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My 16-month theanine self-experiment

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Re: My 16-month theanine self-experiment

#141

Post by mtlmtlmtlmtl »

cluckindan wrote: post #70

”I’ve long found that tea makes me much less nervous than coffee, even with equal caffeine.” Well, of course you are less nervous when you avoid taking coffee: it contains a LOT of beta-carbolines which act as MAO-A inhibitors. MAO-A inhibition directly prevents adrenalines from being inactivated by oxidation.

How do you define "a LOT"? the only estimate I can find says there's 210mcg/L of beta-carbolines. Mainly harman and norharman, which have a binding affinity for MAO-A of 220nM and 2200nM respectively(lower is more potent). Not earth-shatteringly potent. These compounds have a fairly short half-life and they're reversible.

Doesn't seem to be anywhere close to the potency of MAO inhibition used in psychiatric or entheogenic contexts. I'd be reluctant to attribute too many noticable effects to them.

Re: My 16-month theanine self-experiment

#142

Post by Jolter »

teekert wrote: post #113
ripped_britches wrote: post #88

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I know what you mean here, but valuing small rituals is normal and not anywhere in the same ballpark as OCD.

True. But for me sometimes when I’m stressed (usually related to some lack of control) I may get very precise about how the dishwasher is organized among others. It’s annoying for people around me, but at least it’s not hard drugs.

That doesn’t sound like OCD at all to me. It sounds like you have a personality that values order and control over details. Annoying perhaps, but normal.

If it’s getting to the point where it impedes your social life, you could see a psychiatrist, but I’m pretty sure the diagnosis wouldn’t be OCD.

OCD is characterized by strong feelings of anxiety which can only be temporarily subdued by compulsive, repeated behavior. The classic example is “can’t leave the house without washing hands 20 times, sometimes 40”. The anxiety is still there but slightly dampened by the compulsive ritual. If you don’t have crippling anxiety, you don’t have OCD.

Re: My 16-month theanine self-experiment

#143

Post by IlPeach »

grumpy-de-sre wrote: post #138

For anyone looking for a sleep supplement, before you go down the rabbit hole of Theanine, Mg, etc. Try an OTC Azelastine or Fluticasone nasal spray for a month. Turns out my chronic poor quality, restless sleep was a dust mite allergy that I should have figured out and treated a decade ago. Would wake up with a stuffy nose and very dry mouth but didn't have too many issues during the day. I was allergic to my bed. B…

Thanks, but I'm still missing how I would properly diagnose myself. These symptoms might be all too common ... Anything more reliable?

Re: My 16-month theanine self-experiment

#144

Post by collin128 »

IlPeach wrote: post #143
grumpy-de-sre wrote: post #138

For anyone looking for a sleep supplement, before you go down the rabbit hole of Theanine, Mg, etc. Try an OTC Azelastine or Fluticasone nasal spray for a month. Turns out my chronic poor quality, restless sleep was a dust mite allergy that I should have figured out and treated a decade ago. Would wake up with a stuffy nose and very dry mouth but didn't have too many issues during the day. I was allergic to my bed. B…

Thanks, but I'm still missing how I would properly diagnose myself. These symptoms might be all too common ... Anything more reliable?

An allergy clinic can run these tests for you.

Been doing immunotherapy for allergies for 3 years and it is a complete game changer. Last year was the first year I could breathe through my nose for the entire year. No more stuffy months.

Re: My 16-month theanine self-experiment

#145

Post by wenc »

grumpy-de-sre wrote: post #138

For anyone looking for a sleep supplement, before you go down the rabbit hole of Theanine, Mg, etc. Try an OTC Azelastine or Fluticasone nasal spray for a month. Turns out my chronic poor quality, restless sleep was a dust mite allergy that I should have figured out and treated a decade ago. Would wake up with a stuffy nose and very dry mouth but didn't have too many issues during the day. I was allergic to my bed. B…

You should consider a dust mite vacuum with UV. I bought one on Amazon (this one but you can check YouTube reviews for others).

https://www.amazon.com/JIGOO-Vacuum-Cleaner-Dust-Sensor/dp/B...

I was surprised how much dust this thing picked up (my sheets get washed often, but it’s hard to clean the mattress itself). Back in the day people used to sun dry their mattresses but no one does that these days.

This dust mite vacuum picked up half a canister of gunk from my dead skin and environmental dust that has accumulated over the years (and it has a light scattering sensor that tells you how much dust is being sucked up). My nose was clear after sleeping on a vacuumed bed. I now vacuum my bed once a week, and it has really helped.

Vacuuming your bed and other fabric surfaces also feels therapeutic. For me, it’s like watching one of those powerwashing videos. You feel cleansed after.

Re: My 16-month theanine self-experiment

#146

Post by rwyinuse »

TimByte wrote: post #120
rwyinuse wrote: post #110

I tried 200mg L-theanine pills for some days. I noticed a slightly calming effect, but after the supposed effect wore off, I suffered from unusually high level of anxiety. So I guess it can give you withdrawal symptoms. CBD worked much better for me in that regard.

Did you find CBD helped consistently, or did you have to experiment with doses and timing to get the right balance?

I only used it occasionally, took it about 1 hours before going to sleep. I can't really comment on daily use or dosage. I just bought whatever CBD oil a local market was selling. It contains 10% broad spectrum CBD isolate (rest being hemp oil) if the label is to be believed. At least in my country these things aren't well regulated, so experiences will probably vary between vendors, as you can't be sure of exact CBD concentration.

Re: My 16-month theanine self-experiment

#147

Post by grumpy-de-sre »

IlPeach wrote: post #143
grumpy-de-sre wrote: post #138

For anyone looking for a sleep supplement, before you go down the rabbit hole of Theanine, Mg, etc. Try an OTC Azelastine or Fluticasone nasal spray for a month. Turns out my chronic poor quality, restless sleep was a dust mite allergy that I should have figured out and treated a decade ago. Would wake up with a stuffy nose and very dry mouth but didn't have too many issues during the day. I was allergic to my bed. B…

Thanks, but I'm still missing how I would properly diagnose myself. These symptoms might be all too common ... Anything more reliable?

You can always go to an allergist for a skin prick test.

I'd say hallmark symptom would be chronic night time congestion worsening while in bed (an area of the house that has a very high density of mite allergen).

But running a bit of differential diagnosis on this,

* Inflammatory & Allergic Conditions (allergic/non-allergic rhinitis, chronic rhinosinusitis, turbinate hypertrophy, nasal polyps).

* Obstructive Sleep Apnea (do a STOP-BANG).

* Structural Blockages & Airway Obstructions (deviated septum, adenoid/tonsil hypertrophy, nasal valve collapse, turbinate hypertrophy).

* Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD/LPR).

Re: My 16-month theanine self-experiment

#148

Post by carlsborg »

From a biology perspective base amino acids (such as theanine) on their own are not generally major modulators of human function. You want to experiment with small molecules, something that binds with proteins such as enzymes which in turn modulate pathways and cell functions.

Binders need a energy configuration and 3 dimensional structures that "fits" into such proteins, and individual amino acids dont really cut it. Also the amino acids get rapidly used for protein construction so they dont stick around long.

PhDs in the subject can please correct me I am wrong here.

Re: My 16-month theanine self-experiment

#149

Post by grumpy-de-sre »

wenc wrote: post #145
grumpy-de-sre wrote: post #138

For anyone looking for a sleep supplement, before you go down the rabbit hole of Theanine, Mg, etc. Try an OTC Azelastine or Fluticasone nasal spray for a month. Turns out my chronic poor quality, restless sleep was a dust mite allergy that I should have figured out and treated a decade ago. Would wake up with a stuffy nose and very dry mouth but didn't have too many issues during the day. I was allergic to my bed. B…

You should consider a dust mite vacuum with UV. I bought one on Amazon (this one but you can check YouTube reviews for others). https://www.amazon.com/JIGOO-Vacuum-Cleaner-Dust-Sensor/dp/B... I was surprised how much dust this thing picked up (my sheets get washed often, but it’s hard to clean the mattress itself). Back in the day people used to sun dry their mattresses but no one does that these days. This dust mite…

Got to say after figuring this out I am tempted to ditch the western style mattress and replace it with something like a Japanese futon. I assume it'd be much easier to wash.

In the meantime I need to purchase a mattress encasement, I put one on my pillow and that alone helped a bunch.

Long term maybe desensitization is an option but I'm too lazy for that atm.

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