Nicotine: Addictive Chemical or Brain Enhancer?

A couple years ago, I met Dave Asprey in his biohacking barn for a meeting.

Among all of his funky biohacking gadgets, he took out a black bottle and told me to spray it in my mouth.

I was apprehensive but trusted him so I went ahead and did it.

It had this weird taste and I had no clue what it was. I said, “What the hell is this?”

He told me that it was nicotine, and we were going to have a better meeting because of it. Sure enough, we did.

Benefits of Nicotine

Despite its bad rap, nicotine can be quite the brain booster.

Studies have shown that nicotine can enhance attention, memory, and cognitive function.

Nicotine mimics the shape of a neurotransmitter called acetylcholine, which naturally occurs in the brain.

This similarity allows nicotine to activate certain receptors which causes the the release of dopamine and norepinephrine which enhances attention, alertness, focus, and mood.

Nicotine may also promote neuroplasticity and learning capabilities.

A study published in the journal Neuropharmacology suggests that nicotine significantly improves attention and memory, particularly during challenging tasks.

I personally use nicotine on and off to help me concentration. However, I don’t use it often due to the potential consequences.

Nicotine for Long COVID

Nicotine can also help resolve long COVID, according to this study.

One of the reasons why long COVID causes brain fog is due to Spike Protein’s affinity for nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in your brain, which are crucial for neural communication.

This attachment disrupts neural interactions which can contribute to neurological symptoms observed in long COVID.

Nicotine binds more strongly to these receptors, which can displace the spike protein from them.

In the study mentioned, treatments using nicotine patches showed significant improvements in long COVID, suggesting a potential therapeutic strategy for this condition.

Precautions

Sadly, it’s not all sunshine and roses. Nicotine can be highly addictive and should be approached with caution.

Vapes and conventional cigarettes should be avoided at all costs since they’re loaded with chemicals that you do not want anywhere near your body.

Additionally, people with heart conditions or pregnant women should avoid it due to the potential health risks.

Best Way to Use It?

The best way to use nicotine, if you choose to incorporate it into your toolbox, is orally through pouches, lozenges, or sprays.

This allows you to control the dosage and reduce the risk of ingesting harmful chemicals. Start with the lowest dose and gradually adjust based on your body’s response.

Nic Nacs has dissolvable lozenges with only five clean ingredients (not affiliated).

Nicotine is a very interesting compound with many benefits, but it doesn’t come without risks. If you choose to use it, approach it with caution.

Until next time,

Kashif Khan

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Information on this site is provided for informational purposes only. It is not meant to substitute for medical advice from your physician or other medical professional. You should not use the information contained herein for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease, or prescribing any medication. If you have or suspect that you have a medical problem, promptly contact your regular health care provider.