Stimulant medication like Adderall can be extremely helpful in managing ADHD symptoms. However, as anyone on stimulants can attest, they also have debilitating side effects.
There is growing scientific evidence in support of using natural remedies to alleviate side-effects like jitters, dopamine depletion, lack of sleep, and oxidative stress. Below, we’ve compiled five of the most potent natural ingredients to elevate your experience on stimulants.
How we chose our ingredients
There are an endless number of dietary supplements on the market, but not all are safe and effective. For this article, we chose supplements based on the following criteria:
- Evidence-based: The ingredients on this list have research supporting their use in mitigating stimulant side effects.
- Potency: All ingredients listed below are either branded or have clinical research revealing their potency.
- Vetting: The following ingredients have been hand selected by our team of experts, who evaluate ingredients based on medical credibility.
Our favorite ingredients to help you take stimulants safely
1. Oceanix™
A unique, sustainably sourced, clean label phytoplankton ingredient, Oceanix™ is one of the most powerful antioxidants in the world. In a clinical human pilot trial, Oceanix™ was found to offer an increased physiological response against oxidative stress to aid recovery.
Recommended daily dosage: 25 mg
2. affron™ Saffron
affron™ Saffron has been clinically studied to increase the serotonin available to the brain, which helps with emotional irregularity and irritability. This mood stabilizing ability has also been proven to increase libido.
Recommended daily dosage: 20 to 30 mg/day
3. Venetron
Derived from Apocynum venetum, a traditional Chinese herb, Venetron has been clinically shown to prevent depressive symptoms like low mood and anhedonia by increasing the serotonin available in the bloodstream. It also increases GABA, which increases melatonin production at night, allowing for better quality sleep and reducing the potential for stimulant-induced sleep disorders.
Recommended daily dosage: 50 mg
4. Skullcap
This Chinese herb contains the bioactive compounds Baicalin and Baicalein which have powerful anti-inflammatory properties: studies suggest that Baicalin can dramatically ameliorate depressive-like symptoms caused by neuro-inflammation and Baicalein protects against dopaminergic neuron damage and oxidative stress.
Recommended daily dosage: 200-800 mg
5. Magnolia Bark
Also known as DHH-B, Magnolia Bark extract is shown to primarily impact the GABA pathway, promoting feelings of calmness and relaxation without the side effects of sedation. DHH-B also modulates the body’s stress response to cortisol, reducing the perception of stress.
Recommended daily dosage: 10 mg
Where to Start
If you’re looking for a cost-effective supplement with proper dosages that can simplify your routine, check out Stasis, an all-inclusive supplement that ADHDers on stimulants have been raving about. Use the code “Neuropedia3” for a 10% discount on your first month.
Works Cited
Dong, R., Li, L., Gao, H., Lou, K., Luo, H., Hao, S., Yuan, J., & Liu, Z. (2021). Safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and food effect of Baicalein tablets in healthy Chinese subjects: A single-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, single-dose phase I study. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 274, 114052. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2021.114052
Jackson, P. A., Forster, J., Khan, J., Pouchieu, C., Dubreuil, S., Gaudout, D., Moras, B., Pourtau, L., Joffre, F., Vaysse, C., Bertrand, K., Abrous, H., Vauzour, D., Brossaud, J., Corcuff, J. B., Capuron, L., & Kennedy, D. O. (2021). Effects of saffron extract supplementation on mood, well-being, and response to a psychosocial stressor in healthy adults: A randomized, double-blind, Parallel Group, clinical trial. Frontiers in Nutrition, 7. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2020.606124
Kell, G., Rao, A., Beccaria, G., Clayton, P., Inarejos-García, A. M., & Prodanov, M. (2017). AFFRON ® a novel saffron extract ( Crocus Sativus L .) improves mood in healthy adults over 4 weeks in a double-blind, parallel, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Complementary Therapies in Medicine, 33, 58–64. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctim.2017.06.001
Lakhan, S. E., & Vieira, K. F. (2010). Nutritional and herbal supplements for anxiety and anxiety-related disorders: Systematic review. Nutrition Journal, 9(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/1475-2891-9-42
Poivre, M., & Duez, P. (2017). Biological activity and toxicity of the Chinese Herb Magnolia officinalis Rehder & E. Wilson (Houpo) and its constituents. Journal of Zhejiang University-SCIENCE B, 18(3), 194–214. https://doi.org/10.1631/jzus.b1600299
Sharp, M., Sahin, K., Stefan, M., Orhan, C., Gheith, R., Reber, D., Sahin, N., Tuzcu, M., Lowery, R., Durkee, S., & Wilson, J. (2022). Erratum: Sharp et al.. phytoplankton supplementation lowers muscle damage and sustains performance across repeated exercise bouts in humans and improves antioxidant capacity in a mechanistic animal. nutrients 2020, 12, 1990. Nutrients, 14(3), 408. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14030408
The short term effects of Oceanix Supplementation on recovery – full text view. Full Text View – ClinicalTrials.gov. (n.d.). Retrieved July 20, 2022, from https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04315077
Venetron® clinical evidence. Human Clinical Studies. (n.d.). Retrieved July 20, 2022, from https://humanclinicals.org/project/venetron/
Woodbury, A., Yu, S. P., Wei, L., & García, P. (2013). Neuro-modulating effects of Honokiol: A Review. Frontiers in Neurology, 4. https://doi.org/10.3389/fneur.2013.00130
Wu, T., Li, X., Li, T., Cai, M., Yu, Z., Zhang, J., Zhang, Z., Zhang, W., Xiang, J., & Cai, D. (2018). apocynum venetumleaf extract exerts antidepressant-like effects and inhibits hippocampal and cortical apoptosis of rats exposed to chronic unpredictable mild stress. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2018, 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1155/2018/5916451
YAMATSU, A., YAMASHITA, Y., MARU, I., YANG, J., TATSUZAKI, J., & KIM, M. (2015). The improvement of sleep by oral intake of Gaba and apocynum venetum leaf extract. Journal of Nutritional Science and Vitaminology, 61(2), 182–187. https://doi.org/10.3177/jnsv.61.182