Brain Boosting When You Have a Cold. Is It Worth It?

Hello, friends! Autumn has just arrived, and the rains and cold weather promise a runny nose, rising temperatures and sore throats. Most often, a cold puts us out of action for a couple of days or a week. But what about those neurohackers who managed to get sick during a course of nootropics?

Features of the brain

The main problem with pills for the mind is that there is no single area in the brain responsible for the mind. There are a number of neurohormonal systems that regulate the work of the central nervous system. And there are factors that ensure neurogenesis. To put it very roughly, these systems ensure the work of the “mind”. And when you have a cold, all these systems certainly suffer.

You can't just go and pass through the BBB

I was inspired to write this material recent post in our community. The discussion was about the phenol ring as a multi-passport for certain drugs. After all, the BBB is an internal filter of the brain, covering almost all the walls of the brain vessels. It does not allow infection to penetrate the brain, and does not allow unnecessary elements to enter the brain.

But a nootropic course for a beginner neurohacker most often contains a drug that reduces the density of the BBB, or a drug designed to pass through it. Most often, this is phenylpiracetam or phenibut. I write the name of the active ingredients, and the marketing names under which they are sold change every couple of years.

It is not difficult for the drug to penetrate the brain. The problem is that it can take with it both a single virus and a couple of inflammatory proteins. 1-2 cases that occur in a healthy state do not make a difference. But with a cold, the health of the brain is under double threat.

How does a cold affect the brain?

Part of the body's resources are directed to fighting the infection. The kidneys and skin actively remove everything they can, using up their fluid reserves. The blood density increases, and with it, cerebral blood flow deteriorates.

At the same time, ultradian rhythms suffer. The BBB protects our brain very well, but pineal gland is beyond his control. And, therefore, there is a desynchronization in the production melatoninIt's too early to talk about causation, but there is proven correlation that increasing the level of melatonin leads to an improvement in the patient's well-being. In particular, with the same COVID.

A cold is a complex problem. In any case, it will affect the brain. Thick blood, spasmodic vessels, headaches and fog in the mind. Some nootropics will only finish off the painful condition. But there is a downside to brain health.

Critical Brain Infrastructure During Colds

The second major myth about nootropics is: “these pills burn up the body's resources so that you can do more, but you also become dependent on them.” In fact, this is typical for stimulants and partly for aggressive nootropics, like the above-mentioned “phenolic jocks.” But a separate group of nootropics is aimed at saturating the body with essential elements and minerals. Thus, giving the body resources to fight in difficult conditions.

Vessels and blood flow

First of all, when you have a cold, your blood vessels and blood flow suffer. The supply of useful elements to your brain decreases, as does the rate of removal of waste products. Therefore, you should first take care of this problem:

• The base is liquids. Therefore, when you have a cold, the best nootropic is warm tea. And it doesn't matter which one. Some people like green tea for its huge amount of theanine, some like black tea for its tannins, some like fruit tea for its vitamins. The essence is important – drink tea.

• Blood fluid. Most often, the drugs taken already contain acetylsalicylic acid, aspirin or caffeine. Chasing vasodilation for the sake of vasodilation is reckless. It is enough to follow the instructions of classic cold medications.

• Post-cold period. And here a small window opens for quick recovery. The same meldonium, detralex or racetams will promote cerebral blood flow, removing the “post-cold fog”. But before rushing to the pharmacy, consult a doctor.

With brain nutrition, everything seems clear. Bed rest and rest also remain fundamental. Otherwise, the beneficial effect of the pills will constantly multiply by zero.

Adaptation to new conditions

And here comes the freedom for experiments and searches for a personal elixir of vivacity. And adaptogens come into play, a review of which is devoted to separate materialThe task of adaptogens is to regulate the functioning of the central nervous system and provide it with resources for the conduction of nerve impulses and regulation of biorhythms.

Adaptogens are not drugs and can fight a cold for weeks with just them. Again, they won't work without fluid intake, healthy sleep and relative time to recuperate.

Bacopa Monnieri, Rhodiola Rosea, L-tyrosine, L-theanine – all this is the cherry on the cake, for which the body will only say thank you. But do not expect more from all this. If you took these supplements before the cold, you should not refuse them, as well as take them instead of the drugs recommended by the doctor.

When is it appropriate to take nootropics for a cold?

When the cold is gone. It is appropriate to continue taking nootropics for a cold if the nootropics were adaptogens or dietary supplements. If these were racetams, phenibut, phenotropil, meldonium, caffeine – then take a break. Moreover, 80 percent of nootropics are excreted through the kidneys, and with a cold, the kidneys are already working in an intensive mode. And even more so, chasing productivity when the body is under stress is more than reckless.