Anti-Anxiety

Anti-Anxiety Tea Leaves

Researchers Discover Powerful Anti-anxiety Compound in Green Tea

New Jersey born comedian Richard Lewis, often heralded as the poster boy for high anxiety once quipped, “My parents made me so anxious, I used to take my M&M’s one at a time… with water!” While it’s clear that anxiety has been very good to Richard Lewis, it is certainly no laughing matter for the rest of America these days.
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, Anxiety Disorders are serious medical illnesses that affect approximately 19,000,000 American adults. As its numbers continue to escalate, so too does the therapeutic demand. The total annual pharmaceutical sales for anti-anxiety medication in America recently exceeded $1,000,000,000!

Unlike the relatively manageable anxiety triggered by the stress of a final exam, a project deadline, or a long awaited performance, anxiety disorders are chronic, persistent and crippling. The National Institute of Health has identified six different classifications of anxiety disorders: 1. Panic Disorder (affecting 2.4 million) is marked by feelings of uncontrollable terror, which strikes repeatedly and without warning. 2. Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (affecting 3.3 million) involves persistent, irrational nervous thoughts and rituals that can not be controlled. 3. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (affecting 5.2 million) is a debilitating anxiety with flashbacks that develops in the wake of a trauma, or terrifying life event. 4. Social Phobia (affecting 5.3 million) is an anxiety that manifests as an excessive form of self-consciousness, which may surface in any one, or more social setting. 5. Specific Phobias (affecting 6.3 million) represents an intense, irrational fear of something that poses little or no real threat. Specific phobias might include fear of: flying, heights, escalators, highway tunnels, or closed in places. 6. Generalized Anxiety Disorder (affecting 4 million) may be simply described as a highly exaggerated form of worry and tension requiring little or no provocation.
The problem of Anxiety is a crippling one, and its numbers are skyrocketing, but safe and effective support in the ongoing war against Anxiety Disorders just may be right under our nose. Furthermore, it appears it might be from the most unlikely of sources, our morning cup of tea.

Researchers at the University of Shizouka in Japan recently discovered an amino acid in green tea leaves called theanine that, when isolated and concentrated, proved most effective as an anxiety inhibitor. The study divided 50 females ages 18-22 into two groups. One was a placebo group, the other received doses of theanine. The researchers determined that within 40 minutes after having ingested the amino acid, the theanine group demonstrated a significant brain wave shift from beta (high stress) brain waves to alpha (deep relaxation) brain waves. Human brain waves are classified into four categories (delta, theta, alpha, and beta). Delta waves (1-3 cycles per second) are generated only in the deepest levels of sleep. Theta, or “cat nap” waves (4-7 cycles per second) are seen only in light sleep and drowsiness. Alpha waves (8-12 cycles per second) are present during periods of wakefulness, where the mind and body are most relaxed, balanced and alert. Beta waves (13+ cycles per second) are reflective of high stress, panic and anxiety. In the above study, the researchers discovered that the theanine had shifted the subject’s from high stress beta to deep relaxation alpha brain waves by increasing production and circulation of a neurotransmitter called Gamma Amino Butyric Acid (GABA). Often referred to as the anti-anxiety amino acid, GABA has a powerful inhibitory (calming) effect that slows down neuron activity, and impedes nerve cells from over-firing in the brain. More specifically, GABA controls the “stop” switch of neurotransmitters in the brain that cause anxiety. In addition, the neurons in the brain triggered by GABA block the anxiety signals from transiting from one section of the brain to another. This powerful amino acid is capable of producing the same tranquilizing effects as valium, librium and other powerful tranquilizers without the toxic side effects.

It is beginning to look as if the GABA inducing theanine found in green tea leaves may just have a significant contribution to make in the war against anxiety disorders.
At present there is a growing interest in the anti-anxiety potentials of theanine throughout the scientific community in America. Where this intriguing research will lead remains to be seen, but rest assured that as soon as I find out you’ll be the first to know!