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yogabunny
fancy cat



Registered: 11/01/09
Posts: 11,281
Loc: Nasty Women Get Shit Done
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L-Theanine for acute anxiety?
#21532437 - 04/11/15 10:43 AM (8 years, 9 months ago) |
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I get really anxious when I fly & normally I take some Xanax and have a glass of red wine before getting on the plane to alleviate my anxiety.
Sometimes even this doesn't help. Last Fall I ended up in a terminal that didn't have a bar and while waiting for the Xanax to kick in I had a full on melt down and almost got on a train instead.
Later this month I am flying to do two plant medicine ceremonies and I really don't want to mess up my preparation by taking xanax & drinking 2 days before the ceremonies.
L-theanine at 3 times the recommended dosage was recommended to me as a potential alternative to my normal pre-flight "ritual".
Anybody have experience w/ this?
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o8u
Taxa Collector


Registered: 10/30/12
Posts: 4,148
Loc: United States
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Re: L-Theanine for acute anxiety? [Re: yogabunny]
#21532458 - 04/11/15 10:49 AM (8 years, 9 months ago) |
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L-theanine doesn't do shit as an anti-anxiety drug even at very high doses in my experience.
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popori

Registered: 09/01/14
Posts: 30
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Re: L-Theanine for acute anxiety? [Re: o8u]
#21533915 - 04/11/15 03:56 PM (8 years, 9 months ago) |
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Quote:
o8u said: L-theanine doesn't do shit as an anti-anxiety drug even at very high doses in my experience.
Pretty much. I mean it *can* help, but not for everyone and to a rather small degree. For anxiety I'd take some reishi, ashwagandha and aniracetam. And lay off all stimulants obviously.
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o8u
Taxa Collector


Registered: 10/30/12
Posts: 4,148
Loc: United States
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Re: L-Theanine for acute anxiety? [Re: popori]
#21533981 - 04/11/15 04:16 PM (8 years, 9 months ago) |
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Yeah the racetams I've tried do help a bit, but they are also kinda stimulating if you over do it.
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o8u
Taxa Collector


Registered: 10/30/12
Posts: 4,148
Loc: United States
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Re: L-Theanine for acute anxiety? [Re: yogabunny]
#21534060 - 04/11/15 04:39 PM (8 years, 9 months ago) |
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Good, freshly prepared kava works really well, but it's a bit of a project to find quality stuff and learn how to prepare it correctly. The extracts and pills have been bunk in my experience. Seems to be a lot of good info here: http://kavaforums.com/forum/
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Penelope_Tree
Shamanic Panic



Registered: 07/31/09
Posts: 8,535
Loc: magic sugarcastle
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Re: L-Theanine for acute anxiety? [Re: yogabunny] 1
#21534568 - 04/11/15 07:14 PM (8 years, 9 months ago) |
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Last time I was on a plane, we hit some turbulence that was extremely jarring, and I was trying to keep my cool. Looked around after it didn't end for a couple minutes and saw another guy also looking around like "wtf." Made me feel less absurd. I also read a story of a guy who had a dream about flying, and then the plane crashing. He and everyone were freaking out, but then he realized he didn't want to spend his last moments in fear, so accepted his fate. Suddenly, the entire dreamscape was transformed and he realized how beautiful it was to find that space of tranquility within the chaos. That helped me to think about in that moment, that I still have the ability to choose my "soul destination."
That's what it's about anyway, right? Letting go. I mean, if you're willing going to ingest a plant that will transport you to another reality for hours on end where scary visions may take place, and you're ok and accepting of the process and all possibilities, then consider the plane ride to be a koan of the same quality.
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full blown human
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Hippocampus



Registered: 04/01/15
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Re: L-Theanine for acute anxiety? [Re: yogabunny]
#21535608 - 04/12/15 12:57 AM (8 years, 9 months ago) |
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I have no experience with it
If you are set on just using L-theanine then have the backup plan of preparing yourself to deal with the anxiety if it comes. Just commit to getting on that plane no matter what. I know from experience that anxiety can make you feel like you're going to die. But it hasn't killed me yet. I try to just face my fears and not let horrible anxiety tell me what to do. I'm stubborn like that. When your brain is tells you it's fight or flight, fight the urge to fly...and uh, fly.
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Sammysong
Dreamer



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Re: L-Theanine for acute anxiety? [Re: Hippocampus]
#21535914 - 04/12/15 05:07 AM (8 years, 9 months ago) |
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L-Theanine reduces stress and anxiety and provides a sustainable energy level for 3 to 6h, without the well-known coffee dip. Replace your daily cup of coffee with a cup of Matcha tea.
L-Theanine is an amino acid (protein) abundant in Matcha, in contrast to green tea where there is little delivery of L-Theanine. L-Theanine stimulates production of alpha waves in the brain. The alpha state is extremely pleasant. One is relaxed and yet also alert. It is the ideal state to learn new things and stimulate ones creativity.
You'll find L-Theanine in various green teas, but I recommend Matcha. Matcha is Japanese green tea ground into a powder. Matcha is made from the leaves of the tea plant Camellia Sinensis. What makes Matcha so special is the origin and production method of this green tea. The different ways in which green tea leaves are treated determine the quality of tea. There is only a small group of elite Japanese tea farmers that is capable of producing high-quality Matcha.
Tea plantations for Matcha look very different than other tea fields. 4 weeks before harvest, Matcha plantations are covered with dark tarps. By doing this the tea plants receive 90% less sunlight. In order to compensate, tea plants intensively generate chlorophyll and the leaves produce large amounts of amino acids. An ancient secret medicine is created with a soft, sweet taste and brightly coloured green leaves.
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Sammysong
Dreamer



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Re: L-Theanine for acute anxiety? [Re: Sammysong]
#21535922 - 04/12/15 05:15 AM (8 years, 9 months ago) |
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Matcha also contains high levels of EGCG. Epigallocatechin Gallate and Epicatechin Gallate are both CB1 agonists, and mild CB2 agonists. Maybe this has a role to play in the psychoactive effects of green (Matcha) tea and chocolate.
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LunarEclipse
Enlil's Official Story


Registered: 10/31/04
Posts: 21,407
Loc: Building 7
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Quote:
Penelope_Tree said: Last time I was on a plane, we hit some turbulence that was extremely jarring, and I was trying to keep my cool. Looked around after it didn't end for a couple minutes and saw another guy also looking around like "wtf." Made me feel less absurd. I also read a story of a guy who had a dream about flying, and then the plane crashing. He and everyone were freaking out, but then he realized he didn't want to spend his last moments in fear, so accepted his fate. Suddenly, the entire dreamscape was transformed and he realized how beautiful it was to find that space of tranquility within the chaos. That helped me to think about in that moment, that I still have the ability to choose my "soul destination."
That's what it's about anyway, right? Letting go. I mean, if you're willing going to ingest a plant that will transport you to another reality for hours on end where scary visions may take place, and you're ok and accepting of the process and all possibilities, then consider the plane ride to be a koan of the same quality.
Anxiety is what you make it. If you are already anxious about maybe becoming anxious you are on the anxiety treadmill. Step off, wipe your face, and cool down.
-------------------- Anxiety is what you make it.
Edited by LunarEclipse (04/12/15 06:11 AM)
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m4dScientist
Music Always Helps


Registered: 08/04/14
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Last seen: 10 months, 23 days
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Re: L-Theanine for acute anxiety? [Re: LunarEclipse]
#21539121 - 04/12/15 08:14 PM (8 years, 9 months ago) |
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hey bunny, now your post the other day makes sense.
honestly, I feel like your best bet would be to take some valerian root and some kava kava extract. valerian is described as "natures valium" and it definitely works. I mean, not as good as Xanax, but as far as natural things go, its probably as good as its gonna get. mixed with a little bit of kava kava extract, I think youre good to go.
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yogabunny
fancy cat



Registered: 11/01/09
Posts: 11,281
Loc: Nasty Women Get Shit Done
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Quote:
Penelope_Tree said: Last time I was on a plane, we hit some turbulence that was extremely jarring, and I was trying to keep my cool. Looked around after it didn't end for a couple minutes and saw another guy also looking around like "wtf." Made me feel less absurd. I also read a story of a guy who had a dream about flying, and then the plane crashing. He and everyone were freaking out, but then he realized he didn't want to spend his last moments in fear, so accepted his fate. Suddenly, the entire dreamscape was transformed and he realized how beautiful it was to find that space of tranquility within the chaos. That helped me to think about in that moment, that I still have the ability to choose my "soul destination."
That's what it's about anyway, right? Letting go. I mean, if you're willing going to ingest a plant that will transport you to another reality for hours on end where scary visions may take place, and you're ok and accepting of the process and all possibilities, then consider the plane ride to be a koan of the same quality.
Well said, Thank you!
& Thank you everyone for the recommendations. I got the L-Theanine and I think it will help. I'm going to take 3x the recommended dose the day I fly and have a cup of chamomile tea in the airport.
@m4d - I have taken Valerian root before and it actually made me MORE anxious, but that was a little over a year ago when I was going through an extremely stressful period and my adrenals were fucked. I might pick up some tincture and try it before Thursday to see how it feels now.....
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m4dScientist
Music Always Helps


Registered: 08/04/14
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Re: L-Theanine for acute anxiety? [Re: yogabunny]
#21569899 - 04/19/15 09:56 PM (8 years, 9 months ago) |
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Hey bunny.
Valerian works strangely. It actually relieves anxiety cause it lowers cortisol levels, but for people experiencing adrenal issues, when their cortisol drops to low, your body compensates for that by signaling your body to produce adrenaline. I actually find if I take valerian when I know my cortisol will be high (stressful/anxiety provoking situations) it helps. Otherwise like you said, it can def do the opposite
Good luck boo!
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PocketLady



Registered: 01/18/10
Posts: 1,773
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Re: L-Theanine for acute anxiety? [Re: m4dScientist]
#21574259 - 04/21/15 03:41 AM (8 years, 9 months ago) |
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L-Theanine might not totally relieve the anxiety on it's own, but what it does do is help promote an alpha-wave brain state, so it should help you maintain a calm meditative state and "let go" as Penelope says.
-------------------- Love is from the infinite, and will remain until eternity. The seeker of love escapes the chains of birth and death. Tomorrow, when resurrection comes, The heart that is not in love will fail the test. ~ Rumi The day we start giving Love instead of seeking Love, we will have re-written our whole destiny. ~ Swami Chinmayanada Saraswatir
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ZippoZ
Knomadic


Registered: 06/17/03
Posts: 13,227
Loc: Pongyang, North Korea
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Re: L-Theanine for acute anxiety? [Re: PocketLady]
#21582692 - 04/23/15 01:06 AM (8 years, 9 months ago) |
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wholy shit.... a few years back i was drinking bottles of home brewed tea, every day, all the tea was just random bags from the girlfriends apartment. and somehow whatever i did, just jacked my memory in an incredible way. I could tell you where a lost ipod was seen 5 days back to the couch cushion it was on, compared to my normal state of not knowing what day of the week it was.
After reading a few articles about nootropics, and reading about l-theanine i think that this post, and the reference to matcha tea, might be what ive been trying to figure out for years...
as for curbing anxiety before a flight... if the herbal stuff worked so well, xanax wouldnt be such a hit, the natural stuff works, but its kind of like trying to dig a hole with a garden trowel versus a excavator.
-------------------- PEACE
zippoz "in times of widespread chaos and confusion, it has been the duty of more advanced human beings - artists, scientists, clowns, and philosophers - to create order. In such times as ours however, when there is too much order, too much m management, too much programming and control, it becomes the duty of superior men and women and women to fling their favorite monkey wrenches into the machinery. To relieve the repression of the human spirit, they must sow doubt and disruption" "People do it every day, they talk to themselves ... they see themselves as they'd like to be, they don't have the courage you have, to just run with it."
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birdeatingspider
Stranger in Paradise



Registered: 12/18/14
Posts: 2,985
Loc: so many roads
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Re: L-Theanine for acute anxiety? [Re: ZippoZ]
#21592869 - 04/24/15 10:08 PM (8 years, 9 months ago) |
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Heard today that someone tried to control their anxiety with Vit B Complex and Magnesium/Calcium. She ended up in the hospital with 'anxiety reaction'.. whatever that is, I'm guessing bad panic attacks.
This lass was pretty hyped up in showing me the discharge papers and who knows what triggered her reaction.. all I would get at is to do your research and dose well, especially for non FDA-regulated supplements.
I drink 12 oz of cold brewed black coffee concentrate a day.. (yes I know how gross) also have dealt with an anxiety disorder for most of my life- If it weren't for Passionflower I wouldn't be able to deal with that level of caffeine, let alone keep my hands still and heartbeat regular. This herb both allows me to keep my cool as well as reverses the stimulant at night and helps me sleep.
It is a much underappreciated herb IMO being that you're sensitive like I am yb, it could be something to consider.. Homeopathic Rescue Remedy is another I swear by!
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From all I may be, or have been before, To mingle with the Universe, and feel What I can ne’er express, yet cannot all conceal.
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Nova

Registered: 10/16/02
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Well magnesium alone works pretty well. They have a thing at the supplement store called 'natural calm' and its magnesium and does make you feel subtly calm. It also helps if you get any annoying muscle twitches.
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Almond Flour
...get off my lawn!



Registered: 12/26/08
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Re: L-Theanine for acute anxiety? [Re: yogabunny]
#21594865 - 04/25/15 12:24 PM (8 years, 9 months ago) |
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Quote:
yogabunny said: I get really anxious when I fly & normally I take some Xanax and have a glass of red wine before getting on the plane to alleviate my anxiety.
Sometimes even this doesn't help. Last Fall I ended up in a terminal that didn't have a bar and while waiting for the Xanax to kick in I had a full on melt down and almost got on a train instead.
Later this month I am flying to do two plant medicine ceremonies and I really don't want to mess up my preparation by taking xanax & drinking 2 days before the ceremonies.
L-theanine at 3 times the recommended dosage was recommended to me as a potential alternative to my normal pre-flight "ritual".
Anybody have experience w/ this?
I can attest that L theanine pills are not like strong ass benzodiazepines.
If you are that terrified of death by airplane maybe you shouldn't go take mind bending psychedelics in a foreign country. I'm sure you will experience things just as frightening during such a mindset and YES don't break the fasting rules. You will already be vulnerable as hell in such a state and without a chemically clean brain and soul you risk harming yourself.
-------------------- Hippies and Liberals love Pope Francis, so why dont I quote him for you guys. "There is NO SALVATION outside the Catholic Church"
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ZippoZ
Knomadic


Registered: 06/17/03
Posts: 13,227
Loc: Pongyang, North Korea
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Re: L-Theanine for acute anxiety? [Re: Almond Flour]
#21601827 - 04/26/15 10:43 PM (8 years, 8 months ago) |
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I took 100mg today with my morning coffee. cant say i noticed any real effects. ill try the 200 mg tomorrow. Im more interested in the potential for increased cognition and mental accuity.
-------------------- PEACE
zippoz "in times of widespread chaos and confusion, it has been the duty of more advanced human beings - artists, scientists, clowns, and philosophers - to create order. In such times as ours however, when there is too much order, too much m management, too much programming and control, it becomes the duty of superior men and women and women to fling their favorite monkey wrenches into the machinery. To relieve the repression of the human spirit, they must sow doubt and disruption" "People do it every day, they talk to themselves ... they see themselves as they'd like to be, they don't have the courage you have, to just run with it."
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Sammysong
Dreamer



Registered: 09/09/12
Posts: 584
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Re: L-Theanine for acute anxiety? [Re: ZippoZ]
#21602461 - 04/27/15 03:39 AM (8 years, 8 months ago) |
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Indeed, stacking L-Theanine and caffeine is one of the most popular combinations among users of nootropics, as caffeine and L-theanine have synergistic effects. Most studies and anecdotal evidence suggest using caffeine and L-theanine at a 2:1 ratio, meaning for a normal cup of coffee, weighing in at 100mg of caffeine, you will have to up the dose to 200mg of L-theanine to get the desired effect.
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