If your interest is in general calming properties, there are three nutrients you might be interested in.

Magnesium is essential for the proper functioning of GABA receptors (the same place benzos act). More than half of all North Americans are clinically deficient in magnesium, producing a syndrome that used to be known as latent tetany. Most doctors don't recognize it as such. One symptom is anxiety. Another is mitral valve regurgitation. Another is a tendency to brochospasm (asthma). There are other signs, too. Magnesium supps can cause diarrhea if you take too much, but you'll only know if you're taking too much if diarrhea occurs. You can use any magnesium salt, but avoid magnesium oxide (it's not even a salt, technically, and it's very poorly absorbed). Magnesium taurate is particularly good (see below). You're going to want to take a minimum of 300 mg elemental magnesium a day, in divided doses, with meals. Increase by 100 mg per week until you hot 600 mg (if tolerated). Some people get drowsy from magnesium, so night-time dosing might work better.

Another nutrient with direct impact on the GABA receptor is niacinamide. Note well, not niacin. NiacinAMIDE. Niacinamide is antihistaminic. Niacin promotes histamine release (niacin flush).

Niacinamide also potentiates GABA-ergic function, and has the bonus effect of directly stimulating the GABA receptor as a GABA agonist. You can take 500 mg at a time, up to four times a day.

Finally, the amino acid taurine has amazing calming qualities (at least in this man's body). If you replaced the carboxylic acid end of GABA with a sulphonic acid group, you've got taurine. GABA and taurine are almost chemically identical, and they do the very same thing. They calm the brain, directly shutting down the excitatory effects of glutamate and acetylcholine.

1 gram of taurine does wonders for me. The effect is not like taking a benzo, it's like not needing one in the first place. I also find that 1-2 grams just before bed improves my sleep quality. Also, if I am accidentally exposed to MSG (I'm very sensitive to it), 1 gram of taurine totally eliminates the adverse effects, within minutes.

Oh, actually there's one more substance to consider. Glutamine. I know the names are confusing, but bear with me a minute. Just as with niacinamide and niacin, one is activating and the other is calming. Glutamine is calming, glutamate is activating. 1,000 mg of glutamine is a reasonable dose.

You can buy glutamine at walmart. I know you can get a variety of magnesium supps there, as well as niacinamide. All are inexpensive. Taurine is cheap cheap cheap, and is available where body builders get their supplies.

All these substances are depleted by stress. All these substances are your body's normal stress regulators, but if you use them up, anxiety and burn out will inevitably follow, unless you replenish them.

Rather than take all of them at once, it's best if you try each separately, so you get an idea how they work for you.

Lar