from the other natural agents and medica- tions used to treat anxiety because it isn't heavily sedating. Patients will complain of side-effects from anti-anxiety medications, including drowsiness, headache, decreased libido and poor memory. While anti-anx- iety medications and calming herbs work by sedation, theanine stands apart in doing just the opposite, helping us to function better under stress and anxiety, whether at work or at school. Patients will often ask whether drinking green tea is a good sub- stitute for theanine supplementation and it is here that we get into a discussion of therapeutic doses. A patient with more se- vere anxiety or panic will often start a dose comparable to the amount of theanine in 10 cups of green tea!
Back to the Basics: Vitamins & Minerals
You may have heard of B-Complex and its ability to reduce stress or have ex- perienced the calming effects of an Epsom salt bath after a stressful day. The relaxing properties of each can be explained by looking again at the neurotransmitters dis- cussed earlier. Vitamin B6 and magnesium are both co-factors in the conversion of glutamate to GABA; that is, both nutrients promote the conversion of glutamate into GABA, decreasing excess glutamate and increasing GABA. Epsom salt consists of magnesium sulfate so it makes sense that this commonly touted warm bath would promote a sense of calm. Ideally, a healthy, nutrient-dense diet should provide us with the necessary vitamins and minerals to keep this conversion running smoothly, but nutrient defi cient soil and genetic factors sometimes mean supplementation is necessary.
Lavender: In a Class of its Own
When talking with patients about the treatment of anxiety and panic, I like to discuss lavender because of its rather unique effects on mood. Many of us are familiar with aromatherapy and the uplift- ing properties of lavender, helping to elevate mood and relieve sadness. While aromatherapy certainly has its therapeutic benefi ts, the use of lavender oil internally is especially benefi cial in the treatment of anxiety. While much of our conversation has focused on normalizing levels of glu- tamate and GABA, lavender works instead on the modulation of calcium channels in the brain.
Calcium channels are responsible for the release of neurotransmitters and hy- peractive nerve cells can result in anxiety. Since lavender works internally to restore
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