Is Garum Used to Reduce Anxiety?

Garum armoricum has been found to be quite effective in reducing anxiety. Research has revealed that it is effective in treating not only those suffering from severe anxiety, but also those who are otherwise mentally healthy but suffer from mild, free-floating anxiety or anxiety related to high-pressure situations at work or school.

What is Garum and How Does it Work?

• Garum armoricum is an extract taken from the internal organs of certain deepwater bluefish commonly found off of the coast of France. Its anti-anxiety properties are thought to relate to the bluefish's ability to withstand the pressurized conditions of its deep-water domain, 1,500 feet below sea level.

  Garum Armoricum can act in a similar way to a beta blocker. However, instead of blocking the beta brain waves associated with anxiety and stressful responses, Garum releases peptides that stimulate the production of alpha brain waves associated with relaxation and meditative states. The presence of these alpha brain waves reduce the effects of stress on the consumer.

Scientific Evidence

• The anti-anxiety properties of Garum were first tested by Yalacta Laboratories in France in 1978 where it was found to be quite effective in treating patients that suffered from chronic anxiety. And later scientists at California Polytechnic State University in 1985 performed clinical trials which found that Garum was also useful in ameliorating every day anxiety and anxiety related to stressful lifestyles in those that would not otherwise need medication.

How to Take Garum to Reduce Anxiety

• Garum armoricum is taken as a long term oral supplement (for a period longer than three months). For the first two weeks, a daily 840-milligram daily intake is recommended, via two 210-milligram pills taken four times a day. After that initial period, the dose of Garum can be reduced to 630 milligrams, taken via one 210-milligram capsule, three times daily. Garum becomes optimally effective with long-term use.

  A popular commercial supplement of Garum armoricum is Stabilium, which consists of sunflower oil, lecithin and Garum and is manufactured in France.

Garum v. Valium

• Recent research (most notably a 1999 French study by the Univeriste de Lille) suggests that Garum may be more effective and desirable than other anti-anxiety prescription drugs such as Valium.

  Several clinical evaluations have found that long term use of Garum was preferable to long-term use of Valium because of its superior stimulation of alpha brainwaves. Participants also preferred Garum because long-term use of it did not produce the side effects or overall decrease in enthusiasm reported with long-term use of Valium.