Protocols by Charles Sieg

Supplement

Magic Mind

What is in the shot I drink, what the trials behind each ingredient actually tested, and why the label makes the dose comparison impossible.

Overall evidence Early19 sourcesReviewed November 5, 2026

Several ingredients have small human trials, but the company does not publish per-ingredient doses, and the only study of the product itself is a company-run survey.

The short version

  • I take Magic Mind, a 2 fl oz shot that combines caffeine, matcha, and L-theanine with a list of nootropic and adaptogen ingredients1,2.
  • The company discloses caffeine (0 mg Free, 55 mg Original, 165 mg MAXX) but puts the other ingredients in one proprietary blend with no per-ingredient doses2,1.
  • Many ingredients have human trials, but they are mostly small, often funded by the ingredient maker, and run at doses I cannot check against the label3,4,5.
  • No independent trial of the product itself turned up. The company ran a 60-day survey of 82 people with no control group described6.

The protocol

This section describes the product as the company states it, because there is no research protocol for the shot itself.

ParameterWhat the sources say
FormatOne 2 fl oz shot1
CaffeineFree 0 mg, Original 55 mg, MAXX 165 mg2
BlendOriginal lists a 1,925 mg "Nulixer" blend; the company's page says the dose of each nootropic and adaptogen stays hidden inside it1
Ingredients namedLion's mane, bacopa, Cognizin citicoline, ceremonial-grade matcha, rhodiola, cordyceps, B vitamins, L-theanine, ashwagandha, turmeric, vitamins C and D2
Timing and durationNot specified by the company in anything I could open. The ingredient trials below ran from a single dose to 18 months7,8

What to expect: the company-run survey reports that people felt less stressed and fatigued, but it has no placebo group described and cannot show the shot caused the change6. The 1,925 mg blend total comes from the company's own comparison page, last updated October 16, 2026, which also says the vitamin amounts are printed on the label1.

Why it works

The idea is stacking. The company groups lion's mane, bacopa, and Cognizin under mental performance; matcha, rhodiola, cordyceps, and B vitamins under sustained energy; and L-theanine, ashwagandha, turmeric, and vitamins C and D under brain health2. In theory each ingredient does something small. Whether the amounts in one 2 fl oz shot are enough to do anything is the open question, and the company does not publish the numbers needed to answer it1.

What the research says

Each finding below is about the ingredient at the dose the trial used, not about Magic Mind.

Early Caffeine plus L-theanine. In a randomized, double-blind crossover study, the combination of 250 mg of L-theanine and 150 mg of caffeine improved attention accuracy and lowered mental fatigue, headache, and tiredness ratings. L-theanine alone raised headache ratings and lowered serial-subtraction accuracy, and caffeine alone helped some speed and vigilance tests9. Original has 55 mg of caffeine, about a third of that trial's dose, and the L-theanine amount is not disclosed2,1.

Early Matcha. A 12-week trial randomized 51 adults aged 50 to 69 to placebo, caffeine, or matcha. The matcha group took 2,070 mg a day (about 66 mg of caffeine and 48 mg of theanine) and did better on attention and work output under mild stress. Several authors worked for ITO EN, which makes the matcha4.

Moderate Citicoline (Cognizin). A 12-week trial of 100 adults aged 50 to 85 with age-associated memory impairment found 500 mg a day improved episodic memory over placebo (P = 0.0025). Authors came from Kyowa Hakko, the Cognizin maker3. An earlier single-dose trial of 60 healthy adults used a 250 mg citicoline plus caffeine beverage and found faster reaction times and better sustained attention. Nawgan Products sponsored it7.

Moderate Bacopa monnieri. A trial of 54 adults aged 65 or older gave 300 mg a day for 12 weeks and improved delayed word recall and Stroop performance, with no effect on several other tests10. A meta-analysis of 9 trials (518 subjects) found Bacopa shortened Trail B time by 17.9 ms and choice reaction time by 10.6 ms, using trials that lasted at least 12 weeks5. Those are tiny changes, and the pooled trials all ran at least 12 weeks, not a single shot.

Early Lion's mane. A trial of 30 Japanese adults with mild cognitive impairment gave about 2,880 mg of powder a day (my calculation from four 250 mg tablets, three times daily) for 16 weeks and found higher cognitive scores, which fell back 4 weeks after stopping11. A pilot trial of 41 young adults used 1.8 g; it showed faster Stroop performance 60 minutes after one dose (p = 0.005) but only a non-significant trend in stress after 28 days (p = 0.051)12. The lion's mane study the company cites used 1 g of Nordic-grown lion's mane in an acute trial and was funded by Applied Food Sciences13,6.

Mixed Rhodiola rosea. A systematic review of 11 trials found two of six physical-fatigue trials and three of five mental-fatigue trials favored rhodiola, and every study had high or unclear risk of bias14. One 80-person trial used 200 mg twice daily for 14 days with no placebo, and mood improved while cognitive performance did not differ15.

Early Ashwagandha. A 60-day trial of 60 stressed adults used 240 mg a day of a standardized extract. Anxiety scores fell more than placebo (P = .040) and morning cortisol fell more (P < .001), but the stress scale DASS-21 was only nearly significant (P = .096)16.

Early Cordyceps. A trial of 28 young adults used 4 g a day of a mushroom blend containing Cordyceps militaris. After one week nothing changed; in the 10 who continued to 3 weeks, VO2max rose (p = 0.042)17. That is an exercise outcome, not a thinking one.

Early Turmeric. An 18-month trial of 40 adults aged 51 to 84 gave 90 mg of Theracurmin twice daily and improved memory and attention scores8. The turmeric dose in the shot is not disclosed, and the trial tested one specific bioavailable curcumin product taken for 18 months1,8.

Not checked. The B vitamins and vitamins C and D are on the label, but trials for them were not reviewed here and their amounts were not obtained2.

Label dose against trial dose

A direct comparison is not possible, and the reason is the finding. The company does not publish the dose of each ingredient1. Here is the arithmetic that is possible. Using the lowest trial dose reviewed above for five ingredients the blend is said to contain, citicoline 250 mg7, bacopa 300 mg10, rhodiola 400 mg a day15, ashwagandha 240 mg16, and lion's mane 1,000 mg13, the total is 2,190 mg. The whole blend is listed at 1,925 mg1. If those five are in the blend, they cannot all be at trial doses, and that is before matcha, cordyceps, theanine, and turmeric. This assumes the blend covers those five, which the company says without a breakdown1.

Has the product itself been tested?

No independent trial turned up. The company's science page describes a study "conducted by Magic Mind" with 82 participants who completed surveys at baseline, Day 30, and Day 60, and says daily use was associated with "statistically significant reductions in stress." The page names no funder, journal, or independent investigator, describes no control group, and gives no effect sizes6. A separate company marketing page cites a "recent survey" with no sample size, method, or comparison group18. A search of PubMed for the product returned nothing relevant.

Where I buy it

The Amazon link goes to the Original version. The company also makes Free and MAXX versions2, and I haven't listed here which one I drink. I don't list prices because they change. The links are plain product links, with no referral tag.

Cautions

  • The company states its claims have not been evaluated by the FDA19.
  • MAXX has 165 mg of caffeine, which is more than the 150 mg dose used in the theanine trial2,9.
  • Bacopa caused mostly stomach upset in the older-adult trial, with 9 adverse events on bacopa and 10 on placebo10.
  • Several of the supporting trials were funded or run by the ingredient maker4,3,7,13.
  • Because everything sits in one blend, I cannot tell which ingredient does what, and a benefit I notice could be the caffeine1.

References

  1. Magic Mind. I Tested 5 Popular Focus Supplements: Here's What Actually Matters. magicmind.com (company advertisement), October 16, 2026.Product pageRead

    What it found: Company-published comparison page (last updated October 16, 2026) stating Original has 55 mg caffeine and a 1,925 mg Nulixer blend in one 2 fl oz shot, with the dose of each nootropic and adaptogen hidden inside the blend, and that vitamin amounts are printed on the label.

    Limits: A company advertisement, so its descriptions of its own product are not independent, and it does not list vitamin amounts.

  2. Magic Mind. Magic Mind home page (product and ingredient overview). magicmind.com, 2026.Product pageRead

    What it found: Company home page, undated (copyright 2026; retrieved 2026-11-05), listing Free (0 mg caffeine), Original (55 mg), and MAXX (165 mg), and naming lion's mane, bacopa, Cognizin, ceremonial-grade matcha, rhodiola, cordyceps, B vitamins, L-theanine, ashwagandha, turmeric, and vitamins C and D, with no per-ingredient amounts.

    Limits: Seller's own marketing page with no Supplement Facts panel or page date; the product pages with the panel returned a rate-limit error and could not be opened.

  3. Nakazaki E, Mah E, Sanoshy K, Citrolo D, Watanabe F. Citicoline and Memory Function in Healthy Older Adults: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial. The Journal of Nutrition. 2021;151(8):2153-2160.Randomized trialPubMed 33978188 · DOI

    What it found: Twelve-week randomized, double-blind trial of 100 adults aged 50 to 85 with age-associated memory impairment (49 on 500 mg/day Cognizin citicoline, 51 on placebo). Episodic memory improved more with citicoline (0.15 vs 0.06, P = 0.0025), as did composite memory (3.78 vs 0.72, P = 0.0052).

    Limits: One 12-week trial in people with mild memory complaints, and two authors are from Kyowa Hakko Bio, the Cognizin maker.

  4. Baba Y, Inagaki S, Nakagawa S, Kobayashi M, Kaneko T, Takihara T. Effects of Daily Matcha and Caffeine Intake on Mild Acute Psychological Stress-Related Cognitive Function in Middle-Aged and Older Adults: A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Study. Nutrients. 2021;13(5):1700.Randomized trialPubMed 34067795 · DOI

    What it found: Twelve-week randomized placebo-controlled trial of 51 adults aged 50 to 69 (17 per group: placebo, caffeine, matcha). The matcha group took 2,070 mg/day (about 66 mg caffeine and 48 mg theanine) and improved attention and work output under mild stress more than caffeine alone.

    Limits: Seventeen per group, and five authors are employees of ITO EN, which makes the matcha.

  5. Kongkeaw C, Dilokthornsakul P, Thanarangsarit P, Limpeanchob N, Scholfield CN. Meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials on cognitive effects of Bacopa monnieri extract. Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 2014;151(1):528-535.Meta-analysisPubMed 24252493 · DOI

    What it found: Meta-analysis of 9 randomized placebo-controlled trials (518 subjects, 437 in the analysis) of standardized Bacopa extract given for at least 12 weeks. Trail B time fell 17.9 ms (95% CI -24.6 to -11.2) and choice reaction time fell 10.6 ms (95% CI -12.1 to -9.2).

    Limits: Small millisecond-scale changes from trials of at least 12 weeks, and the authors call for a larger well-designed trial.

  6. Magic Mind. The Science Behind Magic Mind. magicmind.com, 2026.Product pageRead

    What it found: Company science page, undated (copyright 2026; retrieved 2026-11-05), citing ingredient studies and describing a 60-day study conducted by Magic Mind in which 82 people completed surveys at baseline, Day 30, and Day 60 and reported lower stress; it gives no per-ingredient doses, no p-values, and no control group.

    Limits: Seller's own page; the study is a company-run survey whose funder, journal, and independent investigators are not named, and the linked PDF text could not be read.

  7. Bruce SE, Werner KB, Preston BF, Baker LM. Improvements in concentration, working memory and sustained attention following consumption of a natural citicoline-caffeine beverage. International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition. 2014;65(8):1003-1007.Randomized trialPubMed 25046515 · DOI

    What it found: Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled single-dose trial of 60 healthy adults aged 20 to 40 (30 per group) given a beverage with 250 mg citicoline plus caffeine. The beverage group had faster maze learning and reaction times, fewer go/no-go errors, and higher P450 amplitudes on EEG.

    Limits: A single dose with testing about 45 minutes long, a combined citicoline-caffeine product so effects cannot be separated, and sponsored by Nawgan Products.

  8. Small GW, Siddarth P, Li Z, Miller KJ, Ercoli L, Emerson ND, et al. Memory and Brain Amyloid and Tau Effects of a Bioavailable Form of Curcumin in Non-Demented Adults: A Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled 18-Month Trial. American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry. 2018;26(3):266-277.Randomized trialPubMed 29246725 · DOI

    What it found: Eighteen-month, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of 40 non-demented adults aged 51 to 84 given 90 mg Theracurmin twice daily (21 curcumin, 19 placebo). Curcumin improved long-term retrieval memory (between-group effect size 0.68, p = 0.05) and Trail Making A attention (0.67, p = 0.04), with PET changes in a subset of 30.

    Limits: Forty people, a specific bioavailable curcumin product, and the PET findings are associations.

  9. Haskell CF, Kennedy DO, Milne AL, Wesnes KA, Scholey AB. The effects of L-theanine, caffeine and their combination on cognition and mood. Biological Psychology. 2008;77(2):113-122.Randomized trialPubMed 18006208 · DOI

    What it found: Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled balanced crossover of 250 mg L-theanine and 150 mg caffeine alone and together. The combination improved attention accuracy and lowered mental fatigue, headache, and tiredness ratings; L-theanine alone raised headache ratings and reduced serial-subtraction accuracy.

    Limits: Single-dose, short-term testing in a small crossover sample (size not in the abstract), and effects were on lab tasks.

  10. Calabrese C, Gregory WL, Leo M, Kraemer D, Bone K, Oken B. Effects of a standardized Bacopa monnieri extract on cognitive performance, anxiety, and depression in the elderly: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. 2008;14(6):707-713.Randomized trialPubMed 18611150 · DOI

    What it found: Randomized, double-blind trial with a 6-week placebo run-in and 12 weeks of 300 mg/day standardized Bacopa extract in 54 adults aged 65 or older (48 completed). Delayed word recall and Stroop performance improved versus placebo; other tests, mood, and blood pressure did not change; adverse events were few (9 Bacopa, 10 placebo), mainly stomach upset.

    Limits: Forty-eight completers in one older-adult group, with several outcomes tested and no effect on many of them.

  11. Mori K, Inatomi S, Ouchi K, Azumi Y, Tuchida T. Improving effects of the mushroom Yamabushitake (Hericium erinaceus) on mild cognitive impairment: a double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial. Phytotherapy Research. 2009;23(3):367-372.Randomized trialPubMed 18844328 · DOI

    What it found: Double-blind trial of 30 Japanese adults aged 50 to 80 with mild cognitive impairment (15 per group) taking four 250 mg tablets, three times daily (about 2,880 mg of powder a day), for 16 weeks. Cognitive scale scores were higher than placebo at weeks 8, 12, and 16 and fell significantly 4 weeks after stopping.

    Limits: Thirty people with mild cognitive impairment, no p-values in the abstract, and gains faded after the supplement was stopped.

  12. Docherty S, Doughty FL, Smith EF. The Acute and Chronic Effects of Lion's Mane Mushroom Supplementation on Cognitive Function, Stress and Mood in Young Adults: A Double-Blind, Parallel Groups, Pilot Study. Nutrients. 2023;15(22):4842.Randomized trialPubMed 38004235 · DOI

    What it found: Pilot, randomized, double-blind trial of 41 healthy adults aged 18 to 45 given 1.8 g of Hericium erinaceus. Stroop completion was faster 60 minutes after a single dose (p = 0.005); after 28 days subjective stress showed only a non-significant trend (p = 0.051), with some null results.

    Limits: A pilot of 41 young adults, with the authors urging caution and confirmation in larger trials.

  13. La Monica MB, Raub B, Ziegenfuss EJ, Hartshorn S, Grdic J, Gustat A, et al. Acute Effects of Naturally Occurring Guayusa Tea and Nordic Lion's Mane Extracts on Cognitive Performance. Nutrients. 2023;15(24):5018.Randomized trialPubMed 38140277 · DOI

    What it found: Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial of 650 mg guayusa extract and 1 g Nordic-grown lion's mane versus placebo, tested at baseline, 1, and 2 hours. Lion's mane improved Serial 7s attempts, N-Back reaction time, and Go-stimulus reaction time, and raised happiness ratings; guayusa showed more effects.

    Limits: Acute single-dose testing only over two hours, sample size not in the abstract, and funded by Applied Food Sciences (one author discloses supplement-industry funding).

  14. Ishaque S, Shamseer L, Bukutu C, Vohra S. Rhodiola rosea for physical and mental fatigue: a systematic review. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 2012;12:70.Systematic reviewPubMed 22643043 · DOI

    What it found: Systematic review of 11 studies (10 RCTs and one controlled trial) of Rhodiola rosea. Two of six trials on physical fatigue in healthy people and three of five RCTs on mental fatigue found it effective, and all included studies had high risk of bias or reporting flaws.

    Limits: The authors call the evidence contradictory because of methodological flaws; the abstract gives no participant numbers or doses.

  15. Cropley M, Banks AP, Boyle J. The Effects of Rhodiola rosea L. Extract on Anxiety, Stress, Cognition and Other Mood Symptoms. Phytotherapy Research. 2015;29(12):1934-1939.Randomized trialPubMed 26502953 · DOI

    What it found: Randomized trial in 80 mildly anxious adults: 200 mg of Rhodiola rosea extract twice daily for 14 days versus no treatment. The rhodiola group reported lower anxiety, stress, anger, confusion, and depression and better total mood, while cognitive performance did not differ.

    Limits: No placebo control, self-reported outcomes, 14 days, and the abstract gives no p-values or effect sizes.

  16. Lopresti AL, Smith SJ, Malvi H, Kodgule R. An investigation into the stress-relieving and pharmacological actions of an ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) extract: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Medicine. 2019;98(37):e17186.Randomized trialPubMed 31517876 · DOI

    What it found: Sixty-day randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in 60 stressed adults taking 240 mg/day of standardized ashwagandha extract. Anxiety (HAM-A) fell more than placebo (P = .040) and morning cortisol fell more (P < .001), but DASS-21 stress scores were only nearly significant (P = .096).

    Limits: Sixty people for 60 days, one extract, and the lead author has previously received funding from an ashwagandha extract maker.

  17. Hirsch KR, Smith-Ryan AE, Roelofs EJ, Trexler ET, Mock MG. Cordyceps militaris Improves Tolerance to High-Intensity Exercise After Acute and Chronic Supplementation. Journal of Dietary Supplements. 2017;14(1):42-53.Randomized trialPubMed 27408987 · DOI

    What it found: Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of 28 young adults (mean age 22.7) taking 4 g/day of a mushroom blend containing Cordyceps militaris for one week, with 10 continuing to three weeks. Nothing changed at one week; at three weeks VO2max rose 4.8 ml/kg/min in the mushroom group (p = 0.042) versus 0.9 in placebo.

    Limits: Only 10 people reached week three, the product was a blend rather than pure cordyceps, and the outcome was exercise, not cognition.

  18. Magic Mind. Neuroscientists stunned (company marketing page). magicmind.com, 2026.Product pageRead

    What it found: Company marketing page, undated (copyright 2026; retrieved 2026-11-05), claiming the ingredients were validated in double-blind human studies and citing a recent survey in which 82 percent reported lower fatigue, 44 percent improved attention, and 70 percent lower stress.

    Limits: Marketing page that gives no sample size, method, comparison group, sponsor, or publication for the survey.

  19. Magic Mind. Magic Mind FAQ and Help Center. magicmind.com, 2026.Product pageRead

    What it found: Company FAQ, undated (copyright 2026; retrieved 2026-11-05), listing caffeine per product (0, 55, 165 mg), with no Supplement Facts panel and a statement that claims have not been evaluated by the FDA.

    Limits: Seller's own page with no ingredient amounts.