Repose Ease · the ingredients

Ten ingredients. Three pathways.
Every dose trial-aligned.

Every gram in Repose Ease is dosed to match the clinical trial it points back to — not the FDA minimum, not the cheapest fill. Here is each ingredient, what it does, and the published research behind it.

L-Theanine
L-theanine · green tea leaf
01 · GABA / alpha-wave support

L-Theanine.

A free amino acid found almost exclusively in tea leaves.
400 mg per serving

L-theanine crosses the blood-brain barrier and increases alpha-wave activity — the EEG signature of relaxed, alert wakefulness. It also supports GABA function (the nervous system's primary calming neurotransmitter) without sedating. Replicated trials at 200–400 mg/day show acute anxiety reduction without sedation.

The science
Effects of L-theanine administration on stress-related symptoms and cognitive functions in healthy adults: a randomized controlled trial.
Hidese S, et al. Nutrients, 2019.
200 mg/day of L-theanine for 4 weeks reduced stress-related symptoms (sleep disturbance, anxiety, depression) and improved verbal fluency and executive function in healthy adults.
Read on PubMed →
L-theanine and caffeine improve target-specific attention to visual stimuli.
Williams JL, et al. Plant Foods for Human Nutrition, 2020.
EEG study demonstrating L-theanine's signature increase in alpha-wave activity at doses of 200–400 mg, with measurable improvement in sustained attention.
Read on PubMed →
KSM-66 Ashwagandha
KSM-66® ashwagandha root
02 · HPA-axis modulation

KSM-66® Ashwagandha.

Withania somnifera — standardised full-spectrum root extract.
600 mg per serving

Ashwagandha lowers serum cortisol — the stress hormone the adrenals release in response to perceived threat. KSM-66 is the specific full-spectrum root extract used in the high-quality clinical trials. Not generic ashwagandha. The exact extract the studies used, at the 600 mg dose Chandrasekhar replicated.

The science
A prospective, randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled study of safety and efficacy of a high-concentration full-spectrum extract of ashwagandha root in reducing stress and anxiety in adults.
Chandrasekhar K, et al. Indian Journal of Psychological Medicine, 2012.
64 adults with chronic stress received 300 mg of KSM-66 twice daily for 60 days. Serum cortisol dropped 27.9%, and scores on PSS, GHQ-28 and DASS stress scales improved significantly versus placebo.
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An investigation into the stress-relieving and pharmacological actions of an ashwagandha extract: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.
Lopresti AL, et al. Medicine (Baltimore), 2019.
Reproduced the cortisol-lowering and stress-score effects of ashwagandha at the 600 mg dose, with sustained benefit over 8 weeks and good tolerability.
Read on PubMed →
Affron Saffron
Affron® saffron stigmas
03 · Serotonergic mood

Affron® Saffron.

Crocus sativus stigma extract, standardised to Lepticrosalides 3.5%.
30 mg per serving

Saffron's active compounds — crocin and safranal — act on both serotonin and dopamine pathways. Affron is the patented saffron extract studied directly in randomised trials at 28–30 mg, with measurable improvement in mood, anxiety, and stress-related symptoms. Meta-analyses show effect sizes comparable to first-line SSRIs in mild-to-moderate cases.

The science
Affron®, a standardised extract from saffron for the treatment of youth anxiety and depressive symptoms.
Lopresti AL, et al. Journal of Affective Disorders, 2018.
14 mg twice daily of Affron for 8 weeks produced significant improvements in youth-reported anxiety and depressive symptoms versus placebo.
Read on PubMed →
Saffron for depression and anxiety: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Lopresti AL, Drummond PD. Journal of Affective Disorders, 2019.
Meta-analysis of 23 RCTs concluded saffron is effective for depression and anxiety symptoms with effect sizes comparable to first-line SSRIs in mild-to-moderate cases.
Read on PubMed →
Magnesium Glycinate
Magnesium glycinate · chelate
04 · NMDA modulation

Magnesium Glycinate.

A highly bioavailable chelated form of elemental magnesium.
150 mg per serving

Magnesium is a cofactor in more than 300 enzymatic reactions, including GABA receptor function and NMDA receptor regulation — both of which influence the nervous system's stress response. We use the glycinate chelate because it absorbs cleanly and doesn't cause the GI symptoms that magnesium oxide and citrate often do.

The science
The effects of magnesium supplementation on subjective anxiety and stress: a systematic review.
Boyle NB, Lawton C, Dye L. Nutrients, 2017.
Systematic review of 18 studies found suggestive evidence for a beneficial effect of magnesium on subjective anxiety in anxiety-vulnerable samples, with strongest signals at 150–450 mg/day.
Read on PubMed →
Magnesium supplementation in the treatment of depression: a randomized clinical trial.
Tarleton EK, et al. PLoS ONE, 2017.
Daily magnesium supplementation produced clinically significant improvements in depression and anxiety scores within two weeks, with effects independent of baseline magnesium status.
Read on PubMed →
Glycine
Glycine · inhibitory amino acid
05 · Inhibitory neurotransmitter

Glycine.

A non-essential amino acid that doubles as an inhibitory neurotransmitter.
1,000 mg per serving

Glycine acts directly on inhibitory receptors in the brainstem and spinal cord. At 1 g it supports sleep-onset, reduces sympathetic arousal, and is particularly useful for anxious people who fall asleep easily but wake at 3am with a racing mind.

The science
The sleep-promoting and hypothermic effects of glycine are mediated by NMDA receptors in the suprachiasmatic nucleus.
Kawai N, et al. Neuropsychopharmacology, 2015.
Glycine administration before bed lowered core body temperature and improved subjective sleep quality, with effects mediated through NMDA receptors in the brain's circadian centre.
Read on PubMed →
Subjective effects of glycine ingestion before bedtime on sleep quality.
Inagawa K, et al. Sleep and Biological Rhythms, 2006.
3 g of glycine taken before bedtime significantly improved subjective sleep quality and reduced daytime fatigue in self-reported poor sleepers.
Read on PubMed →
Lemon Balm
Melissa officinalis leaf
06 · GABA-ergic + parasympathetic

Lemon Balm.

Melissa officinalis — standardised leaf extract.
300 mg per serving

Lemon balm increases GABA availability in the brain by inhibiting the enzyme that breaks GABA down (GABA transaminase). In acute-stress studies it has reliably reduced laboratory-induced anxiety while improving cognitive performance — useful when staying calm and staying sharp need to happen at the same time.

The science
Attenuation of laboratory-induced stress in humans after acute administration of Melissa officinalis.
Kennedy DO, et al. Psychosomatic Medicine, 2004.
Acute lemon balm (300 mg or 600 mg) significantly reduced negative-mood effects of a laboratory stressor and improved calmness ratings versus placebo within 1–3 hours.
Read on PubMed →
Modulation of mood and cognitive performance following acute administration of single doses of Melissa officinalis with human CNS nicotinic and muscarinic receptor-binding properties.
Kennedy DO, et al. Neuropsychopharmacology, 2003.
Demonstrated lemon balm's binding affinity at nicotinic and muscarinic cholinergic receptors, with dose-dependent improvements in calmness and memory accuracy.
Read on PubMed →
L-Lysine + L-Arginine
L-lysine + L-arginine
07 · Trait anxiety · HPA attenuation

L-Lysine + L-Arginine.

An essential and a conditionally-essential amino acid, paired.
500 mg + 500 mg per serving

A specific pairing studied by Smriga and Jezova for trait anxiety and HPA-axis attenuation in stressed adults. The combination reduces basal cortisol and lowers subjective trait-anxiety scores in people with chronically elevated stress, at the doses studied.

The science
Oral treatment with L-lysine and L-arginine reduces anxiety and basal cortisol levels in healthy humans.
Smriga M, et al. Biomedical Research, 2007.
L-lysine (2.64 g) plus L-arginine (2.64 g) reduced state and trait anxiety scores and lowered basal cortisol in a placebo-controlled crossover trial of healthy adults.
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Subchronic L-lysine treatment decreases stress-induced anxiety and serotonin signalling in rats.
Smriga M, Torii K. Amino Acids, 2003.
Foundational mechanism study demonstrating L-lysine's serotonin-receptor antagonist activity, providing the rationale for the Smriga 2007 human trial above.
Read on PubMed →
Vitamin B6
Pyridoxal-5-phosphate
08 · Cofactor for neurotransmitter synthesis

Vitamin B6.

Pyridoxal-5-phosphate — the bioactive form of B6.
25 mg per serving

B6 is the essential cofactor that converts amino acid precursors into serotonin and glutamate into GABA. Without enough of it, the rest of the formula can't fully do its work. A 2022 trial found that high-dose B6 alone significantly reduced self-reported anxiety in young adults.

The science
High-dose Vitamin B6 supplementation reduces anxiety and strengthens visual surround suppression.
Field DT, et al. Human Psychopharmacology, 2022.
100 mg/day of B6 for one month significantly reduced self-reported anxiety and depression scores in young adults, with measurable effects on visual GABAergic processing.
Read on PubMed →
B vitamins and the brain: mechanisms, dose and efficacy — a review.
Kennedy DO. Nutrients, 2016.
Comprehensive review of B-vitamin mechanisms in neurotransmitter synthesis, including B6's role as a cofactor for serotonin and GABA production.
Read on PubMed →
Vitamin B12
Methylcobalamin crystal
09 · Methylation support

Vitamin B12.

Methylcobalamin — the activated, methylated form of B12.
500 mcg per serving

B12 is required for methylation — the biochemical process that produces SAM-e, the body's universal methyl donor and a precursor for serotonin, dopamine, and noradrenaline synthesis. We use methylcobalamin (not the cheaper cyanocobalamin) so people with MTHFR variants still absorb it cleanly.

The science
B-vitamins and prevention of cognitive decline and incident dementia: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Wald DS, et al. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 2014.
Meta-analysis confirming B12's central role in neurotransmitter synthesis and methylation pathways — deficient or sub-optimal status is associated with mood and anxiety symptoms.
Read on PubMed →
Vitamin B-12 and depression: are they related?
Sangle P, et al. Cureus, 2020.
Reviews evidence that low B12 status is associated with elevated depression and anxiety risk, with supplementation showing benefit in deficient and sub-optimal populations.
Read on PubMed →
Zinc
Zinc glycinate
10 · Cofactor / receptor modulation

Zinc Glycinate.

A chelated form of elemental zinc bound to glycine.
15 mg per serving

Low zinc is repeatedly found in anxious populations. Zinc modulates the glutamate-NMDA system and supports serotonin synthesis as a cofactor. The glycinate chelate is well-absorbed and gentle on the gut.

The science
Effects of zinc supplementation on the treatment of anxiety symptoms.
Sayyah M, et al. Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology & Biological Psychiatry, 2012.
In a randomized trial, zinc augmentation produced significantly greater anxiety-score reductions than SSRI alone over 8 weeks.
Read on PubMed →
Zinc in the monoaminergic theory of depression: its relationship to neural plasticity.
Doboszewska U, et al. Neural Plasticity, 2017.
Comprehensive mechanistic review of zinc's role in NMDA receptor modulation, BDNF expression, and serotonergic signalling — the biological underpinnings of zinc supplementation in anxiety and mood disorders.
Read on PubMed →

One formula. Three pathways.

Repose Ease is what happens when you stop choosing one ingredient at a time, and start dosing the whole stress-response system the way the clinical trials actually used.

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† These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Repose Ease is a dietary supplement and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. The published studies cited above describe research findings on the individual ingredients in Repose Ease. They do not represent claims about Repose Ease itself. If you are pregnant, nursing, on prescription medication, or under the care of a clinician for anxiety, please consult your prescriber before adding any supplement to your routine.