![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 19 of 19. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by myco on March 3, 2009, at 21:54:53
Quick survey question everyone...
Does anyone notice they "feel better" (i.e. less depressed or less anxious or increase in concentration etc...) when drinking green tea?
Please give a brief explanation.thnx
myco
Posted by garnet71 on March 3, 2009, at 22:39:27
In reply to Survey: Does green tea lessen your symptoms?, posted by myco on March 3, 2009, at 21:54:53
I had the worst panic attacks of my life while taking a multi-vitamin that had green tea extract in it. It was years ago--CVS vitamins; I would had never checked the back of the box on that one until I had been taking them for months. There was nothing on the front of the box about green tea--it appeared to be a regular multivitamin. Just a few times per week I drink loose green tea-straight from a tea plantation in the hills of rural China (even picked some myself) in the evenings with no noticable effects--good or bad.
There are studies floating around that claim coffee has a higher antioxidant content (or something like that) than green tea. I drink 2 cups every morning out of habit. Can't seem to find the desire to quit that one.
Posted by Phillipa on March 3, 2009, at 23:00:59
In reply to Survey: Does green tea lessen your symptoms?, posted by myco on March 3, 2009, at 21:54:53
Hi Myco I drink two bottle of Iced green tea daily. Sometimes think it gives a bit of energy, sometimes relaxing, And sometimes seems to be activating. I do think it depends on my mental state at the time. Hope this was helpful. And you know where to find me. Love Phillipa
Posted by sam K on March 4, 2009, at 8:37:56
In reply to Survey: Does green tea lessen your symptoms?, posted by myco on March 3, 2009, at 21:54:53
yea green tea is good. caffiene most liekly is whats doing that. Then tehres L-theanine, a relaxing amino acid. If that makes you feel good then try coffee. wow, coffee is simalar to amphetamine for me.
Posted by Sanguine on March 4, 2009, at 10:37:23
In reply to Survey: Does green tea lessen your symptoms?, posted by myco on March 3, 2009, at 21:54:53
Hmm...I guess I should have read this thread first! I've only had the fakey green tea and will assume I'm disqualified from any assertions of its helpfulness. Coffee, however, I can't function without. It DOES lessen my anxiety and depression. Maybe I should have kept that mum lest it become a banned substance.
Posted by desolationrower on March 4, 2009, at 12:23:27
In reply to Re: Survey: Does green tea lessen your symptoms? » myco, posted by garnet71 on March 3, 2009, at 22:39:27
> I had the worst panic attacks of my life while taking a multi-vitamin that had green tea extract in it. It was years ago--CVS vitamins; I would had never checked the back of the box on that one until I had been taking them for months. There was nothing on the front of the box about green tea--it appeared to be a regular multivitamin. Just a few times per week I drink loose green tea-straight from a tea plantation in the hills of rural China (even picked some myself) in the evenings with no noticable effects--good or bad.
>
> There are studies floating around that claim coffee has a higher antioxidant content (or something like that) than green tea. I drink 2 cups every morning out of habit. Can't seem to find the desire to quit that one.It depends on which kind of free radical they are measured against. However the imporant thing about antidoxidants isn't actually ability to neutralize radicals (except for some cases, like alcohol damange to GI track i think is one example). but the antioxidant chemicals tend to have various beneficial actions. which is why its good to get a variety in the diet of them, but also why some such as green tea as expecially encouraged.
the other thing green tea does is inhibit the COMT enzyme, which metabolizes NA amoung other things (similar to MAO). this is how green tea raises metabolism, but theoretically could increase anxieyt.
-d/r
Posted by myco on March 4, 2009, at 13:26:23
In reply to Re: Survey: Does green tea lessen your symptoms?, posted by desolationrower on March 4, 2009, at 12:23:27
This is the idea I was getting at d/r but...
I wasn't aware it inhibits COMT. I thought it acts as an inhibitor of aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylases (AADC)...such as DOPA decarboxylase that metabolizes dopamine from L-dopa. My thinking is that by inhibiting this, with or without the supplementation of L-dopa, one could increase the effects of L-dopa in the brain (although not quite sure what that would do exactly in terms of anxiety and dep lol, i'm just toying with ideas). Also AADC's metabolize seratonin also don't they? Thats why administration of L-dopa (with cofactor vit B6) without an inhibitor like green tea will lead to decrease in seratonin won't it?...using up the AADC which is "rate limiting"? Therefor some naturopaths recommend coadministration of a precurser to seratonin like 5-htp in addition to a L-dopa supplement I think.
> It depends on which kind of free radical they are measured against. However the imporant thing about antidoxidants isn't actually ability to neutralize radicals (except for some cases, like alcohol damange to GI track i think is one example). but the antioxidant chemicals tend to have various beneficial actions. which is why its good to get a variety in the diet of them, but also why some such as green tea as expecially encouraged.
>
> the other thing green tea does is inhibit the COMT enzyme, which metabolizes NA amoung other things (similar to MAO). this is how green tea raises metabolism, but theoretically could increase anxieyt.
>
> -d/r
Posted by myco on March 4, 2009, at 13:30:13
In reply to Re: Survey: Does green tea lessen your symptoms? » desolationrower, posted by myco on March 4, 2009, at 13:26:23
Do you of any natural source dopamine B-hydroxlase inhibitors d/r? I'm having fun playing alchemist here...actually considering going back to school and into something involving biochem/pharm...hella interesting stuff
>
>
>
>
> This is the idea I was getting at d/r but...
>
> I wasn't aware it inhibits COMT. I thought it acts as an inhibitor of aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylases (AADC)...such as DOPA decarboxylase that metabolizes dopamine from L-dopa. My thinking is that by inhibiting this, with or without the supplementation of L-dopa, one could increase the effects of L-dopa in the brain (although not quite sure what that would do exactly in terms of anxiety and dep lol, i'm just toying with ideas). Also AADC's metabolize seratonin also don't they? Thats why administration of L-dopa (with cofactor vit B6) without an inhibitor like green tea will lead to decrease in seratonin won't it?...using up the AADC which is "rate limiting"? Therefor some naturopaths recommend coadministration of a precurser to seratonin like 5-htp in addition to a L-dopa supplement I think.
>
>
>
>
>
> > It depends on which kind of free radical they are measured against. However the imporant thing about antidoxidants isn't actually ability to neutralize radicals (except for some cases, like alcohol damange to GI track i think is one example). but the antioxidant chemicals tend to have various beneficial actions. which is why its good to get a variety in the diet of them, but also why some such as green tea as expecially encouraged.
> >
> > the other thing green tea does is inhibit the COMT enzyme, which metabolizes NA amoung other things (similar to MAO). this is how green tea raises metabolism, but theoretically could increase anxieyt.
> >
> > -d/r
>
>
Posted by Sigismund on March 4, 2009, at 14:04:19
In reply to Re: Survey: Does green tea lessen your symptoms?, posted by desolationrower on March 4, 2009, at 12:23:27
>the other thing green tea does is inhibit the COMT enzyme, which metabolizes NA amoung other things (similar to MAO). this is how green tea raises metabolism, but theoretically could increase anxieyt.
Green tea is bad for sleep for me, and I have assumed that's the reason, since it's not the caffeine.
Posted by linkadge on March 4, 2009, at 15:56:11
In reply to Re: Survey: Does green tea lessen your symptoms?, posted by Sigismund on March 4, 2009, at 14:04:19
Yes, green tea seems to improve my overall affective disorder. As mentioned by others it can disturb my sleep if I drink too much.
Linkadge
Posted by desolationrower on March 4, 2009, at 17:43:40
In reply to Re: Survey: Does green tea lessen your symptoms?, posted by linkadge on March 4, 2009, at 15:56:11
myco do you have a cite for that one inhibition you cited for green tea catechins, i coudln't find anything on a quick google scholar search. And i don't think its relevant unless you're taking exogenous l-dopa, which i don't think is a great idea. or 5htp i think. peripheral ldopa and 5htp might have some side effects.
only dopamine beta hydroxylase inyhibitor i know of is disulfiram, and i can't say i like that drug.
-d/r
Posted by myco on March 5, 2009, at 13:06:52
In reply to Re: Survey: Does green tea lessen your symptoms?, posted by desolationrower on March 4, 2009, at 17:43:40
Hey d/r,
Green-tea is mentioned as a AADC inhibitor on wiki although they don't cite the primary literature which always makes me go hmmm (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L-dopa).
Supposedly the green tea's AADC inhibitory effect is a means to prevent exogenous dopamine synthesis which has adverse sides I guess.
But theoretically speaking here, wouldn't it be logical to assume that since AADC's fascilitate conversion of both L-dopa to dopamine and 5-htp to seratonin, that taking an inhibitor (i.e. green tea) would, at least to some extent, 'diminish' potential levels of dopamine and seratonin? ...potential benefit if you are 'getting to much'? Very interesing stuff this biochem.
Anyway, feel free to 'correct' or shoot me down lol it's all about learning.
myco
> myco do you have a cite for that one inhibition you cited for green tea catechins, i coudln't find anything on a quick google scholar search. And i don't think its relevant unless you're taking exogenous l-dopa, which i don't think is a great idea. or 5htp i think. peripheral ldopa and 5htp might have some side effects.
>
> only dopamine beta hydroxylase inyhibitor i know of is disulfiram, and i can't say i like that drug.
>
> -d/r
Posted by desolationrower on March 6, 2009, at 1:13:32
In reply to Re: Survey: Does green tea lessen your symptoms? » desolationrower, posted by myco on March 5, 2009, at 13:06:52
hm, ok i found it
Green tea polyphenols: novel irreversible inhibitors of dopa decarboxylase.
Author:Bertoldi, M : Gonsalvi, M : Voltattorni, C B
Citation:Biochem-Biophys-Res-Commun. 2001 Jun 1; 284(1): 90-3anywya, its not going to function like carbadopa, since the point of that is to only inhibit it peripherially, thus sparing it for the brain, the catechins in tea i think all cross the bbb, and absent precurser supplementation it won't really matter
-d/r
Posted by janejane on March 6, 2009, at 12:41:03
In reply to Survey: Does green tea lessen your symptoms?, posted by myco on March 3, 2009, at 21:54:53
My new favorite green is matcha, the pulverized variety used in Japanese tea ceremony. It has greater nutritional value than brewed green teas since you ingest the whole leaf. (The bushes are shaded for several weeks before harvest, which also increases the amino acid content and sweetness.) Traditionally, matcha powder is mixed with hot water to make tea, but matcha lattes are also popular, and you can buy matcha candy, baked goods, etc. Drinking the hot tea does seem to give me a greater sense of warmth and well-being in comparison with other greens. (I still enjoy steeped teas, but I don't notice as much perceptible benefit from it.)
Posted by Phillipa on March 6, 2009, at 20:21:03
In reply to Re: Survey: Does green tea lessen your symptoms? » desolationrower, posted by myco on March 5, 2009, at 13:06:52
So without taking B6 green tea does nothing????? Phillipa
Posted by myco on March 6, 2009, at 20:25:57
In reply to Re: Survey: Does green tea lessen your symptoms? » myco, posted by Phillipa on March 6, 2009, at 20:21:03
no no hun, B6 would help actually i suppose. but something is going on with this green tea thing mixed with a maoi for sure, for me anyway. god i get energy, a good kind, not jittery like caffeine. ive mentioned before in a post it, and i'm gonna look this up, may help to increase dopamine...since dopamine "hangs out" longer while on a maoi, adding green tea might be having an effect there. i'm not a pharmacologist though but something is definately happening that i didnt feel when i was off meds.
> So without taking B6 green tea does nothing????? Phillipa
Posted by myco on March 6, 2009, at 20:30:05
In reply to Re: Survey: Does green tea lessen your symptoms? » myco, posted by Phillipa on March 6, 2009, at 20:21:03
plus if you get a ginseng+green tea mix....damn lol away we go. now that is a good feel on this maoi. i dont think i would eat capsule form of ginseng though (i think i recall a contraindication with maoi's) but in tea its great. it actually feels like it's potentiating nardil....i get the rocking stimulation in my legs and muscles that nardil used to give me when i started. nice to have that back> So without taking B6 green tea does nothing????? Phillipa
Posted by Cseagraves on March 8, 2009, at 14:35:29
In reply to Survey: Does green tea lessen your symptoms?, posted by myco on March 3, 2009, at 21:54:53
Hi Myco,
Haven't read other responses to your post, but will give what info I have on your question. Green tea contains the amino L-theanine, which acts as a relaxant. I drink alot of green tea and I also take about 400mgs of theanine at night before bed.
I'm sure you could find all kinds of information if you google l-theanine.
Hope this helps!
Courtney
Posted by myco on March 8, 2009, at 16:22:46
In reply to Re: Survey: Does green tea lessen your symptoms?, posted by Cseagraves on March 8, 2009, at 14:35:29
Thnx hun, ya ive been doin a lil research into green tea and ginseng - appears they both help increase dopamine effects and norepinephrine (stimulation)..both of which I notice alot on nardil - feels magnified on nardil. Never had much of an effect with those two while off meds.
> Hi Myco,
>
> Haven't read other responses to your post, but will give what info I have on your question. Green tea contains the amino L-theanine, which acts as a relaxant. I drink alot of green tea and I also take about 400mgs of theanine at night before bed.
>
> I'm sure you could find all kinds of information if you google l-theanine.
>
> Hope this helps!
>
> Courtney
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.