing all my life, or perhaps it just does not help with this. Regardless I personally do not see this as a major hassle. Not keeping perfectly still is not vital, unless you want to go meditate in a monastery. For regular life working in an office, I have not found fidgeting as a problem at all.
Cost and value
Now as you've continued along you may be thinking that it is all sounding good, but what about the price? Undoubtedly this could be a sticking point for some, so let's go over this.
1 bottle costs $39.99 (£29.99)
This will give you 60 capsules so if you are taking the standard dosage of 2 capsules a day it will last you 30 days. This is ideal for trying out Noocube and seeing if the benefits are really working for you, costing you $1.33 (£1.00) per day
3 bottles cost $79.99 (£59.99)
All together this will give you 180 capsules, which of course means on a standard dosage this will last you three times as long. So if you have tried Noocube and it is working for you, this would get you 90 days worth and standard dosages, which means it is costing you $0.89 (£0.67) a day.
6 bottles cost $119.99 (£89.99)
This is the biggest deal Noocube offer, as you will be getting 360 capsules which gives you a whopping 180 days worth. It also means the cost goes even further down being only $0.67 (£0.50) a day.
Also at the time of writing when you go directly to Noocube's site, they offer a 20% off flash sale so it can be even cheaper. Another thing to factor is that you would use Noocube for five days and have two days off, as it is not recommended to constantly be taking supplements, and honestly, you don't need to have a brain boost on your day off. So with 5 days on & 2 days off a single bottle will last you six weeks, so if you are going to buy the larger deal that pack of 6 bottles will last you 36 weeks, which is around 8 months worth.
In comparison to traditional medication, it is a complete bargain in the cost comparison, comparing where you come from. America, for example, requires either health insurance, to which a family of four costs around $1600 dollars a month. Or you can buy the medication direct, which quoted from the Fiscal Times that the Adderall drug costs $280 dollars a month. So in comparison cost wise it is an absolute no-brainer.
In the UK the current cost is £8.99 per item, which is around a week's worth, and although you can get a Prescription Certificate for a year at £104, it is still quite a high cost in comparison to Noocube if you are staying at 2 capsules. If though you are upping Noocube to 3 or 4 capsules a day in the UK, keep in mind of the price difference.
Conclusion
So to conclude the many different ingredients mentioned on their own can be an enormous benefit to someone who is suffering from the effects of having ADHD. Having though the ingredients stacked together in safe amounts makes Noocube a great alternative to try out if you have found the side effects of traditional medication for the disorder difficult to work with, or you simply cannot afford the medication and want to try a more cost-effective alternative. Bare in mind though everybody is different so what works for someone may not work as well for others. But if you have come this far in my review, I think you will find that it is well worth the try towards a more healthy and functioning brain.
Do you make noocube? If not, are you affiliated with the makers?
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