Find a therapist to help with ADHD

The amino acid L-theanine may improve ADHD through several mechanisms of action.

A growing body of evidence supports L-theanine's use as a therapeutic agent.

Benefits include improved attention, clearer thinking, and better ability to respond to relevant information.

Some fortune-tellers predict your future by “reading” the tea leaves at the bottom of a cup. Well, if you have attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), your future might include a lot more focus and clarity—because of tea. Specifically, because of L-theanine, a unique compound in tea leaves. Sit down with a cup of tea, and let me explain…

ADHD has a range of symptoms, but for many, it’s primarily a disorder of attention: the inability to focus, to concentrate, and to plan, stick with, and complete tasks.

Over 30 years of clinical experience, I’ve found that targeted nutritional supplementation—with nutrients, food extracts, and other natural compounds can improve attention in both children and adults with ADHD. (In fact, I’ve written an entire book on the subject: Finally Focused, which was published in an updated edition in September 2026.)

Hundreds of other clinicians are reporting similar results. And a growing body of scientific research supports this clinical finding.

One of those attention-improving compounds is an extract of L-theanine, an amino acid mainly found in tea, whether it’s green, black, white, or oolong. L-theanine also shows positive effects on cognitive performance, sleep, and stress, each important in treating ADHD.

I think this amino acid has such a broad range of effects because it acts through multiple pathways in the brain.

It helps communication between brain cells by regulating the neurotransmitter glutamate. It helps shield neurons from the free radicals that cause oxidative damage. It boosts brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a compound that protects neurons from harm, helps neurons create new........

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