GAL Relax (60 Capsules)

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Healthy nutrition, good sleep, vitamins and minerals, exercise, regular meditation, prayer, relaxation techniques, and psychotherapy can all be highly beneficial. Fortunately, there are also natural active compounds and herbal extracts that are effective against chronic and acute stress, nervousness, and anxiety, and can be taken long-term. Often, they even provide additional benefits (e.g., improved sleep without causing daytime drowsiness, and antioxidant effects). These include lemon balm, L-theanine (an amino acid from specific types of green tea), passionflower, and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) found in certain foods and green teas.

In our Relax product, we combined these due to their complementary, synergistic effects. They all enhance the levels and effects of the calming neurotransmitter GABA in the brain—each through a different mechanism. This is important because directly taken GABA crosses the blood-brain barrier only poorly (though it can still exert indirect effects on the central nervous system through the peripheral nervous system). A shared feature of these ingredients is their support of the GABA system, but since they work differently, their GABA-boosting effects are mutually reinforcing. And beyond that, each has additional unique benefits (on dopamine, serotonin, acetylcholine, brainwaves, and cortisol levels), which not only reinforce but complement each other’s effects (synergy). The goal was to develop a product that calms and reduces stress, anxiety, and agitation without causing drowsiness when taken during the day. Let’s look at each ingredient and its effects in more detail:

Passionflower (Passiflora) Extract:

Various types of extracts exist, but interestingly, water-based extracts have been found more effective than alcohol-based ones (WHO 2007). However, water extracts fewer compounds than alcohol, so a purely water-based extract likely lacks the full spectrum of actives. That’s why we chose a predominantly water-based hydroalcoholic extract (instead of the typical 40–70% alcohol / 30–60% water mix, we use 20–30% alcohol / 70–80% water).

The main active ingredients include flavonoids (especially flavones like vitexin, isovitexin, and apigenin), indole alkaloids (β-carbolines), and oleamide. Its effects are largely due to interaction with various GABA receptors in the brain, and via oleamide, it may influence the endocannabinoid system as well.

Many clinical studies have shown passionflower to reduce nervousness and anxiety, including pre-operative anxiety in dental surgeries. It only causes drowsiness at high doses, but lower doses are already effective. A recent 2020 meta-analysis (Janda et al.) showed that the more prone someone is to anxiety, the more effective Passionflower is at reducing it. It was found to be free of side effects, but the general caution for herbal extracts still applies: Avoid during pregnancy, unless under medical supervision.

Full-spectrum Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis) Extract:

There are several varieties of lemon balm, with highly variable amounts and ratios of active ingredients. Many lemon balm extracts on the market contain little to no effective compounds, so even doses much higher than the recommended amount may be completely ineffective. That’s why we use a full-spectrum lemon balm extract derived from a specially selected strain with an optimal active compound ratio, processed naturally to preserve both the proportions and high concentrations of key ingredients. The effectiveness of such lemon balm extracts is supported by numerous clinical human studies. Although it contains many active compounds (e.g., essential oils, flavonoids), its primary effects are due to phenolic compounds, specifically hydroxycinnamic acids, such as rosmarinic acid, which are responsible for most of its calming and stress-reducing effects.

Lemon balm regulates the GABA system in at least two ways: It inhibits GABA-transaminase, the enzyme that converts GABA into excitatory glutamate—this increases GABA levels and decreases glutamate in the brain. It also stimulates specific GABA receptors.

Beyond regulating GABA, it has a lesser but notable effect on the acetylcholine system, which may support concentration and a sense of calm.

Several clinical studies confirm lemon balm’s anxiolytic and calming effects, including a 2021 meta-analysis (Ghazizadeh et al.) which found it particularly effective in acute stress situations.

However, at higher doses, it may temporarily reduce alertness or memory.
In one study, doses of 300, 600, and 900 mg of the same extract we use were tested: 300 mg increased calmness; 600 and 900 mg did as well, but also impaired memory (Kennedy et al., 2002). Later, the same team repeated the study under simulated stress conditions, confirming that only the higher doses caused drowsiness, while 300 mg improved performance under pressure (Kennedy et al., 2004).

So, we do not recommend doses exceeding 600 mg during the day, especially not while working (that would mean 4 Relax capsules—but we do not suggest taking that many at once during the day anyway).

L-Theanine:

L-Theanine is a rare amino acid found in green tea, especially in high-quality types like Gyokuro and Sencha, which are grown in the shade before harvest. It is the natural compound responsible for the distinctive taste of premium green teas—the umami flavour that the Japanese recognize as the fifth basic taste.

There are various types of L-theanine available: synthetically produced, biotechnologically created using fungi or bacteria, and naturally extracted from the specific green teas—this is the type we use.

It has a wide range of beneficial effects, including on the cardiovascular system, immune system, liver, kidneys, and metabolism, but here we focus on its impact on the nervous system, especially regarding stress, anxiety, and nervousness:

• Increases GABA activity by raising GABA levels and acting on GABA receptors;
• Lowers cortisol or blunts its rise under stress;
• Boosts serotonin and dopamine;
• Induces alpha brainwaves;
• Inhibits glutamate's excitatory effects.

Thanks to these effects, L-theanine doesn’t just calm and reduce anxiety but also improves concentration, focus, and learning ability. You might call it a calming cognitive enhancer. Let’s see a few brief highlights from clinical trials:

• Improved attention, auditory comprehension, and learning (Dassanayake et al., 2020);
• 200 mg (without caffeine) improved cognitive performance as much as 160 mg of caffeine (a strong coffee), and the effect was amplified when combined with caffeine (Kahathuduwa et al., 2017);
• Helped maintain focus and reduced mind-wandering (same research group, same year);
• Significantly improved attention, memory, and problem-solving in people aged 50–69 (Baba et al., 2021);
• Improved learning ability in young people with ADHD (Kahathuduwa et al., 2020);
• Significantly reduced stress symptoms in adults (Hidese et al., 2019);
• 250 mg daily for 8 weeks significantly reduced depression and anxiety (Takarada et al., 2016);
• Lowered both subjective stress and salivary cortisol in adults under stress (White et al., 2016).

In short: A calming cognitive enhancer.

Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid (GABA):

GABA is found in many foods—but only in small amounts. The richest sources are certain rice varieties, dark chocolate, and special green teas, though even these don’t contain much. It is one of the body’s key neurotransmitters, and higher GABA levels and activity in the brain are linked to a sense of calm, as mentioned earlier. However, oral GABA supplementation has limited ability to increase brain GABA activity directly, due to poor permeability across the blood-brain barrier. That said, GABA does affect the peripheral nervous system, which can indirectly influence the central nervous system and brain. For example, if your heart isn’t pounding during stress, you’re likely to feel calmer overall. While it was long believed that GABA can’t cross the blood-brain barrier, it is now known that it can—and numerous clinical studies show that GABA has measurable effects on the brain, significantly reducing anxiety, nervousness, and worry, and promoting calm, focused attention through enhanced alpha brainwave activity. Whether this is due to peripheral effects or central ones doesn’t really matter—the results speak for themselves. Out of the many studies, I would highlight two.

Abdou et al., 2006: A Japanese study comparing GABA to L-theanine (known for increasing alpha brainwaves). 100 mg of GABA enhanced alpha waves more strongly than 200 mg of L-theanine.

The same team also studied people with the fear of heights. Participants were asked to cross Japan’s longest suspension bridge—a narrow, swaying structure spanning 300 meters and hanging 54 meters above a ravine. Stress immediately weakens immune function, as shown by decreased salivary IgA levels. Some participants received a placebo, others received 100 mg GABA, and saliva samples were taken before, during, and after crossing the bridge. The placebo group’s IgA dropped significantly at the midpoint, while the GABA group’s levels barely fell. At the end, the placebo group’s IgA remained low, whereas the GABA group’s levels not only returned to baseline but slightly increased—suggesting both protection during stress and rapid recovery after.

A 2020 meta-analysis (Hepsomali et al.) further confirmed that GABA supplementation effectively reduces stress, anxiety, and worry, with positive effects on heart rate variability (HRV)—a key marker of resilience to stress. GABA not only prevented HRV deterioration in stress but even improved it, compared to normal baseline levels. (Hepsomali et al., 2020).

So although orally taken GABA may only partially reach the brain, it still exerts clear calming effects. Interestingly, alkaloids in passionflower have MAO-inhibiting properties, which can help GABA cross the blood-brain barrier more effectively.

There are two main types of GABA: Synthetic GABA, and the more expensive, bioidentical form produced through fermentation. We use the latter in our product.

In summary: All ingredients in Relax increase GABA levels and activity in the brain—but via different mechanisms. Moreover, each ingredient also has unique effects beyond the GABA system. When combined at recommended doses, these ingredients: do not cause fatigue or drowsiness, and enhance work performance, learning, and focus, especially under stress.

Made in the EU

Warnings

KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN. DO NOT EXCEED RECOMMENDED DOSE.

If you are undergoing treatment for a medical condition or if you are pregnant or lactating, please consult your medical practitioner before introducing supplementary foods to your normal routine. The dietary supplement should not be used as a substitute for a varied and balanced diet or a healthy lifestyle. Store tightly closed in a cool and dry place.

References:

Passiflora:

1. Kenda M, Kočevar Glavač N, Nagy M, Sollner Dolenc M. Medicinal Plants Used for Anxiety, Depression, or Stress Treatment: An Update. Molecules. 2022 Sep 15;27(18):6021. doi: 10.3390/molecules27186021. PMID: 36144755; PMCID: PMC9500625.
2. Janda K., Wojtkowska K., Jakubczyk K., Antoniewicz J., Skonieczna-żydecka K. Passiflora incarnata in Neuropsychiatric Disorders—A Systematic Review. 2020;12:3894. doi: 10.3390/nu12123894.
3. WHO and H. Passiflorae, WHO Monographs on Selected Medicinal Plants, pp. 257–267, World Health Organization Press, Geneva, Switzerland, 2007.
4. da Fonseca LR, Rodrigues RA, Ramos AS, da Cruz JD, Ferreira JLP, Silva JRA, Amaral ACF. Herbal Medicinal Products from Passiflorafor Anxiety: An Unexploited Potential. ScientificWorldJournal. 2020 Jul 20;2020:6598434. doi: 10.1155/2020/6598434. PMID: 32765195; PMCID: PMC7387951.
5. https://examine.com/supplements/passionflower/

L-Theanine:

6. Li MY, Liu HY, Wu DT, Kenaan A, Geng F, Li HB, Gunaratne A, Li H, Gan RY. L-Theanine: A Unique Functional Amino Acid in Tea (Camellia sinensis) With Multiple Health Benefits and Food Applications. Front Nutr. 2022 Apr 4;9:853846. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2022.853846. PMID: 35445053; PMCID: PMC9014247.
7. Dassanayake TL, Kahathuduwa CN, Weerasinghe VS. L-theanine improves neurophysiological measures of attention in a dose-dependent manner: a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study. Nutr Neurosci.(2020) 1–11. 10.1080/1028415X.2020.1804098 [Epub ahead of print]
8. Kahathuduwa CN, Dassanayake TL, Amarakoon AMT, Weerasinghe VS. Acute effects of theanine, caffeine and theanine-caffeine combination on attention. Nutr Neurosci.(2017) 20:369–77. 10.1080/1028415X.2016.1144845
9. Kahathuduwa CN, Dhanasekara CS, Chin SH, Davis T, Weerasinghe VS, Dassanayake TL, et al. L-theanine and caffeine improve target-specific attention to visual stimuli by decreasing mind wandering: a human functional magnetic resonance imaging study. Nutr Res.(2018) 49:67–78. 10.1016/j.nutres.2017.11.002
10. Baba Y, Inagaki S, Nakagawa S, Kaneko T, Takihara T. Effects of L-theanine on cognitive function in middle-aged and older subjects: a randomized placebo-controlled study. J Med Food.(2021) 24:333–41. 10.1089/jmf.2020.4803
11. Kahathuduwa CN, Wakefield S, West BD, Blume J, Mastergeorge A. Effects of L-theanine-caffeine combination on sustained attention and inhibitory control among children with ADHD: a proof-of-concept neuroimaging RCT. Sci Rep.(2020) 10:13072. 10.1038/s41598-020-70037-7
12. Hidese S, Ogawa S, Ota M, Ishida I, Yasukawa Z, Ozeki M, et al. Effects of L-theanine administration on stress-related symptoms and cognitive functions in healthy adults: a randomized controlled trial. (2019) 11:2362. 10.3390/nu11102362
13. Takarada T, Ogura M, Nakamichi N, Kakuda T, Nakazato R, Kokubo H, et al. Upregulation of Slc38a1 gene along with the promotion of neurosphere growth and subsequent neuronal specification in undifferentiated neural progenitor cells exposed to theanine. Neurochem Res.(2016) 41:5–15. 10.1007/s11064-015-1591-4
14. White DJ, de Klerk S, Woods W, Gondalia S, Noonan C, Scholey AB. Anti-stress, behavioural and magnetoencephalography effects of an L-theanine-based nutrient drink: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial. (2016) 8:53. 10.3390/nu8010053
15. https://examine.com/supplements/theanine/

Lemon balm:

16. Kenda M, Kočevar Glavač N, Nagy M, Sollner Dolenc M. Medicinal Plants Used for Anxiety, Depression, or Stress Treatment: An Update. Molecules. 2022 Sep 15;27(18):6021. doi: 10.3390/molecules27186021. PMID: 36144755; PMCID: PMC9500625.
17. Kennedy D.O., Scholey A.B., Tildesley N.T.J., Perry E.K., Wesnes K.A. Modulation of mood and cognitive performance following acute administration of Melissa officinalis(lemon balm)  Behav. 2002;72:953–964. doi: 10.1016/S0091-3057(02)00777-3.
18. Kennedy DO, Little W, Scholey AB. Attenuation of laboratory-induced stress in humans after acute administration of Melissa officinalis (Lemon Balm). Psychosom Med. 2004 Jul;66(4):607-13.
19. Ghazizadeh J., Sadigh-Eteghad S., Marx W., Fakhari A., Hamedeyazdan S., Torbati M., Taheri-Tarighi S., Araj-khodaei M., Mirghafourvand M. The effects of lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) on depression and anxiety in clinical trials: A systematic review and meta-analysis.  Res. 2021;35:6690–6705. doi: 10.1002/ptr.7252.
20. https://examine.com/supplements/lemon-balm/

GABA:

21. Abdou AM, Higashiguchi S, Horie K, Kim M, Hatta H, Yokogoshi H. Relaxation and immunity enhancement effects of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) administration in humans. Biofactors. 2006;26(3):201-8. doi: 10.1002/biof.5520260305. PMID: 16971751.
22. Hepsomali P, Groeger JA, Nishihira J, Scholey A. Effects of Oral Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid (GABA) Administration on Stress and Sleep in Humans: A Systematic Review. Front Neurosci. 2020 Sep 17;14:923. doi: 10.3389/fnins.2020.00923. PMID: 33041752; PMCID: PMC7527439.
23. https://examine.com/supplements/gaba/