Thread: Menthol as a Dream Enhancer

I guess we could start another thread - the power of belief or something like that. We could make blind experiments, prepare a supp capsule and an empty capsule, then take one without looking. Go to bed. After you wake up check which one you took.

Originally Posted by Highlander

I haven't tried Menthol (in the form of cough drops) for quite a while until last week where I combined it with WBTB which resulted in a couple of DILD's on two seperate mornings.

I managed to get some extra strong packs at better than half price as it was ex stock.

LOL, nice, the ol' "Expired Cough Drop-Induced Lucid Dream" Combining it with WBTB is always what's worked best for me.

I haven't had as much opportunity to test it lately since it's been hard for me to predict when I'll actually have my WBTB (and therefore don't know when to prepare my peppermint tea.) Apart from the occasional stomach discomfort, menthol has been a great way to increase dream density and generate interesting dream content.

Originally Posted by Xanous

Hey btw guys. I'm really dumb. I just happened to take a closer look at the box of that candy cane green tea this morning. IT'S DECAFFEINATED! I guess this one was all menthol related. I don't understand the insomnia I got after the LD though. What's funny is that I had been drinking this instead of my usual tea. I guess I don't need caffeine anymore, so that's good.

Heh heh, nice... you know what though? I sometimes had to deal with just a touch of insomnia after a peppermint tea WBTB. I could usually work through it but it was there. I don't know what exactly caused it, but I usually had to wait just a bit longer to fall asleep.

Whatever gets you lucid!

Originally Posted by NyxCC

I guess we could start another thread - the power of belief or something like that. We could make blind experiments, prepare a supp capsule and an empty capsule, then take one without looking. Go to bed. After you wake up check which one you took.

^ Funny you say that, the subject of suggestion/belief did crop up in this thread some time ago, which can be seen in these posts:

Originally Posted by Mindraker

You know, if we were *really* doing this hardcore in the name of science, Alyzarin would give half of the participants menthol tablets, and half of the participants menthol "flavored" tablets (i.e., sugar pills/placebos), but not actually tell the participants what kind they have.

I wonder how easy it's for me to take a sugar pill with the power of suggestion, "This pill will affect your dreams!" and have it actually affect my dreams.

The power of suggestion is strong...

Originally Posted by Alyzarin

You know, this is only the beginning of the experiment. I wasn't going to take anything as fact until a good number of people who've used menthol have also gone for a period of time without using it, then used it again, then stopped, etc.... Basically enough that the changes we're getting are definitely induced by menthol. However, I have no doubts that it does effect dreams in one way or another.

If you want to distribute placebos, though, be my guest. It'll sure move this along faster.

@ NyxCC.
It is a good idea. It might be hard to disguise a calea Z. capsule though. Even an l-arginine capsule has a slight taste to it (not a gelatine taste) when you pop one in your mouth.

I want to try one of those blue lozenge shaped tablets made by Pfizer.

That's interesting. Maybe some researcher out there is browsing these threads and will conduct such experiments as part of a study. That'd be cool.

Wow! So its been a long time since I combined peppermint tea with galantamine. I forgot how much menthol adds to the experience. I ended up with 6 lucids this morning! Ill have to post them later but holy crap the increased HI made LDs a walk in the park.

Originally Posted by Xanous

Wow! So its been a long time since I combined peppermint tea with galantamine. I forgot how much menthol adds to the experience. I ended up with 6 lucids this morning! Ill have to post them later but holy crap the increased HI made LDs a walk in the park.

Xanous!! That's incredible, man, congratulations on the LDs! I really need to do a peppermint tea WBTB again soon. My WBTB's have become so sporadic lately that I'm never sure what night to brew one up before bed.

You may already be planning on posting a trip report in this thread, but if not I was curious how strong of a tea you made.

No I wasnt going to do the usual post. Lol. I brewed 3 bags in one mug of water. I wanted a long wbtb so I didnt brew beforehand. I think the fresher brew was more potent that way.

Congrats!!! Wow, three bags that must be a very strong taste.

Originally Posted by Xanous

Wow! So its been a long time since I combined peppermint tea with galantamine. I forgot how much menthol adds to the experience. I ended up with 6 lucids this morning! Ill have to post them later but holy crap the increased HI made LDs a walk in the park.

Contratulations and wow, such enthusiasm - you make it so tempting for me to try this in the day (when awake!)

Originally Posted by CanisLucidus

You may already be planning on posting a trip report in this thread, but if not I was curious how strong of a tea you made.

Strong enough to post in Erowid maybe?

Originally Posted by NyxCC

Congrats!!! Wow, three bags that must be a very strong taste.

A little but not too bad.

Originally Posted by Highlander

Contratulations and wow, such enthusiasm - you make it so tempting for me to try this in the day (when awake!)

I was pondering the same thing but then I'd be missing out on lucids.

Originally Posted by Highlander

Strong enough to post in Erowid maybe?

You caught that too?

Ah - I sometimes need exactly such a thing Xanous, to motivate me - a peppermint WBTB it will be tonight!

Ah - I sometimes need exactly such a thing Xanous, to motivate me - a peppermint WBTB it will be tonight!

Go for it!

All hail... Xanous - 'The motivator!'


http://www.dreamviews.com/blogs/high...tc-dild-55473/

I did waste nearly half a packet of cough drops and some C.Z. though beforehand.

Yeah - definitively - even if my WBTB was postponed due to me having caught a nasty cold - but today is peppermint-overkill already - need fluids, and got lemons and indulge in the stuff at the moment. Close to a 1 l at the moment - 4 bags - and I'll keep at it - loving the stuff!

I don't know if the peppermint tea I have tried is too weak or has lost its potency (the minty flavor is usually not all that strong), but I don't notice any difference whatsoever between nights with peppermint tea and nights without, even at WBTB. I do have some alcohol-based menthol extract, however, and there's no doubting its minty-strength, I could try that in some water at WBTB....what dosage do people recommend?

For combining with galantamine, have you tried several times both with and without the menthol to establish that the menthol really makes a difference?

Yessss, this thread is still active. X) Hey everyone!!!!

It makes me so so so happy to see that you guys are still having success with this.... Aww, being back here again makes me so nostalgic.

I don't know how long I'll be here but for some reason or another I was possessed to stop by DV today, so I felt compelled to stop by and say hello.... So hello.

Xanous, if you write a glowing, detailed trip report for Erowid I will do my best to make sure it goes through. I have some connections there now. XD Think of the publicity!!

Welcome back Alyzarin!

I could have done with your knowedge when I was trawling the Internet reading about glutathione, N-acetyl-cysteine, etc, etc.

Trouble is it all goes 'whey' over my head!

I'm guessing those chemicals are in whey? XD Thanks, Rob!



Hehe, what did you want to know about those? I can look into them now if you'd like.

Alyyy!

We miss you with your inspiring in-depth research!

Love the recent activity in this thread! I've got to spend some time reviewing past entries and good combos.

Originally Posted by FryingMan

I don't know if the peppermint tea I have tried is too weak or has lost its potency (the minty flavor is usually not all that strong), but I don't notice any difference whatsoever between nights with peppermint tea and nights without, even at WBTB. I do have some alcohol-based menthol extract, however, and there's no doubting its minty-strength, I could try that in some water at WBTB....what dosage do people recommend?

For combining with galantamine, have you tried several times both with and without the menthol to establish that the menthol really makes a difference?

If you're going with a single bag of tea, try slowly ramping it up. It took about three of my bags to get a fairly noticeable effect and I've brewed a tea with as many as 6 bags to good effect. But if you started small, you're doing exactly the right thing. It's so much better to find the minimal effective dose and then work up only as necessary. Dramatically less risk of side effects or desensitization that way.

And yeah, I've certainly tried menthol without galantamine as well. (Apart from Xanous and myself, I am not sure any others have combined menthol w/ galantamine.) Without galantamine, menthol led to a large increase in dream content, adventurousness, and often sexiness with only a mild increase in lucidity. With galantamine, I generally get a large increase in lucidity, so combining the two was particularly dynamite for LDing. (IME.)

Originally Posted by Alyzarin

It makes me so so so happy to see that you guys are still having success with this.... Aww, being back here again makes me so nostalgic.

I don't know how long I'll be here but for some reason or another I was possessed to stop by DV today, so I felt compelled to stop by and say hello.... So hello.

Woohoo, good to see you back here, Aly! Your return must be a sign that I'm meant to try a menthol WBTB this weekend. I'm not one to stand in the way of destiny.

Originally Posted by Alyzarin

Xanous, if you write a glowing, detailed trip report for Erowid I will do my best to make sure it goes through. I have some connections there now. XD Think of the publicity!!

Erowid connections, nice! How can there be no menthol section on there? Well, we've got 37 pages of trailblazing happening right here.

Short update: Tried a small amount of Gingko (30mg) and 200mg peppermint oil capsule pre bed. What was very interesting is that I woke up from a quite vivid dream around 60-90 mins after falling asleep (something about ghosts that weren't there?). This is among the ealiest vivid dreams with good recall at the time of waking.

Was looking forward to more vividness alas got woken up a multitude of times, so that kind of messed up my sleep agenda.

Originally Posted by NyxCC

Alyyy!

We miss you with your inspiring in-depth research!

Love the recent activity in this thread! I've got to spend some time reviewing past entries and good combos.

Hey NyxCC!

Aww, thank you! I've missed you guys too, I think about this thread often.

I'm very happy with how things are going as well, I'm so glad to see that menthol is still working for people!

Originally Posted by CanisLucidus

Woohoo, good to see you back here, Aly! Your return must be a sign that I'm meant to try a menthol WBTB this weekend. I'm not one to stand in the way of destiny.

Thanks, Canis! It's good to see you too!

Hehe, that's right, I am just an agent of destiny. ;D Go, menthol man, go!

Hmm, I really need to take some menthol again myself actually.... I've been remembering more and more of my dreams lately but they haven't been quite sexy enough for my liking.... This needs to be rectified!

Originally Posted by CanisLucidus

Erowid connections, nice! How can there be no menthol section on there? Well, we've got 37 pages of trailblazing happening right here.

I agree, it's a travesty! We'll have to prove to them that menthol is a worthy psychonautical tool worthy of recognition! >:O Oh and yeah, that's a loooong story heh.... A lot of things have been happening in life lately. o.O

Xanous, if you write a glowing, detailed trip report for Erowid I will do my best to make sure it goes through. I have some connections there now. XD Think of the publicity!!

ALYZARIN!!!!! I don't get DV time as often as I used to but I miss seeing you on here. Thanks for popping in. I may actually do a post on Erowid soon.

I was wanting to do anther G/menthol WBTB but with a sick kid in the house it didn't feel like a good time for it. I didn't want to ruin a good G run since I only take it once a week. However, I did do a menthol/Mucana Pruriens WBTB. The LD was really short but I had lots of vivid dreaming.

Dose: 3 bags Bigelow Peppermint Tea, 1600mg Mucana Pruriens/240mg L-Dopa
Side Effects: none
Sleep Duration: 9 hours
Cognitive: Average
Sexual: No
Atmosphere: Typical OBE/WILD. Slightly unstable
Lucid: Yes

Monkey Around - Dream Journals - Lucid Dreaming - Dream Views

Originally Posted by FryingMan

For combining with galantamine, have you tried several times both with and without the menthol to establish that the menthol really makes a difference?

Originally Posted by CanisLucidus

If you're going with a single bag of tea, try slowly ramping it up. It took about three of my bags to get a fairly noticeable effect and I've brewed a tea with as many as 6 bags to good effect. But if you started small, you're doing exactly the right thing. It's so much better to find the minimal effective dose and then work up only as necessary. Dramatically less risk of side effects or desensitization that way.

And yeah, I've certainly tried menthol without galantamine as well. (Apart from Xanous and myself, I am not sure any others have combined menthol w/ galantamine.) Without galantamine, menthol led to a large increase in dream content, adventurousness, and often sexiness with only a mild increase in lucidity. With galantamine, I generally get a large increase in lucidity, so combining the two was particularly dynamite for LDing. (IME.)

I agree with CL's answer. Also, I notice a difference between galantamine with menthol vs. galantamine without menthol. For me, menthol in the form of peppermint tea makes a noticeable difference with increased vividness, HI and clearer LDs. In my opinion menthol makes a great additive to any LDS.

Originally Posted by NyxCC

Short update: Tried a small amount of Gingko (30mg) and 200mg peppermint oil capsule pre bed. What was very interesting is that I woke up from a quite vivid dream around 60-90 mins after falling asleep (something about ghosts that weren't there?). This is among the ealiest vivid dreams with good recall at the time of waking.

Was looking forward to more vividness alas got woken up a multitude of times, so that kind of messed up my sleep agenda.

My experience with ginkgo is rather limited, but it rhymes with yours. For me, ginkgo taken before bedtime leads to restless sleep with many awakenings and no success at WBTB-time. Supposedly ginkgo increases the blood flow, but my guess is that it does so throughout the body - not simply through the brain - and thereby works against restful sleep by keeping the body too 'aroused' (for lack of a better word).

If this is true, then ginkgo might be better taken at WBTB-time. But my personal experience with that is not encouraging either.