"Vinpocetine - Improve Your
Brain Power"

Vinpocetine is a compound taken from the seeds of a small perennial shrub, the periwinkle plant, that can substantially boost your brain power. If you're looking for a way to strengthen your mind, this extract could be just what you're looking for.

On this page, I give an overview of how it works, and the many benefits it can provide.

Technically speaking, it inhibits an enzyme called phosphodiesterase type 1 (PDE1) while limiting intracellular calcium levels. Both of these chemicals cause blood vessels in the brain to constrict, thus narrowing the diameter of the blood vessels.

Also, because of inhibition of PDE 1, the viscosity of red blood cells and platelets in the brain is reduced. This allows blood to flow more easily through areas that are narrowed, because of atherosclerosis.

Vinpocetine has many benefits, but its primary benefit is its ability to improve mental function and memory.

This is due to its ability to improve the delivery of oxygen to the brain by increasing amounts of adenosene triphosphate (ATP), which your body uses as fuel for its cells. Research indicates that you may see an improvement in your memory skills as quickly as one hour after taking a 40 mg tablet.

Oxygen is essential for normal brain function. Even though your brain is about 2% of your total body weight, it consumes 25% of the oxygen your body ingests. Whenever your brain receives less oxygen than it needs, it will operate at less than optimal function.

As a result, this extract helps to prevent cerebral ischemia, which is inadequate blood flow to the brain, and, subsequently, hypoxia, which is insufficient oxygen in your brain.

Scientists were able to prove this by doing a PET scan of the brain.

The PET scan also revealed that the greatest areas of improvement were near damaged areas, in those that have had a stroke.

It may also help those individuals with dementia.

There have been several clinical trials reporting that individuals taking it became more vivid, noting improvements in their cognitive function and ability to perform activities of daily living.

Preliminary laboratory evidence indicates that vinpocetine provides protection from the protein thought to contribute to the development of Alzheimer's disease, amyloid beta.

Furthermore, vinpocetine also increases levels of serotonin and other neurotransmitters.

In the brain, serotonin helps to relay messages from one part of the brain to another and may influence your mood, your appetite, your ability to learn and remember, in addition to a variety of other functions.

Plus, it can help with ear problems as a result of various causes. This includes tinnitus (a ringing or buzzing in the ears) and vertigo (a feeling that you are moving when you are stationary). Many times, it can improve inner ear problems because it improves blood circulation to the inner ear.

In addition, due to its ability to relax smooth muscle cells, it can reduce high blood pressure, with additional cardiovascular benefits to boot.

You are less likely to experience atherosclerotic blockages, because, as mentioned above, the viscosity, or 'stickiness', of red blood cells is reduced.

In fact, recent research indicates that it can increase blood flow and oxygenation in individuals that have had a stroke.

In laboratory rats that were given it 30 minutes after a stroke was induced, they experienced a 42% reduction in the size of the damaged area, compared to rats not given this extract.

In another study of 882 individuals with various neurological disorders, ranging from stroke to cerebral insufficiency, significant improvement was noted in 62% of the patients taking it.

Vinpocetine is also an antioxidant, possibly having as much antioxidant power as vitamin E.

Additionally, it can enhance other antioxidants you may be taking such as vitamin A and coenzyme Q10.

Research indicates that the presence of this extract in the brain deters the formation of free radicals.

It may also help those suffering from urinary incontinence.

In one clinical trial of 19 individuals with urinary incontinence whose condition was so bad, they failed to respond to drug treatments, in 58% of them a marked improvement was seen.

Their dosage was 5 mg daily for two weeks, then 10 mg daily for two weeks.

Also, a slight improvement was experienced by 15%.

Due to its ability to increase oxygen levels to the tissues of the eyes, it may also help those with age-related macular degeneration.

• Dizziness
• Dry mouth
• Hypotension
• Nausea
• Stomach upset
• Tachycardia

As vinpocetine has vasodilating qualities, individuals taking blood-thinning medications such as Coumadin, aspirin, garlic or ginkgo biloba should not use it.

Additionally, pregnant or nursing women, or individuals with a history of seizure disorders, low blood pressure or kidney or liver disease should not use it.

Furthermore, in clinical trials it was found that the maximum memory improvement occurred with a daily dosage of 40 mg. Researchers also concluded that there is no increase in the therapeutic effectiveness when taken at doses greater than 40 mg a day.

Since it was first created in the 1960s, it has been used for improving memory and brain function. Also, in Europe and Japan, it has seen wide use as a treatment for a number of cardiovascular and hearing disorders.

Vinpocetine could be the new 'smart' kid on the block. It exhibits many of the same memory enhancing effects as ginkgo biloba, but results are seen in much less time.