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6 Benefits and Side Effects of Relora (Sleep, Weight Loss)

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Table of Contents

What are the benefits of Relora?

The benefits of Relora include:

  1. Reducing cortisol levels 
  2. Helping in stress response
  3. Drop in Anxiety
  4. Reduction in Sugar Cravings & Stress 
  5. Improved Sleep
  6. A potential weight loss supplement

A study conducted on the general public showed that relora has an anti-stress effect in moderately stressed individuals and could also help athletes recover from training stress generated by the psychological and physical needs of competition and exercise.

Relora is a potent blend of Chinese herbs that contains both Phellodendron emurense and Magnolia officinalis.

In the video below, Health Expert Karlene Karst gives a professional supplement review on Relora and how it can help reduce stress and help with allergic reactions:

This is our recommended Relora supplement (Amazon’s Choice):

NOW Supplements, Relora 300 mg (a Blend of Plant Extracts from Magnolia officinalis and Phellodendron amurense), 120 Veg Capsules

What are the side effects of Relora?

The most expected side effects of Relora include:

  1. Mild Hypotension
  2. Drowsiness

Uncommon side effects of relora include:

  1. Heartburn 
  2. Trembling hands,
  3. Thyroid dysfunction
  4. Sexual dysfunction

As research on the safety of taking relora is lacking, it is best to avoid it if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. It is best to confer with a dietician before adding relora to your diet.

Is Relora effective as a weight loss supplement?

Relora may be an effective weight loss agent as it primarily reduces stress, attenuates sweet cravings, and improves sleep quality. Studies have already concluded that elevated levels of the stress hormone cortisol and poor sleep play a major role in obesity. 

Further research on relora revealed that it might help obese individuals who eat in response to stress to maintain body weight. 

Does Relora improve sleep?

Relora may play a major part in improving sleep. Research on the supplement revealed that one of its active ingredients, Magnolia officinalis bark, has properties that function similarly to benzodiazepines. Benzodiazepines are commonly found in prescription medications such as Valium and Xanax. 

This herb is presumed to likely work by potentiating GABA pathways in the brain. The modulation of these pathways relieves stress, nervous tension, crankiness, concentration difficulties, and insomnia.

This herb seems to function as a sedative and a hypnotic. In addition, it probably also plays a part in balancing your circadian rhythm, the internal clock of your body that aids in regulating when you feel sleepy during the day.

When to take Relora for sleep?

If you want to take Relora for sleep, you should use 1 capsule in the evening and 1 capsule in the morning. This allows for a higher concentration of relora in your body throughout the day.

Can Relora be used for managing anxiety?

Relora can be used for managing anxiety. A review found that individuals suffering from stress-induced anxiety reported their symptoms to soothe after being administered a relora supplement. This may be because Magnolia bark, an active ingredient in relora, has been utilized for centuries in Chinese medicine to treat the state of stagnation of Qi. This condition most closely resonates with the definition of burnout. 

Studies show burnout to cause conditions such as anxiety and depression. So it can be assumed that the active ingredients in relora might also be able to manage burnout.

Does Relora have any withdrawal symptoms?

No withdrawal symptoms with Relora have been reported. The active ingredients Magnolia officinalis and Phellodendron emurense are safe to take by mouth for most people for up to six months, while the other active ingredients.

Common side effects of relora include a mild drop in blood pressure, drowsiness, and stomach problems. Reach a medical professional immediately if you undergo severe side effects while using relora.

What is the recommended dosage of Relora?

The recommended dosage of Relora for sleep is 1 capsule twice daily. It is best to take 1 capsule in the morning and 1 capsule in the evening. The therapeutic dose for relora ranges from 250-500 mg daily.

Can Ashwagandha and Relora be used together?

Ashwagandha and Relora can be used together as both herbal products are useful to aid in reducing the release of cortisol and rebuilding the adrenal glands from the damaging effects of elevated anxiety. 

By incorporating relora supplement with other stress support herbal remedies such as ashwagandha, you can create a complete stress defense supplement regimen as an effective natural approach for managing the damaging effects of day-to-day stressors.

However, it is always advised to confer with a dietician before combining supplements to avoid drug interaction and side effects.

Does Relora have interactions with other drugs?

No interactions of Relora with other drugs have been reported. Although this supplement may have unwanted additive effects when taken with other medications due to its anti-histamine and anti-anxiety properties.

However, it should also be noted that Magnolia, one of the active ingredients in relora, might slow blood clotting. Taking magnolia and drugs that also delay blood clotting might raise the chance of bleeding and bruising.

So it is advised that if an individual is on a prescription, they should confer with a dietician before adding relora into their diet.

Can Relora and Antidepressants be taken together?

Relora and antidepressants may be taken together as they might not interact. The active ingredient Magnolia officinalis only interacts with sedatives and anti-coagulants, while Phellodendron emurense only interacts with sedatives, antibiotics, and high cholesterol medication. 

Herbal supplements and antidepressants are mostly safe to consume together as most herbal supplements do not affect the function of antidepressants. However, it is still recommended to confer with a medical professional before combining any medication.

Does Relora cause a drop in blood pressure?

Relora may cause a drop in blood pressure. One study showed that individuals taking Relora reported a slight blood pressure drop, approximately 5 mm hg systolic. So for a standard blood pressure of 120/80, your blood pressure might drop to 115/80 while using Relora. 

Because most individuals suffer from high blood pressure, researchers consider this a secondary benefit. Unless you have very low blood pressure at baseline, it should also be noted that no other studies showed Relora to reduce blood pressure by a detectable degree.

Can Relora control hair loss?

Relora may be able to control hair loss. Its two active ingredients Phellodendron amurense and Magnolia officinalis, help control dehydroepiandrosterone and cortisol in the adrenal system, both hormones related to anxiety and stress that can lead to obesity and hair loss. Relora has also been shown to reduce stress-related obesity and regulate appetite.

What’s the relationship between Relora and Thyroid health?

There is no apparent relationship between Relora and Thyroid health. Although in one placebo-controlled double-blind study, an individual in the relora group reported thyroid dysfunction, heartburn, trembling hands, and sexual dysfunction. This study had 39 individuals in the relora and placebo groups combined. 

No other individual in any study on relora has reported a thyroid complication.

Are Relora and Phosphatidylserine the same thing?

Relora and Phosphatidylserine are not the same thing. Relora is a patent-pending supplement that incorporates extracts of Magnolia officinalis and Phellodendron amurense. The active ingredients in Relora contain compounds that have the same effect as benzodiazepines. Studies have shown that relora can regulate sleep, reduce stress-induced anxiety and curb unwanted and untimely eating. 

While phosphatidylserine is a phospholipid found in concentrated amounts in brain cells, phosphatidylserine is considered to play structural and active roles in muscle metabolism and immune system function. Phosphatidylserine may have a long-term capacity to modulate cortisol levels and overall exposure to stress. Initially, supplemental phosphatidylserine emanated from cows’ brains, but problems with mad cow disease have pressed manufacturers to use soy sources instead. Studies show plant-derived phosphatidylserine supplements to have cortisol-blunting abilities. 

Can Relora be used to control Cortisol?

Relora can be used to control Cortisol. This is likely the most well-known and intended advantage of using Relora. Most people suffer from a surplus of stress, leading to a well-documented decline in overall health. Stress is caused by the hormone cortisol, secreted from your adrenal glands when your body is under stress.

Usually, this reaction is a good thing. The body identifies the stressful situation and secretes cortisol to help boost energy expenditure, release glucose stores, and aids you in getting through the stressor. The issue arrives when this procedure fails to shut down or is activated constantly. Relora aids your body manage these stressful situations and also appears to have a direct effect on cortisol itself:

Research on individuals who were administered relora daily for 4 weeks showed them to have about 18% less cortisol than placebo when sampled for salivary cortisol. 

Moreover, these people also reported the following upon being compared to a placebo: 

  • Less fatigue
  • Less confusion 
  • Less depression
  • Less overall stress 

This report safely concluded that relora might help reduce cortisol and increase your energy levels.

Can Relora be used for stress relief?

Relora can be used for stress relief. Reports imply that the everyday use of Relora for four weeks decreased perceived stress and cortisol exposure while enhancing a variety of mood parameters, including:

  • A drop in anger by 42% 
  • A drop in fatigue by 31% 

Administration of relora supplementation was also able to reduce the following: 

  • Overall stress by 11%
  • Tension by 13%
  • Depression by 20%
  • Confusion by 27%

Salivary cortisol exposure was reduced by 18%, and no negative side effects were reported.

Can Relora and 5-HTP be taken together?

Relora and 5-HTP are often taken together to improve sleep quality. 

Relora is a herbal supplement used to reduce stress and anxiety. It’s often the best option for highly stressed individuals who wake up all night. It can significantly lower cortisol and raise DHEA, a hormone linked to depression and the hormone responsible for producing sex hormones, respectively, within only two weeks of usage. 

At the same time, 5-HTP is a derivative of tryptophan, a chemical found in turkey that makes you fall asleep. It also helps in the creation of serotonin. 5-HTP is more useful than tryptophan in treating sleep loss related to depression and anxiety. 5-HTP seems to increase REM sleep and reduce the amount of time required to fall asleep

Can Relora be used to treat the symptoms of Adrenal fatigue?

Relora can be used to treat symptoms of Adrenal fatigue. As reports have shown it primarily reduces stress, attenuates sweet cravings, and improves sleep quality

The symptoms of adrenal fatigue include:

  • Fatigue
  • Nervousness
  • Low blood pressure
  • Sleep disturbances
  • Craving salt and sugar

Want to know more?

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Sources

This article makes use of information from the U.S. National Library of Medicine under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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6 Benefits and Side Effects of Relora (Sleep, Weight Loss)
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