Lucid Dreaming Pills
Introduction
THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION IS FOR EDUCATIONAL AND HARM REDUCTION PURPOSES ONLY.
The Lucid Guide is not a medical professional or a substitute for professional medical advice. We strongly recommend against the use of any pills or supplements for lucid dream induction. Before using any pill or supplement you should always discuss the matter with a trained medical professional.
The use of lucid dreaming pills and supplements is a relatively new phenomenon, having grown in popularity since 2004 after Stephen LaBerge applied for a patent for the use of cholinesterase inhibitors, such as galantamine, to promote lucid dreaming.
Cholinesterase inhibitors block the action of acetylcholinesterase, an enzyme that breaks down the neurotransmitter acetylcholine.
Acetylcholine is an important neurotransmitter and high acetylcholine levels are associated with improved memory, clarity of thought, and general mental acuity.
During sleep, acetylcholine levels decrease, leading to the fuzzy thinking and the poor memory associated with non-lucid dreaming.
While many herbs have been used for centuries to aid dreaming, for the purpose of this tutorial we are focusing only on cholinesterase inhibitors, as they are generally the only proven effective ingredient in the majority of lucid dreaming pills.
While many pills contain a concoction of additional ingredients, these are mostly "filler" and are unnecessary for the desired effects.
The only additional ingredient of note is choline, which acts synergistically with the cholinesterase inhibitors to increase the overall levels of the the neurotransmitter acetylcholine during sleep and dreams.
The two major cholinesterase inhibitors available are galantamine and huperzine-A, although the latter is the most readily available and more commonly used in lucid dreaming pills, this is due to legal issues surrounding the sale of galantamine. However, huperzine-A is reported to be considerably less effective for many users (the author concurs with this observation).
Check out our Lucid Dreaming Pills video tutorial here
The Technique
1) At the final stage of a standard WBTB routine, just before returning to sleep, one ingests their chosen lucid dreaming supplement. In general a standard dose of galantamine ranges from between 4-8mg, for Huperzine-A this is 200-400mcg. Additional choline will be in the dosage range of 200-400mg.
2) One should aim to return to sleep as rapidly as possible. If desired, it is now that the practitioner should initiate a WILD induction technique such as IMP, Anchor, or Counting.
3) If the practitioner has been performing regular standard lucid dreaming training and successfully followed their chosen WILD technique, the additional chemical aid of the lucid dreaming pills should greatly increase their chances of lucidity.
Author/Inventor:
Multiple
Skill Level:
Beginner
Lucid Dream Type:
Regained & Maintained (DILD & WILD)
Effectiveness:
(anecdotal & community reported)
High
Sense preference suited:
N/A
Hints & Tips:
Lucid dreaming pills are not magic and do not guarantee results. Without the addition of standard lucid dream training they are unlikely to result in lucid dreams. However, they will, in general, greatly aid in dream recall.
Many report that when using galantamine their dreams are considerably stranger and more vivid. This is most likely due to the increase in dream recall.
Very little study has been conducted into the long-term effects of regular galantamine or huperzine-A use in healthy individuals. Therefore, users experiment with these pills at their own risk. The Lucid Guide strongly recommends discussing the use of pills or supplements with a trained medical practitioner before embarking on any experiments with these substances.
There are noticeable side-effects with the use of galantamine and huperzine-a. Most notable are insomnia (if one doesn't return to sleep before the pills take effect) and gastrointestinal issues—although this is rarely more than an increase in unusual stomach sounds or a feeling of indigestion. Many also report "brain fog" the day following their use.
The Lucid Guide is not a medical professional and strongly recommends against the use of any pills or supplements for lucid dream induction. The use of any pill or supplement should always be discussed with a trained medical professional.
Learn more with our full video tutorial here
