L-theanine is an amino acid found in tea leaves, particularly green tea and loose-leaf tea, that has several potential health benefits. But first, let’s go over what amino acids are and why they’re important. Bekut M, Brkić S, Kladar N, et al. Potential of selected Lamiaceae plants in anti(retro)viral therapy. Pharmacol Res. 2018;133:301-314. doi:10.1016/j.phrs.2017.12.016 Keeping focus and attention: When paired with caffeine, theanine may help enhance focus and attention. A 2013 study 3 noted that a combination of 97mg of L-theanine and 40mg of caffeine significantly improved accuracy when switching between different tasks. Wotman, M., et al. (2017). The efficacy of lavender aromatherapy in reducing preoperative anxiety in ambulatory surgery patients undergoing procedures in general otolaryngology.

Curious to learn more about our herbal offerings? Drop a line to one of our expert Nutrition Advisors. Chemicals in your brain linked to stress and anxiety may be regulated through l theanine’s relaxing components.Interestingly, again it’s women and young people who seem to be bearing the brunt, with 56% of women – compared to 45% of men – feeling like they must put on a brave face for their colleagues, rising to 61% for young women aged 16-24. Other good natural sources of all of these nutrients are the green ‘superfoods’ such as wheatgrass and barley grass and the micro-algae spirulina and chlorella. These can be found in powder form, either on their own or in blends; try taking a teaspoonful of one of these in water every day for extra support.” Kazi SE, Karia R, Leontieva L. Herbal Supplements: Can They Cause Hypomania?. Cureus. 2021;13(2):e13476. Published 2021 Feb 21. doi:10.7759/cureus.13476

Together, L-theanine and lemon balm can be a powerful remedy for stress and anxiety. By supporting calm and relaxation, these two natural agents can effectively prepare the body for restful sleep. Good Health Naturally’s GABA with L’theanine and ashwagandha, a highly bioavailable liquid liposomal product, offers powerful nervous system support. The advanced ‘liposome’ technology uses phosphatidylcholine to deliver the ingredients into cells faster and more efficiently, than capsules or tablets. Not found anywhere else, this unique combination is suitable for those wishing to promote a more calm and relaxed body, during periods of anxiety, stress and mental strain. Also ideal for those seeking to support a more restful night’s sleep. Pleasant tasting straight off the spoon or mixed into liquids, for convenience and flexible dosing. Suitable for vegetarians and vegans. After 6 weeks, the group taking L-theanine had longer, more restful sleep. While the results are promising, more research is needed before it can be proven safe and effective, especially for children ( 17).A report by the National Centre for Social Research found that working from home was associated with larger increases in mental distress even as these working arrangements became the new normal. Working from home and mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic by Neil Smith, Isabel Taylor and Valerija Kolbas, says ‘when controlling for people’s demographic characteristics, financial circumstances and loneliness, changes in mental distress were significantly higher for those working at home, regardless of their living circumstances in May, July and November 2020.’ Go for a Run To get inside your brain and trigger “happy” chemicals without the help of blood-brain barrier crossing psychoactive substances, all you have to do is grab a pair of running shoes and get your body moving. When you exercise, your brain naturally produces the “happy” chemical serotonin, which helps to ease any stress or discomfort your body undergoes while it is working its muscles during exercise. Running, unlike taking supplements, also improves your body’s overall health—the health of the heart and lungs in particular. A healthy body with healthy organs is naturally less stressed out than an unhealthy one because it doesn’t have to work as hard to function. Nutritional therapist and manager of Well Natural in Salisbury, Alison Hampton, says she’s never seen anything like it before. “It’s across the board: every day people are coming in and saying ‘I can’t sleep’ or ‘I’ve got anxiety’. I’ve been a practitioner for a long time and I’ve never known it like this before.” Giesbrecht T, et al. (2013). The combination of L-theanine and caffeine improves cognitive performance and increases subjective alertness. Two of our high-performance Theanine and Lemon Balm tablets contain the same 200mg of L-theanine – found in our original supplement – but with the addition of 600mg of Lemon Balm (Melissa). To L-theanine and Lemon Balm, we added biotin for the normal function of the nervous system and normal psychological function, as well as pantothenic acid for normal mental performance.

No matter what you decide, however, never take L-theanine or any supplement alone. Studies have shown time and time again that there are non-pharmacological means to managing anxiety, and while theanine may be natural, it is still considered to be a medicine. Was this article helpful? While L-theanine isn’t essential for our survival, its presence in plants and fungi has been studied for its possible impact on our brain function.

The advantages of combining L-theanine and lemon balm are numerous. First, they work together to provide a more significant reduction in anxiety and stress than either supplement alone. They also work together to improve cognitive function and promote relaxation, making them an excellent choice for those who are looking for a natural way to improve their overall health and well-being. Beyond reducing stress, lemon balm may also be used to manage symptoms of nervousness and anxiety. One study tested the mood-enhancing effects of foods containing lemon balm. viii Researchers mixed a lemon balm supplement into a drink or yoghurt and gave it to participants. Impressively, the active lemon balm treatments were linked to improvements in mood and cognition, including reduced levels of anxiety. Dietitian Julia Zumpano, RD, LD, talks about what l-theanine is and what you should know before you consider taking it. What is L-theanine? Few plant foods contain vitamin D, so it can be difficult for people following vegetarian or vegan diets to get enough vitamin D from the diet alone. Behzadi A, imani S, Deravi N, et al. Antiviral potential of melissa officinalis l. : a literature review. Nutr Metab Insights. 2023;16:117863882211466. doi:10.1177/11786388221146683