Relora is a proprietary blend of two herbs: Phellodendron amurense (P. amurense), and magnolia. Both plants are native to China and Japan. The bark of the magnolia tree contains magnolol and honokiol, two compounds shown to have anti-anxiety properties, as well as the ability to reduce allergic reaction and asthma. For more information on magnolia, please click here. Phellodendron has been shown to help in lowering both blood sugar and blood pressure as well as anti-inflammatory benefits.

For more information on P. amurense, please click here. When these two herbs are combined, they seem to greatly benefit women who are chronically stressed and are prone to stress eating, by helping them to cope with stress and lose weight. Dr. Oz has recently touted Relora as one of his "belly-blasting supplements" on his self-titled show.

Cortisol Cycling

Cortisol is one of our main stress hormones and is produced by our adrenal glands 24 hours a day. Under normal circumstances cortisol peaks within the first hour we are awake and steadily declines throughout the day, reaching its lowest point during sleep. When we experience chronic stress or anxiety, our adrenal glands release extra cortisol to help the body deal with the perceived stress. If this continues for extended periods of time, the frequent demand takes a toll on our adrenal glands and they can no longer function optimally. Then the normal daily cycling of cortisol becomes disturbed. These abnormalities in cortisol level have physical repercussions on the body, one of which is stubborn weight gain. For more information on adrenal health, please click here.

Cortisol and Weight Gain

Chronically high cortisol levels can lead to an accumulation of abdominal fat. Other effects of this condition are: slowed metabolism and digestion, lowered immune system function, increased blood pressure, and elevated blood sugar. This makes the increases in body fat very hard to get rid of through diet and exercise alone. In addition to the hormonal effects of cortisol, there are a large number of people who use food as a means of coping with stress. This can result in overeating and even binge eating during stressful periods.

Weight Loss

Relora is effective in reducing high cortisol levels, and can act as an anxiolytic: reducing anxiety and promoting relaxation without causing drowsiness. Interestingly, a 2006 study found that this formula helped healthy, overweight, premenopausal women (20-50 years of age) reduce their stress eating. They had lower levels of cortisol at the end of the day, felt more able to manage their stress, and gained significantly less weight than the control group during the study.

Other Health Benefits – Cardiovascular and Blood Sugar

Interestingly, in addition to its ability to promote weight loss, Relora has also been found to benefit cardiovascular health by lowering blood pressure, regulating blood lipids, and helping to regulate blood sugar.

How can I take Relora?

Relora can be found under many different brand names and even in combination formulas for weight loss, or adrenal support. In general the recommended dose based on the established research is 250mg three times a day, for a total dose of 750mg per day.