When your mother told you to have a cup of tea and relax, what she meant was to have a cup of Theanine. Amino acid theamine, one of Nature’s own amino acid stress remedies, reduces stress and relieves anxiety. This herbal product is now available as a nutritional supplement around the world.

L-theanine(chemical name: r-glutamylethylamide) is one of the chemicals found in green tea, and is used to reduce stress and anxiety without the tranquilizing effects found in many other calming agents (such as pharmaceutical drugs). Scientific evidence shows that Amino acid L-theamine stimulates the brain’s production of alpha waves, making the user feel relaxed but alert and not drowsy. Theanine also helps the body produce other calming amino acids, such as dopamine, GABA, and tryptophan. As might be expected from a calming supplement, Theanine may be able to lower elevated blood pressure. Theanine also appears to have many benefits for cancer patients.

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.

Second only to water, tea is one of the most widely consumed beverages in the world. With the exception of a mushroom (eg, Xerocomus badius) and certain species belonging to genus Camellia (C. japonica and C. sasanqua), L-theanine is a unique amino acid found only in the tea plant. L-theanine was discovered in 1949 to be a constituent of tea leaves. Taiyo Kagaku Co. Ltd., Japan, has developed an enzymatic method to manufacture synthetic L-theanine.

We’ve heard a lot over the past couple of years about the health benefits of green and black tea, and as a regular tea drinker I was glad to hear it! I’d been doing something good for myself without even knowing it.

L-theanine is a free form amino acid found almost exclusively in tea plants, constituting between 1 and 2-percent of the dry weight of tea leaves. It is the predominant amino acid in green tea leaves, giving tea its characteristic umami or 5th taste besides the four traditional tastes which are: sweet, salty, acid, and bitter. Attempts to isolate the L-theanine, with its physical and neurological benefits, from the tea leaves were once difficult, expensive, and inefficient. Economically feasible methods of producing the identical L-theanine now exist and do not require a mountain of tea leaves.

Theanine is available in capsule or tablet forms at your local or internet health food store. Look for name brands like Solaray, Source Naturals and Natures Plus to ensure quality and purity of the product you purchase.

*Statements contained herein have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Theanine is not intended to diagnose, treat and cure or prevent disease. Always consult with your professional health care provider before changing any medication or adding Vitamins to medications.