I was wondering on how to improve dream recall with and, without using dream herbs or, whatever else. I currently have quite good dream recall for the most part and, when I do remember dreams I often remember exactly what I was doing for the entire time I was in that certain area this time is usually for 20-80 minutes, however there are other times where I can't remember anything at all. As well I would like to know some things I could do to help with staying asleep once I realize I am in a dream, I have tried lots of stuff including rubbing my hands while lucid dreaming, trying to ignore everything except for the dream, spinning in circles, closing my eyes and, imaging myself somewhere else, I've also tried just continuing on with the dream and, not had much success with that as well, and, I've also tried lucid dreaming large amounts of every kind of drug I can imagine and, taking them even to the point of continually falling asleep in the dream over and, over again while tripping, while continually going through periods of not knowing whats going on and, realize what is happening and, even with this i have not had much success.

.. have you tried fasting?

if you want to improve dream recall, it would make sense to improve recall, and enhance dreaming. you can do both by increasing intake of acetylcholine precursors. there will be diminishing returns, in the form of downregulation, but not before you accomplish the aforementioned.

Keeping a dream journal, writing the dream down immediately after waking, helps many people recall dreams. Even after a period of not journaling them anymore.

I would also recommend keeping a dream journal. And meditating just before bed.

Loosing lucidity in the dream is probably a big obstacle for everyone at first but it yes easier overtime as you are able to maintain your calm when you realize your dreaming. Spinning usually works ok for me but it's also helpful to just sit down and take some deep breathes or even meditate inside the dream for a bit to calm your heart rate down so you don't wake up

Dream journal is good. Also, I recommend practicing old mnemonic techniques. Things like lodestones are a great way to anchor yourself into improving recollection.

A cheat I used to use was don't move your body a twitch when going to sleep. I don't know the reasoning behind it, but it worked excellently as an aid to lucid dreaming, at least for me. Downside is, it is prone to sleep paralysis night terror stuff. So, take it if you want. Supposedly, meditation can help with that, but that made me quit.

Also, if you split your sleep cycle into two cycles, it becomes easier to remember all your dreams.

Dream journals seem more efficacious when they are repeatedly re-read.
Like dont just jot it down, then go off paying no more mind to it.
I observed improved success by jotting it down, going for coffee and breakfast, re-reading it, then reading the last entry again right before bed. Sort of tells the brain dreams are something to remember. I didnt keep it up enough to experiment with different re-reading patterns and time frames, anyone looked into that?

If you smoke weed regularly, try stopping. I always have long, vivid sometimes lucid dreams when I am on a tolerance break.

"I didnt keep it up enough to experiment with different re-reading patterns and time frames, anyone looked into that?" no but what you are saying sounds very interesting i'll have to try and remember that!

Definitely agree there. For me, my dream journal was just a part of my often daily writings of synchronicities, experiences, ideas, connections, etc, and it just became more and more entangled with the dreams. At one point I was writing 3 or more pages of dreams in most mornings. I can't even begin to describe it.

Mostly just a few sentences for me, unfortunately. I do notice in lucid dreams my recall is much much better. But still some holes here and there.

All of the above-below! I find many plants / herbs to be helpful, as well as meditation or star-gazing.

Yeah I read that boiled eggs, spinach, cod, soy lecitin & barley contain decent amounts of Choline.
Would Choline be a good acetyl-choline precorsor?

Also Galantamine is a Cholinergic drug that is reported by many to make dreams significantly more vivid and memorable. I might order a bottle online if I can find a bottle of Galantamine and if customs will allow it(Galantamine is a prescription drug in my country).

If that fails I might try and find a Galantamine extraction method that doesn't involve methanol, perhaps with help from a chemist buddy. If you can get it in your country without prescription try it.
If anyone knows other, more accesible Cholinergic drugs than Galantamine please do tell.



If we are to influence dreams chemically we need to understand the brainchemistry of dreaming better.
I believe I read somewhere that Dopamine-levels also have a significant effect on dreams.
Melatonin and Serotonin levels will also likely have significant effects on our dreams.




There is of course the theory that endogenous DMT, 5-MeO-DMT or 5-HO-DMT or combiations of them
are involved in creating the lifelike visions that are our nocturnal dreams. allthough this isn't proven it certainly makes sense.

Could there be a biochemical recipe for sleep and dreams, so to speak?
We know raised melatonin levels after sundown cause drowsyness and sleepiness. It makes us want to lay down in bed and close our eyes. When we do sleep paralysis sets in, perhaps caused by an endogenous opiate? And shortly after that phase we fall completely unconscious into deep sleep. Could an endogenous Dissociative/Narcotic be responsible for this?

And then after roughly 90 minutes of this deep sleep we become slightly aware again, brain activity spikes as if we were awake, though the body remains paralysed(Endogenous opiate still being released?) and the typical Rapid Eye movement starts: This would be the dreaming phase of sleep in which we experience lifelike visions and hightened awareness(we can remember these visions).
Very conceivable that this is also caused by other endogenous compounds: A blend of DMT and similair compounds?



I have thought of a way of testing the "DMT causes the visions of our Dreams"-hypothesis and though it is no surefire way to prove or disprove that DMT or similair tryptamines are involved it may give an indication.

Has anyone ever taken MAOIs before sleep? If DMT and/or similair tryptamines are indeed involved, then sleeping & dreaming under the influence of MAOIs should intensify your dreams significantly.

Anyone willing to join in this test with me and drink a cup of Caapi tea before bedtime?

choline is a precursor, yes. phosphatidyl choline. alpha-GPC is perhaps one of the more
efficient precursors.

Acetylcholine is, I've mentioned before, a primary neurotransmitter involved with REM sleep,
and memory, as well as motor function. levels get high, you'll feel jittery.

Celastrus seeds, dream journal, and acetylcholine esterase inhibitors such as Bacopa and Huperzine A - both of the latter very powerful in aiding VERY lucid dreams and dream recall thereafter.

When I was working to improve my memory of my dreams, I would write down the following sentence 10 times before attempting to fall asleep:

"Now, I will fall asleep, dream, remember and write my dream down as soon as I wake up."

Then in the morning I would keep a dream journal.

Worked like a charm!

Hmm I remember hearing the name Celastrus before. You mean the seeds from this plant I assume?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celastrus_paniculatus

Now also Huperzine A comes back in my memory. I used to be a fanatic lucid dreamer, but got out of the loop for years after my dreamrecall mysteriously disappeared. It comes back ever s gently now and then, but since that time my dreams have never been so vivid and brightly remembered anymore so I got out of touch with lucid dreaming. I wonder what's causing this.


I'm defenitely going to search for Celastrus seeds and Huperzine A.
This Bacopa you mention though...it's a genus of 70 - 100 species.
Which exact species contains Acetylchole esterase inhibitors? Bacopa monnieri?

It seems like a plant I could probably find at the local petstore where they sell exotic fish, aquaria and underwater plants.


Lucid Dream Fanatism rekindled. I will look into more acetylcholine esterase inhibitors.
To end this dryspell that's lasting more than a decade now

Galantamine and other ecetylcholine boosters help with improved dream recall...
You may want to check out ..deepdreaming.net....
This is where the subject of dreaming is talked about all the time..
cheers..

Celastrus are excellent for memory improvement. I generally use them for studying finals.
I would highly recommend them.

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