![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 3 of 3. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by sb417 on July 14, 2004, at 20:41:25
Does anyone here take theanine? Do you know how it works? I've read conflicting reports about how its works. Some articles say it increases serotonin and dopamine; others say it decreases them; and still others say it increases one and decreases the other. If anyone has bookmarked some good references on theanine, I'd like to see them. Thanks!
Posted by mistermindmasta on July 14, 2004, at 21:53:59
In reply to Theanine, posted by sb417 on July 14, 2004, at 20:41:25
Serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine... its all nonsense (generally) unless you're speaking about a specific brain region. Too bad that these theanine researchers couldn't specify which area of the brain it increased these chemicals. I too have read these articles. It's so confusing! But if we're talking about dopamine from the ventral tegmental area to the nucleus accumbens, I'd say it lowers dopamine a bit in that region, since I and a lot of other people feel a bit of a depressing effect from it. On the other hand, it might lower norepinephrine in the prefrontal cortex, since I do feel that it slows my thinking when I'm too hyped from being anxious. But to be honest, I don't know where it REALLY effects these neurotransmitters and apparently neither do the researchers. All I can do is say how it makes me feel, which isn't consistant with the way companies trying to sell you the stuff describe it.
I wouldn't recommend it for depression. I WOULD recommend it for anxiety, as long as you don't have depression AND anxiety. I wouldn't recommend it for ADD. Basically, it feels kinda like a benzo to me... Oh, and I would recommend for like stage fright, performance anxiety, specific phobias and maybe giving a speech. It makes all that anxiety producing stuff go smoother.
Posted by KaraS on July 15, 2004, at 16:18:59
In reply to Re: Theanine, posted by mistermindmasta on July 14, 2004, at 21:53:59
If you were to give a speech in fron of a large auditorium full of people, which supplement(s)or medications would be best to take, in your opinion?
- l-theanine
- GABA
- picamilon
- taurine
- kava
- a beta blocker
- a benzoI have severe stage fright and I have found success with a beta blocker but would be interested to know if any of these other things would work as well or better.
Thanks,
K
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Alternative | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.