L-theanine is a non-proteinogenic amino acid that is synthesized by a couple of fungi and plants, among them tea. It is an analog of glutamate, an excitatory neurotransmitter. It is known for its ability to promote relaxation without inducing drowsiness, as well as its potential cognitive benefits.
In the nootropic community (if that is even a thing), it is most famous for being combined with caffeine to cancel out some of its adverse effects while promoting cognition.
In addition, some people find that L-theanine by itself is a useful short-term anti-anxiety agent – without the risks and side effects of benzodiazepines. Because little to no money can be made from it, pharmaceutical companies have little interest in generating the evidence necessary for it to be more widely employed for clinical use.
Personal experience
A few years back after starting moclobemide, I experienced true clinical anxiety for the first time in my life. When my nervous system spiraled out of control, it was impossible to use thoughts as an antidote – trying to rescue thinking with thinking was futile.
Directly negotiating my emotions, namely changing my neurobiochemistry, proved much more powerful than conceptualizing, whether that meant going for a run, breathing exercises, meeting friends, or taking L-theanine. If my neurobiochemistry changed, I would have different thoughts and outlooks in the first place.
At the time, I had to study for my finals so going for runs or meeting friends all day was off-limits. Furthermore, benzodiazepines or gabapentinoids were a no-go as they are known to impair alertness, cognition, and memory retention – which was the last thing I needed at the time.
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