5 Drugs That May Boost Focus, Enhance Concentration And Help You Study

Have you ever sat at your desk, trying to write a paper or assignment and experienced that constant urge to immediately find something else to do? As though your brain kept telling you that it's a far better idea to simply procrastinate instead of completing the task at hand?

Without a doubt, it is worthwhile to take a well-deserved break during periods of intense work, however, if your focus keeps dropping so much that you always opt for the instant gratification of procrastination, it could be worth finding a substance or two to boost your focus, enhance your attention and ultimately increase the quality and quantity of the work that you are engaging in.

There are a multitude of reasons why you may not be able to focus for sustained periods of time, and these could be as simple as feeling exhausted after a long day. If you constantly find your focus is trailing off and could benefit from a boost in productivity and working time, check out the substances listed below - they may very well bring your studying capabilities to new highs.

YERBA MATé

Yerba Maté is a type of tea, originating from South America, made from the leaves and stems of the Ilex paraguariensis tree. The tea is traditionally made in what is called a “mate”, a type of small pot or mug served with hot water and a metal straw.

Yerba mate acts as an energiser and stimulant due to its caffeine content, however, it also provides theobromine which has its own, subtly stimulating effects.

Yerba mate also supplies numerous vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and amino acids. It is reported that these compounds have somewhat of an equalising effect on the caffeine content, with some consumers stating that yerba mate’s stimulating effects are less jittery than those associated with coffee and other highly caffeinated drinks. This makes yerba mate an ideal option to drink while studying in order to receive a lift in focus without becoming shaky or anxious.

Yerba Maté

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BRAIN-E

Brain-E is an encapsulated formula designed with the intention of creating a potent concoction of substances that increase cognitive function for up to several hours. Some of the key ingredients of this formula include choline, white willow bark extract, caffeine and an amino acid complex. Let's break down a couple of these interesting ingredients and find out how they can buoy your studying potential.

•  CHOLINE

Choline is a nutrient that plays an important role within the human body. On top of this, choline appears to play a part in cognitive performance. It is a precursor to the neurotransmitter acetylcholine and is linked to impaired cognitive function with the loss of cholinergic neurons.

A paper entitled The relation of dietary choline to cognitive performance and white-matter hyperintensity in the Framingham Offspring Cohort published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition observes the relationship between dietary choline intake and cognitive function. The authors of the study documented that a higher choline intake is indeed related to improved cognitive function.

• CAFFEINE

Caffeine serves as another key ingredient within the brain boosting formula and for good reason. Everyone is familiar with the stimulating effect of caffeine, often administered via a cup of coffee - a very useful tool when it comes to increased focus throughout a period of study. However, caffeine's effects may surpass mere focus and enter the realm of memory enhancement.

A paper titled Post-study caffeine administration enhances memory consolidation in humans published within the journal Nature explores the memory inproving effects of caffeine. Although the authors state that long-term memory effects of the substance are yet unknown, they do point out that caffeine may enhance memory performance for up to 24 hours after consumption. This is worth considering during revision sessions and may possibly serve as a great tool leading up to exams or large work assignments.

KOLA NUT

The kola nut is produced by the kola tree of the genus Cola. These trees are native to tropical rain forests within the continent of Africa. 

Kola nuts contain both caffeine and theobromine, making them useful as natural stimulants to maintain concentration while studying, reading or writing. Kola nuts have also been found to boost metabolism and digestion. They may even support the immune system.

Kola Nut - Cola nitida

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MICRODOSING MUSHROOMS

Microdosing magic mushrooms seems to be increasing in popularity with each year. The practice is even taking place among innovators and entrepreneurs in America’s Silicon Valley as a method to surge ahead of the competition.

The concept of microdosing is pretty clear given its name. It exists on the other end of the spectrum from the “heroic” dose, which may send the user off into a more intense psychedelic voyage. The aim of microdosing is to consume an amount so small that no hallucinatory effects are felt. This is also known as a “sub-perceptual” dose.

Instead of initiating a trip, the effects of microdosing mushrooms play an amazing role in helping to keep your wits whilst studying. Reported outcomes of microdosing include high levels of creativity, more energy and increased focus.

Original Microdosing Pack

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AN UNDERGROUND SCIENCE

Although there are few accredited studies that have yet looked into the world of microdosing, Dr. James Fadiman, author of The Psychedelic Explorer’s Guide has been collecting anecdotal reports of individuals who have microdosed for years. Thus far, the results seem to be enormously positive.

Fadiman suggests a microdosing routine which looks like the following: consume a microdose on Sunday, observe the residual effects on Monday, then take a day off on Tuesday. Next, take another micro dose on Wednesday and observe the residual effects on Thursday. Take both Friday and Saturday off. Repeat this process over a cycle of 10 weeks, following your normal routine and recording notes of the observed effects.

As far as dosage goes with magic mushrooms, a microdose is considered to be approximately around 0.2-0.5g, yet this all depends on body weight and overall sensitivity to the substance. Microdosing may serve as a catalyst to creativity and focus for those engaging in intense studying or research.

SATIVA STRAINS OF CANNABIS

People who are already quite familiar with using cannabis as a recreational tool will most likely be aware of the vast differences between the effects of different strains. Cannabis appears along a wide spectrum under two main strain types: indica and sativa. Hybrids, on the other hand, are made up of a ratio between the two.

For those unaware of the difference here, indica and sativa refer to two subspecies of the Cannabis sativa plant. Indica cannabis plants are small, more bushy and have thicker, fan-like leaves. Sativas are taller, more slender and have thinner leaves. However, the differences between these two does not stop with physical characteristics.

The highs provided from each are also quite different, which is key in determining the best strains for studying and keeping concentration over a few hours.

Some people may be very surprised to hear of cannabis as a study-aid since it is often associated with relaxation, calmness and even laziness. These pairings may be close to the truth when considering the effects of indica strains, as they are more associated with the “stoned” type of high. Indica strains are best suited for nighttime, relaxed smoking sessions.

Sativa strains have the polar opposite outcomes and are therefore great to use during the daytime to hone your focus and attention. Strains of this type are cited for displaying uplifting and energetic highs and are regularly described as generating a “buzz” sensation.

Although shocking to some, firing up a joint or burning a bowl of the right kind of weed has the potential to boost your productivity while studying.

Luke Sumpter

With a BSc (Hons) degree in Clinical Health Sciences and a passion for growing plants, Luke Sumpter has worked as a professional journalist and writer at the intersection of cannabis and science for the past 7 years.

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