Shared from Supplement Mart

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What’s the plan?

1. To reach the wider audience by offering a free trial version.

You will be able to download the app from the internet, install it to your PC and try out all of its features for free for a limited time period. After that, some of the features will lock until you registers either the Basic or the Advanced Edition (don’t worry, all your work will remain intact and will still be available after you register the app).

2. To change the distribution model.

Currently, every license has to be created individually for any one user by entering the user’s full name and a valid email address into the code. This is why the distribution is somewhat lengthy and ineffective. The idea is that a single installation package will meet all the needs.

3. To implement a brand new feature – Dream Analytics.

Extensive dream statistics module and tool for detailed dream work analysis.

How you can help?

There are two ways for you to get involved.

1. You can support the campaign by donating any amount you see fit. Your donation will not go unnoticed – check out the perks on the official Indiegogo campaign page.

2. Share this message and help spreading the word about this campaign. I need your help to reach as many people as possible, so don’t hesitate to share the campaign link.

If you wish to contribute or if you require more details, have questions or issues, please send an email to info@dream-explorer.com and I’ll happily address all of your concerns.

THANK YOU for your time and contribution!

See you on the other side!

Saso

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The effects of Galantamine and Galantamine-based supplements on my lucid dreaming attempts

Galantamine is considered THE most effective supplement for lucid dreaming. A lot is already written on what’s, why’s and how’s so I won’t get into details here (for anyone interested, there is a great article on the subject by Ryan Hurd on DreamStudies.org) and I’ll just focus on my personal experiences.

I first came across with this supplement back in 2006 when I got my hands on Thomas Yuschak’s “Advanced Lucid Dreaming – The Power of Supplements” (2006, Lulu Enterprises). Since I was a newbie in lucid dreaming back then and I was facing all the obstacles beginners usually face (lousy dream recall which led to no success with achieving lucid dreams which led to lack of motivation; lack of discipline was probably also one of the major obstacles), I was looking for a “quick fix” and Galantamine seemed to be just that. I found a guy who was also interested in experimenting with supplements, we placed an order and not long after that I was able to make my first supplement-supported lucid dreaming attempt.

What I initially wanted to do here is some kind of a “case study”; I wanted to get a general perspective on the effects of Galantamine and Galantamine-based supplements on my lucid dreaming attempts from this analysis. As soon as I began I discovered that things aren’t going to be that simple, because I overlooked a couple of not-so-minor details:

• I’ve been experimenting with (three) different types of Galantamine-based supplements. Even though they all contain 4 mg of Galantamine as a basis, they also include other supplements in varying quantities.
• Number of attempts with each Galantamine-based supplement type varies.
• Even if I took a single Galantamine-based supplement type, I often added different quantities of other supplements as well.
• Sometimes I experimented with different types of Galantamine-based supplements at the same time (plus I often added other supplements as well to “spice things up”).
  

That said it should be obvious that “general statistics” were impossible to extract but I did learn a thing or two in the process anyway.

DISCLAIMER: Please note that my intention is not to promote any of the discussed supplements or to encourage their use, nor am I in any connection with the distributers and/or suppliers. As far as I know, other Galantamine-based supplements can be found as well, but I’ll just focus on the ones I’ve been working with.

General overview

Following are the supplements I used to boost my dreams and increase the odds of becoming aware within them.

1. Galantamine-based supplements

2. Other supplements

I will begin my “analysis” with some numbers and charts. Over the period of 6 years (between the years 2006 and 2012) I’ve made a total of 219 attempts (121 attempts with Galantamine-based supplements only, 98 attempts with Galantamine-based + other supplements). Out of 219 attempts, 7 times I was only a step away and 51 attempts were successful – supplements have helped me in becoming aware within a dream. The percentage of successful attempts was a little higher with the use of Galantamine-based supplements alone (53%) which is probably due to the effects of the additional supplements. For example: Yohimbine, when used in very small doses (approximately 1/8 of the 5.4 mg pill), also seems to have given Galantamine an extra boost, while larger doses haven’t produced any worthwhile results. Also, the use of L-theanine seems to decrease the chances of lucidity, although it provides a more restful sleep.

  * 20 out of 168 non-LD (12%) were False Awakenings

The first thing I have to say is that even though Galantamine did significantly improve my ability of recalling dreams and it obviously did increase the probability of becoming aware within them (one out of almost four isn’t bad at all), there are some downsides as well.

One of the most notable things is that with the increased dream vividness dreams can appear almost life-like and are therefore often hard to identify as dreams. Making reality testing a habit would probably increase the odds but since that was not the case with my attempts I guess that could be the reason why “only” 23% of all attempts were successful. Also, dream plots often get quite bizarre – chasing, running and sexual contents take a large part in Galantamine-supported dreams so if you’re not prone of nightmarish or sexually-related dreams you should probably reconsider taking this supplement.

Another thing worth mentioning is the occurrences of false awakenings. As I mentioned before, 20 out of 168 non-lucid dreams (12%) were false awakenings. I noticed that they can occur either before or after the Galantamine-supported dream (i.e. in the beginning or at the end of sleep cycle / dream) which can be considered a major downside. Not knowing whether you’re awake or still asleep can be rather unpleasant, especially if you’re a novice to this kind of experiences.

Let’s have a look at dosages. In my attempts I’ve been taking different quantities of Galantamine-based supplements, varying from 1 to 3 capsules (4 to 12 mg of Galantamine). Following are my own observations and might not apply to others but can be taken into consideration if you decide to give Galantamine a try.

1. Dosage of 4 mg appears to be insufficient as a LD trigger (success rate 14% – 5/36 attempts).
2. Dosage of 12 mg doesn’t increase the probability of a LD (success rate 16% – 6/38 attempts). It does, on the other hand, increase the bizarreness of the dream.
3. Highest probability of success (meaning: becoming aware within a dream) is 8 mg (success rate 28% – 40/145 attempts).

Another thing I noticed is that Galantamine works best if not taken before going to bed but after a Wake-Back-To-Bed instead. That could also be considered as a factor for my success rate – I’ve taken it quite a few times before the sleep onset before I figured this out. So, if you’re thinking about taking it, I’d suggest you meditate before bed, recapitulate your day, relax, then set your alarm clock for after 4-5 hours and go to sleep. After the alarm wakes you up, take some time to reflect on your dreams, write them down, read some dream-related stuff or do whatever stimulates your mind for about 15-30 minutes, then take your Galantamine and hit the bed again and there’s a great chance you’re up for a lucid adventure or at least a memorable experience.

As I already mentioned, I made my experiments with three different types of Galantamine-based supplements. Following is the table displaying the number of attempts with each supplement type and the number of lucid dreams by each supplement. 

It would appear that the most effective Galantamine-based supplement is Lucid Dreamer with a 27% success rate and the least effective is DreamScape + Lucid Dreamer combo with only 13% success rate. I suspect that it’s due to content of Melatonin in DreamScape which in most cases increases the overall quality of sleep but reduces the ability of recalling dreams in general. I’ve come to similar observations when experimenting with Melatonin (3 mg per attempt) alone – I slept throughout most of the night and could only recall the contents of the last sleep cycle / dream, even though I usually wake up as often as 5 times per night with pretty good dream recall.

To sum this up: According to my own experiences I can definitely agree that Galantamine and Galantamine-based supplements do in fact influence the ability of one’s dream recall and significantly increase the chances of becoming aware within them, but as you see, there are some things to keep in mind. Even though I’ve experimented with different kinds of supplements I never noticed any side effects other than occasional feeling of heavy head, but that either dissolved on its own or I swayed it off with an 800 mg Piracetam after awakening. Nevertheless, my suggestion would be that you do your homework and research the subject before throwing yourself in experimentation head-on. And last but not least, Galantamine is NOT a “magic pill” that you could just pop before going to bed and dream lucidly all night long. It is however an interesting supplement worth trying out if you’re interested in this kind of dream work.

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As a child I often suffered from nightmares, as do many other kids. My parents disregarded those experiences as something “not real” and thus not worth being bothered by. I’ve developed a way of dealing with them by myself and as I gradually adopted their point of view, years began to pass.

When I was around the age of fifteen, a memory arose in my mind of somewhat nightmarish childhood dream:

I’m running down the hill in the village I live at as a huge German shepherd is chasing me. My heart is pounding so hard I think it would explode; I know that if it caught me, I was done for. Thinking only about a way to escape the fearsome beast and saving my life, I‘m not paying attention to where I‘m going and I trip over a stone lying on the ground. I start falling head first but instead of hitting the ground something unusual happens – I stop in mid-air approximately 30 centimeters above the ground. I think the time had stopped; I’m floating like a bubble parallel with the ground for some time, then start gaining speed as I begin to move (fly) downhill. All of a sudden there is no more feeling of dread I felt moments before when the ferocious dog was chasing me; instead, there is this amazing feeling of being able to do whatever I want. Soon after I wake up in my bed and the dream is gone, leaving only a strange sensation in me that gradually fades away.

I don’t know why but I started to think about it again, though it was a long time since I’ve dreamed it in the first place. I wondered if I could “recreate” it, maybe even to dream it again and to my surprise the dream repeated itself to the minor detail the following night. Even though I was amazed at what had happened, the event soon sank into my subconscious and years have passed before I recalled this experience again.

My journey began almost a decade ago when I started asking questions that no one in my circle of family and friends was able to answer to. Among other things I felt the urge to understand what “real” actually means. Since no one was able to provide me with answers, I was left with no other option but to search for them myself.  A thought-provoking idea was suggested in “The Matrix”:

“What is real? How do you define ‘real’? If you’re talking about what you can feel, what you can smell, what you can taste and see, then ‘real’ is simply electrical signals interpreted by your brain.”

The movie further suggested that we are actually asleep and that everything we perceive is not “real” per se, but rather a part of some kind of virtual reality. Keeping this in mind, it is of no surprise that my research soon brought dreams back into my attention.

When I first started to write them down, my primary intention was to interpret them to see if they actually hide some meaning, some directions I could use to navigate through my life with more ease and understanding. Soon, things took a different turn. I discovered the concept of Lucid Dreaming – the ability to become aware within a dream and take control over it which would lead one from being a “passive observer” to actively participate in it similarly to how things work in waking life. I was fascinated by the idea of being able to become aware within a dream and I put all my efforts to achieving this unusual goal. Although I was highly motivated to achieve this state it wasn’t an easy task; first, I had to face the problem with the ever-evasive dream recollection.

I searched the internet for advice on how to improve dream recall and even though there were countless reports from people who successfully crossed that bridge it was a challenge to implement things into my own practice. Eventually, I did it; with experimentation and persistent recording I was able to remember more and more.

Then, another obstacle appeared – I had to recognize that my surroundings weren’t those of waking reality but an environment, created by my mind, a dream. By that time I already familiarized myself with the concepts of consciousness, Astral Travel and Out-of-Body Experiences, dream yoga and shamanic dreaming as well as Castaneda’s teachings and even though there was some initial confusion caused by similarities and differences between them I managed to discover the techniques and procedures that suited me and started bringing first results.

My initial attempts were usually nothing more than brief moments of awareness within a dream that usually ended pretty quickly due to powerful emotional outbursts they caused, but at least I was reassured that it is possible to achieve this phenomenal experience and that was enough to keep me going. In time I was able to spend more time in dreaming and what pleased me even more – I was able to remember my experiences in great details not only after waking up in the morning but also throughout the following days.

This research has already taken many different twists and turns and I have absolutely no idea where it will take me next. What I do know is that it has gradually begun to change the way I’m thinking in the most profound ways imaginable. I’ve learned to question everything instead of taking things at face value. Instead of finding answers I feel as if I’m coming closer to understanding the Socratic paradox – Socrates’ famous quote: “I know that I know nothing.”

Until next time – happy dreaming!

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– Calea zacatechichi (also called “dream herb”) – should be used as tea or rolled up and smoked before bedtime and is supposed to increase dream vividness and the possibility of becoming aware within a dream (for some people). It’s extremely bitter which is why I find it extremely difficult to digest, besides that it never worked for me either as tea or rolled and smoked. I experimented with it a little and tried filling the herb into capsules and taking around 1 g per try (4x 250 mg per capsule) before going to bed which showed to be a completely different story – I became aware within a dream each time I took it this way. But I only took it like that a couple of times so it’s hard to say whether it’s actually because of the plant or merely a placebo. I also made Calea tincture, but I didn’t try that one out yet.

– Silene capensis (also known as “African dream root”) – a root that is “traditionally” used by powdering and mixing with water which creates foam that you are supposed to ingest in the morning to increase dream recall and dream vividness. Another way of ingesting is to simply chew 250-500 mg of the root before going to bed. I tried both ways but never had any luck with it. There is also the third way – preparing a coup of tea by boiling the root, but I didn’t give that one a try yet.

– Nymphaea caerulea (“Sacred blue lily”) – it is suggested to drink tea made from leafs and flowers and/or smoking the flowers before going to bed which creates a “dream-like” feeling before sleep and increases dream vividness and dream recall. Unfortunately I couldn’t get my hands on leafs and flowers so I can’t say whether or not it works but I did try Nmphaea tincture which did in fact slightly alter my perception before sleep, yet didn’t have any significant effect on dreaming itself. Maybe I just didn’t take enough (I usually only took 6-8 drops which could be insufficient).

– Lycoris radiata (“Red spider lily”) – the plant itself is HIGHLY POISONOUS but scientists research its extract (galantamine) due to its effects in treating Alzheimer’s disease and other memory impairments. They also found out that galantamine has an interesting side effect – it causes very intense, very vivid dreams and great dream recall and also enables one to become aware within a dream. I tried the extract (never did it myself because you need a real chemical laboratory to extract it from the plant and besides I’m not all that interested in chemistry 🙂 ; instead, I just ordered it via internet – search “lucid dreaming pills” and “galantamine” or get it here or here) and it enabled me to become lucid practically every time I used it. But keep in mind that the dreams actually are very vivid and can be rather morbid / unpleasant (especially if used in combination with other enhancers).

These are the more “exotic” ones, but there are others, of course – for example mugwort, chamomile, hop flowers, valerian, lemon balm, mint, lavender (also goatweed / St. John’s wort, but this one is toxic if taken in high doses so be very careful),… They can all be used either as tea or tinctures and they promote sleep and/or increase dream vividness and dream recall. I didn’t try them all yet (still waiting for the tinctures to be ready 🙂 ), but I’m currently using lemon balm tincture before bedtime and it knocks me off in 15-20 minutes. 😀

If you take a look at the “pharmacological side” of dream enhancers, first one to come across is Melatonin (a hormone, released by the pineal gland which helps us fall asleep). If taken as a dream enhancer it prolongs the REM phase in the morning hours when its effect subsides and increases the probability of becoming aware within a dream (especially if combined with other enhancers, i.e. galantamine). If you’re interested in that kind of supplements, you can also try Alpha-GPC, L-theanine, Piracetam (or other nootropic drug for that mater) or Yohimbine (use this one in small amounts only due to numerous possible side effects!). REMEMBER! WHENEVER USING ANY OF THE “CHEMICAL” (OR PLANT-BASED) ENHANCERS, DO YOUR RESEARCH FIRST! THERE IS PLENTY OF INFORMATION ABOUT THEM (AND ESPECIALLY ABOUT THEIR POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS) AVAILABLE ON THE INTERNET SO MAKE SURE TO FIND OUT AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE ABOUT WHAT YOU’RE DOING BEFORE GETTING INTO IT! I tried all of those (“chemical” ones especially and also most of the “natural” ones as well) with practically no side effects but that doesn’t mean that these “chemicals” and mind-altering drugs will have the same effect on everybody else as well. There is a book called “Advanced Lucid Dreaming – The Power of Supplements” by Thomas Yuschak which is a great way to start but as I said – do your research first before getting into any of it!

That said, the best way to increase your chances of becoming aware within a dream is to practice your dream recall by keeping a dream journal, developing your dreaming attention, meditating and being attentive to what happens around you in your waking life. 🙂 But hey, the choice is always yours… 😉

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