Huperzia Serrata Review

Huperzia Serrata is a moss-like plant prized for its nootropic benefits.

Find out if Huperzia serrata supplements are worth buying today in our review.

What is Huperzia Serrata?

Huperzia Serrata is classified as a “firmoss” plant. Firmoss plants are also often known as Huperzia plants.

The plant contains a biologically active compound known as Huperzine A, which is prized throughout the nootropic industry for its memory-boosting benefits.

How Does Huperzine A Work?

Huperzia serrata is thought to work by inhibiting acetylcholinesterase (AchE). AchE is an enzyme responsible for degrading the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. As you may already know, acetylcholine plays a significant role in memory.

In other words, Huperzia serrata boosts memory by preventing the breakdown of acetylcholine, which is an important memory boosting compound.

Researchers have observed that acetylcholine levels decline as we age, which is why many people suffer memory loss and reduced cognitive ability as they age. By inhibiting the breakdown of acetylcholine, Huperzia serrata can boost your brain’s ability to form and recall new memories.

At the same time, Huperzine A prevents oxidative stress in cholinergic neurons. The more oxidative stress a cholinergic neuron experiences, the faster it will break down.

According to a recent report by Onnit Labs, Huperzine A’s neuroprotective abilities have a significant role in preventing and treating neurodegenerative diseases:

“Apoptosis, or programmed cell death, through production of a precursor peptide known as amyloid beta, is the central working hypothesis for the cognitive decline in AD. HupA has been shown to protect neurons against apoptosis in amyloid beta stress models.”

Benefits of Huperzia Serrata (Huperzine A)

Huperzia serrata has been linked to many powerful nootropic benefits. Some of the key benefits include:

— Improved Learning Capacity

— Better Access To Stored Memories (particularly Short-term Memories)

— Possibility Of Treating And Preventing Alzheimer’s Disease

— Could Reduce Oxidative Stress In Cholinergic Neurons And Prevent Vascular Dementia

— Better Attention Span, Focus, And Concentration

— Higher Levels Of Nerve Growth Factor, which is used to repair and grow nerve cells throughout the body and leads to greater brain plasticity

Scientific Evidence for Huperzia Serrata

Huperzia serrata has been studied extensively over the years, although most of the studies are labelled under Huperzine A.

One landmark study from 2002 involved over 200 patients with Alzheimer’s disease. Patients received either Huperzine A or a placebo. The patients who received Huperzine A “showed significant improvements in cognitive function, such as orientation, attention and memory.” These patients were also observed to have a better overall mood and behavior in 6 and 12 week follow up studies.

Another study from 1999 demonstrated similarly powerful benefits. That study was performed in China and was the first major study to give Huperzine A to healthy students (instead of patients with Alzheimer’s).

Students received oral supplementation of Huperzine A or a placebo. After 4 weeks of usage, students showed “significant improvements in accumulation, recognition, reproduction, association, tactual memory, and recitation.” Students also performed better on Chinese and English language quizzes.

Researchers concluded that Huperzine A was an effective compound for boosting memory functionality in healthy individuals.

Neither of the studies listed above listed any side effects.

How to Buy Huperzine A

Most people don’t buy or grow raw Huperzia serrata. Typically, you buy Huperzia serrata in the form of Huperzine A supplements. Many nootropic supplements contain Huperzine A and other nootropic compounds, for example. This is the easiest way for an average individual to buy Huperzia serrata.

However, you can buy powdered versions of Huperzia serrata from certain online retailers. One manufacturer called Liftmode sells a Huperzine A powder supplement on Amazon priced at $72 for a 100 gram package with a 1% concentration. That supplement claims that 10mg is an active dosage of this supplement, so you don’t need very much to experience its benefits.

Huperzia Serrata Dosage

When trying to decide on your Huperzia serrata dosage, you need to take a few different things into account.

First, you need to look at the concentration. Most Huperzia serrata supplements have a low concentration of Huperzine A (which is the active ingredient). The supplement listed above from Amazon has a concentration of 1%. Most have a concentration between 0.5% and 1.5%.

An active dosage of Huperzine A is typically listed as 50 to 100 mcg.

— If you’re a beginner, you should start at the lower end of that dosage range. Both beginners and regular users should never exceed 200 mcg per day.

— If you’re taking a Huperzia serrata supplement that lists a 0.5% concentration of Huperzine A, then each 50mg dose would contain 25 mcg of Huperzine A.

— If you’re taking a Huperzia serrata supplement with 1% concentrations of Huperzine A, then a 50mg dose would contain 50 mcg of Huperzine A.

Huperzia Serrata Side Effects

Huperzia serrata and its active ingredient, Huperzine A, have been very well-tolerated in all studies performed to date. In fact, many people consider it one of the safest – if not the safest nootropic drug on the market.

Modern scientific research (as mentioned above) has demonstrated that Huperzia serrata seems to be safe for both young and old people to take. Researchers involved in both studies above observed no side effects in patients with dementia and in younger, healthy students.

However, that doesn’t mean Huperzia serrata is perfectly safe to take. Prolonged usage (longer than 30 or 60 days) has not been studied. Like most nootropic medications, it’s also not recommended for those who are nursing or pregnant.

Outside of scientific studies, you can find some anecdotal online reports of Huperzia serrata side effects. Some users report insomnia, upset stomachs, skin reactions, and minor breathing problems, for example. These side effects appear to be more common in patients taking higher dosages (i.e. dosages greater than 200 mcg of Huperzine A per day).

Should You Take Huperzia Serrata (Huperzine A)?

Huperzia serrata is widely regarded as one of the safest nootropic compounds on the market today. It primarily works by improving your memory and its effects on concentration and focus are not nearly as noticeable.

That’s why Huperzia serrata is commonly found as part of a stack. You can find it blended with other nootropic compounds in various nootropic supplements. Some people also make their own stacks.

In any case, Huperzia serrata and its active ingredient, Huperzine A, have been well-studied over the years and appear to be safe and effective whether you’re improving healthy brain functionality or reducing Alzheimer’s symptoms.