L-Theanine
Scientific names: Gamma-ethylamino-L-glutamic acid.
When your mother told you to have a cup of tea and relax, what she meant was to have a cup of Theanine. Theanine, one of Nature’s own stress remedies, reduces stress and relieves anxiety. This herbal product is now available as a nutritional supplement.
Black, oolong, and green tea are produced from the leaves of Camellia sinensis. C. sinensis is native to eastern Asia and is a member of the Theaceae family. This evergreen shrub or tree has dark green, serrated-edged leaves. L-theanine is a unique amino acid found only in the tea plant.
How Theanine Works
Theanine enters the brain by passing through blood-brain barrier. Once it is in the brain, Theanine causes significant increases in serotonin and/or dopamine concentrations in the brain, especially in striatum, hypothalamus, and hippocampus. Serotonin and dopamine are often referred to as the brain’s “feel good chemicals.” The body naturally produces more of these chemicals when we are happy or feeling good. When serotonin and dopamine concentrations are increased, the individual feels more relaxed and calmer.
What is L-Theanine used for?
The primary use for Theanine is to reduce stress and anxiety. Theanine may help relieve stress by inducing a relaxing effect without drowsiness. L-theanine as been shown to promote the generation of alpha-brain waves, an index of relaxation.
It may also boost natural resistance to microbial infections and perhaps even tumors. Researchers suggest further isolating and refining L-theanine from tea to use it as a drug to boost the infection defense of the body. Although limited, there is clinical evidence to support these claims.
Reports from people who have used Theanine and the doctors who have studied its effects in their patients suggests that Theanine is effective as a treatment for:
- Diminishing symptoms of PMS
- Improving learning performance
- Heightening mental acuity
- Promoting concentration
- Supporting the immune system
- Lowering blood pressure
- Increasing formation of the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA
- Increasing brain dopamine levels among other positive benefits with no known downside.
- Helping in the treatment of cancer
Theanine reduced stimulation caused by caffeine. Much of our stress is self-induced. For example, people all over the world consume large quantities of caffeine everyday, in coffee, caffeinated teas, chocolate, and in other products. Caffeine is a powerful stimulant, and too much caffeine can result in tremors, headache, and sleep loss. L-Theanine appears to counteract the effects of caffeine, providing calming, relaxing sensation.
Theanine can lower spontaneously occurring hypertension, or high blood pressure. Spontaneous hypertension is the result of stress, excitement, or shock. The calming, soothing effects of Theanine appear to offset this dangerous condition, significantly lowering blood.
Theanine also helps patients who are undergoing chemotherapy for cancer treatment. Although chemotherapy can provide hope for cancer sufferers, at times it seems that the cancer treatment is almost worse than the disease. Researchers in Japan, where green tea with Theanine has been a part of the culture for centuries, found that patients experienced positive results from drinking tea.
Patients who added Theanine to their diet experienced fewer and less severe side effects from chemotherapy treatments. The doctors in the study felt that drinking green tea may improve the quality of life of clinical patients.
What is the dosage of L-Theanine?
Based on the alpha-wave study, a dose of 50 to 200 mg may provide a relaxation effect. A capsule of Theanine may be undone and sprinkled on the tongue, for quick sublingual absorption, when you really need a quick fix.
No dosage of L-theanine is suggested for enhanced immune system functioning; however, volunteers in a pilot study consumed approximately 600 mL of tea a day.
Is L-Theanine safe?
Contraindications: L- Theanine is regarded as a safe nutrient with known medical interactions.
Always follow recommended dosage, unless advised by your GP or health care practitioner.
Avoid use in patients with known hypersensitivity reactions to L-theanine.
Interactions: None well documented.
Side Effects: L-theanine is enzymatically synthesized by Taiyo Kagaku Co. Ltd., Japan and is extensively marketed in over 50 food products (eg, chocolate, soft drinks, herb teas) in Japan. Thus far, it has not resulted in any reported adverse reactions.
Toxicities: Tests fail to reveal any toxicities with L-theanine.
