Interestingly, in one of the discussed studies with rats, GABA by itself was found to increase brain GABA by 33%, but when GABA was administered together with L-arginine, brain GABA increased by 383.3% (Shyamaladevi et al., 2002). The authors suggest that this dramatic increase in brain GABA might be caused by an L-arginine-mediated increase in
Instead of taking a GABA supplement, you can also use other natural supplements for anxiety that can help effectively increase GABA activity in the brain. Valerian root, for example, has been shown to increase the release of GABA from the brain nerve endings and then prevent it from being taken back into the nerve cells again. It is often used
And as others have said, and yourself, passionflower, magnesium, chamomile, l theanine, lemon balm, also seem to function in increasing overall GABA levels in the brain. Also, intense physical exercise has been shown to increase GABA levels in the brain. So make sure you're getting up and doing something on top of any supplement you decide to
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