Reddit reviews NOW Supplements, Pine Bark Extract 240 mg, 90% OPC Pine Bark Extract, (from the Inner Bark of Chinese Red Pine), 90 Veg Capsules
We found 2 Reddit comments about NOW Supplements, Pine Bark Extract 240 mg, 90% OPC Pine Bark Extract, (from the Inner Bark of Chinese Red Pine), 90 Veg Capsules. Here are the top ones, ranked by their Reddit score.
90% OPC PINE PARK EXTRACT: Derived from the inner bark of Chinese red pine and prized for its powerful free radical-scavenging elements*COMPLEMENTARY INGREDIENT: Green tea extract with EGCg included for its abundant flavonols that complement the oxidant neutralizing of pine bark extract*CERTIFICATIONS/CLASSIFICATIONS: Dairy Free, Egg Free, Made without Gluten, Nut Free, Soy Free, VeganGMP Quality Assured: NPA A-rated GMP certification means that every aspect of the NOW manufacturing process has been examined, including our laboratory/testing methods (for stability, potency, and product formulation).Packaged in the USA by a family owned and operated company since 1968
I should say, I'm not an expert, I've just done a ton of research with my own interests in mind.
Re IPL, the jury is actually out on that. I was disappointed to find that out! The results aren't as cut and dried as I had hoped they would be. If you have fair skin (which you might if you have broken blood vessels), you risk negative outcomes such as burns.
I have those little capillaries, so I'm trying other things before being willing to test IPL, and when I do test it, I will start first with one on my thigh before risking my face.
HOWEVER, here is what I'm trying right now, and am measuring the results:
I started this protocol about a week ago and will keep at it for about six months, and I'm tracking my results. So I'll post here if I see any progress! :)
Oh, and about the skin thinning: I'm not sure of the mechanism, but I recall something about the result of the way the body treats the skin in the area once the muscles atrophy. So perhaps if the muscles aren't being used...? I don't want to speculate, and I can't remember the precise cause of the thinning, sorry to say.
EDIT: One thing I do remember is that if you have started while young and want to stop, unless you've gotten to the stage where the muscles have atrophied OR had a reaction, your face just returns to as it was. So if you started without really needing it, you can always take a break. Often, having it will train you not to move your forehead as much, which means you can go without and still get results.
I would drop the vinpocetine:
http://www.longecity.org/forum/topic/23457-vinpocetine-ditch-it/
Try taking the bacopa before bed, it makes some people tired.
Maybe lay off the CILTEP for a few days and try supplementing some glutamine, did wonders for me.
Try adjusting your choline intake, too much makes some people depressed, but not enough will also make you tired and brain foggy. Too much will give you muscle soreness and possibly a headache from muscle tension.
You could try some n-acetyl-tyrosine and see if it helps your motivation. I wouldn't take too much though since one of your ADs is a norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor. Have you always felt this unmotivated, or is it a recent phenomenon? If it's just a recent thing, what has changed in your life that might have caused it? If it is chronic, and n-acetyl-tyrosine works for you, you might want to ask your doctor about trying ritalin/methylphenidate.
I would also try to get off the SSRI/SNRI, serotonin is depressing. There is a common misconception, possibly due to incorrect ideas about how MDMA works, that serotonin makes you happy. SSRIs actually increase suicide risk for the first few weeks because the excess serotonin makes you depressed. The anti depressant effects take a few weeks because they are due to physiological changes in your brain due to the extra serotonin.
Do you take a multivitamin or any vitamins other than D? Personally I think the base of any nootropic stack should include a good multivitamin, some antioxidants, and probably fish oil, although some people react negatively to fish oil. Not including any racetams or ciltep or anything purely nootropic, every day I take:
AOR Ortho Core
B Complex
Vitamin C
Vitamin D-3
Vitamin E
Fish Oil
Green Tea Extract
Pine Bark Extract
Magnesium
Calcium
Probably less important, but I also take acetyl carnitine, alpha lipoic acid, alpha gpc, glucosamine/chondroitin/msm, rhodiola rosea, eluthero sibricus, jiaogulan, mushroom product including reishi and chaga, glutamine, l-phenylalanine, creatine, coq10, ashwagandha, lion's mane, bacopa, and astragalus.
In addition to all that I take various nootropics sort of randomly as I feel like, including sulbutiamine, piracetam, aniracetam, pramiracetam, noopept, and forskolin/artichoke/hesperidin.
Last, and probably most important, get plenty of good sleep.