Thread: Menthol as a Dream Enhancer

Originally Posted by NyxCC

Sorry you had such a bad night. I sometimes get similar types of dreams just by taking B6, no idea why is that. I was planning on repeating the combo SJW-B6-menthol, but since I know how sensitive I am, and after reading your entry I got worried about getting nightmares. Now, I am thinking of switching B6 for multivitamins with lower B6 dosage?

I also wonder if the situation could have been turned around if you did manage to get lucid.



Valerian and B6 entry The lotus pond

That's not typical for me with B6. Perhaps it's something with this particular combo or maybe it was just one of those nights? I totally would have turned this around if I had got lucid. I usually handle lucid nightmares pretty well and can almost always take charge of DC's and tame the situation. I did throw in some extras with L-Dopa and DMAE. I suspect higher dopamine levels could have played a role here as well. Maybe next time I will leave those two out.

@ Xanous. Hmmm, I guess I am just very sensitive to B6 (like you once said) and perhaps other supps?

Date: 31 May
Dose: pre bed 2 drops p.oil, strong multivits (included 60 mg gingko, and 50 mg ginseng), SJW, WBTB 1 p.oil capsule (200mg)
Side Effects: heavy insomnia, slightly faster heart rate (was also dehydrated unrelated to supps?)
Duration: about 9 hrs (2.5 hrs total insomnia, 6.5 sleep)
Cognitive: wakefulness, vivid dreams, good dream control
Sexual: no
Atmosphere: normal city during night, high awareness interaction with a bold energetic entity, enhanced spacial perception, mostly normal mood with slight touches of lucid satisfaction, but more action oriented
Lucid: WILD + 2 DILDs in the very early stages of sleep
Other: After our discussion yesterday, decided to use multivits instead of 100 mg B6, but I got too much energy before bed time, and my heart rate was faster, which made it hard to fall asleep. I guess I unconsciously used it as an anchor and ended up with a WILD, which was the longest lasting no prior sleep ld that I can remember. Then got two DILDs, followed by insomnia, then unmemorable sleep. While I find it cool to have 3 lds so early on, I wouldn't take these multivitamins with this combo again, because of the insomnia. Another thing I did differently this time was to take two drops of p.oil pre bed, so I guess this also played a role.

Midnight lucidity

Possible future combos: pre bed: SJW, menthol, WBTB: menthol or pre bed: SJW, WBTB: menthol, lecithin/ B complex (a smaller %), may substitute SJW for Gingko

Date: Tue June 4th 2013
Dose: (Bed) Oil of Peppermint capsule (x1) = 200 mg. Cough syrup (Mentholated) = 15 ml.
Side Effects: Ok
Sleep Duration: Total = 9.75 - 10.25 hrs
Cognitive: Average recall. Odd bit of HI/dreamlet. Interesting NLD with slight awareness at one point noted.
Atmosphere: A floating theme. It felt good, along with an ‘energy/feeling.’
Other Comments: No supplements taken post-toilet break due to missing the earlier WBTB time. Therefore no ‘proper’ WBTB was taken.
I don’t recall/remember really anything from the first half of the night (when the Menthol would have been at peak plasma, etc.) as I slept through.
(N.B: Crystal totem was in my pyjama pocket.)

Pants - Dream Journals - Lucid Dreaming - Dream Views

My dream recall is a bit pants - lol.

Date:
Dose:(Bedtime) 3g fish oil, (WBTB) 400mg peppermint oil
Side-effects: light sleep, anxiety, slightly delirious
Cognitive:Aforementioned delirium, anxiety dreams
Atmosphere: Uneasiness, colourful dream characters, tigers and panthers
Other comments:More or less complete failure, the menthol seemed to land me in a paralytic state of swinging between not-quite-complete wakefulness and troubled dreams, slept through two further WBTB alarms. To anyone using peppermint oil capsules, if you want to take a higher dose spread it out between bedtime and WBTB like Highlander does as that seems to alleviate side-effects.

Dose: Pre-bed: 100mg B6; WBTB: 4 bags peppermint tea, 800mg mucuna pruriens
Side Effects: Mild insomnia. Ultra-focused and productive this morning at work. Really in the zone!
Sleep Duration: 7 hours
Cognitive: Some dream choppiness. Missed some obvious dreamsigns (magical powers, weird stuff happening on DV, etc.)
Sexual: Not at all.
Atmosphere: Mostly happy and adventurous. Dreams had many missing pieces, though.
Lucid: No

Nice dreams this morning, although I was sad not to have become lucid. Menthol and mucuna seem to help create good dreams but as far as I can tell, they're not making my dreaming brain any smarter / clued in. That part's still completely up to me.

One dream was extremely positive. I found a dead frog, brought him back to life, and named him "Mr. Froggo" before releasing him back into the great outdoors. As silly as this dream plot is, I felt incredible joy by the end of it!

@ Ctharlhie - definitely not a failure, those are menthol dream signs. Not sure about the mood of the dream, but one could potentially learn to recognize those colorful entities/DCs, especially when dreams are vivid. I have been trying to get lucid when encountering animals, but I am usually so fascinated I always end up simply watching/interacting with them. Tigers and panthers

@ CL; good to hear that these supps have positive spillover effects in waking life too. It seems like a good combination of supps. And I totally adore the "Mr.Froggo dream".

Date: 7 May
Dose: pre bed SJW, 100mg B6 WBTB: 2x200 mg p.oil capsule
Side effects: none
Duration: 9 hours (5+1 wbtb on/off sleep +3)
Cognitive: dreams were vivid, paid attention to a fascinating piano performance
Sexual: yes
Atmosphere: normal with some sexy elements
Lucid: yes, short DILD
Other: If I am not mistaken this is the sixth time I use menthol, and the second this combo. For menthol - first time having sexy dreams, classmate kissing me, two dreams with hookers and sexy time with bf. Apart for the distractions, I started with a brief DILD post WBTB. I was interrupted after my WBTB practice so in the end I spent more time trying to fall asleep than thinking about lucidity. Today, I did not get the ultra positive mood I usually associate with menthol, mood was just normal. SJW plus menthol combo has coincided with a lucid 3/3 times so far, but today my awareness was not as high. I hope I am not becoming desensitized (only once a week?)

Too much indecisiveness

Originally Posted by NyxCC

Date: 7 May
Dose: pre bed SJW, 100mg B6 WBTB: 2x200 mg p.oil capsule
Side effects: none
Duration: 9 hours (5+1 wbtb on/off sleep +3)
Cognitive: dreams were vivid, paid attention to a fascinating piano performance
Sexual: yes
Atmosphere: normal with some sexy elements
Lucid: yes, short DILD
Other: If I am not mistaken this is the sixth time I use menthol, and the second this combo. For menthol - first time having sexy dreams, classmate kissing me, two dreams with hookers and sexy time with bf. Apart for the distractions, I started with a brief DILD post WBTB. I was interrupted after my WBTB practice so in the end I spent more time trying to fall asleep than thinking about lucidity. Today, I did not get the ultra positive mood I usually associate with menthol, mood was just normal. SJW plus menthol combo has coincided with a lucid 3/3 times so far, but today my awareness was not as high. I hope I am not becoming desensitized (only once a week?)

Too much indecisiveness

That SJW is great stuff. I've gotten lucid from taking it prebed nothing else WBTB. I notice when I missed a WBTB and just did a quick induction during a brief awakening. If I don't get lucid I notice a huge boost in REM rebound. For me it seems waaaay more effective than 5-HTP!

Originally Posted by Xanous

That SJW is great stuff. I've gotten lucid from taking it prebed nothing else WBTB. I notice when I missed a WBTB and just did a quick induction during a brief awakening. If I don't get lucid I notice a huge boost in REM rebound. For me it seems waaaay more effective than 5-HTP!

I think Aly mentioned at one point that SJW is also a glutamate. May account for its increased effectiveness.

Date: 8th June
Dose: 3g fish oil, 200mg peppermint oil
Side effects: none
Sleep duration: 9hrs
Cognitive: illogical dreams
Sexual: Kinda, more romantic
Atmosphere: Anxiety, romance, threat, fantasy
Lucid: Brief semi-lucid on the cusp of lucid proper

Slept through my WBTB alarm, I was gonna take loads of valerian

Date: Sat June 8th 2013
Dose: (Bed) Honey and Lemon Menthol cough drops (x5) = 48.5 mg (WBTB) A cereal breakfast with milk. A cup of tea (0.5 pt)
Side Effects: Generally ok.
Sleep Duration: 5.75 hrs approx before (WBTB 40 min) 3 hrs after. Total = 8.75 hrs
Cognitive: Excellent recall (post-WBTB.) A highly stable, quite vivid DILD which was quite long and exceptionally late in the morning (by my standards) was noted. Memorable.
Sexual: No.
Atmosphere: Set at night where it was a bit dark. Family themes. (See notes also.)
Other Comments: There may be other variables which could have influenced things, namely:
(i) L-Arginine (1 g) taken yesterday, quite early in the evening.
(ii) Consumption of (x3) Chocolate coated digestive biscuits about ¾ hr before bed.
(iii) Extra tiredness – I don’t need to mention why! (Ho hum…)
(iv) The breakfast – as in the vitamins, plus the Caffeine in the tea.

The dialogue content of the DILD has made me think somewhat, even to the point where I have felt like giving up?

Imposter (DILD) - Dream Journals - Lucid Dreaming - Dream Views

Date: Mon June 10th 2013
Dose: (Bed) Oil of Peppermint capsule (x1) = 200 mg, Teaspoon (x3) Mentholated cough syrup (15 ml), H and L Menthol cough drops (x2) = 19.4 mg (WBTB) L-Arginine (x1) = 500 mg, H and L Menthol cough drops (x3) = 29.1 mg
Side Effects: Insomnia (post-WBTB)
Sleep Duration: 5 hrs approx before (WBTB 40 min) 3.75 hrs approx after. Total = 8.75 hrs
Cognitive: Very good recall (post-WBTB.) High awareness coupled split-second lucidity in main dream noted.
Sexual: Yes – scenes of nudity
Atmosphere: Realistic and vivid. Danger situation.
Other Comments: Above normal HI/thoughts and general dreamlets late on in the morning. Ex work colleagues, etc. featured as a common theme. Dreamsign recorded. RC checks failed.
It was generally a warm night which may have exacerbated the post-WBTB insomnia. Totem (LH.)

Menthol and L-Arginine - Dream Journals - Lucid Dreaming - Dream Views

Dose: Pre-bed: 3mg melatonin; WBTB: 4 bags peppermint tea
Side Effects: None.
Sleep Duration: 7 hours
Cognitive: Slightly dumb and self-conscious in NLDs. Brain worked okay in lucid portions. Prospective memory only so-so. (Couldn't remember more than my primary goal.)
Sexual: For the most part, no. Did appear in just my boxers in one NLD.
Atmosphere: Confused and self-conscious in NLDs. Vaguely worried about trivial matters, but not excessively. Carefree in lucid portion.
Lucid: Yes!

Apart from showing up pantsless at the beginning of one dream, last night's dreams didn't seem exceedingly menthol-y. Reasonably imaginative, but not off the charts like some dreams have been in the past. Got lucid, didn't get insomnia, so all in all thumbs up!

The lucid dream:
Morgan Freeman - Dream Journals - Lucid Dreaming - Dream Views

I'm glad to see all of these recent successes you guys are posting! Great stuff.

Dose: Pre-bed: 100mg 5-htp; WBTB: 2xGalantamind (8mg galantamine, 400mg choline citrate, B5), 600mg Alpha-GPC, 3 bags peppermint tea, 1 bag green tea
Side Effects: Mild insomnia followed by a crapton of lucid dreaming.
Sleep Duration: 7 hours
Cognitive: Fairly sharp and confident. Became lucid very, very easily.
Sexual: Yes
Atmosphere: Generally adventurous and sexy
Lucid: Yes!! (5 lucid dreams!)

Really amazing night here. This was by far the most lucid dreams I've ever experienced in a single night. This particular combo seems to be dynamite for me! This is a lot like the one that's worked so well for me in the past but with just a little more Alpha-GPC.

This level of menthol seems to lead to a nice increase in dream content and makes dreams "sexier" without that taking over absolutely everything. And when you pair that increase in dreaming with the increased likelihood of lucidity that comes with the galantamine + choline stacked with caffeine, it really seems to work well.

This was awesome, to say the least!

The lucids:
http://www.dreamviews.com/blogs/cani...-locker-47555/
http://www.dreamviews.com/blogs/cani...-sequel-47557/
http://www.dreamviews.com/blogs/cani...torrent-47562/
http://www.dreamviews.com/blogs/cani...metroid-47563/
http://www.dreamviews.com/blogs/cani...stitute-47564/

Date: Sat June 29th 2013 5AM
Dose: Ten 9.1mg Cough drops, 120mg Mucuna Pruriens, 100mg B6 (also had vodka prebed)
Side Effects: Sour stomach
Sleep Duration: 7.5 Hours
Cognitive: Very vivid, good recall
Sexual: Not at all
Atmosphere: Shifty and rushed
Other Comments: I was really glad to get lucid on this one. I've been going back to basics and really hammering hard on prospective memory and MILD. Though I was trying to have a lucid dream, I took this combo solely for dream enhancement and not as a LDS. That seems to be a better attitude for me lately

The Disappointing Theme Park - Dream Journals - Lucid Dreaming - Dream Views

Hi Canis Lucidus,

It does sound a rather epic night after reading your reports. I'm presuming that the LD's are all post-WBTB rather than any being pre, due to the actions of 5-HTP.
Can you remember how many hours into sleep that you took the WBTB? (I'm assuming about 4-5 hours in?)

Whatever, it must have been quite memorable!

Originally Posted by Highlander

Hi Canis Lucidus,

It does sound a rather epic night after reading your reports. I'm presuming that the LD's are all post-WBTB rather than any being pre, due to the actions of 5-HTP.
Can you remember how many hours into sleep that you took the WBTB? (I'm assuming about 4-5 hours in?)

Whatever, it must have been quite memorable!

Thanks, Highlander, and yes, you're exactly right. I woke up at around 3 AM, so after not quite 4 hours of sleep. (Hmm, less sleep than I'd imagined.) My WBTBs are natural so I don't get to schedule them too precisely.

When I woke up for WBTB, I recalled no dreams. I took the supplements immediately and laid back down after about 30 minutes of being awake. I was a bit buzzed and excited so I wasn't sure I'd get back to sleep very easily. Did my SSILD cycles, then rolled onto my side and began the WILD attempt.

Thanks CL.

I did just notice your actual WBTB timing in the Caffeine thread, but you replied before I could edit it.

After the positive results you guys are reporting in there I'm a bit tempted to try some form of Caffeine myself.

Originally Posted by Highlander

Thanks CL.

I did just notice your actual WBTB timing in the Caffeine thread, but you replied before I could edit it.

After the positive results you guys are reporting in there I'm a bit tempted to try some form of Caffeine myself.

Yeah the Menthol and Caffeine threads have sort of become sister research projects. I've had my best luck with the lower doses of caffeine but NyxCC seems to work wonders with frappuccinos and drinks with enough caffeine that they have warnings on the label.

Date: Wed June 19th 2013
Dose: (WBTB) Peppermint tea (x1 bag) infused in 0.5 pt of warm water, duration over 5+ minutes
Side Effects: None
Sleep Duration: < 6 hrs approx before (WBTB 20 min) < 3 hrs approx after. Total = 8.75 - 9 hrs
Cognitive: Average to good recall. Above average vividness in general.
Sexual: See notes
Atmosphere: Mixture of work and general themes, etc.
Other Comments: Basic SSI(LD) exercise performed post-WBTB. Slight awareness/dream theme noted. Virtually naked in one scene. (NLD)

Work. Hotel rooms. Dream references, etc - Dream Journals - Lucid Dreaming - Dream Views

New to the forum and LD as a whole but I thought I could take a shot at this.

Date: Fri June 28th 2013
Dose: Four 7mg Cough drops (28mg totall)
Side Effects: Slight insomnia and chest pain.
Sleep Duration: 12 Hours
Cognitive: Average recall and vividness
Sexual: No
Atmosphere: Violent and angry.
Other Comments: It was two different dreams. The first was very jumpy and hard to follow or understand what I was doing but the second was normally vivid and very violent.

I postponed doing my fav menthol SJW combo as things were really distracting at home. I just couldn’t wait anymore so decided it was time to try again on the 17th. This time instead of B6, added my treasured latte. Dreams were vivid but missed to become lucid.

Date: 17 June
Dose: pre bed SJW, WBTB 2x200mg p.oil capsules, ½ latte
Side Effects: none
Sleep Duration: 9 hrs
Cognitive: dreams were vivid, one was especially long (or resumed after micro-wake)
Sexual: not really
Atmosphere: normal, but my tiredness translated into me thinking I was drunk during the dream?
Other Comments: I am slightly disappointed that I did not become lucid with this nice combo. I was quite sleepy and couldn’t become alert enough.

Apart for that the combo did a good job of enhancing dream quality and vividness. I met an old friend during the dream, he behaved and looked so real, I couldn’t tell the difference from rl. Mood was towards the positive although the overwhelming effects of previous trials with menthol were not as strong.

16-19 June Summary

Date: Sat June 22nd 2013
Dose: (Bed) Menthodex cough drops (x4) = Menthol @ 0.36% w/w (WBTB) Menthodex cough drops (x3) = Menthol @ 0.36% w/w. Vitamin B6 (x1) = 10 mg
Side Effects: Slight gripey stomach (post-WBTB)
Sleep Duration: <6 hrs approx before (WBTB = 33 min) <4 hrs approx after. Total = 9.5 - 10 hrs approx
Cognitive: Above average recall with little erasure. Good awareness.
Sexual: No.
Atmosphere: Realistic and vivid. Other senses noted. Anxiety pre-WBTB in one dream.
Other Comments: Quite a morning’s worth of dreams recorded which included a transition-type dream and a long memorable lucid dream.
I did have pre-anxiety (IWL) issues from the day beforehand, etc.
Totem (LH.) SSILD cycle(s) during post-WBTB.

Menthol – Vibrations and a long DILD - Dream Journals - Lucid Dreaming - Dream Views

(N.B: I did edit the pre-WBTB anxiety dream from the above entry.)

Note: This is from morning of 6/20/2013

Dose: Pre-bed: 100mg 5-htp; WBTB: 2xGalantamind (8mg galantamine, 400mg choline citrate, B5), 600mg Alpha-GPC, 3 bags peppermint tea, 1 bag green tea
Side Effects: Mild insomnia.
Sleep Duration: 7 hours
Cognitive: Reasonably sharp. Very vain.
Sexual: Sexual hypnagogia but no sexual dream content.
Atmosphere: Mildly adventurous. Self-conscious.
Lucid: Yes! One lucid dream and one micro-lucid.

The lucid dream:
Vanity at The Doppelganger Water Park - Dream Journals - Lucid Dreaming - Dream Views

There was also an adventure-themed micro-lucid. (I had a sword and everything!)

Date: Tue June 25th 2013
Dose: (Bed) 0.5 pt Apple Juice; (WBTB) L-Arginine (x2) = 1000 mg, Menthodex cough drops (x2) = 0.36 % w/w
Side Effects: ERECTION
Sleep Duration: 5.75 hrs before (WBTB 38 min) 3.25 hrs approx after. Total = 9.00 hrs approx
Cognitive: Very good recall and awareness. Very good stability and overall clarity in main DILD especially.
Sexual: Taboo subjects
Atmosphere: Family theme. The need to convey a message/shared dreaming type test.
Other Comments: Occasional dreamlets/hypnagogia noted late morning whilst resting.
SSILD cycles performed post-WBTB. Memorable.

My Family, etc - DILD - Dream Journals - Lucid Dreaming - Dream Views