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I don't see why you couldn't eat healthy, exercise, and take melatonin (for example). He brought up an excellent point in his essay about melatonin that althoug

I don't see why you couldn't eat healthy, exercise, and take melatonin (for example). He brought up an excellent point in his essay about melatonin that although being purely "natural" may be beneficial, we don't live in a natural world. We expose ourselves to blueish light far more than our ancestors.. so why wouldn't it make sense to counteract that artificial influence with something like melatonin? There's nothing to indicate it isn't safe, and it seems to have a measurable impact. I would feel crazy dismissing it purely because it's not "natural".

JusticeJuice 10y ago
I've found melatonin best used not on a regular basis, but on nights you know it will take extra time to get to sleep, or when you have to wake early. Its more about keeping your sleep schedule in check. "Conservatively, a bottle of melatonin pills will cost about 6 USD for 150 pills". This is the part I find interesting. I live in NZ, and melatonin isn't readily available - unlike most drugs here it's not government subsidized. It costs $20 for 10 pills, and you have to visit a doctor. Crazy accessibility and cost difference.
- tominous 10y ago
  In NZ you should be able to get a prescription from a doctor then import a limited personal supply from overseas. Quality may vary. http://www.medsafe.govt.nz/compliance/faqs.asp http://www.medsafe.govt.nz/compliance/faqs.asp
- hirsin 10y ago
  Is it government controlled in NZ? In the US I can buy it off the shelf for a few dollars. Happy to set up arbitrage...
mettamage 10y ago
Exercise could be seen as a nootropic IMO. The ARAS system* activates which bombards your hippocampus with dopamine which improves memory for like 30 minutes. Utilize that memory at that moment and you will learn the topic at hand better. ARAS = Ascending Reticular Activating System https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reticular_activating_system https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reticular_activating_system
obmelvin 10y ago
https://www.supermemo.com/en/articles/sleep#Factors_that_affect_sleep https://www.supermemo.com/en/articles/sleep#Factors_that_aff... Then ctr+f melatonin and shortly lower there is some good information about how melatonin is not that great. Highly recommend the general article - incredible amount of information.

JusticeJuice 10y ago

I've found melatonin best used not on a regular basis, but on nights you know it will take extra time to get to sleep, or when you have to wake early. Its more about keeping your sleep schedule in check. "Conservatively, a bottle of melatonin pills will cost about 6 USD for 150 pills". This is the part I find interesting. I live in NZ, and melatonin isn't readily available - unlike most drugs here it's not government subsidized. It costs $20 for 10 pills, and you have to visit a doctor. Crazy accessibility and cost difference.

tominous 10y ago
In NZ you should be able to get a prescription from a doctor then import a limited personal supply from overseas. Quality may vary. http://www.medsafe.govt.nz/compliance/faqs.asp http://www.medsafe.govt.nz/compliance/faqs.asp
hirsin 10y ago
Is it government controlled in NZ? In the US I can buy it off the shelf for a few dollars. Happy to set up arbitrage...

mettamage 10y ago

Exercise could be seen as a nootropic IMO. The ARAS system* activates which bombards your hippocampus with dopamine which improves memory for like 30 minutes. Utilize that memory at that moment and you will learn the topic at hand better. ARAS = Ascending Reticular Activating System https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reticular_activating_system https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reticular_activating_system

obmelvin 10y ago

https://www.supermemo.com/en/articles/sleep#Factors_that_affect_sleep https://www.supermemo.com/en/articles/sleep#Factors_that_aff... Then ctr+f melatonin and shortly lower there is some good information about how melatonin is not that great. Highly recommend the general article - incredible amount of information.