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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 25 of 25. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by verne on March 28, 2006, at 9:15:07
Anyone try this for anxiety? I keep finding one more thing to try.
Green Tea gives me the jitters - even a few sips, very odd. I'm hoping theanine isn't the problem.
verne
Posted by Declan on March 28, 2006, at 14:31:52
In reply to L-Theanine for Anxiety, posted by verne on March 28, 2006, at 9:15:07
Hi Verne
I like it, but I like green tea too. You drink coffee? That allright for you? Theanine works if I take 400mg several times a day, which makes it expensive. BAC doesn't ship here (I wanted bulk), but I got some Jarrow, at half the price of LEF, from iherb. It might not be suntheanine, maybe that's why it's cheaper.
Declan
Posted by verne on March 28, 2006, at 15:10:01
In reply to Re: L-Theanine for Anxiety, posted by Declan on March 28, 2006, at 14:31:52
Hi Declan,
Thanks for the info. What's "suntheanine"? I think I had narrowed my iherb choice to Jarrow or Source Natural. Usually I stay away from Source Natural because they are expensive and seem to have a thing for big indigestible horse tablets but I noticed their thenanine comes in caps and seems like the best value.
So you are taking several grams a day? 400mgs several times? I've read some promising articles about theanine and anxiety. I'm amazed I've overlooked it, or more likely, forgotten I've tried it in past madcap "experiments".
Where's BAC and LEF located? If they ship to the states I'll check them out.
Verne
Posted by nolvas on March 28, 2006, at 15:10:33
In reply to Re: L-Theanine for Anxiety, posted by Declan on March 28, 2006, at 14:31:52
I have some powdered L-Theanine here. I've tried it from Beyond a Century and this current one is from Bulknutrition. The effect from it is hardly noticable in my experience. I don't think it's helpful at all for severe anxiety possibly if you are midly anxious. It does help to offset any anxiety caused by caffeine, if I take some theanine and drink some coffee then the resulting anxiety that I normally would get from coffee is pretty much negated. So yeah it does have some effect but I find it to be not much use for treating more serious anxiety.
Posted by nolvas on March 28, 2006, at 15:15:49
In reply to Re: L-Theanine for Anxiety, posted by verne on March 28, 2006, at 15:10:01
I should point out that I've taken 500 to 600mgs of Theanine and the effect is still not that strong.
What does work but knocks me for six is Phenibut. It works but you pay the price the side effects weren't worth it for me.
SunTheanine is a branded supposedly researched form of Theanine. Theanine is very safe it's been used in Japan since around 1964 and added to soft drinks and sweets they consider it very safe as kids can ingest it quite easily.
Posted by verne on March 28, 2006, at 15:20:10
In reply to Re: L-Theanine for Anxiety, posted by nolvas on March 28, 2006, at 15:10:33
Hey all,
Maybe if we put our heads together, pool our research, and keep experimenting, we'll finally find the natural equivalent to valium. I know that's a tall order, kinda like turning lead into gold, but a little more futility in my life won't hurt.
Verne
Posted by nolvas on March 28, 2006, at 15:27:55
In reply to Re: L-Theanine for Anxiety, posted by verne on March 28, 2006, at 15:20:10
Phenibut
Theanine
Picamilon they all supposedly enhance or increase GABA however I've never found any one say they work as well as a benzo.I've tried bacopa, ashwaghanda, magnolia again they are no where near as potent as valium.
Phenibut is the most potent alternative thing I've tried but it's a bit too crazy I didn't like it.
I'm limiting my current regimen to Whey , Omega 3+6+9 capsules and GABA Relaxer. I think that will help to lessen general anxiety, but I really do need some potent anxiolytic for when things get too tough, still looking.
Posted by teejay on March 28, 2006, at 19:18:21
In reply to Re: L-Theanine for Anxiety, posted by nolvas on March 28, 2006, at 15:27:55
Hello boys n girls, long time no post.
I did spend a little time in that penetentiary that's tucked away on a remote part of cuba called Dr Bobs camp for cyber terrorist suspects ;-)
Only kidding of course!
Tried the green tea thing but didnt really get much benefit from it. MInd you, like verne I often seem to react to things in the opposite way to how I should. I've noticed this a lot from cruising the alter board, must be something to be learned from this IMO (Although I have no idea what just yet (I'm sure larry would have thoughts on this matter)).
Currently into my 5th week without caffeine and without milk (although I still do a bit of butter and one or two other dairy products). Not sure thats made much difference either, in fact i've been going through quite a prolonged rough spell now. I'll stick it out some more as it might just make a difference in the end and perhaps the lack of caffeine or the milk is helping me to feel rough?
Just for the record I am currently taking siberian ginseng (vogel drops 25 a day), biberry (vogel drops 25 a day (for vision)) and recently tried SJW again (vogel drops 25 a day or twice if I remember) and one gaba relaxer each day.
Feel very edgy, kind of like I want to lash out, but also like I want to cry quite often. Its quite a draining kind of experience to be honest although today it seems to have eased a bit so perhaps the SJW is kicking in?
Any ideas of an upper limit dosage of SJW as i'm toying with buying some "country life" herbal mood boost to add to my regimen.
Any thoughts?
TJ
Posted by Declan on March 28, 2006, at 23:45:44
In reply to Re: L-Theanine for Anxiety, posted by verne on March 28, 2006, at 15:10:01
Hey Verne
Life Extension Foundation is in the States. I assumed Beyond a Century is. Suntheanine is the Japanese stuff, maybe an extraction method? It's always mentioned as if it's a good thing. BAC has it at good prices. I suppose I take a gram a day, when I have it. But green tea doesn't have much caffeine. Maybe it's the theanine that gives you the jitters? It is supposed to be a bit dopaminergic. Theanine affects GABA and dopamine, I think, which is maybe what I need.
Declan
Posted by Declan on March 28, 2006, at 23:54:22
In reply to Re: L-Theanine for Anxiety, posted by nolvas on March 28, 2006, at 15:10:33
Ni Nolvas
I didn't find it hardly noticeable (although a friend did). I just found it weak, I suppose. That was the LEF stuff, 400mg on an empty stomach or sublingual, often with a pot of green tea. Ashwaganda I like, and skullcap, and zizyphus (in reasonably high doses). None of them is like, that effective. I've never tried Magnolia. Chairman Mao was talking about that, I think.
Declan
Posted by blueberry on April 5, 2006, at 20:02:24
In reply to L-Theanine for Anxiety, posted by verne on March 28, 2006, at 9:15:07
I found decaffeinated green tea to be calming as I had hoped. Thinking it was the theanine in it, I tried theanine by itself. Yikes. Almost had a panic attack. It scared me.
Theanine converts to gaba, but also some of it to dopamine. I would imagine that with different people, the conversion process varies. For me, it felt like a lot of dopamine, and not the feel-good kind, but the intense anxiety kind. I didn't feel any gaba effects at all.
Posted by verne on April 5, 2006, at 20:59:53
In reply to Re: L-Theanine for Anxiety » verne, posted by blueberry on April 5, 2006, at 20:02:24
Theanine hasn't been working for me either. The jury is still out with Gaba Relaxer and the others. I see the doc next week and may ask for an Rx but he won't prescribe benzos. Not sure what to try next.
Verne
Posted by Declan on April 6, 2006, at 1:51:00
In reply to Re: L-Theanine for Anxiety, posted by verne on April 5, 2006, at 20:59:53
Hi Verne
Do you have an opinion on Gotu Kola?
Declan
Posted by KayeBaby on April 6, 2006, at 7:46:50
In reply to Re: L-Theanine for Anxiety, posted by verne on April 5, 2006, at 20:59:53
I take 200 mg of the Now brand Suntheanine and it takes the edge right off for me.
Very much like a benzo-the bozo.It really has been a remarkable anti anxiety supplement for me.
out
Kaye
Posted by verne on April 6, 2006, at 11:10:51
In reply to Re: L-Theanine for Anxiety » verne, posted by Declan on April 6, 2006, at 1:51:00
I've tried Gotu Kola a few times. It's used a lot in ayurvedic medicine. Some people around here even smoke it for a better meditation.
But it's never done much for me. In fact, I think I put it in the back of my deepest cupboard with the likes of FoTi and Bacopa.
verne
Posted by LynneDa on April 24, 2006, at 15:51:52
In reply to Gotu Kola » Declan, posted by verne on April 6, 2006, at 11:10:51
Hi! Just chiming in on this thread, as I've done on several others today . . . I'm trying to go off of anti-depressants and was told about this product called Tao in a Bottle or Tao of Life by dragonherbs.com (a friend recommended it and went off of anti-anxiety meds using it). It contains astragalus, theanine, ginkgo, gynostemma, schizandra, Tibetan rhodiola and siberian ginseng.
Any opinions??? Is it better to take herbs/minerals/amino acids individually or do you think a multi-capsule is okay? Just looking for natural alternatives!
Thank you!!
~ Lynne
****************************
Posted by Marty on February 10, 2008, at 13:18:29
In reply to Re: L-Theanine for Anxiety, posted by nolvas on March 28, 2006, at 15:27:55
Hi NOLVAS,
> I'm limiting my current regimen to Whey , Omega 3+6+9 capsules and GABA Relaxer.
I'd like to know why you have 'Whey' in your regimen .. does it have an effect on your anxiety ? I don't know much about Whey.
Another question is why Omega 6 and 9 ? ...
Thank you!
/\/\arty
Posted by nolvas on February 11, 2008, at 12:46:45
In reply to Re: L-Theanine for Anxiety, posted by nolvas on March 28, 2006, at 15:27:55
I did used to take whey, that was in 2006. I don't take it anymore, it doesn't taste good and it doesn't help with relieving anxiety, at least in my experience. Omega 3+6+9 well that was just to cover all the essential omega oils. This was all two years ago, I dunno if you've seen the date of the posts I made :)
All I take now is a low dosage vitamin B complex and also Vitamin B12. I pretty much exhausted everything I could try and nothing stopped the anxiety, so I rode it out for a long time and eventually somehow turned it around. I wish I could tell you there was a quick fix but there isn't.
I avoid eating wheat and try to avoid alcohol, I think those have made the biggest differences for me in relieving the anxiety which was severe and disabling.
Posted by Marty on February 11, 2008, at 14:10:35
In reply to Re: L-Theanine for Anxiety, posted by nolvas on February 11, 2008, at 12:46:45
> I avoid eating wheat and try to avoid alcohol, I think those have made the biggest differences for me in relieving the anxiety which was severe and disabling.
-- Thanks for the answer; Yes I knew the thread was of 2006 :P .. so you think you're allergic to Wheat ? I heard of that possibility, but I don't know the theory that explain this. Maybe I'm allergic to Wheat too eh ? that would suck to stop eating Cereals and Bread.. you feel more relax when you skip Wheat or is it about depression ? I wonder if the benefits doesn't come from what you eat to REPLACE the Wheat .. any thoughts about it ?
/\/\arty
Posted by nolvas on February 11, 2008, at 20:04:05
In reply to Re: L-Theanine for Anxiety » nolvas, posted by Marty on February 11, 2008, at 14:10:35
Blood tests didn't show a specific allergy to wheat. However I used to suffer from multiple and painful mouth ulcers and I read that wheat can cause them. Since stopping wheat I don't suffer from mouth ulcers to anywhere near the extent I did before.
As to what I eat now that could help with anxiety, I just think I eat better in general. No dairy, wheat or refined foods, low sodium etc. You can live without milk, cheese and bread, and feel better for it as well :) I wouldn't go back.
Posted by Marty on February 12, 2008, at 20:52:37
In reply to Re: L-Theanine for Anxiety, posted by nolvas on February 11, 2008, at 20:04:05
Again, thanks for the answer Nolvas.
/\/\arty
Posted by nolvas on February 15, 2008, at 18:28:25
In reply to Re: L-Theanine for Anxiety » nolvas, posted by Marty on February 12, 2008, at 20:52:37
No problem. I hope you find a way of coping with the anxiety too :)
Posted by nevergiveup on April 11, 2008, at 14:14:08
In reply to Re: L-Theanine for Anxiety » nolvas, posted by Declan on March 28, 2006, at 23:54:22
If you steep the tea for 45 seconds, squeeze the tea bag and dump the water, then re-steep. You eliminate most of the caffeine but keep the anti-oxident value (care of Dr. Weil). I am very sensitive to any caffeine at all and this works. I feel somewhat calmer on Green tea and it supresses appetite for me also. I don't drink any coffee or other caffeine at all and it really makes a difference.
Posted by nevergiveup on April 11, 2008, at 14:15:58
In reply to Re: L-Theanine for Anxiety, posted by nevergiveup on April 11, 2008, at 14:14:08
> If you steep the tea for 45 seconds, squeeze the tea bag and dump the water, then re-steep. You eliminate most of the caffeine but keep the anti-oxident value (care of Dr. Weil). I am very sensitive to any caffeine at all and this works. I feel somewhat calmer on Green tea and it supresses appetite for me also. I don't drink any coffee or other caffeine at all and it really makes a difference.
ps. I also currently am on 20 mg of Lexapro, but will probably need to up the dose:(
Posted by MARTY on April 11, 2008, at 14:31:34
In reply to Re: L-Theanine for Anxiety, posted by nevergiveup on April 11, 2008, at 14:15:58
NeverGiveUp, thanks for the tip.
Also thanks for sporting this awesome nickname :)> > If you steep the tea for 45 seconds, squeeze the tea bag and dump the water, then re-steep. You eliminate most of the caffeine but keep the anti-oxident value (care of Dr. Weil). I am very sensitive to any caffeine at all and this works. I feel somewhat calmer on Green tea and it supresses appetite for me also. I don't drink any coffee or other caffeine at all and it really makes a difference.
>
> ps. I also currently am on 20 mg of Lexapro, but will probably need to up the dose:(
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