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