Kava vs L-Theanine for anxiety
Short answer: For anxiety, users rate them about the same: 93% report improvement with Kava (196 reports) and 91% with L-Theanine (1289 reports).
Kava has 41 meta-analyses and 37 randomized trials on PubMed; L-Theanine has 18 and 78.
Based on 431 reports about Kava and 3,475 about L-Theanine. Not medical advice.
| Kava Supplement | L-Theanine Supplement | |
|---|---|---|
| Users say it helped | 63%helped224 reports · high confidence | 65%helped1,807 reports · high confidence |
| Verdict | Mostly positive | Mostly positive |
| Research | AResearch: Strong | AResearch: Strong |
| Meta-analyses / RCTs | 41 / 37 | 18 / 78 |
| Mainly used for | ||
| Anxiety % reporting improvement | 93% (196) | 91% (1289) |
| Focus % reporting improvement | 67% (6) | 88% (501) |
| Sleep % reporting improvement | 86% (37) | 78% (370) |
| Mood % reporting improvement | 80% (35) | 77% (223) |
| Energy % reporting improvement | 50% (2) | 68% (97) |
| Common side effects | drowsiness, liver damage, stomach issues, irritability | drowsiness, vivid dreams, fatigue, headache |
| Typical dose reported | 60 mg kavalactone equivalent / daily | 200 mg / bedtime |
Numerous interactions between herbal medicines and conventional drugs have been documented. While the significance of many interactions is uncertain, several interactions, particularly those with St John's wort, may have serious clinical consequences.
Drugs, 2009 ↗“I felt insanely relaxed, any anxiety was dropped to 0, and I could think more clearly.”
This meta-analysis provides evidence that theanine plus caffeine, and theanine alone, could be beneficial for cognitive and mood outcomes. More research using tea beverages or tea-equivalent bioactive doses and research in free-living participants is needed.
Nutr Rev, 2025 ↗“This morning was my first time taking this combination along with my other daily vitamins and wow, what a difference it has made in my overall mood and anxiety!”
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Percentages come from first-hand user reports and are not clinical outcomes. Talk to a doctor before starting, stopping or combining anything. How we rate