I was surprised that the author’s conclusion didn’t mention another model that looked consistent with the data: that theanine works slowly — over the course of a few days, not hours. (I have no idea whether it would work like this. A placebo effect only is also consistent with the data.)
There's no need to invoke a placebo effect as an explanation for any of the results. He took it in response to acute stress, which is a local maximum in stress. The decrease in stress afterwards is to be expected.
My 16-month theanine self-experiment
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Re: My 16-month theanine self-experiment
#32I finished one bottle of Theanine for occasional use and went to order a different combo as it was unavailable. It is Theanine Serene with Relora which also includes Magnesium, GABA, Taurine, and Holy basil in two large tablets. Helps relax and ease falling asleep. Another option may be a pain/stomach relief/sleep aid concoction we found : 1tsp ginger 1tsp turmeric 1tsp cinnamon 1tsp fine black pepper 500ml milk Boil…
If you're not careful and diligent, this is a recipe for liver damage from coumarin and heavy metal toxicity. You can take all those things safely but it requires knowledge and care.
Re: My 16-month theanine self-experiment
#33Earlier quoted context omitted.
If you're not careful and diligent, this is a recipe for liver damage from coumarin and heavy metal toxicity. You can take all those things safely but it requires knowledge and care.
Hey, ok I get it for coumarin but just out of curiosity, what can introduce heavy metals in this mix?
Re: My 16-month theanine self-experiment
#34I finished one bottle of Theanine for occasional use and went to order a different combo as it was unavailable. It is Theanine Serene with Relora which also includes Magnesium, GABA, Taurine, and Holy basil in two large tablets. Helps relax and ease falling asleep. Another option may be a pain/stomach relief/sleep aid concoction we found : 1tsp ginger 1tsp turmeric 1tsp cinnamon 1tsp fine black pepper 500ml milk Boil…
If you're not careful and diligent, this is a recipe for liver damage from coumarin and heavy metal toxicity. You can take all those things safely but it requires knowledge and care.
Re: My 16-month theanine self-experiment
#35I tried it and it never did anything, I tried all sorts of CBD products as well (while in SF) and I never noticed a thing. The only thing that worked was microdosing shrooms which I've done twice in SF. I felt very calm and had a lot of novel ideas during these two days. Would recommend trying. Never microdosed LSD.
My issue with dosing shrooms (micro or otherwise) is that I find myself building up tolerance extremely fast. Literally within a couple of days my tolerance of psilocybin shoots up so much that even doubled doses seem to have little effect. I then need to stop taking it for weeks or months before my tolerance drops back to baseline. Does anyone else have this issue with shrooms? FWIW I believe I'm generally quite res…
Re: My 16-month theanine self-experiment
#36It is strange to discuss L-theanine with vitamin D as one has nothing much to do with the other. It could've been better to compare L-theanine with a placebo (cellulose) which is how research conventionally works. L-theanine at 200-300 mg before bed is extremely useful for canceling excessive caffeine while trying to sleep at night. Add piperine to the mix for possible further cancelation of caffeine. [PMID 35684048]
> It is strange to discuss L-theanine with vitamin D as one has nothing much to do with the other. That's the idea, vitamin D was used as a placebo. They bought vitamin D supplements rather than cellulose because the supplier sold both L-theanine and vitamin D and the pills looked (nearly) identical.
Re: My 16-month theanine self-experiment
#37Earlier quoted context omitted.
And of course, the ones that come from the end of a needle. If most supplements actually worked, a pharma company would analyze it and reformulate it to get a patent, and then you'd hear about it on commercials.
Yeah. But I never took any of the steroid stuff. I only compete with my former self. Not being able to throw 400lbs overhead is fine. I also want to be able to walk when I'm old.
Re: My 16-month theanine self-experiment
#38TL;DR single test at best inconclusive but broadly said no evident benefit. Good randomisation but so many variables. I am convinced the author is in a persisting out of body state. Also, placebo is great!! I have reverse white coat syndrome, paying my GP attendance fee to have a nice doctor measure my BP consistently shows it better than when I do it at home.
Re: My 16-month theanine self-experiment
#39> This hacker news thread is full of positive reports, Hacker news always has the most insane takes when it comes to medical/biological things.
Re: My 16-month theanine self-experiment
#40TL;DR single test at best inconclusive but broadly said no evident benefit. Good randomisation but so many variables. I am convinced the author is in a persisting out of body state. Also, placebo is great!! I have reverse white coat syndrome, paying my GP attendance fee to have a nice doctor measure my BP consistently shows it better than when I do it at home.
Placebo is a fantastic treatment for hypochondria.