Huperzine A is an extremely potent chemical. Like caffeine and cocaine, huperzine A is a medicinally active, plant-derived chemical that belongs to the class known as alkaloids. Although it originally comes from a plant, huperzine A is highly purified in a laboratory. It has been used in a Chinese remedy called Qian Ceng Ta for centuries.

Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of Dementia. Age-related memory loss. Mental impairment.

Symptoms of some brain disorders (protective effect on brain tissue). Certain neurological disorders related to insufficiency of acetylcholine function.

Huperzine A is a highly potent compound with a recommended dose of only 50 mcg (0.05 mg) twice a day for age-related memory loss. Human research on huperzine A has used 200 mcg taken twice per day. It is absorbed rapidly from the human digestive tract.

Huperzine A is derived from a particular type of club moss known as Huperzia serrata.

Medications that prevent acetylcholine breakdown often produce side effects, including nausea, vomiting, excess saliva and tear production, and sweating. However, while dizziness was reported in a few individuals in one study, no severe side effects have been reported in human trials. Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or which is especially bothersome.

Acute Overdose: None Chronic Overdose: None

It is recommended to use huperzine A only under doctor's supervision. Children, pregnant or nursing women, or those with high blood pressure or severe liver or kidney disease should not take huperzine A except on doctor's recommendation.  Consumers should look for huperzine A in botanical extract products sold in health food stores. Crude extracts of club moss should be avoided. Attempts to market crude extracts of the moss may carry side effects such as liver damage, central nervous system depression and extreme digestive distress.