Country LifeL-Theanine, 200 mg - 60 Vegan Capsules

This is a game changer! I have very high anxiety and was looking for something that would help get rid of anxious thoughts and irritability without making me drowsy or unable to drive that was also safe and non-addictive. I scoured the internet high and low and felt safe with l-theanine.The first time I took it I took about 100mg and felt stoned within minutes (not what I was looking for). Fortunately, once the high feeling wore off about 15-20 minutes later I was left feeling very calm and "present". Time seems to go by more slowly, too. I take it occasionally, although I'd really like to take it every day because it is so awesome, but am worried about developing a tolerence to it. I take a small amount- about 50mg mixed in with my morning coffee (you can easily unscrew the capsule) and feel very clear minded, very focused and just good. I am able to really give my attention to my kids and absorb myself in playing with them or making small talk with people. It really helps to take before an anxiety provoking social situation or just on days when I wake up with a lot of free floating anxiety. After taking it several times I have noticed that I am definitely less "reactive" and snappy. It also helps me take things less personally and makes me more nurturing. In addition, it also helps me retrieve the correct word more quickly in my mind without grasping for it.I was not expecting much, figured it was probably a placebo effect but tried it anyway because it seemed pretty safe and I'll tell you it is very noticeable effect. If you are looking for anxiety relief and don't want to become addicted to something or too drowsy this is def. worth trying. If you don't have an elevated baseline anxiety it might not do much for you from what I've read. And definitely use with caution if you have low blood pressure, or are taking blood pressure medication or cholesterol medication as it can lower blood pressure.

I chose a 5-star rating because this is as high as I could go! I have tried a lot of supplements in my life, some that worked and some that didn't. No bad mouthing, just everything is not for everybody.I had never heard of L-Theanine, and did not know of its benefits, because I really did not like the taste of green tea and avoided it at all costs. Who knew!Well, my work situation is about to become a little more demanding, as my teammate is shortly expecting a baby and I will carrying on in our job function primarily alone. I am not worried about keeping up, but those around me are starting to stress me with their fears. I wanted something to help me maintain my cool, and mitigate the stress that I am experiencing from the worries of well meaning people. So I Googled stress relief supplements and L-theanine came to the top of the search. As I am an Amazon convert, I came to the site and found a plethora of choices. I chose Country Life's version because I know that Country Life products are gluten-free, and that is a must for me (another story for another day).I received my shipment 2 days ago, and following the advice of my fellow reviewers, I took one capsule 30 minutes before bed. I went to bed late, but awoke refreshed with no hangover, like you get from sleep aids. Also, Celiac Sprue sometimes causes neurological issues. I wake up with numb fingers, even though I have a memory foam mattress and have few pressure points. That morning I awoke feeling like I had been on vacation and no numbness or tingling. Even more so I have suffered with chronic tendonitis of my ankle, constant pain, stiffness and some swelling. One dose of L-theanine and the pain was by half. Two doses (I took my second dose the next morning with coffee) and no pain. NO PAIN! And no stiffness.Then I read that it can reduce inflammation, too. Hey Now! I had gotten used to this pain and the numbness in my hands as a common occurence that I would just have to live with and now I have hope of pain free days.I may be premature, but I am going to keep on with this regimen and keep you posted. I feel good both emotionally and physically, and the physical relief was an added treat.

First off, I want to say that though its not in the description, these pills also contain 250% vitamin B6 in each pill to help with absorption of the amino acid l-theanine. Its a nice touch by Country Life, not sure why they don't include it in the description to help sell the item. Also, this product has the suntheanine trademark, meaning that it is nearly pure l-theanine and highly effective.Anyway, these pills do 3 things for me: they help me sleep, they help me focus, and they help reduce anxiety and stress. I would not expect them to completely erase your anxieties if you have an anxiety disorder, but I would expect them to lower your ceiling for anxiety. In other words, you should not be able to get overly anxious when taking these pills. I have heard they have changed the lives of people with severe anxiety and panic disorders. For me, they just take the edge off, and its nice to have a natural supplement that I can count on to do that.I would recommend that you take these pills on a completely empty stomach (at least an hour after eating), and for best results hold off eating for another hour after taking them. To really maximize the effect, take suntheanine with orange juice because like B6, vitamin C aids in the absorption of amino acids. Usually you can feel the effects within 30-40 minutes. I only take one a day, but it is safe to take several of these pills at a time, though I can't say from experience how that would change the calming effect.I think anyone with anxiety disorders should consider this natural solution first before going to drugs like xanax. Good luck to those reading this, and I hope this helps.