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Of the 20,000 new substances that are produced annually in the pharmaceutical research laboratories of the world, the vast majority are modifications of a few types of active compounds that are already in use. Chemists employed by drug companies attempt these chemical modifications to produce new, patentable (thus profitable) compounds with similar and perhaps improved activity over existing pharmaceuticals. Smart drugs are no exception.In 1950, Dr. Albert Hofmann, a research scientist employed by the Swiss drug corporation Sandoz Pharmaceuticals, discovered a drug based on an existing molecule found in nature (a fungus that grows on grains) that he named Hydergine. Hofmann, a pioneer in the area of drags based on molecules in plants, would become more famous for another drug he synthesized, based on the same fungus, the “smart” drag of the 1960s known as LSD25. It is Hydergine, of course, that is the more important and safer smart drug.Hydergine is the most widely used smart drug available in the United States today. It acts in many ways to enhance mental capabilities and to slow down or reverse the aging processes in the brain. Among the major effects of this cognitive-enhancing drug are these:It prevents free-radical damage in the brain.It increases the blood supply to the brain.It enhances brain metabolism.It increases the delivery of oxygen to the brain.It protects against brain damage during periods of insufficient oxygen supply, such as during a stroke or asphyxiation.It slows the depositing of age pigment (lipofuscin, the stuff of which “age spots” are made) in the brain.It improves memory and recall.
Hydergine is actually a mixture of three fungus-derived chemicals (all derived from Claviceps purpurea). The Sandoz Pharmaceutical Company harvests Claviceps purpurea from rye fields in Europe and then extracts the fungi and chemically modifies them into the form used in the Hydergine formula. Hydergine is thus not a completely natural drug but, rather, a semisynthetic one because of the chemical steps necessary to change the natural fungus molecules into their final form.Sandoz originally introduced Hydergine as a treatment for senility (senile dementia). Since many of the symptoms of senility are caused by atherosclerosis and calcification of the arteries in the brain (which deprives brain cells of vital oxygen), Hydergine, which can improve the delivery of oxygen to brain neurons, was a likely candidate for an anti-senility drug. Accordingly, the FDA approved the use of Hydergine for the treatment of senility and related circulatory problems.Research published over the past fifteen years has shown Hydergine to be a safe and effective treatment for senility. Most people who were studied showed the greatest improvement with higher doses of Hydergine (4.5 to 6 milligrams per day), although the FDA has specifically limited the approved dosage of Hydergine to 3 milligrams per day (in Europe the approved dosage is 9 milligrams per day). Studies of humans have shown that the higher dosage levels are more effective. It is important to note that even at the higher dosage, there were no serious side effects.Although Hydergine produces significant cognitive improvements in people who are suffering from senility, it does not produce miracles. Many people experience only a small amount of improvement in mental function, especially those with advanced senility. Hydergine is of greater benefit to people with mild to moderate mental deterioration, especially when Hydergine therapy is initiated soon after a medical diagnosis has been made.Even though the FDA has approved Hydergine for the treatment of senility and cerebrovascular insufficiency (poor blood circulation to the brain), physicians in many other countries prescribe it for use in healthy people to increase intelligence, memory, and recall and to prevent the free-radical damage to the brain that can lead to senility. Since the FDA prohibits drug manufacturers from disseminating this information to physicians, many health care professionals in the United States are unaware of the manifold uses of this marvelous smart drug.Hydergine is also good news for cigarette smokers. People who smoke more than 20 cigarettes a day experience a decline of at least 7 percent of the normal blood flow to the brain. This oxygen deprivation causes an increase in the number of free radicals and subsequent damage to brain neurons. Hydergine, a potent free-radical scavenger, may be just what the doctor ordered for tobacco addicts. In addition to neutralizing the toxic molecules that are created when tobacco burns, it may also help lessen the severity of damage to arteries to the brain, a problem caused and aggravated by smoking cigarettes. Of course, it’s better not to start smoking in the first place, and it’s advisable to quit immediately if you already smoke, but for people who are unwilling or unable to stop smoking, Hydergine(and antioxidant smart nutrients, such as beta-carotene, vitamin E, selenium, L-glutathione, and vitamin C) may provide a large measure of protection against the brain damage that smoking causes.How Hydergine Works. Hydergine helps increase the delivery of oxygen to the brain (by increasing blood flow) and neutralizes the free radicals that can cause permanent brain damage. Recent research indicates that Hydergine may also stimulate the synthesis of a substance called nerve growth factor that induces the growth of protein filamentous connections between neurons. These connections, called dendrites, facilitate communication throughout the central nervous system and are required for the storage and retrieval of memories. Hydergine also reduces the rate at which lipofuscin accumulates in the brain. Lipofuscin accretion has been implicated as a causative factor in the decline of cognitive functioning as we age.Since the Sandoz patent on Hydergine has expired, generic brands of dihydrogenated ergot alkaloids or ergoloid mesylates (the chemical names of the brand name Hydergine) are now available from a variety of companies in the United States and Europe. Keep in mind that in the United States, the FDA has approved a dosage of only 3 milligrams per day. The recommended daily dosage for Hydergine in Europe is 9 milligrams—3 milligrams taken three times daily.Many of the scientific research studies have used dosages closer to or higher than the European dosages, and several have shown that higher dosages of Hydergine produce significantly better results. Some researchers think that it may be best to start with a low dose and work up to larger doses to avoid any uncomfortable side effects, mild as they may be.
PRECAUTIONS: Hydergine is relatively nontoxic. Studies testing four times the FDA-allowed dosage revealed no measurable toxic effects in humans. Hydergine does not cause serious side effects, although there have been occasional reports of mild gastrointestinal discomfort and headaches in a small number of people who use it. These side effects are uncommon and have occurred in individuals who took large doses to start, rather than gradually increased the dosage. Hydergine is essentially nontoxic, even at dosage levels four times higher than those authorized by the FDA. However, people who have chronic or acute psychoses should be advised against it because it could lead to a worsening of the condition. Hydergine is a prescription drug that is currently approved by the FDA only for the treatment of senility; however your physician may legally prescribe it to prevent this condition.Dosage commonly used: 3 mg per day (United States); 9 mg in three divided doses (Europe).Sources: Hydergine is available as a prescription drug in the United States. Your physician may not yet be familiar with the cognition-enhancing and antiaging effects of Hydergine because the FDA prohibits drug companies from telling physicians about new (FDA unapproved) uses for drugs. There are a wide variety of generic forms of Hydergine, although some generics may not be identical to the original Sandoz formulation (because of a degree of latitude by the FDA in the structural requirements for the generic drug). Some researchers insist that the original Sandoz brand of Hydergine provides superior results than do the generic equivalents.*53\244\2*

The advantage of weight is that it is a simple, accurate and reliable measurement. For individuals, significant changes in weight over the long term usually reflect significant changes in body composition.

Over the years, several attempts have been made to establish a series of ‘ideal weight’ measures as a goal for people to aim for. One of the first of these, the ‘Broce Index’, was estimated in kilograms by taking 100 away from height (in cm). In other words, a person 180cm tall might be expected to have an ‘ideal weight’ of 180-100=80kg. Ideal weights for height have also been developed over the years (beginning in the late 19th century in the US) based on actuarial, or death statistics. More recently, ideal measures of body mass index, skinfolds and fat distribution have been used (see below). However, scientists have yet to agree on a measure of ‘ideal’, and now generally accept that a variety of the measures discussed below have to be combined.

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Kathy Brown is 50 pounds lighter because she stopped carrying cash.

In 1994, at age 40, Kathy weighed 185 pounds. And she knew why: She just couldn’t resist those fast-food drive-thrus around her hometown of Atlanta. In fact, there were few days when Kathy didn’t hit one fast-food joint or another. The greasy breakfasts were her favorites, though she ate more than her share of cheeseburgers and fries, too.

Disillusioned by gaining so much weight, Kathy decided that her fast-food feasts had to end. But giving up what had become an almost daily event wouldn’t be easy. “I knew my weakness, so I had to figure out a way to overcome it,” she says. Her solution was to leave all of her cash at home. She had her bank cards and credit cards to cover other expenses, but no money for the drive-thru.

With fast foods all but gone from her diet, Kathy had to find something to fill the void. Vegetables and bread became her new dietary staples, supplemented by smaller amounts of fruits, dairy products, and other proteins. “I never used to eat vegetables, never. I didn’t even eat lettuce,” she says. “Now, I eat all kinds of vegetables. My problem was that I had never tried them, so I assumed that I didn’t like them.”

These days, a typical meal for Kathy is stir-fried vegetables sprinkled with soy sauce and served over rice, with a baguette on the side. When she craves the convenience of fast food, she reaches for a low-fat frozen entree, instead.

By improving her eating habits, Kathy was able to trim 50 pounds from her 5-foot-5 frame. She’s so confident of her ability to maintain her healthy weight of 135 pounds that she has even relaxed her fast-food ban. She treats herself to whatever she wants, but only once every 2 weeks—on payday.

WINNING ACTION

Detour around the fast-food route. Kathy found a unique way to break herself of the fast-food habit. In addition to traveling without cash (you may want to have some on hand in case of an emergency), you have a couple of other options. When you drive to and from work, use a route that doesn’t pass through the local fast-food district. And stock your glove compartment with nonperishable low-fat foods—pretzels, dried fruit, small boxes of cereal—to tide you over in case you get hungry.

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