Relora® is a proprietary blend of extracts from Magnolia officinalis and Phellodendron amurense. It has been marketed as a supplement to help reduce stress, anxiety, and support healthy cortisol levels, thereby potentially influencing the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) response. Several small clinical studies have assessed Relora® for its effects on stress markers and perceived stress. For example, a randomized, placebo-controlled trial by Kalman et al. (2008) found that participants taking Relora® for four weeks reported reduced perceived stress and lower salivary cortisol compared to placebo. Another study (Talbott et al., 2013) reported that Relora® supplementation led to improvements in mood state and reductions in transient anxiety. However, these studies are limited by small sample sizes, short durations, and often funding or conflicts of interest from the supplement industry.

While some evidence suggests Relora® may modulate cortisol and stress responses—processes involving the SNS—the overall quality and quantity of scientific evidence is modest. There is no strong or widespread traditional use of the specific Relora® combination for sympathetic nervous system support, as it is a modern proprietary blend. Thus, current justification for its use in supporting the sympathetic nervous system is based on preliminary scientific findings, which warrant further, more rigorous research before strong conclusions can be made.