Study Finds Two Herbs Combine to Ease Mental Stress

by | Nov 22, 2013 | 2013, Botanicals, Relora, Stress

Written by Greg Arnold, DC, CSCS. Relora taken at 500 mg per day improved mood factors, including depression by 20%, anger by 42% and fatigue by 31%. 

Chronic psychological stress has been referred to as “the modern day hidden epidemic”, costing our healthcare system $42 billion per year and expected, according to the World Health Organization, to be the second leading cause of disability by 2050 (1). Chronic psychological stress is known to decrease quality of life (2) and increase the risks for a number of diseases that include depression, diabetes, and obesity (3, 4, 5).

Current medical interventions for stress and anxiety rely primarily on the use of antidepressant medications such as benzodiazepines and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (6, 7). But with an epidemic of overprescribing antidepressants (8), the need for a more natural approach to handling stress is needed. Now a new study (9) suggests that Relora, a combination of the two herbs Magnolia officinalis and Phellodendron amurense, may help with mental stress.

In the study, 56 subjects received either 500 mg of Relora (250-mg capsule taken twice daily) or placebo per day for 4 weeks. Researchers measured body weight and body fat percentage as well as psychological mood with a Profile of Mood States Survey (10). This survey consisted of 65 adjective-based intensity scales categorized into the six mood factors (tension, depression, anger, fatigue, vigor or confusion). Finally, cortisol levels were measured through saliva samples at 6 am, 2 pm, and 10 pm on the days before and after the study.

After the 4 weeks of supplementation, salivary cortisol levels were 18% lower in the Relora group compared to placebo (0.525 vs. 0.642 micrograms/milliliter (ml), p < 0.05). While those in the Relora group had an 11% better overall mood, they also experienced (p < 0.05):

– 13% less tension

– 20% less depression

– 42% less anger

– 31% less fatigue

– 27% less confusion

– 18% greater vigor

When suggesting how Relora may elicit these improved mental health benefits, the researchers pointed to an antioxidant in magnolia bark called honokiol (11, 12) and berberine in Phellodendron (12) as possessing anti-stress, anti-anxiety, and cortisol-lowering effects (13). They concluded that “daily supplementation with a combination of Magnolia and Phellodendron (Relora) is an effective natural approach to the detrimental health effects of chronic stress.”

Source: Talbott, Shawn M., Julie A. Talbott, and Mike Pugh. “Effect of Magnolia officinalis and Phellodendron amurense (Relora®) on cortisol and psychological mood state in moderately stressed subjects.” Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition 10.1 (2013): 37.

©  Talbott et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. 2013 Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)

Click here to read the full text study.

Posted August 26, 2013.

Greg Arnold is a Chiropractic Physician practicing in Hauppauge, NY. You can contact Dr. Arnold directly by emailing him at PitchingDoc@msn.com or visiting his web site at www.PitchingDoc.com

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