5 Studied & Proven Benefits of Relora + Who Should use It

5 Studied & Proven Benefits of Relora + Who Should use It

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Evidence-Based

Are you suffering from stress, insomnia, anxiety, or intense food cravings?

If so then Relora may be an answer to your problems. 

Relora is a set of 2 distinct herbal remedies that have proven efficacy in treating multiple conditions. 

These effects extend beyond targeting stress and may help with weight loss as well. 

Learn the benefits of Relora and discover if this supplement is right for you: 

What is Relora?

Relora is a powerful combination of Chinese herbs that includes both Phellodendron emurense (1) and magnolia officinalis (2).

For centuries these herbs have been effectively used to help manage stress, reduce anxiety and ​help improve sleep. 

More recently these herbs have been the focus of several studies which have scientifically proven their benefit: 

Relora on mood and stress

These documented benefits result from the direct interaction that these herbs have on hormone systems in the body and on anti-inflammatory pathways. 

One of the most interesting of these benefits is how Relora interacts with the stress response and how it can help with weight loss. 

5 Benefits of using Relora

#1. Reducing Cortisol Levels and Alleviating the Stress Response

This is probably the most well-known and intended benefit of using Relora.

Nowadays most people suffer from an excess of stress which leads to a well-documented decline in overall health.

The hormone cortisol is secreted from your adrenal glands when your body is under any sort of stress.

Have you been stuck in traffic recently?

Have you had a fight with a spouse or loved one?

Have you had a few nights of restless sleep?

All of these may trigger the release of cortisol from your body from the physiologic stress that each of these situations may cause. ​

Normally this response is actually a good thing. 

Your body recognizes the stressful situation and releases cortisol to help increase energy expenditure, release glucose stores and help you get through the stressor. 

The problem comes when this system fails to shut down or is activated constantly. 

So how does Relora fit in?

Relora helps your body manage these stressful situations and also appears to have a direct effect on cortisol itself: ​

relora reduces salivary cortisol

Patients who took Relora daily for 4 weeks were shown to have approximately 18% less cortisol than placebo when salivary cortisol was tested. 

In addition, patients who took Relora were also reported to have less fatigue, less confusion, less depression, and less overall stress when compared to placebo (3).

Perhaps, more importantly, is that these people also reported an improvement in their overall mood and an 18% increase in “vigor”. 

The bottom line?

Using Relora may help reduce cortisol and increase your energy levels. ​

#2. Reduction in Anxiety

Anti-depressants are commonly used to treat both Anxiety and Depression in the U.S. 

It’s estimated that more than 10% of the entire American population is taking one or more antidepressant drugs. 

Put into simple figures this is around 27 million people! 

The truth is that many people suffering from depression may actually be suffering from overexertion related to high demands and high-stress environments. 

The treatment should always be to change the environment, but sometimes that just isn’t possible. 

For instance:

You may not be able to quit your job, but you can take an antidepressant to try and cope with it.

Magnolia bark (which is an active component of Relora) has been used for centuries in Chinese medicine to treat the condition of “stagnation of Qi“. 

​The symptoms associated with this condition mimic closely the westernized definition of “burnout”.

Burnout is known to trigger psychiatric (4) conditions such as anxiety and depression in many people. 

This anxiety stems from the inability to “shut down” or “slow down” your racing thoughts due to the over-activity of the sympathetic nervous system. 

This may lead to heart palpitations, insomnia, hot flashes/warm flushes, panic attacks, and generalized anxiety. 

While these symptoms are likely caused by multiple factors, one such factor is sensitivity to cortisol receptors in the body. 

Each person is unique in how they react to certain levels of cortisol, but those who tend to suffer from anxiety from elevated stress (5) may find benefit in using Relora to help “soothe” their symptoms. 

#3. Reduction in Sugar Cravings & Stress 

Another potential benefit of using Relora is that it may alter food cravings triggered by stress. 

We all know that some people suffer from food cravings more than others. 

Certain people tend to lose weight when under stress and others tend to turn to food.

Cravings while under stress are known to lead to weight gain.

Relora has been shown in small pilot studies to reduce the impact and degree of food cravings as a result of stress.

The participants in this study did NOT gain weight compared to the controls who did gain an average of 6-8 pounds during the stressful event.

It seems that this benefit may extend to only certain people, but it’s worth exploring if you struggle with food cravings and weight gain while under stress.

#4. Improved Sleep

The active ingredients of Relora, especially the Magnolia officinalis bark have been shown to have properties (6) that act in a similar way to benzodiazepines.

Benzodiazepeines include prescription medications such as Xanax and ​Valium. 

​It is suspected that this herb likely works by potentiating GABA pathways in the brain. 

The modulation of these pathways then results in a reduction in stress, nervous tension, irritability, concentration difficulties, and sleeplessness.

It appears that this herb is acting both as a sedative and as a hypnotic (to help you sleep).

In addition, it likely also plays a role in balancing your circadian rhythm (7) which is the internal clock in your body that helps regulate when you start to wind down each day. 

#5. Potential for Weight Loss

While I wouldn’t suggest taking Relora if weight loss is your primary goal, it still does have several benefits that might increase weight loss if used as part of a comprehensive weight loss plan.

We know that weight gain is multifactorial, meaning you gain weight from multiple causes.

Of the known causes, several are important to this discussion:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3632337/

Obviously, there are many more factors not listed here, but it’s worth pointing out that Relora may influence each of the known factors listed above. 

Through its effects on improving the quality and depth of your sleep, reducing food cravings, and helping reduce stress and cortisol it is possible that Relora can be used as part of a weight loss plan. 

The real point here is that Relora should NOT be used by itself for weight loss as the studies in this area are lacking. 

You can compare this idea to supplements such as fish oil, berberine, or alpha lipoic acid which have been shown in studies to help with weight loss. 

Who should use Relora?

Should you jump into using Relora?

Like other supplements, you should try to target your supplementation to make sure that it works best for your body.

I recommend looking at the list of symptoms below for which Relora has been shown to have efficacy.

If you have 2 or more symptoms on the list below then taking Relora daily may help you. ​

Patients that may benefit from Relora include:

  • People who don’t tolerate stress very well (or who used to tolerate stress but no find themselves very sensitive to it)
  • Those with the symptoms of adrenal fatigue
  • People who suffer from a racing mind at night or those with anxiety that prevents them from sleeping
  • People with food cravings or the inability to refuse certain foods
  • People with depression and/or anxiety can consider using Relora as an additional therapy to anti-depressants
  • People with high cortisol levels, especially high salivary cortisol levels
  • People who suffer from tension, depression, anger, fatigue, confusion, or a lack of vigor

How to Supplement with Relora + The Best Relora Supplement

  • Start with 1 capsule twice daily
  • Take 1 capsule in the morning and 1 capsule no later than 5 pm at night. 
  • If using Relora for sleep you can use 1 capsule in the evening and 1 capsule in the morning (this will allow a higher concentration in your body throughout the day). 
  • The therapeutic dose for Relora ranges from 250mg to 500mg daily.
  • *Note: Some patients experience an increase in energy when taking Relora so don’t use it at night if this happens to you. 

Does Relora have Side Effects?​

Relora as a supplement is generally well tolerated.

Because Relora may be influencing cortisol levels in your body there may be some mild side effects for some people (though not everyone is likely to experience any side effects).

According to some sources over 80 million doses of Relora have been taken in the U.S. and there have been no major adverse side effects reported.

This leaves Relora with a pretty good track record!

Having said that, some mild side effects may include:

  • Drowsiness –> I wouldn’t necessarily list this as an adverse effect because most people take the supplement to help sleep at night. Even so, this side effect wears off after a few days of use. 
  • Small drop in blood pressure –> One study showed that people taking Relora experienced a small drop in blood pressure, about 5mmhg systolic. So for a regular blood pressure of 120/80, your blood pressure might fall to 115/80 while using Relora. Because most people suffer from high blood pressure this might actually be another benefit unless you have very low blood pressure at baseline. It’s worth noting that other studies did NOT show that Relora reduced blood pressure (11) to a noticeable degree. 
  • Gastrointestinal issues –> Some people have reported diarrhea at extremely high doses. 

​Because Relora may share similar pathways as certain medications such as Benzodiazepines it is not a good idea to take both Relora and those types of medications.

Adding Relora to other Supplements​

Lastly, it’s worth pointing out that while Relora has many benefits on its own, it can also be combined with other supplements for added benefit.

This is particularly true if it is added to supplements such as adrenal adaptogens such as Ashwagandha

Why?

Because adrenal adaptogens have also been shown to normalize cortisol levels through a different mechanism than Relora. 

This presents an opportunity for synergistic effects between the two supplements.

I have also found that using Relora in combination with other herbs improves the effects of reducing food cravings, releasing anxiety, and increasing energy.

​You can find more about using Relora in combination with other supplements here

Back to you

Bottom line?

Relora is a powerful supplement that may help you tolerate stress, improve the depth and quality of your sleep, reduce anxiety, banish food cravings and potentially help with weight loss.

​To get these benefits you will need to use 250 to 500mg of Relora each day for up to 4 weeks. 

Now I want to hear from you:

Have you used Relora before?

Did it work for you? Why or why not?

Leave your comments below! ​

#1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7997475

#2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1336574

#3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3750820/

#4. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25030412

#5. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/labs/articles/11205422/

#6. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4023459/

#7. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2359758/

#8. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16353426

#9. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3632337/

#10. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2892765/

#11. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2359758/

5 benefits of relora that you should know about

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About Dr. Westin Childs

Hey! I'm Westin Childs D.O. (former Osteopathic Physician). I don't practice medicine anymore and instead specialize in helping people like YOU who have thyroid problems, hormone imbalances, and weight loss resistance. I love to write and share what I've learned over the years. I also happen to formulate the best supplements on the market (well, at least in my opinion!) and I'm proud to say that over 80,000+ people have used them over the last 7 years. You can read more about my own personal health journey and why I am so passionate about what I do.

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#1. Get my free thyroid downloads, resources, and PDFs here.

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45 thoughts on “5 Studied & Proven Benefits of Relora + Who Should use It”

  1. I am definitely going to try this. I do have some of the symptoms you list and staying asleep is my biggest issue – hoping this may help. I go to sleep quickly, but often sleep walk or wake up a few times in the night. so frustrating and exhausting!

    Reply
    • Hi Andrea,

      As you likely know, many variables can interfere with sleep. But if it’s related to stress and or cortisol dysregulation then this supplement may help.

      Reply
  2. Hello I have used relora while I was chronically fatigued two years ago. Relora was my life saver. I recently took a break to add other supplements. My doctor told me to take a break every now and then to keep up it’s effectiveness. Also my liver numbers where high and wasn’t sure if too many supplements was the cause.

    Thank you for your blog I really appreciate the information!

    Anita Revilla

    Reply
      • Can relora help with Pots syndrome? Their So many issues with pots ! I was just curious to know if it may help balance the blood pressure out ? Or help with the narrowing of the blood vessels! I need something to work. Thanks

        Reply
      • I have Been taking Relora about 930 at night. Some nights I sleep all through the night and some nights I feel stimulated by it? Wondering If I should try it earlier

        Reply
  3. I noticed my mood lightened and my sense of humor came back while taking 400 mg of Relora daily. And this was after the first dose! Now waiting for four weeks for it to kick in. Loving it!

    Reply
  4. Thank you for your extensive information on Relora. This is very helpful. I was just wondering whether it should be taken away from other supplements and food?
    Thank you.
    With kind regards
    Stellalucia

    Reply
  5. I’m definitely going to try this. According to saliva testing, my cortisol levels start elevating around 10 pm at night. Based on this information, do you have any other suggestions on dosage?

    Reply
  6. My cortisol levels shot up dramatically about two years ago. I have gained more than 10 pounds since then. I started Relora last week and haven’t been able to sleep well at all since. I’m going to try taking it in the mornings and see if I can get the benefits without the insomnia!

    Reply
      • I’ve PTSD science 2017. I’ve used a Prozac for six months and cut it off. I think I can cope with stress with Relora but I wonder if it’s good for hair loss related to stress.

        Reply
  7. Thank you for your informative article. Is there any concern with taking an antihistamine such as Benadryl while taking Relora?
    Thank you

    Reply
  8. Good afternoon,

    On the label it says not to take Relora-Plex for more than 6 weeks. I have been taking it for 3 months. Could this be a problem ? Thank you

    Reply
    • Hi Marie,

      I’m not familiar with Relora-Plex so I can’t comment. My recommended supplement can be used indefinitely without any issue.

      Reply
  9. I have taken Relora in the past and had good success with it. I stopped taking it while pregnant. My baby is 15 months now and I’m still breastfeeding but want to resume taking it. Is it safe to take while nursing?

    Reply
  10. Hello, can you explain the difference between taking Relora before 5pm and taking it at night? How many hours does it take to kick in? My aim is to lower cortisol so I sleep better as I usually have a racing mind/anxiety dreams during a very light sleep. Thank you.

    Reply
  11. Hi Dr. Childs,
    I know this is an old post…but can you tell me if Relora can be taken long term? It has helped so much with anxiety, nervousness and has helped tremendously for coming off of SSRI. I have been taking it only for 2 weeks and the benefits are huge!
    thank you!

    Reply
  12. Definitely seeing a change experiencing calming effects. I also want weight loss. I started it originally for thyroid disease and weight loss… So for anyone reading this- you’re going to lose weight cause it flushes your bowels almost immediately so caution and don’t mistake gas for an accident!!! Overall the good weighs out the bad in my opinion. Good luck

    Reply
  13. I am on 4 mg daily Valium and can’t get off. Anytime I try I get very I’ll have terrible adrenaline surges. Could Relora help with getting off Valium. Just replacing one for the other.

    Reply
  14. I know Relora calm good for stress and mood. Is this good for chemical imbalances? How late do I take the second dose?

    Reply
    • Hi Steve,

      Some people see success in that area but I think it largely depends on the person. You can use 1-2 doses pretty much at any time of the day and I have many people who use it right before bed without any issue.

      Reply
  15. I take 400 mg before bed for light sleep/restlessness. Does nothing. It’s been 3 weeks. So disappointed. If I combine with Berberis, better luck?

    Reply
    • Hi Eileen,

      I wouldn’t really refer to Relora as a true sleep aid even though it can help sometimes. If that’s your major issue, though, there are probably better options. In addition, it can take a good 6 weeks to really take effect so you aren’t quite to the point where you could say it works or not.

      Reply
  16. Can you take Relora if your on blood pressure pills 5mg I’ve managed to keep my blood pressure were it should most times ..
    Thank you

    Reply
  17. Is this okay to take with lamictal and respiradone? Trying to wean off something because I cannot get a decent night’s sleep. Have bipolar and many hospitalizations with only traditional meds. Thank you.

    Reply

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