Nootropics
Caffeine + L-theanine, creatine and cognition, rhodiola research, an MHRA-cautious overview.
If you only read one
Nootropics and UK regulation: what you can and can't legally use
Many compounds marketed as 'nootropics' online are prescription-only medicines in the UK, or are in regulatory grey areas. An MHRA-aware overview for adults trying to stay on the right side of the law and their own safety.
Grade A · 3 min read · Last reviewed 2026-05-17
Ashwagandha: the best-studied adaptogen with real stress-and-sleep evidence
Evidence BAshwagandha has accumulated a meaningful body of RCT evidence for stress and sleep — most positive but with quality concerns. What's actually replicated, the standardisation problem, and the contraindications.
3 min read · Last reviewed 2026-05-19
Bacopa monnieri: the slow-acting memory supplement with real RCT evidence
Evidence CBacopa is one of the few nootropics with replicated RCT evidence for memory in older adults. The effect builds over 12 weeks, not days. What the trials show, the standardisation issue, and what to expect.
3 min read · Last reviewed 2026-05-19
Caffeine + L-theanine: the best-studied nootropic stack
Evidence BThe combination of caffeine and L-theanine has unusually solid behavioural-pharmacology evidence for a 'biohacking' stack. What the trials show, the typical dose, and the limits.
2 min read · Last reviewed 2026-05-17
Coffee timing: morning, afternoon, and the adenosine question
Evidence BWhen to drink coffee for cognition without wrecking sleep, and the popular advice about delaying morning caffeine — what's actually supported by the chronobiology and pharmacology literature.
3 min read · Last reviewed 2026-05-18
Creatine for cognition: a careful look at recent evidence
Evidence BCreatine monohydrate is the most-studied sports supplement on earth. Recent research has expanded into cognition — sleep deprivation, cognitive load, and ageing. Here's what's actually there.
3 min read · Last reviewed 2026-05-17
L-tyrosine: stress, fatigue, and the limits of amino-acid supplementation
Evidence CL-tyrosine is the precursor to dopamine and noradrenaline. Real trial evidence for performance under acute stress; thinner evidence for general cognitive benefit. What's replicated and what isn't.
3 min read · Last reviewed 2026-05-19
Lion's mane mushroom: the gap between mouse studies and human evidence
Evidence CLion's mane (Hericium erinaceus) has interesting mouse data on nerve growth factor and cognition. The human evidence is much thinner. What's actually replicated, what's marketed, and what to expect.
3 min read · Last reviewed 2026-05-19
Nootropics and UK regulation: what you can and can't legally use
Evidence AMany compounds marketed as 'nootropics' online are prescription-only medicines in the UK, or are in regulatory grey areas. An MHRA-aware overview for adults trying to stay on the right side of the law and their own safety.
3 min read · Last reviewed 2026-05-17
Psilocybin microdosing: research overview, UK legality, and why we don't dose
Evidence DPsilocybin microdosing is widely discussed online. Psilocybin is a Class A controlled drug in the UK with severe legal penalties. What the research describes — without dosing, sourcing, or how-to information.
3 min read · Last reviewed 2026-05-19
Rhodiola rosea: what the adaptogen research actually shows
Evidence CRhodiola is widely marketed as an adaptogen for stress and fatigue. A careful read of the published trials and what to expect from a 200–600 mg/day dose.
2 min read · Last reviewed 2026-05-17
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