Things that help with memory and dreaming?

**Greenandwhite** · 03-10-2011 07:51 PM

I was just wondering what all apparently help with dreaming and memory. I've heard of such things as Peanut Butter and B6 (whatever that is) help with dreaming and memory. Can people tell m what else will help with dreaming so I can get them the next time I go shopping.

**Stear19** · 03-10-2011 10:18 PM

Not sure about vitamins or food but: waking up at specified hours right after REM cycles (which is ~3-6 hours of sleep but you'll have to experiment) (use alarm clock or mobile phone if autosuggestion does not work) and trying to play the dream backwards in your mind helps. Try not to focus on any thoughts but the dream you had. I tie my eyes with a bandana to keep the light from going straight into my eyes in the morning. (If you attempt this don't tie yourself hard). Don't move your body and stay still into the darkness while replaying most of the dream... and most importantly, use a notebook for dream-recording. After you play the dream backwards or remember most of it, proceed to write the dream ASAP (I really mean ASAP, put the notebook next to the bed and go straight to writing). Write EVERYTHING dream-related, even though the dream is not clear at all or it's just a vague theme, but at the same time, if the dream is vivid and you may think you can carry it in your memory for a long time, proceed to write it in full detail (POV, colours, feelings you had, dream signs).

Now I'm kind of a newbie, my last year has been dreamless, but since I started doing this, I get about at least a vivid theme per night (but mostly medium-length dreams) , which means a lot of improvement.

**lucydity** · 03-11-2011 01:02 AM

ive read up b6 and b12 help, i also read up on a chemical called acetylcholine. (B6 and B12 are vitamins by the way, like you get vitamin C etc.)
just eat nuts, most meats, dairy, green veg, egg yolk etc (just a general list of food types that ive read up on that have these substances in)
Not sure how they affect vividness and recall as im still new to LDing but i guess a lot of it is also down to technique like dream diary is a really important thing and learning to do your reality checks often too helps.

Caffeine im not sure on, ive read in some places that its bad and some places that its good.
Alcohol is bad.
Nicotine prevents the release of chemicals (one being acetylcholine) so if you smoke you wont be helping it

Don't take this advice too much into heart as like I said im new to LDing but its all included in a healthy diet anyway so it's worth eating for general health anyway.

**lucydity** · 03-11-2011 01:03 AM

and about acetylecholine i read it helps with memory and is released into the brain during REM.

**Evolventity** · 03-11-2011 02:46 AM

(Keeping a dream journal, OF COURSE.) I wake up a lot in the middle or right after dreams. I'm too lazy to write anything down, if I do record something it's on the computer or internet. I pick key words from my dreams that will remind me of what I dreamt. Sometimes I focus on remembering the key words by heart, but most often I type them up. Later on I come back to them and fully type up my dreams, without losing anything important. It may not work for some people, so I suggest recording as much detail as you can remember when you first wake up, like Stear19 said. I've used multivitamins with more than enough Vitamin B6 and B12, no effect on me. A consistent sleeping schedule, going to sleep and waking up around the same time helps too.