Natural Living Newsletter

PharmaGABA: Natural Support for Stress, Anxiety, and Insomnia

Introduction

Everyday stress is a normal part of modern living. Job pressures; family arguments; financial pressures; traffic, and time management are just a few of the "stressors" we are faced with on a daily basis. For some people, the stress can be overwhelming leading to feelings of anxiety and insomnia. Fortunately, there is PharmaGaba - a safe and effective natural remedy that has just been introduced to North America.

PharmaGABA: Natural promotion of a relaxed state

GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) is a natural calming and anti-epileptic agent in the brain. In fact, it is one of the brain’s most important regulators of proper function and neurotransmitter. It appears that many people with anxiety, insomnia, epilepsy, and other brain disorders do not manufacture sufficient levels of GABA.1 Many popular drugs such as Valium, Neurontin, baclofen, and Valproate act by increasing the effects of GABA within the brain. However, while these drugs have numerous side effects and are highly addictive drugs not suitable for long-term use, GABA in the right form is completely safe and remarkably effective without side effects.
Studies with synthetic GABA have shown that it does not cross the blood-brain barrier very well. That led to the assumption that virtually all of the GABA found in the brain is manufactured there and that supplemental GABA would not increase levels of GABA in the brain. That appears to be the case with synthetic GABA, but not with natural GABA in the form of PharmaGABA - a special form of GABA naturally manufactured from Lactobacillus hilgardii – the bacteria used to ferment vegetables in the preparation of the traditional Korean dish known as kimchi.

PharmaGaba increases alpha-wave production by the brain

Unlike chemically produced, synthetic GABA, natural PharmaGABA appears to be able to cross the blood brain barrier to produce relaxation. Research has shown that PharmaGABA increases the production of alpha brain waves (a state often achieved by meditation and characterized by being relaxed with greater mental focus and mental alertness) as well as reduce beta-waves (associated with nervousness, scattered thoughts, and hyperactivity).
PharmaGABA is approved for use in Japan as an aid to conquer stress and promote relaxation. It is a very is a popular ingredient in function foods and beverages as well as dietary supplements designed to produce mental and physical relaxation, without inducing drowsiness. The most popular applications of PharmaGABA is in chocolate and coffee beverages. It is particularly helpful in counteracting the effects of caffeine.
PharmaGABA is fast-acting, especially when it is taken in a chewable tablet. Generally, the effects are felt within the first 15 minutes, and have been shown to last up to 4 to 6 hours.

PharmaGABA is clinically proven

Clinical studies with PharmaGABA have yielded some very interesting results.2 For example, one study had subjects who were afraid of heights transverse a long walking suspension bridge that spanned a 150 foot canyon. Halfway across the bridge a saliva sample was obtained and blood pressure was determined. What the researchers were looking for in the saliva was the level of secretory IgA – an important antibody in saliva that helps fight infection. Typically, during times of stress saliva levels drop, sometimes quite precipitously. This event happened when the subjects were given a placebo, but when they were given PharmaGABA the secretory IgA levels in the saliva were maintained halfway across the bridge and actually increased upon completion of the crossing.

Suspension Bridge

Illustration: Walking across this suspension bridge is enough to give anyone a bit of anxiety. When subjects with a fear of heights were given PharmaGABA they actually experienced a relaxed state at the halfway point across the bridge. Click HERE for larger picture.

Another study with PharmaGABA demonstrated an impressive ability to improve sleep quality. The ability to feel refreshed and ready to tackle the day requires us to achieve deep levels of sleep and to stay in this deep sleep for sufficient time. Unfortunately, many people do not achieve these deep levels of sleep and conventional sleeping pills actually inhibit deep levels of sleep and disrupt normal sleep patterns causing people to wake up feeling more tired when they went to bed. That is definitely not the case with PharmaGABA.

Dosage recommendations

PharmaGABA can be used whenever someone feels a bit “stressed out.” For best results use it in a chewable tablet form at dosage of 100 to 200 mg up to three times daily. To promote a better night’s sleep take 200 to 300 mg at bedtime. PharmaGABA is completely safe and without any known adverse drug interaction, as a general guideline it is recommended to take no more than 600 mg within a 6 hour period and no more than 1,200 mg within a 24 hour period.

Key references:

J. Krystal, Sanacora G, Blumberg H, et al. Glutamate and GABA systems as targets for novel antidepressant and mood-stabilizing treatments, Mol Psychiatr 2002;7:S71–S80. Abdoua AM; Higashiguchia S, Horiea K, et al. Relaxation and immunity enhancement effects of Gamma-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) administration in humans. BioFactors 2006;26:201–208.