Biohacking, also known as DIY biology, refers to the range of scientific activities and experiments people make in order to enhance the nature of living organisms including humans. . It includes making science experiments that intend to enhance human body performances, control aging, and so much more.
A lot of biohackers are getting famous on the internet and the type of biohackers currently gaining the most notoriety are the ones who make experiments outside of the traditional lab spaces and institutions. They do this on their own bodies with the hope of boosting their physical and cognitive performance. They form transhumanism, a movement that holds that human beings can and should use technology to augment and evolve our species.
Some biohackers have science PhDs; others are complete amateurs. And their ways of trying to "hack" biology are as diverse as they are.
Andrey Arbenin is a biohacking researcher from Russia who endeavors to take on several experiments on his body by taking human body performance stimulants. In a recent video on his YouTube channel, he talked about his experience of taking the DMAA drug, which stimulates the sympathetic part of the brain and contributes to the active production of dopamine and norepinephrine.
In this article, we will talk about the results of Andrey's experiments with this DMAA drug.
"DMAA is an abbreviation for the organic compound dimethylamylamine that is obtained from geranium oil by steam distillation of the plant. The substance is contained in the stems and leaves of this plant, whose full name in Latin is Pelargonium Graveolens."
Background of the DMAA Drug
Many people mistakenly perceive dietary supplements DMAA, exclusively as a geranium extract. Studies conducted by European scientists have shown that geranium oil obtained by steam distillation of various parts of the said plant does not contain geranamine. Without the specified chemical, the expected action from the use of geranium oil cannot be obtained.
Rose Geranium plant, "pelargonium graveolens"
German pharmacists mastered the use of the product obtained by distillation of geranium in the middle of the 20th century. They produced a treatment for nasal congestion out of the plant's oil, but it was stopped after a while due to its side effects.
Since then, experiments using geranium extract have ceased. More than half a century later, interest in the plant resumed, the reason for this was the ban that many countries around the world imposed on ephedrine in 2005.
"Ephedrine is an alkaloid that acts on the sympathetic nervous system and has a psychostimulant effect. It is isolated from a shrub called ephedra. Ephedrine is also a drug similar to amphetamine. The effect of accelerating mental reactions and reducing fatigue while taking ephedrine is mediated by the action on the central nervous system. It can be compared to the long-term effect of adrenaline."
Someone in the scientific community remembered Pelargonium Graveolens and decided to re-investigate its properties using modern technologies. To the surprise of scientists, it was found that the molecular formulas of DMAA and amphetamine are very similar to each other.
The use of geranium in the bulk manufacturing of DMAA proved to be economically unfeasible. Further research enabled the synthetic substance dimethylamylamine to be obtained by chemical synthesis.
Since then, all modern dietary supplements and sports supplements contain only synthetic DMAA. It is geranamine, which is part of the synthetically created dimethylamylamine, that causes a powerful energy-stimulating effect in the human body.
Taking advantage of this discovery, athletes from many countries have won hundreds of medals in various disciplines. However, in 2010, WADA added geranomine to the doping list. Following this, many countries of the world included DMAA in the list of substances prohibited for free sale.
Similarity to Coffee?
There are opinions on the internet that the effect of DMAA is similar to the effect of drinking caffeine. This statement is absolutely false since the mechanism of their effect on the body is different.
Effects of the DMAA Drug
DMAA is a powerful norepinephrine hormone releaser. This hormone is responsible for:
- Depth of attention
- The degree of concentration
- Energy production
- The emergence of motivation
- Mental activity
In addition, norepinephrine increases the number of heartbeats per minute, lipolysis, and also reduces appetite.
Another effect of dimethylamylamine on the human body is the active production of dopamine. This brain-produced neurotransmitter elevates mood, induces feelings of euphoria, and excites sexual desire.
In addition to the above, Andrey spoke about another side effect of geranamine being a depressed and sleepy state. It may seem strange that a side effect is absolutely opposite to the effect of the substance. It is explained by the fact that the human body can respond to the intake of DMAA, especially in large doses, by inhibition of blood vessels and hyperventilation of the lungs.
Andrey’s Experience with DMAA
"I would not attribute dimethylamylamine to euphoretics, that is, drugs that cause obvious euphoria," — Andrey says.
The biohacker noted a very strong stimulating effect of DMAA and stated that the stimulation of the nervous system after taking the drug was excessive even for his body. However, the duration of its effects was short, even compared to caffeine.
The described effect occurred 30 minutes after taking 100 mg of DMAA. The biohacker did not stop at the achieved effect and decided to check what would happen at the maximum dosage for the body. Andrei told in more detail about what happened to him after taking 300 mg of dimethylamylamine:
"After half an hour, I felt how the body produced dopamine: my mood rose, a slight feeling of euphoria appeared. Sometime later, apparently due to a sharp and powerful release of norepinephrine, an irresistible desire to move appeared. It was impossible to sit still even by an effort of will — I wanted to run somewhere all the time.
A few minutes later, a strong sexual desire arose. It was not like the effects of other drugs that stimulate sexual function, because it caused some kind of animal instincts. The number of erections on the day of taking the drug was more than for the entire past month."
In the evening, the biohacker experienced severe fatigue and heart problems. Andrey spent the whole next day in a depressed, exhausted state.
In general, the effect of taking dimethylamylamine, according to his experience, can be described as follows:
- The first 2 hours after taking — an increase in the effect.
- The second 2 hours — the effect is on the decline.
- The next 2-4 hours is a post-effect.
When Andrey felt the maximum concentration of the substance in his body, he felt a big surge of adrenaline. Moreover, this hormone was felt for a long time and in high concentration. This is explained by the fact that a strong production of dopamine and norepinephrine leads to the next release of adrenaline, as a stimulator of the heart muscle.
Andrey Concluded that DMAA is a Substance Aimed at Physical Stimulation:
- Strengthening the body performance in athletics training and competitions
- Acceleration of metabolism and lipolysis
For this reason, DMAA is marketed in various sports supplements. The most popular of them is Jack3d.
The use of such drugs, diluted in drinks, before training can significantly increase the efficiency of an athlete. This statement is true if the person taking the drug is absolutely healthy. In this case, the side effects may not be stronger than from caffeine.
Andrey Recommended the Following Instructions for Taking Geraniums:
- The drug is best taken in the morning
- Do not exceed the dosage recommended by the manufacturer
- Take on an empty stomach
- Do not get carried away with DMAA, that is, take one-time as needed, in no case a course
- Do not mix with alcohol as cerebral hemorrhage might happen
- Listen to your body’s reaction and adjust your dosage based on the reaction.
Also, athletes should not forget that geranamine, is one of the banned by the international doping agency. If compared with caffeine, according to Andrey, the effect of geranium on the body is 3-4 times stronger.
Andrey also advises against taking DMAA as a nootropic, even in little dosages.
"This level of stimulation, although it can cause a nootropic effect, but it will not allow you to focus and sit still. In other words, dimethylamylamine is clearly not the best choice for improving cognitive abilities," — says Andrey.
Conclusion
The main conclusion that Andrey Arbenin made in the course of his experiment with DMAA is that it is not safe. The health risks of consuming geranium far outweigh the expected benefits of increased physical activity.
To increase efficiency and improve cognitive abilities, it is more expedient and safer to use caffeine-containing drugs or nootropics.
We do not recommend experiencing the effects of DMAA on yourself and risking your health. This material is presented for informational purposes to cover the topic of modern biohacking.
