MAPS: Re: lucid dreaming

[John Lolis <DrBombay@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

At 11:13 AM 06/03/99 -0700, L. Johnson wrote:
>I have heard that taking Melatonin as a supplement can increase the number
>of dreams that you have.  Does it also affect how lucid they are? Does
>anyone have any information on this?
>
>Thanks, lbj

A friend of mine claims that too much melatonin causes him to have vivid
dreams, usually resulting in his waking up after a couple of hours.  He
says that melatonin ends up being metabolized into serotonin, although I
cannot claim knowledge of this one way or the other.  Can anyone on the
MAPS forum elaborate on this?

Meanwhile, I remembered the excerpt below from a message thread on lucid
dreaming and mined my e-mail archives to find this (I couldn't even tell
you who the original sender was)...

Subject: lucid dreaming

> check this out.. i have been reading up on neruchem. and how the brain
> naturally produces certain chemicals.. (amoung them dimethyltryptamine)
> -- and the corresponding effect on dreams.I've seen some stuff on the
> web about what to use to boost this production.   I had formulated a
> 'cocktail' which is
>
> 500 mg 5htp (sorta like l-tryptophan)
> 500 mg Vit B-6
> 200 mg Niacin
> 500 mg L-Tyrosine
>
> take all this about 1 hr before bed.... you WILL have vivid dreams all
> night and will recall them -- you will even wake up throughout the night
> fading in anf out of a vivid dreamstate. tried this several times--
> totally repeatable results..

I cannot vouch for the efficacy of the above 'cocktail,' as I haven't tried
it.  In addition keep in mind that tyrosine should be avoided if you are
taking an MAO inhibitor.  Neurochemistry notwithstanding, most all
techniques I've read on lucid dreaming state that intention is *the* most
important factor in causing lucid dreams.

pleasant dreams...
and as always, pax, amat, lux.
John Lolis

p.s. BTW, yours truly highly recommends: "Lucid Dreaming: A Waking Guide
for the Traveler Between Worlds," by Malcolm Godwin.  I just checked
amazon.com, and, alas, it's out of print (I guess that's why I was able to
buy it for US$4.99 at Borders).  Below is some info from amazon on it (and
I have to say I readily concur with the reader reviews):

Synopsis 
A visually stunning exploration of the lucid dream as experienced by
mystics throughout history--with powerful techniques for creating this
heightened reality and using it for self-discovery and healing. 180
four-color, two-color and black-and-white illustrations. 

Customer Comments 
A reader from Florida, USA , October 5, 1998  
This could alter your life, for better, for ever. I have read quite a
number of books on metaphysics, mysticism, religion etc. With the knowledge
gained from those in the back of my mind, when I read this, I could 'feel'
a jigsaw puzzle get solved on its own in a flash. However, I could not call
it an 'enlightenment' since still things
remain only in knowledge-level and not in experiential level. Well, the
right direction is shown. The rest is up to us. Believe me, trust me, you
don't know how lucky you are to have come across this oppurtunity. 

A reader from The Dark Side of the Moon , January 29, 1998  
This could well be fate.  I don't know who you are and how you stumbled
across this review but heed my words. This is undoubtedly the most
remarkable book ever written. Not some woolly ethereal 'possibility' book,
it actually helps you to change your life drastically- why live in the
daily world of drudgery when you can can have an alternative life within
the world of your dreams where anything is possible. It is not easy and
takes practice, but you will realise why you found this review today and
the implications will reverberate for the rest of your life.

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