Bodybuilding.com - Vinpocetine: Viagra For The Brain!

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Vinpocetine has been called Viagra for the brain. Vinpocetine is a relatively unknown ingredient that not only is notable for improving symptoms of some cerebral disorders but also is a thermogenic extraordinaire. Learn more!

By: Planet Muscle

Vinpocetine (vinca minor), when administered as little as 15-30 mg. a day, has been noted to improve visual acuity, cause significant and quick improvement in vascular disease and improvement in memory to a level of statistical significance.

Vinpocetine even works synergistically with other thermogenic compounds to increase norepinephrine (a major fat-oxidation hormone). This helps exercise to more rapidly decrease body fat levels.

Where Does It Come From? What Are Its Main Uses?

Vinpocetine comes from the periwinkle plant. Vincamine is extracted from periwinkle and an alkaloid extract of vincamine becomes Vinpocetine.

Vinpocetine is a natural substance that is effective at increasing memory, mental focus, and blood flow to the brain. In Eastern Europe (Hungary), Vinpocetine is prescribed to help treat cerebral disorders in stroke patients.

In other areas, it is used to help treat some speech impairment, depression, headaches, memory loss and tinnitus (ringing in the ears) caused by impaired blood flow to the inner ear. Vinpocetine is theorized to increase ATP production and the utilization of glucose and oxygen in the brain.

Vinpocetine's main method of action is by way of increasing cGMP production (a molecule directly responsible for endothelial nitric oxide release) and by increasing the production of norepinephrine. Vinpocetine is thought to inhibit the phosphodiesterase (PDE) enzyme, an enzyme responsible for blocking cGMP release.

PDE is also the enzyme blocked by the popular drug Sildenafil Citrate (Viagra). Blocking PDE allows for dilation of blood vessels resulting in more oxygen in the brain, (and in the case proven by Viagra, more blood in the Wang).

Norepinephrine is a byproduct of dopamine and is, in part, responsible for increased vigilance, alertness, concentration and even stress capacity.

When norepinephrine levels rise, the Sympathetic Nervous System (SNS) releases fat into the blood. (Note: ephedrine increases the production of norepinephrine to a higher degree than Vinpocetine, of course, but it's not safe or available.)

Vinpocetine can be used with other thermogenic compounds such as green tea (EGCG) and caffeine. However, few supplement companies use Vinpocetine in their Ephedra-free thermogenic formulas because they don't know about Vinpocetine's effects on norepinephrine (or more likely, they don't like the whopping price of Vinpocetine – over $1,000/kg!)

10mg. to 30mg. of Vinpocetine a day is the suggested dose, but doses as high as 60 mg./day have been used with recovering stroke patients and no detrimental side effects have been noted.

However, I do not recommend making a "home brew," Vinpocetine, thermogenic mixture. Instead, look for companies using Vinpocetine in their Ephedra-free formulas. This will be more effective.

Cost And Side Effects?

Hey, everybody wants to have a better memory and better cerebral function, to be more alert and to have lower fat. Vinpocetine may be the one! It is available at retail stores for about $30 to $40 for a month's supply at 30 mg. a day.

Side effects? Actually they are rare with Vinpocetine but do include dry mouth, possible headache and upset stomach. If you are taking anti-coagulant (blood thinning) therapy, or have a tendency to bleed easily you should not use Vinpocetine.

Get all your Vinpocetine products, click here!

About The Author

Chuck "Diesel" Curry, Public Healt Tech. US Air Force, founder GET DIESEL Nutrition, 1999 USAPF Colorado State Bench Press Champion Chuck is a natural NPC bodybuilder, free lance writer, CEO of GET DIESEL, and active duty air force!

Chuck graduated basic training in 1995 at 129 lbs., to date he is 214 with the same bodyfat!

Planet Muscle

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