Sleep deprivation , for example, if taken to an extreme can put you in a state of being in a waking dream, as if you are on some kind of hallucinogen. Nothing vivid, or brightly coloured, but it is possibe that you may see movement. Weird, blurry shadowy figures move around in the corners of your vision, and your imagination runs riot. From personal experience I can tell you that this is not anything you should be doing out of choice. It came about for me as the result of a very tough couple of weeks while in my final year at uni during a massive bout of insomnia. I’m still not sure what was real and was wasn’t during those couple of weeks.

Exercise is another one, and the reason that some people actually get addicted to going to the gym. When we exercise our body produces natural endorphins that resemble opiates, producing a feeling of well being and analgesia. If the exercise is strenous enough it can also produce feelings of actual euphoria. People get addicted to that endorphin kick. Incidentally, you also get the same endorphin kick through sex or through eating a good and really hot curry, so there’s plenty of hope for those of us who abhor spandex and all of its evils.

Thank goodness I did! These handy inhalers contain all natural herbal ingredients including ginseng and gingko as well as menthol vapours. Ginseng has been used a stimulant in the East since time immerorium and one of the properties of gingko is that of a memory enhancer.

These little babies really are perfect for getting you through a stressful day when you’ve been burning the candle at both ends. They work in a similar way to Red Bull, giving you a mental and physical boost but without the horrible shakes, the nasty taste or the horrific feeling that a single sip is disolving your teeth from the inside out.

This is also much handier than a can of energy drink. Because Noz Kandy comes in a pre-filled bullet you can use it as and when required and because it is herbal you can use it as often as you like. The inhaler fits easily into your pocket so is always to hand when you need that boost.

Noz Kandy comes in five different flavours. I have always been a fan of citrus flavours, so thankfully Noz Kandy panders to my personal taste. Lemon, Lime and my personal favourite, Pink Grapefruit are all absoultely delicious, but for those of you who prefer something a little spicier there is the cinnamon one, and for those of you who want something a little cleaner there is a gorgeous pepprmint one.

I will certainly be keeping a few of these handy for hangover days from now on.

Taking a pill containing 5-HTP with your high has an incredible multi-dimensional effect. Firstly the 5-HTP converts to serotonin in your body, meaning that your high is much clearer and more pronounced, but also that it gives your body a big fluffy cushion, so your come down is much softer and gentler.  I’ve found two different pills that have this incredible ingredient; Elevate from Lightyears Pills and Serotonin 5-HTP from The Herbal High.

Need to sleep after a night out but feeling totally unable to do so? Never mind, there’s an all natural answer to that as well! Valerian is a great gentle sedative that inhibits the breakdown of GABA, a chemical transmitter in the brain. This helps decrease activity in the nervous system, which in turn can aid the promotion of a deeper, more relaxing and restful sleep. Absolutely ideal if you know you have to be rested the next day but are still totally wired.

Finally what about the next day? You wake up in the morning, and to quote from Withnail and I you feel like a pig has shat in your head.  I have found an incredible pill called Recovery. This wonder pill contains an incredible mix of vitamins and minerals that are typical of the ones your body loses during a night of heavy partying. Replace those vitamins and minerals and you’ll be well on your way to a full and speedy recovery! (Maybe a couple of paracetamol will help here too.)

I took one at about 9 and after about 40 minutes I could really feel myself coming up, and I was experiencing all the usual light tingling effects that you would expect with such a product. After about an hour I was getting mild rushes and after another hour I felt completely unable to stay still.

A couple of mates had also taken Pink Champagne, which I am grateful for as we were so ‘in tune’ with each other, however, one of my mates was also drinking, and suffice it to say that they were pretty messy the next day. My advice? If you take Pink Champagne read the advice on the label and DON’T DRINK ALCOHOL!

Anyway, those of us sensible, and restrained, enough to not go on a binge were awake for hours, danicng, giggling, and generally feeling really rather fantastic. I did consider taking a second one at around three in the morning, as the effects were starting to wear off by this point, but decided against it as I had to be somewhere the next day, and thought that meeting your partner’s parents while still buzzing like a bumblebee was not a wholesome idea.

It took me a while to get to sleep, but next day there was hardly any comedown, just really tired (which could have something to do with the dancing the night away.)

All in all, a great experience, but definately not one to mix with alcohol!

I took the whole bottle just before a party. It was pleasant tasting, a little bit cherry like, but with a very slightly medicinal taste that reminded me of being a kid again. Why don’t they make medicines for adults that taste like kids’ ones, huh?

Anyway, after about 45 minutes I felt myself really starting to wake up. There were no buzzing feelings at all, and I didn’t have any kind of edginess that you can get with some highs, but I felt completely alert and awake.  When all my mates started to arrive I felt really happy and loving towards each and every one of them; totally at ease with the world, totally relaxed, but completely awake as well.

With the party in full flow, the drinks also started flowing. This can sometimes be a killer for any highs you’ve taken. They often say not to mix alcohol with any kind of high, as it will take away from the effect, but with Serenity Mood Enhancer I found just the opposite. After a couple of glasses of wine I was still completely awake and alert, and not feeling in the slightest groggy from the alcohol. All the drink did was make me even happier and very giggly.

I was completely awake until about 3 in the morning (unlike a lot of my mates – why didn’t they take some too?! ) , and I had taken Serenity at about half 7 in the evening. By 4 I was able to sleep, and there was no difficulty in drifting off at all; again with some highs you can be awake right through to the next day. On waking up there was no hangover, and no comedown at all.

All in all, I thought this was a great product and I wouldn’t hesitate at all in taking it again!