First off, I will tell you that there are many conflicting reports and reviews about "The Brain Pill." But since it comes up in my "ad feed" on the site here, and since I saw it come up while I was actually feeling a little "foggy" a couple weeks back, I thought I'd pull the box out of my closet and give this stuff a whirl, in spite of the "mixed reviews."
From my experience with this stuff, I have to say I'm impressed.
The interesting thing for me is that I almost "stumbled into it backwards" as I had gotten it thrown into another order as a free sample as part of a shipment of some other dietary supplements.
I'm glad I tried it. Like, really glad I tried it.
But I was troubled by some of the negative reviews, when it seems to be working so well for me. So, I thought I'd do a little digging around to see what's up with the negativity.
Here are my findings. And my experience.
The first point I will make is....
The "Brain Pill" does more for my cognitive function than I expected.
To be honest, I didn't really know what to expect. And it was only a combination of being really foggy as I was working on my computer, when I saw the ad pop up somewhere and I remembered I had some. And I figured, "why not?"
It might have been coincidence. But about an hour after I popped that first capsule, I had a blast of "clarity."
Now, I don't know for sure it was the pill. I had been working in "sleep deprivation mode" all week, but my alertness comes and goes through the day in those situations.
And yet, I was sharp that evening. So I thought it might be interesting to experiment with this stuff and take it for a while to see how it might or might not affect me. After a couple weeks now, I have to say that I do suspect this has been a real boost for mental clarity and focus. Those moments of "brain fog" aren't keeping me staring like a zombie at the computer.
So, just what is this "Brain Pill?"
The company that puts this stuff out (Leading Edge Health) calls it, "Your New Secret Weapon For Peak Mental Performance." That sounds good. But this stuff is actually endorsed by Dr. Dave David - he's a surgeon, and you might have already seen him on CNN or a number of other TV shows he is on from time to time.
Hear what he has to say about the Brain Pill:
This "Brain Pill" comes under a class of supplements called "Nootropics." So....
What are Nootropics?
"Nootropics (pronounced noo-traah-puhks) are compounds or supplements that enhance cognitive performance. This exotic term for so-called smart drugs derives from the Greek word “noos” (mind) and “tropein” (towards)." [1]
What are nootropics used for?
- healthy brain function
- anxiety control
- focus/clarity
- stress/mood[2]
Are Nootropics natural or synthetic?
Generally, nootropics tend to get labelled in three different "classifications": stimulant drugs, synthetic compounds and natural compounds.[3]
However, it seems to make more sense from our perspectives here to look at this more in terms of synthetic vs natural components. This has more to do with philosophy more than anything else.
Our thinking is that while there might be a lot of natural substances that are bad for you, there's probably no such thing as a manufactured chemical that does NOT have some side effects.
This isn't to say that all manufactured substances are really bad, or that the side effects aren't worth using them. (Think insulin, for instance. MIght be done in a lab? But if you're diabetic, you won't want to be without it.)
How do they classify the ingredients in nootropics?
Drugs/Synthetic Compounds
Ritalin and Adderal are two commonly used drugs for controlling mental focus and clarity. Kids are often prescribed Ritalin to help them focus better in school. These are prescription only. And our philosophy here is that we tend to be skeptical about prescription medications. (But we are not doctors. You need to screen anything you glean from the internet past your trusted healthcare professional.)
Natural nootropic ingredients
Natural substances are things like vitamins and minerals, stuff you get in your multivitamins as well as other items we will cover in a bit (which are in this Brain Pill but occur in nature) such as various amino acids and herbal components.
What substances are considered "natural" nootropics?
There are a number of things that are natural nootropics. Among them are: L-theanine, vitamin B5, B6, B12, and Cytocoline
- B5, B6, B12
- L-theanine
- Gingko Biloba extract- known for its ability to clear brain fog and improve cognitive function (known for centuries, actually) for being good at battling mental fatigue.
- Cytocoline - "Some people take citicoline supplements for memory loss and other thinking problems that may affect us as we age. Some research backs up these uses.
Studies have found that citicoline supplements may help improve memory in older people. "Other studies suggest that citicoline supplements may slow the onset of mild vascular dementia, Alzheimer's disease, glaucoma, and some symptoms of Parkinson's disease. But we need more research to be sure." [4]
What are the Brain Pill ingredients?
The "Brain Pill" formula seems to be quite a blend of "specialized" natural ingredients, "beefed-up" natural ingredients (ie., natural substances that are improved for purity and/or concentration by using patented processes to extract them).
Leading Edge Health is a company that I have come to appreciate as an outfit that tries to be very selective about what they bring to market.
They like to develop products that are unique in the industry. But they also like to do their research to make sure that if they do introduce a product, there is a legitimate purpose for it in the marketplace. They don't do a lot of "generic" type stuff. They like to develop products that serve niche markets and that aren't easily copied by others.
In addition to the "standard" types of ingredients that are found in a lot of these formulas, the Brain Pill has some other interesting ingredients:
Phosphatidylserine and Tyrosine are a couple of them.
Phosphatidylserine
Phosphatidylserine is a phospholipid (one of the fatty acids) that is known to keep memory clear and sharp. It is safe by mouth according to the best studies we can find.[6] But as with anything else, it's always wise to get an informed opinion from a medical professional.
Tyrosine
Tyrosine is another ingredient in the Brain Pill. It is an amino acid, and it is known to regulate mental sharpness. Some studies also suggest that it can really help boost mental clarity if you're dealing with fatigue.[5]
Huperzia Serrata
Huperzia Serrata is a traditional Asian medicine used to treat mental disorders and cognitive dysfunction. Very powerful and the studies seem to show it works well for the purpose.[7]
Pantothenic acid
Pantothenic acid is the "B5" found in this formula. The human body utilizes the various B vitamins together for maximum effect. This one is one of the B's you don't want left out of the mix.[8]
All in all, it looks like stuff we've seen before.
But...
There ARE some negative reviews out there.
Now, some of the negative reviews are from some of the "know it alls" at the brain trust known as Reddit. Not that everyone who voices an opinion on Reddit is stupid.
In fact, I've been working on an article about how good the medical advice is over at Reddit, and it varies from downright awful to pretty darn good. The biggest problem is filtering the good from the bad.
Ironically, if you took Brain Pill, you might be better equipped to filter out the good opinions from the bad ones over there. (Just trying to be funny. Sorry.)
This thorny little issue of using Vinpocetine as an ingredient
From what I can tell, the negative reviews center around one particular ingredient that is contained in the Brain Pill. And that particular ingredient is something called "Vinpocetine."
Vinpocetine is a chemical that is similar to a substance found in the Periwinkle plant. So what does that mean?
Well, the best sources I can find say that it is actually extracted from the Periwinkle plant and then modified. So it's "sort of natural(?)" [9]
I suppose if you're into "all natural," be aware that this isn't quite an "all-natural" product, as the vinpocetine is "processed."
But then again, many of the supplements we take are not in a natural form.
But it also seems that a lot of the concern may be centered around the lack of clarity on what is considered safe dosages of vinpocetine and some of the other ingredients that are used in some of these products.
From what I can see, the amount of this stuff in Brain Pill is pretty small.
So you need to evaluate this one and act accordingly.
As I've gotten to using this stuff over the last couple weeks, I can say that I'm laying a little low on the dosage of it (because I want to not go hogwild on stuff that isn't "all natural."
I've been finding that even though the recommended amount to take (based on the box) is 2 capsules a day, I've been noticing good results taking one capsule a day, in the morning. By evening, I'm still clear and focused.
But it doesn't affect my sleep.
If you're under "brain stress," you should consider trying this stuff.
Leading Edge health has been around for well over 20 years now, as best I can tell. (Maybe 30......)
They have a lot of products on the market and unlike some companies, once they introduce a product to market, it usually stays on the market for a LONG time. That tells me they usLally get it right. (Or they woudn't keep putting it out there.)
If you have "brain fog;" if you're concerned about cognitive decline over the years, and want to get that crisp, sharp mind back that you used to have, then give Brain Pill a try.
Like all of their products, this "unfair advantage" comes with a 67-day no questions asked, money-back guarantee. So you've got nothing to lose.
Try it HERE. 67-day money-back guarantee.
References:
[9] - Vinpocetine - Wikipedia