- Glycine is the simplest amino acid, acting as an inhibitory neurotransmitter that blocks noradrenaline release.
- It gives fast, short-term relief - best as a tool before or during a panic episode (2g under the tongue).
- It does not remove the causes of anxiety, so it is not a long-term strategy on its own.
- For durable support, vitexin (GABA-A) and Hericium erinaceus (neurogenesis) are studied as the foundation.
What is glycine for anxiety?
Glycine — the most common and structurally simplest amino acid — plays an important role in many bodily functions. Although it is not considered an essential amino acid (the body can produce it), stress and poor diet can leave it in short supply. It has been found that glycine sends a "slow down" signal to the brain, so it may help reduce anxiety and other mood disturbances.1
How does glycine work for anxiety?
Glycine works by blocking the release of the neurotransmitter noradrenaline. At the first signs of a panic attack, placing two grams of glycine powder under the tongue and letting it dissolve may dampen the physical symptoms. It also activates its own receptors in the spinal cord and brainstem, reducing muscle tension and physiological arousal, and lowers body temperature at night to aid sleep. The important point: glycine acts briefly and provides only short-term relief, so it is better suited as a fast solution for anxiety or panic episodes than as a long-term strategy — it does not remove the underlying causes of anxiety.
Which non-prescription remedies help with anxiety?
For an effective, long-term anxiety-management solution, vitexin and Hericium erinaceus are two natural allies studied with promise. The flavonoid vitexin is studied for acting on GABA-A receptors on the same principle as benzodiazepines, but without the dependence. Complementing it, the Hericium erinaceus medicinal mushroom is studied for promoting neurogenesis (the growth of new brain cells), strengthening the long-term strategy. Where glycine is the fast, short-term tool, vitexin and Lion's Mane are studied for the durable foundation. This is informational only; consult a professional, especially if you take medication.
Glycine is the fast, short-term tool; vitexin (GABA-A) and Hericium erinaceus (neurogenesis) are studied for the durable long-term foundation.
Vitexin 90 by Zenius Labs™ →Glycine is the structurally simplest amino acid, acting in the body as an inhibitory neurotransmitter. It blocks the release of noradrenaline in the brain, so it may temporarily reduce the intensity of anxiety and panic attacks. The body makes glycine, but stress and poor diet can leave it short.
No. Glycine acts briefly and is best suited as a fast-relief tool before or during a panic episode. It does not remove the causes of anxiety. For a long-term strategy, compounds that support the GABA system and nerve regeneration — such as vitexin and Hericium erinaceus — are better suited.
Place 2 grams of glycine powder under the tongue and let it dissolve slowly; if needed, you can repeat after a few minutes. In many cases, a lessening of symptoms is noticed within about 10 minutes. This is informational, not medical advice.
Glycine is a fast, short-term solution — it blocks noradrenaline release for immediate relief. Vitexin acts on GABA-A receptors on the same principle as benzodiazepines but without dependence, providing more durable support. They address different needs.
- Pétursson H The benzodiazepine withdrawal syndrome. Addiction (Abingdon, England). 1994. PubMed
- Soyka M Treatment of Benzodiazepine Dependence. The New England journal of medicine. 2017. PubMed
- O’brien CP Benzodiazepine use, abuse, and dependence. The Journal of clinical psychiatry. 2005. PubMed
- Velasquez ACA et al. Effects of Passiflora incarnata and Valeriana officinalis in the control of anxiety due to tooth extraction: a randomized controlled clinical trial. Oral and maxillofacial surgery. 2024. PubMed
- Miyasaka LS et al. Passiflora for anxiety disorder. The Cochrane database of systematic reviews. 2007. PubMed
- Grundmann O et al. Anxiolytic activity of a phytochemically characterized Passiflora incarnata extract is mediated via the GABAergic system. Planta medica. 2008. PubMed
- Nagano M et al. Reduction of depression and anxiety by 4 weeks Hericium erinaceus intake. Biomedical research (Tokyo, Japan). 2010. PubMed
- Lai PL et al. Neurotrophic properties of the Lion’s mane medicinal mushroom, Hericium erinaceus (Higher Basidiomycetes) from Malaysia. International journal of medicinal mushrooms. 2013. PubMed
- Cipriano GL et al. Beyond Neurotrophins: A Proposed Neurotrophic-Epigenetic Axis Mediated by Non-Coding RNA Networks for Hericium erinaceus Bioactives-A Hypothesis-Driven Review. International journal of molecular sciences. 2026. PubMed
- Jeanclos E et al. Improved cognition, mild anxiety-like behavior and decreased motor performance in pyridoxal phosphatase-deficient mice. Biochimica et biophysica acta. Molecular basis of disease. 2019. PubMed