L-Theanine
Amino acid found in tea leaves. Promotes alpha brain wave activity for relaxed alertness without sedation. Synergistic with caffeine.
Evidence by Outcome
Anxiety Reduction
Reduced stress response during cognitive tasks
Focus (with caffeine)
Improved attention switching and accuracy
Sleep Quality
Improved sleep quality in ADHD children
Alpha Brain Waves
Significant increase in alpha wave activity within 40 min
Dosing Guide
100-200mg
30 min before desired effect
No tolerance develops. Can be taken daily without cycling. Caffeine:Theanine 1:2 ratio optimal.
Safety Profile
Possible Side Effects
- • Essentially none at recommended doses
Contraindications
- ⚠ None established
Known Interactions
L-Theanine smooths caffeine's jitteriness while preserving alertness. 1:2 ratio optimal.
Source: Nutritional Neuroscience, 2008
Both reduce anxiety through different mechanisms — ashwagandha via HPA axis, L-theanine via alpha waves. Complementary anxiolytic stack.
Source: Mechanistic reasoning
Dual anxiolytic stack. L-theanine for acute calm, ashwagandha for chronic stress adaptation. Safe combination.
Source: Mechanistic reasoning