Have you ever taken ashwagandha without bacopa or anything else? I'm now curious as to how its anxiety reducing qualities compare to bacopa and if I can possibly eliminate bacopa from my stack if ashwagandha provides similar benefits but without the sedation.
I really appreciate your input. Your posts on these two herbs are really what got me started on them and so far they've been better than any other nootropic I've ever tried (and I've tried a lot). Since the percent extract is pretty high for both the bacopa and ashwagandha that I have, I think I'll try reducing my dosage to just one capsule each daily. Probably try bacopa with dinner since I find it sedating and ashwagandha with breakfast since so far I find it more energizing (plus I could use the anxiety relief more during the day at work).
In one of your other posts you mentioned taking bacopa, ashwagandha and alpha gpc. If limited funds were an issue, would you take ashwagandha or alpha gpc with bacopa; if increases in focus, memory and energy are desired?
Super happy for you. It is nice when you find something that truly works.
Definitely. Bacopa has almost completely eliminated my anxiety. Since taking it I rarely blush, sweat and have a nervous stammer in social situations (which used to happen often). And so far ashwagandha has eliminated the minor negative aspects I experienced with bacopa (mood and energy). I just wish I'd started these years ago but better late than never.
What effect did you notice from adding alpha gpc to the stack?
Some people say yes, some say no, so I take a month off after 4 months on to be safe. I'm at the end of one of those months now...really looking forward to getting back on it.
Yeah, I've read different opinions on many sites as to whether it needs to be cycled. It's just been working so well with bacopa that I hate to stop taking it for a period of time (it and bacopa are the only things I've found in the last 20+ years that have greatly reduced my social anxiety) . So, I thought I'd check and see if others on here have successfully used it long term without any breaks.
According to the makers of Sensoril, it is safe to take year-round. I think most people would recommend cycling almost anything as a general precaution, but if the effects aren't changing and you don't feel the need, then it's totally your call. I know I have really been missing it and am excited to get back on it at the end of the week.
I wonder how much it also depends on the dose. I believe sensoril recommends only 125 mg (at 8%) twice each day. Some days I'm taking almost twice that (depending on how stressful the day is) of the ksm-66 brand.
Sensoril is dosed at 225mg, but I don't know if it is recommended to take it twice a day. If taking it during the day, ksm-66 is probably better as it should be less sedating. At nighttime, sensoril would probably be a better bet. No reason not to do ksm during the day and sensoril at night if you dose twice per day, though. Luckily it's a cheap supplement so you can experiment. Also I think I heard that sensoril raised their standardization to 10%...I will be trying it for the first time in a few days and I am excited. So far I have only used the NOW brand.
Is that the jarrow brand of sensoril? I tried that a while back and believe it was 225 mg of sensoril taken just once each day. Some other providers of sensoril capsule them at 125 mg and recommend two each both (both working out to around the same dose). The problem I have with sensoril is that it's both leaves and root. I've read that it's better to just use an extract from the root. However, I don't recall the reasoning for that recommendation (or if it was made by makers of the root only extracts...which would be a little biased). I could be wrong but I think the now brand (like ksm-66) also uses root only extracts.
Yeah it's leaves and root. There are a couple of reasons why some people don't recommend that. The first is that traditionally people would only eat root powder. The second is that the leaves have higher concentrations of one specific compound that some people think can be harmful. Sensoril is extracted to contain very little of that compound, though, and is very widely used so I am going to try it. Also, you are right, I have the Jarrow formula with 225mg. Still haven't tried it but I am psyched.
The Jarrow sensoril brand was excellent if you're looking for a more sedated feeling (as opposed to a more calm, energy which I experience with the ksm-66 brand). I only take ksm-66 because I needed a brand that was more energizing to help offset the sedation I experience with bacopa. If I wasn't taking bacopa, then I might prefer the sensoril brand instead.
Man I just picked up bacopa and am excited to try it. I know it has energizing effects for some and sedating for others, so I want to wait until the weekend to give it a try. I got a giant tub of rhodiola as well and tried it with my PWO and in the morning...realized it relaxes me but doesn't energize me. Then I tried it pre-bed...turns out it also keeps me up at night. I'm sure I will find a good way to use it, though.
Bacopa is by far my favorite nootropic (and I've taken pretty much everything). The focus and reduction in anxiety it provides is great. It and ashwagandha will forever form the base on my daily stacks. I've used rhodiola in the past and really liked it too. Lower doses (250 mg or less) definitely provided energy (or eliminated my tiredness) in the morning and higher doses (500 mg) provided a little sedation and helped a lot with anxiety. I just added vinpocetine a couple days ago to see if that improves my focus and brain fog even more (which bacopa has definitely helped a lot).
Man I didn't even think about that. I just popped 200mg rhodiola to see if that works better. Thanks for the tip!
No problem. That was actually information kisaj provided in another thread which I also found to be true through my own use of rhodiola.
How much of the bulk 20% powder do you use? I think I have the same stuff.
Seems like a pretty high dosage. For a 20% extract that's 600 mg of baccosides each day. I wonder why that's more energizing versus something like Himalaya's Bacopa with less than 70 mg of baccosides per tablet. I'm assuming it has something to do with the extraction method, quality of base material, etc. Did you try higher doses of the Himalaya Bacopa to see if it changed from sedating to energizing? I guess it shows how you can't just go by the baccosides content when deciding how much to use of a particular brand.
I have taken 2 tabs of Himalaya brand with sedating effects. I really do think it is the extraction method and ratio of actives. Like most herbs, there is probably lots more going on that just bacosides. My bulk powder was pretty cheap, so take that into account. It works for me on both the price and desired effects fronts.
A quick google search provides many articles stating just the opposite where the liver and kidneys are concerned.
I was also disappointed with sensoril. I guess that's the thing with adaptogens like ashwagandha, they will affect everyone differently. I love the NOW brand and when I tried sensoril I wenter back to NOW after a few weeks. Sensoril just didn't put me to sleep as well.
Why do you feel that way?
Do you feel that way about rhodiola too since it messes with serotonin?
