| L-Theanine, naturally occurring in green tea, | | | | L-Theanine appears to have a role in the |
| proves effective in dealing with anxiety | | | | formation of the inhibitory neurotransmitter |
| symptoms and providing anxiety reliefAnxiety | | | | Gamma Amino Butyric Acid (GABA). GABA blocks |
| is a state of intense fear, uncertainty, | | | | release of the neurotransmitters dopamine and |
| uneasiness, or apprehension due to | | | | serotonin, playing a key role in the |
| anticipation of an imagined or real | | | | relaxation effect.Everyone knows the effects |
| threatening future event. Anxiety can be both | | | | stress and anxiety can have on an |
| physically and psychologically devastating to | | | | individual's physical state of well-being. |
| the Anxiety sufferer's life. Anxiety is often | | | | Fascinating neurochemistry research has |
| sub-categorized according to the focus of the | | | | revealed that given a shot of GABA |
| perceived threat. There is social anxiety, | | | | essentially turned back the clocks in the |
| separation anxiety, dating anxiety, | | | | brains of older monkeys, whose brain function |
| performance anxiety, math anxiety, etc. | | | | briefly operated at levels normally seen in |
| Stress and anxiety often go hand in hand and | | | | monkeys less than half their age.GABA, or |
| can result in anxiety depression as the | | | | gamma-amino butyric acid, is a |
| individual feels powerless to receive any | | | | neurotransmitter chemical that is essential |
| anxiety help.There are a variety of | | | | for optimizing how brain cells transmit |
| anti-anxiety treatments to consider in | | | | messages to each other and acts to put a |
| overcoming anxiety. For some, anxiety | | | | damper on unwanted brain signaling activity. |
| medications prove to be a source of anxiety | | | | Although GABA's age-related decline has not |
| relief. Other's prefer not to use any of the | | | | been documented in humans, a host of studies |
| anti-anxiety drugs and opt for more natural | | | | in mammals, including other primates, |
| cures for anxiety management. These may | | | | suggests that a similar process is at work in |
| include herbs for anxiety, acupuncture | | | | people.Monkeys ages 26 and 32 -- considered |
| anxiety treatments, anxiety vitamins, | | | | old age for monkeys -- that got GABA directly |
| aromatherapy for anxiety relief, even | | | | delivered to their neurons responded to |
| hypnosis has has proved beneficial overcoming | | | | visual patterns, such as flashing vertical |
| anxiety.This article discusses the perhaps | | | | and horizontal lines, in much the same way as |
| little known amino acid L-Theanine as a | | | | monkeys aged 7 to 9 years old did.Without |
| natural remedy for anxiety relief.L-Theanine | | | | GABA delivery, the monkeys' aged brains had |
| is a unique free form amino acid found only | | | | more difficulty firing neurons that |
| in the tea plant and in the mushrooms | | | | specifically gauge various aspects of depth |
| Xerocomus badius and certain species of genus | | | | perception, motion and color. Instead, older |
| Camellia, C. japonica and C. sasanqua. Often | | | | monkeys have more random firings that make it |
| drinkers of green tea report a feeling of | | | | difficult to observe visual nuances. In |
| calmness they feel after ingesting a cup or | | | | younger monkeys, GABA had no effect since |
| two even though green tea has roughly half | | | | their brains already had optimal GABA |
| the caffeine of coffee. This is due to the | | | | functioning.L-Theanine is considered to be |
| high L-Theanine content.In addition to | | | | safe based on its historical use as a |
| reducing anxiety symptoms, studies have shown | | | | component of tea and on favorable toxicology |
| L-Theanine may be effective in promoting | | | | studies. Tea is the most consumed beverage |
| concentration, supporting the immune system, | | | | worldwide after water, and has been consumed |
| improving learning performance, lowering | | | | for thousands of years by billions of people. |
| blood pressure, increasing formation of the | | | | It is estimated that a heavy tea drinker (6-8 |
| inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA, and | | | | cups daily) will consume between 200 to 400 |
| increasing brain dopamine levels among other | | | | mg of L-Theanine daily.While dosage for |
| positive benefits with no known | | | | depression and anxiety disorder remain |
| downside.Studies in cooperation with Taiyo | | | | individual, it is recommended to take 100 to |
| Kagaku Co., The University of Shizuoka, and | | | | 200 mg 1 to 3 times daily for anxiety relief. |
| The Family Planning Institute of Japan have | | | | Based on the results of clinical studies, it |
| shown that women taking 200 mg L-Theanine | | | | has been established that L-Theanine is |
| daily have lower incidence of PMS symptoms. | | | | effective in single dosages in the range of |
| These symptoms include physical, mental, and | | | | 50-200 mg. It is suggested that subjects with |
| social symptoms. Overall, a significant | | | | higher levels of anxiety take a dose at the |
| alleviation of PMS symptoms by L-Theanine was | | | | higher end of the effective range (100 - 200 |
| observed.While still under investigation, | | | | mg) for overcoming anxiety. |