People use nootropics for a lot of different reasons. Some use them simply to increase focus. Others use them to reduce anxiety, which can lead to increased focus and productivity. And today we're going to talk about using nootropics to boost mood.

Your mood can have a dramatic effect on your ability to focus, your productivity, and your overall sense of well-being. If you don't feel at least decent, you're not going to be able to get as much done as you would otherwise. Fortunately, there are several nootropics that can improve your mood and increase your productivity.

But before we get to our list of the top 5 natural mood-boosting nootropics, let's first explore what exactly mood is and how nootropics can help to improve it.

What Is Mood?

Mood is a temporary emotional state that can be influenced by a variety of different things like how well we've been sleeping, what we've been putting in our bodies (food, water, drugs, etc.), how things are going at work, and how things are going in our social relationships. It is usually said to be positive or negative. In other words, we are either in a good mood or in a bad mood.

Your mood can affect your ability to focus, your productivity, and even your level of self-control.¹ Not only can being in a bad mood have a negative affect on these things, but being in an exceptionally good mood can, too.² That's why it's important to make sure your mood is good – but not too good – if your goal is to increase productivity.

If your mood is excessively high or low for a long time and it negatively affects your life (work, family, etc.), it is considered a mood disorder. When you're in a bad mood for an extended period of time, it can be diagnosed as major depressive disorder (MDD), also known as clinical depression. When you're in such a good mood that it negatively affects your well-being, you're said to be in a state of mania or hypomania (mild mania). This condition can lead to a diagnosis of bipolar disorder.

These are serious medical conditions and should be treated by a professional. The nootropics we'll discuss below are not intended to treat any of these conditions. That being said, there are countless reports around the internet of people using them to help their own self-diagnosed mood problems. If you're currently taking any prescription drugs, you should always check with your doctor before starting or stopping any drugs or supplements, making changes to your diet, or increasing your level of exercise.

Speaking of fitness and nutrition, they can both have a dramatic affect on mood. Before even thinking about using nootropics to improve your mood, you should make sure your diet is good, you're getting enough exercise, and enough high-quality sleep.

As they say: You are what you eat. The foods that you put in your body not only affect how you look but also how you feel. Eating healthy foods can significantly improve your mood.³ To learn more about brain-boosting foods, check out this post about foods with nootropic properties: 8 Nootropic Foods For Memory, Mood, & More.

Exercise can also have a huge effect on your mood as well as your anxiety levels and even your immune system.⁴ According to one study, as little as just 20 minutes of exercise was able to reduce the symptoms of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in young men diagnosed with the disease.⁵ If you're not getting enough exercise, try gradually increasing the amount and it will almost definitely improve your mood. And improved mood means better focus and more productivity. 

The last thing you should be doing for your mood before taking nootropics is getting enough good-quality sleep. Most people seem to need around 8 hours a night, though others thrive with as little as 6 or as many as 10. If you don't get enough sleep, it can have a drastic, lasting effect on your mood.⁶ To learn more about improving your mood without nootropics, read this: How To Really Improve Cognitive Function.

Now that we've taken a look at what mood is, let's get to our list of the top 5 natural mood-boosting nootropics.

The Top 5 Natural Mood-Boosting Nootropics

All the mood-boosting nootropics on this list are totally natural. In other words, they grow naturally out of the earth in one or more parts of the world. All of these are either plants or mushrooms and have been used in traditional medicine for centuries.

1. Kratom

Of all the mood-boosting nootropics out there – natural or otherwise – none of them give me the mood boost that kratom does. I've been using it for years to improve mood, increase energy levels, and improve overall productivity.

Kratom is a plant that grows naturally in parts of Asia. It has been used for centuries by several different cultures to boost mood and for its many other health benefits. Over the past couple of decades, kratom has become popular in the United States and many other English-speaking countries. Millions of people are using it to improve mood, reduce anxiety, treat chronic pain, and for a variety of other reasons.

We know that kratom is being widely used to improve mood – among other reasons – and has been for centuries. But what does the science have to say about it? While more research is still needed, there have been a number of studies published that support kratom's safety and effectiveness.

A 2013 paper published in Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews, a respected scientific journal, examined the evidence for kratom's effectiveness.⁷ It found a number of studies that showed kratom to have a positive effect on mood, pain, and anxiety, among other things. A similar review from 2015 published in another respected journal, BioMed Research International, also found kratom to have a number of potential benefits, including improved mood.⁸

In this post, we're focusing on using natural nootropics to improve mood. But if you'd like to learn more about this marvelous plant, its safety, dosage, and other nootropic properties, you should read this: The Nootropic Benefits of Kratom.

2. Lion's Mane

This is a mushroom that has a variety of health benefits. One of those benefits is improved mood. Lion's mane, which goes by many names, has been used all over the world for centuries to reduce anxiety, improve productivity, boost mood, reduce inflammation, and for a number of other reasons.

There are countless reports around the internet of people using lion's mane to boost mood. In fact, mood improvement seems to be one of the most-widely reported benefits of this fascinating mushroom. In addition to anecdotal reports, lion's mane has some science behind it to support its use as a mood booster.

A 2010 study found that lion's mane was able to reduce the symptoms of depression in menopausal women.⁹ In addition to improving mood, the women that were given lion's mane also showed a reduction in anxiety.

A 2015 review published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry looked at the existing evidence for the use of lion's mane.¹⁰ Though the review states that further research is necessary, it found studies that support the use of lion's mane to improve mood, reduce anxiety, and improve overall cognition.

Many lion's mane users report that it improves their mood. Some users even claim that lion's mane has helped them to overcome serious depression. It seems to be incredibly safe and most people who try it notice at least some positive effects. You can learn more about lion's mane here: The Nootropic Benefits of Lion's Mane.

3. Rhodiola Rosea

This is a plant that grows naturally at high altitudes. It has been used for its many medicinal properties for centuries in China, Russia, and in other parts of the world. In recent years, nootropic users have been using rhodiola to improve mood, reduce stress, and increase physical performance. 

Rhodiola rosea, often simply called rhodiola, appears to be a safe and effective way to boost mood. Not only are there many reports from users, there is also a lot of science to support both its effectiveness and safety.

In a study from 2007, researchers gave either rhodiola or a placebo to participants with mild-to-moderate depression.¹¹ The participants in the rhodiola group showed a significant improvement in mood, while those receiving a placebo did not.

A 2011 review published in the respected journal Phytomedicine looked at 11 randomized controlled studies that had been done on rhodiola (one being the 2007 study mentioned above).¹² The review concluded that rhodiola could have a beneficial effect on mood and other aspects of mental performance. It also concluded that rhodiola was very safe.

Rhodiola rosea has a long history of safety and effectiveness which is supported by plenty of research. To learn more about this adaptogenic plant, check out: The Benefits of Rhodiola Rosea.

4. Bacopa Monnieri

Here we have yet another adaptogenic plant, bacopa monnieri. Often simply called bacopa, it is an herb that has been used for centuries in traditional medicine to improve mental functioning and to treat a variety of conditions.

In modern times, bacopa is being used to improve mood, reduce anxiety, and to improve overall cognition. Though it is often taken on its own, bacopa is sometimes stacked with rhodiola rosea, mucuna pruriens, and other nootropics for increased effects.

Bacopa has been the subject of scientific study in both animals and humans. Human studies have been done on healthy volunteers, elderly populations, and in people with various illnesses. The results of these studies show that bacopa is very safe and often very effective.

A 2008 study done on elderly participants showed that after 12 weeks, those given bacopa had lower depression scores while those in the placebo group actually had slightly higher depression scores.¹³

A study from 2013 explored the acute effects of a single dose of a bacopa extract.¹⁴ This study found that the participants given bacopa showed an improvement in mood and a reduction in cortisol (sometimes called the stress hormone) after just one hour. Unlike rhodiola and several other nootropics, which can take weeks for their mood-boosting effects to fully take hold, bacopa has been shown to improve mood much quicker.

For some people, bacopa monnieri can quickly boost mood and it seems to be very safe. Bacopa also has some powerful anxiety-reducing-and-other effects. You can learn more about it here: Bacopa For Memory And Anxiety.

5. Mucuna Pruriens

This is a bean that grows naturally in several parts of the world. Mucuna pruriens, often simply called mucuna, has been used for centuries in traditional medicine to treat a variety of illnesses, including Parkinson's Disease. More recently, mucuna has been used in the nootropics community to improve mood, increase motivation, and improve productivity.

Mucuna contains the amino acid L-dopa.¹⁵ L-dopa is a precursor to the neurotransmitter dopamine, which is known to play a role in memory, mood, and motivation. This may explain, at least in part, the nootropic effects that people report from taking mucuna, including improved mood. There have also been both human and animal studies done that support its use as a mood booster.

A 2014 study found that a mucuna pruriens extract had an antidepressant effect in mice.¹⁶ The researchers concluded that this effect was likely do to mucuna's influence on the neurotransmitter dopamine. A human study from 2010 examined the effect that mucuna has on fertility and stress in adult men.¹⁷ While the study didn't measure mood directly, it did find that mucuna was able to reduce stress and improve overall well being.

In addition to mucuna's ability to improve mood, it's also been found to have anti-diabetic, anti-microbial, anti-venom, antioxidant, and neuroprotective properties.¹⁸ You can read more about this interesting bean here: Mucuna Pruriens for Anxiety, Motivation, and Mood.

Conclusion

As you can see, there are a number of natural nootropics that can improve mood. Millions of people from around the world have used the nootropics mentioned above to improve their moods and increase their productivity. 

Which nootropic will give you the biggest mood boost? There's only one way to find out: try them yourself. Since everyone's brains are different, we respond to nootropics differently. The only way to know what will work for you is to try different nootropics. If the first or second one you try doesn't work, don't give up. Sometimes it can take a while to find the right nootropic or combination of nootropics to optimize your brain health. But once you do, it's a game changer – and often a life changer. 

Have you used one or more of the nootropics mentioned in this post? What has your experience been like? Have you experienced an improvement in mood and an increase in productivity? Please leave you answers in the comments section at the bottom. And if you haven't already, make sure to sign up for the Nootropics Zone newsletter below for lots of free information about the wonderful world of nootropics. 

References

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3White, B., Horwath, C., & Conner, T. (2013). Many apples a day keep the blues away – daily experiences of negative and positive affect and food consumption in young adults. British Journal of Health Psychology, 18(4):782-798.

4Mikkelsen, K., Stojanovska, S., Polenakovic, M., Bosevski, M., & Apostolopoulos, V. (2017). Exercise and mental health. Maturitas, 106:48-56.

5Fritz, K., & O'Connor, P. (2016). Acute exercise improves mood and motivation in young men with ADHD symptoms. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 48(6):1153-60.

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7Hassan, Z., Muzaimi, M., Navaratnam, V., Yusoff, N., Suhaimi, F., Vadivelu, R., et al. (2013). From kratom to mitragynine and its derivatives: physiological and behavioural effects related to use, abuse, and addiction. Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Review, 37(2):138-51.

8Cinosi, E., Martinotti, G., Simonato, P., Singh, D., Demetrovics, Z., Roman-Urrestarazu, A., et al. (2015). Following “the roots” of kratom (Mitragyna speciosa): the evolution of an enhancer from a traditional use to increase work and productivity in Southeast Asia to a recreational psychoactive drug in Western countries. BioMed Research International. Published online November 10, 2015. 

9Nagano, M., Shimizu, K., Kondo, R., Hayashi, C., Sato, D., Kitagawa, K., & Ohnuki, K. (2010). Reduction of depression and anxiety by 4 weeks Hericium erinaceus intake. Biomedical Research (Japan), 31(4):231-7.

10Friedman, M. (2015). Chemistry, nutrition, and health-promoting properties of Hericium erinaceus (lion's mane) mushroom fruiting bodies and mycelia and their bioactive compounds. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 63(32):7108-23.

11Darbinyan, V., Aslanyan, G., Amroyan, E., Gabrielyan, E., Malmstrom, C., & Panossian, A. (2007). Clinical trial of rhodiola rosea L. extract SHR-5 in the treatment of mild to moderate depression. Nordic Journal of Psychiatry, 61(5):343-8.

12Hung, S., Perry, R., & Ernst, E. (2011). The effectiveness and efficacy of Rhodiola rosea L: a systematic review of randomized clinical trials. Phytomedicine, 18(4):235-44.

13Calabrese, C., Gregory, W., Leo, M., Kraemer, D., Bone, K., & Oken, B. (2008). Effects of a standardized Bacopa monnieri extract on cognitive performance, anxiety, and depression in the elderly: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 14(6):707-13.

14Benson, S., Downey, L., Stough, C., Wetherell, M., Zangara, A., & Scholey, A. (2013). An acute, double-blind, placebo-controlled cross-over study of 320 mg and 640 mg doses of bacopa monnieri (CDRI 08) on multitasking stress reactivity and mood. Phytotherapy Research, 28(4):551-9. 

15Cassani, E., Cilia, R., Laguna, J., Barichella, M., Contin, M., Cereda, E., et al. (2016). Mucuna pruriens for Parkinson's disease: low-cost preparation method, laboratory measures and pharmacokinetics profile. Journal of the Neurological Sciences, 365:175-80.

16Rana, D., & Galani, V. (2014). Dopamine mediated antidepressant effect of mucuna pruriens seeds in various experimental models of depression. Ayu, 35(1):90-7.

17Shukla, K., Mahdi, A., Ahmad, M., Jaiswar, S., Shankwar, S., & Tiwari, S. (2010). Mucuna pruriens reduces stress and improves the quality of semen in infertile men. Evidence Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 7(1):137-44.

18Lampariello, L, Cortelazzo, A., Guerranti, R., Sticozzi, C., & Valacchi, G. (2012). The magic velvet bean of mucuna pruriens. Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine, 2(4):331-339. 

[This article was originally published on May 3, 2019. Updated September 8, 2023.]