Drugs,vitamins & herbs-READ

[Howie]

The use of drugs, vitamins, herbs, and minerals, as most of you know, is an often brought up topic. What is the correct usage of these sought after supplements? I realize that some people simply have not had success in their attempt to Lucid dream. Then there are others who can and are either looking to enhance their Lucid dreaming expieriance or just plane looking for a shortcut. Do any of those fall under the proper usage? As far as drugs go (as most of us describe them) they are somthing that is prescibed for a reason. And should not be used otherwise. As far as vitamans, these are usually taken for the purpose of your body and its specific deficiancies. Herbs & minerals. These also can be taken for deficiancies among other reasons. Since most herbs have not been evaluated by the Food & drug administration one should be well educated in their purpose and knowledge of their side effects and complications when mixed with prescibed drugs. Thanks for reading.

[Lucid]

I agree Howetzer. I only drink mint tea and that is just because I really like it. I don't think that people should take or do things that alter their real life significantly just so that they can have better LDs. Its the same principle that you shouldn't try sleeping a lot more just because LDs are cool. I think that most people can experiance LDs if they practice without drugs. Most people are just looking for a shortcut. Lucid

[s0berbob]

I used pyridoxine for a short time, it didnt help. I made a vow to myself to never use dangerouse drugs for dreaming. including marijuana. pyridoxine = B6

[will.i.am]

I've had success with a few things but for the most part, I'm doing more harm to my body then good.

[jrh7r9]

B6 is actually very dangerous. If you take amounts in excess of 1000 MG in a day(which would of course be alot)there's a chance for serious nerve damage, or even permanent brain damage.

[Howie]

Originally posted by jrh7r9 B6 is actually very dangerous. If you take amounts in excess of 1000 MG in a day(which would of course be alot)there's a chance for serious nerve damage, or even permanent brain damage. Good point jrh7rt9! I think its called Vitamin B toxicity. I guess any overdose would be toxicity. The human body only needs one or two milligrams of vitamin B6 per day, but they are sold in one-gram quantities. When taking this dose of vitamin B6 only take one table every two days and drink plenty of water. In addition to what you said, an overdose of vitamin B6 could cause serious damage, it could cause sensory control and motor control loss. The pharmacy has a lot of information on the b vitamin!

[yayotters]

"Alot of a good thing is a bad thing" as with any thing that is good. I've been trieing b6 for a few weeks, it may have helped a little

[sephiroth clock]

It's also important to understand the water soluble vitamins and ones that aren't water soluble (fat soluble I think). Your body can exrete large amounts of excess C and B as they are water soluble. However other vitamins that are overdosed your body cannot get rid of as fast because you can't pee or poop or sweat them out. I can't remember exactly how it works but I think they get trapped in your fat cells or just in your cells. They're absorbed. If anyone would like to clarify for me that would be good. It's still possible however to overdose on B6 and C if taken in large amounts like described in the post above. But a B100 capsule can offer up to 2500 percent of your daily needed because B is water soluble. Once again, if anyone could state this better that would be great because this post is messy and I'm having trouble expressing my knowledge.

[Simonster]

Howetzer, what is your general opinion on coffee? I don't think any of us have been prescribed caffeine. Tylenol isn't necessary. Pain won't kill you, and severe pain requires more powerful medication anyway. Plus, Tylenol fucks up your liver. Drugs can be useful tools. You just have to use them properly. My opinion on proper use may differ from other forum readers, but everyone should be allowed to develop their opinion individually. There's nothing inherently wrong with using something like B6 to enhance dreaming. Really, it should be up to the dreamer. No one should feel like they have to use B6, but no one should feel like B6 is absolutely forbidden. Coercion is bad, no matter which way it's going.

[Howie]

Originally posted by Simonster Howetzer, what is your general opinion on coffee? I don't think any of us have been prescribed caffeine. A very underestimated altering substance. The Doctors & scientists very from week to week on what harm or what good it can do. Either way it can be addictice & cause anxiety & nervousness. <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(\\\"Simonster)</div> Tylenol isn't necessary. Pain won't kill you, and severe pain requires more powerful medication anyway. Plus, Tylenol fucks up your liver.[/b] Tylenol I believe has been FDA approved and it screws up your liver when it is taken for long durations of time and or to much at one time. And associated with alcohol. <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(\\\"Simonster)</div> No one should feel like they have to use B6, but no one should feel like B6 is absolutely forbidden. Coercion is bad, no matter which way it's going.[/b] Where in that post was B6 brought up? Do you know why or what B6 is for? And don't you think it is somthing you should question regardless off your answer?

[Simonster]

Your use of these "definitions" seems, at least to me, to be a suggestion that unless you've been prescribed a drug, or have a problem requiring treatment, you shouldn't use it. Personally, I don't see an issue with enhancement. Prozac makes depressed people happier, but it also makes normal people happier. Some studies show people with moderate depression benefit as much from therapy as from Prozac. Does this mean that people shouldn't be using Prozac, and that the reason they do is that they're lazy? Even if you view using drugs as a tool to induce lucidity as recreational use, that's not necessarily a bad thing. I draw the line at the point where I am irreversably harming my body, or where the drug is subtracting from rather than enhancing my life as a whole. I've never seen anything described on this forum that would cause either of these things, besides perhaps if one were to use B6 daily at 1 g+ levels for a long period of time. Using substances should not be an issue of determining whether your use conforms with a "definition." It should be an issue of weighing the possible consequences. If the good outweighs the bad, by all means, go ahead. I was using B6 as an example, since it seems to be the most commonly used substance for inducing lucidity.

[Howie]

The whole intent of the post was to inform users what general criteria that each of the substances were generally used for and to ask the question - Originally posted by Simonster Even if you view using drugs as a tool to induce lucidity as recreational use, that's not necessarily a bad thing. I draw the line at the point where I am irreversably harming my body, or where the drug is subtracting from rather than enhancing my life as a whole. I've never seen anything described on this forum that would cause either of these things, besides perhaps if one were to use B6 daily at 1 g+ levels for a long period of time. You say that you draw the line at harming your body. Well you know where that line is others may not. And I don't feel that most of the drugs discussed over the forum are to be used to induce anything. As I stated above , unless you have deficiancy then your body doesn't need it. And as far as Prozac. That is a whole other issue. Do I think that there are more people on SSRI or tranqulizers than should be? Yes I do. I think doctors are to at ease to write a prescription rather than request counseling. And I think it is human nature to try and take short cuts. So if someone heres that three tablespoons of nutmeg will induce lucidty then they are more apt to try that as opposes to spending an hour on some of the techniques in the tutotrial.

[kidmoe]

I've been having lucid dreams over 9 years and I've had them under almost every type of nutritional state (eating heathly, vegetarian, junk food, multi-vitamins, fasting, and after heavy drinking). Some of my most vivid and spectacular LDs have been when I was eating junk food and NOT taking any vitamins or drugs. One recurring method that has given me lots of success with LD is when I've had a few too many beers the night before and I have to get up in the early morning (4-5am) to relieve myself. When returning to sleep, the subsequent dreams are often lucid. It seems like being awake for a few minutes before resuming sleep really makes a difference - somehow causing my consciousness to stay with me while i fall asleep. I don't discount the possibility that certain drugs or vitamins can enhance or trigger a lucid dream, but my experiences haven't convinced me of any particular substance having an obvious effect on LD. Perhaps drinking lots of water right before going to sleep could reproduce my above situation in a more healthy way.