GABA
| Ⓒ By Jonathan Roseland |
I'm not a doctor, medical professional, or trained therapist. I'm a researcher and pragmatic biohacking practitioner exercising free speech to share evidence as I find it. I make no claims. Please practice skepticism and rational critical thinking. You should consult a professional about any serious decisions that you might make about your health. Affiliate links in this article support Limitless Mindset - spend over $150 and you'll be eligible to join the Limitless Mindset Secret Society.
This neurotransmitter is a downer as it regulates the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS) and is a double-edged sword as a Nootropic.
What is GABA?
Scientific Research
The Tranquility Molecule
Sources
Mechanism of Action
Addiction
Time Dilation
Natural Sources
Body Building
GABA as a Social Smart Drug
Gabaergic Nootropics
Recommended Daily
Cofactors
Side Effects
Conclusion
Gaba Video Playlist
This article is mostly going to focus on decoding what the human studies are saying about GABA and how this squares up with the anecdotal experiences of Biohackers online. For more of my own personal experiences, thoughts, and comparisons please see the written and video reviews in the sidebar.
What is GABA?
GABA appears both in the brain and throughout the rest of the body in the central nervous system. Smart drug junkies supplement GABA in their expensive designer Nootropic stacks or slightly less expensive DIY Nootropic mixes as it balances out the runaway train of neuronal excitability that systemic up-regulators conduct.
Imagine your state of mind as a tightrope walker, suspended between two extremes; GABA, is tranquility and restfulness inducing and the other, Glutamate is energy, creativity, motivation, and stress. To function as dynamic and robust individuals in a complex society we need both to thrive.
To paraphrase Dr. Fredrick Von Stieff, a board-certified addictionologist who has successfully facilitated over 20,000 detoxifications and author of Brain In Balance: Understanding the Genetics and Neurochemistry Behind Addiction and Sobriety:
"GABA removes the stop signs from our world"
For better or worse it liberates us of our inhibitions, basically, GABA is the metaphorical little devil on our shoulders that says "Why not?" and "What's the worst that could happen?"
Scientific Research
It has been studied exhaustively worldwide with over 3000 papers detailing human scientific research listed on PubMed.
The Tranquility Molecule
As a stand-alone supplement, its primary benefit is relaxation and the onset of tranquility, to quote a 2008 Japanese study of 13 human subjects, Relaxation, and immunity enhancement effects of [GABA] administration in humans.
GABA could work effectively as a natural relaxant and its effects could be seen within 1 hour of its administration to induce relaxation and diminish anxiety. Moreover, GABA administration could enhance immunity under stress conditions.
A 2003 University of South Carolina article shared this conclusion:
Anxiety stems from and perpetuates dysregulation of neurobiological systems, but the exact mechanisms of anxiety disorders are still only partially understood... The article concludes with further support for the role of the GABA system in anxiety by summarizing the current evidence supporting the use of novel GABAergic agents... in the treatment of anxiety disorders.
Sources
If you suffer from anxiety or chronic stress, GABA supplementation is worth split testing with some other anxiolytic Nootropics.
Ben Greenfield, in his biohacker manifesto, urges GABA supplementation post-watching a horror movie...
If you do find yourself accompanying a group of friends to the latest Halloween blockbuster, consider following it up with a dose of GABA-supporting compounds, such as passionflower extract, lemon extract, cannabidiol (CBD), or a phenibut supplement.
Downloadable GABA?
You may be interested in taking it as an infoceutical - a non-pharmacological, side-effect-free version of the supplement that takes advantage of the phenomenon of water memory - which is imprinted on water via quantum collocation and electromagnetism using this device...
Infocueticals typically have 1/3 or half the effect of the actual medicine being imprinted. If you're skeptical of Infopathy that's understandable, it's a game-changing application of a little-known scientific phenomenon. But I'd urge you to evaluate the scientific evidence (presented in my biohacker review) that downloadable medicine is no longer science fiction...
Mechanism of Action
It falls in the chemical family of amino acids. It is estimated that GABA interacts with as much as 40% of neuronal synapses in the brain.
It is absorbed via the GABA receptor, interestingly a lot of natural and unnaturally occurring substances we consume can also bind to the GABA receptor or increase the GABA levels in the brain, we refer to these as GABA agonists, GABAergic drugs, and GABA derivatives:
Addiction
GABA is of special concern to those dealing with or recovering from alcohol and drug addictions due to a cruel dynamic of neuronal economics; the chemical components of booze and certain drugs, take up GABA receptors creating a scarcity of receptor sites for the naturally occurring GABA to bind to. The result is that we need more GABA or drugs to maintain the baseline, resulting in cravings for alcohol, Benzodiazepines, or other unsustainable consumption habits.
Time Dilation
It's the "Buddha of the Brain" to quote Dr. Von Stieff. A 2014 Canadian paper, GABA predicts time perception, published in The Journal of Neuroscience stated:
There is emerging evidence that the perceived duration of subsecond intervals is driven by sensory-specific neural activity in human[s], but the mechanisms underlying individual differences in time perception remain elusive...These results demonstrate anatomical, neurochemical, and task specificity and suggest that visual cortex GABA contributes to individual differences in time perception.
Natural Sources
While GABA is synthesized in our minds from Glutamate there are a few food sources:
Prefer beverages?
Body Building
This is popular amongst bodybuilders as it regulates muscle tone and is an essential chemical cog in human growth hormone. Inside the body HGH leads to improvement in muscle growth, body fat gets reduced, helps in improving the mood, reduces pain, and stabilizes blood pressure.
To quote a 2008 study done by the Division of Athletic Training at Shenandoah University:
Our data indicate that ingested GABA elevates resting and postexercise irGH and ifGH concentrations. The extent to which irGH/ifGH secretion contributes to skeletal muscle hypertrophy is unknown, although augmenting the post exercise irGH/ifGH response may improve resistance training-induced muscular adaptations.
GABA as a Social Smart Drug
I've used GABA in various forms for years; the primary utility I find in it is as a social smart drug or alcohol alternative. It positively impacts...
- Approach anxiety
- Public speaking
- Social anxiety
- Verbal dexterity
My favorite form of GABA is without a doubt Phenibut; this antidepressant of Soviet origin has all the upsides of alcohol with almost none of its downsides. It consistently releases the charming social animal in me and banishes the bashful and awkward Jonathan for about 3 to 4 hours.
Gabaergic Nootropics
Several Nootropic ingredients have a Gabaergic mechanism of action:
These Nootropic stacks combine Gabaergic ingredients synergistically:
Recommended Daily
The recommended daily intake of GABA is between 3 to 18 grams and it depends upon the body weight and size. If you are facing insomnia then it is always good to take this supplement exactly before going to sleep. People who are suffering from any sort of anxiety-related disorders are generally recommended with 500mg to 1000mg of dosage.
Cofactors
Vitamin B6 is necessary for GABA synthesis.
Magnesium regulates the sensitivity of nerve receptors to GABA.
L-Theanine to avoid a Plateau Effect (Yet another great reason to drink green tea!)
Side Effects
GABA is designated GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe) by the FDA, GABA is very safe to supplement. Possible side effects include itching sensations, sometimes heavy breathing, and increased heart rate.
Conflicts: As per many scientific studies that have been done there are no conflicts that have been found and there are zero cases of negative drug interactions.
Conclusion
I shouldn't have to tell you that as a Biohacker, it's important to balance stimulation and relaxation. If the only supplements you've got in your cabinet are uppers, you've got a problem. Gabaergics will help you to relax in the evening and retreat from the world of competition and productivity into the domain of introspection and eventually, the restorative slumber that tomorrow demands of you.
Photos
Videos
Attachments
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GABA as a Nootropic Biohacking the Metaphorical Little Devil on Your Shoulder
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