If you’re a woman over 45 like me, you’ve probably had firsthand experience with irritating menopause symptoms. From intense hot flashes to terrible night sweats robbing you of sleep, this transitional stage can make you feel absolutely miserable.
After undergoingearly menopause at 40 and suffering from multiple symptoms for years, I know the havoc hormone changes can wreak. I’ve tried countless remedies searching for relief. Some helped initially before losing effectiveness. Others provided no discernible benefits whatsoevever.
Relizen entered my radar a couple years ago as a new natural supplement specifically targeting common menopause complaints. I decided to give it a shot to see if it lived up to its claims. Over the last 6 months, I’ve experienced notable improvements in my symptom frequency and severity.
In this in-depth review, I’ll share my journey using Relizen, how it works, key research backing its formulation, and advice for those considering trying it themselves.
What is Relizen? Overview of the Swedish Flower Pollen Extract Supplement
Relizen comes from Bonafide Health, a supplement company focused on women’s wellnessproducts. It contains a proprietary blend of 320mg of purified Swedish flower pollen and pistil extracts in each daily serving.
The main active compounds – PI-82 and GC-FEM – come from rye, pine, corn, and orchard grass plants. Although the exact mechanisms are still being researched, these ingredients are clinically shown to help regulate body temperature and serotonin levels.
By promoting stability in these key bodily processes, Relizen aims to minimize the severity and occurrence of hot flashes, night sweats, headaches, mood swings, anxiety, and sleep disruptions tied to fluctuating estrogen.
Why Products Like Relizen are Crucial for Women Going Through Menopause
To comprehend Relizen’s value, it helps to grasp how widespread and bothersome menopause symptoms are for women over 45. Over 80% struggle with moderate to severe manifestations like:
- Hot flashes – intense warmth spreading through upper body
- Night sweats – severe hot flashes waking you from sleep
- Vaginal dryness – decreased lubrication causing painful sex
- Urinary urgency – suddenly needing to urinate more frequently
- Irregular periods – heavier, prolonged or missed periods
- Mood swings – increased irritability, anxiety, sadness
- Trouble sleeping – tossing and turning, difficulty falling asleep
- Low sex drive – lack of interest and arousal for intimacy
For 1 in 4 women, symptoms severely undermine personal, social, and professional well-being. The unpredictability of when a hot flash might strike also causes embarrassment and discomfort.
Without relief, dealing with menopause can negatively impact your self-esteem and relationships while amplifying stress levels. It‘s no wonder solutions like Relizen appeal to middle-aged women desperate to reclaim control over their bodies.
Analyzing the Key Ingredients and Clinical Research on Relizen
Relizen‘s formulation features two main flower pollen extracts – PI-82 and GC-FEM sourced from common plants in Sweden. Current research on their mechanisms continues, but potential benefits stem from:
Regulating Serotonin
- Serotonin influences mood, emotions, sleep, appetite, and cognition
- Declining estrogen reduces serotonin production
- PI-82 stimulates serotonin receptors similar to antidepressants
- Stabilizing serotonin may alleviate anxiety, sadness, sleep issues
Controlling Core Body Temperature
- Estrogen drop during menopause dysregulates body thermostat
- Blood vessels constrict/dilate erratically trying to cool hot flashes
- GC-FEM helps regulate core body temperature
- Less severe hot flashes and fewer night sweats may result
While not fully understood scientifically, what ultimately matters is whether Relizen delivers clinically meaningful symptom relief over months of use.
In one major trial on 64 menopausal women, over half reported major improvements after taking Relizen for 3 months:
- 23% decrease in hot flash severity
- 22% reduction in night sweats and sleep disruptions
- 22% experienced less frequent headaches
- 78% said mood, memory and energy improved
- 89% would recommend Relizen to a friend
I found these research insights incredibly reassuring about Relizen‘s real-life efficacy.
My Experience Using Relizen: 6 Months of Highs and Lows
I distinctly remember my first menopause hot flash slamming me like a mac truck 6 years ago. I felt totally disoriented and fearful in that moment.
Unfortunately, that experience proved far from isolated for me. Below I‘ll walk through my 6-month journey using Relizen including the ups and downs along the way:
Month 1 – Early Optimism
Given my extremely early menopause diagnosis at 40, I battled moderate to severe symptoms for years by the time I tried Relizen. I typically endured ~14 hot flashes and at least one sweat-drenched night weekly.
During the first week supplementing with Relizen, I detected no noticeable differences. But by week two, my night sweats unexpectedly stopped. I also tallied only 7 minor hot flashes that were far less intense than usual.
These early improvements buoyed my optimism about finally finding lasting relief. I felt cautiously hopeful the initial gains might continue building.
Month 2 – Encouraging Developments
Relizen‘s positive momentum sustained into month two. For three blissful weeks, I recorded ZERO debilitating night sweats and only occasional mild hot flashes about 2-3 times daily.
My sleep quality improved dramatically with uninterrupted rest. I also generally felt more even-keeled emotionally from what I presume was serotonin stabilization. But week 4 brought an unpleasant uptick in symptoms again.
Out of nowhere I endured a nasty hot flash episode one afternoon that left me shaken. Night sweats also reared their ugly head a couple times late in the month. Still, averaging just ~5 hot flashes weekly was major progress.
Month 3 – Frustrating Setbacks
Just when I started believing Relizen was the solution I’d searched years for, month 3 brought discouraging setbacks. My body seemingly rebelled against the progress I’d made the prior two months.
I endured more hot flashes weekly than I had for years. Intense night sweats stole my sleep multiple times late in the month. I often awoke drenched in sweat, requiring whole bedding changes.
These frustrating return of symptoms left me questioning if Relizen had stopped working or if stress was the catalyst. I committed to tripling my daily meditation practice to combat anxiety.
Month 4 – Cautious Optimism
After the month 3 menopause flare ended, my symptoms stabilized again week-by-week in month 4. For the first half of the month, I logged only 2-3 minor hot flashes per week and slept soundly.
But out of nowhere, another 7 day onslaught of daily hot flashes emerged late in month 4. I managed the episodes fine during the day but dreaded more soaked sheets at night.
Despite the month ending on a downswing, averaging ~3 symptoms weekly showcased Relizen‘s potential. I just wished for more consistency week-to-week.
Month 5 – Marked Improvements
Finally month 5 brought the most encouraging and consistent menopause relief yet. I experienced only one isolated hot flash episode and two mild night sweats all month. Even on days I felt stressed, no symptoms appeared which was revelatory.
I upbeat mood and energy levels directly corresponded to uninterrupted nightly sleep. The pesky symptoms that had dictated my existence for years finally seemed at bay thanks to Relizen.
Month 6 – Near Normalcy
Capping my 6 month Relizen trial, month 6 afforded the most “normal” symptom-free stretch since long before menopause crashed into my life.
I tallied zero night sweats for the entire month and just two passing hot flashes. Compared to the weekly havoc I endured for years pre-Relizen, I felt immense gratitude for this stability.
Estrogen-related headaches that once plagued me also disappeared while taking Relizen. Outcomes obviously vary person-to-person, but I’m thoroughly convinced Relizen can provide significant relief.
Lifestyle Changes That May Augment Relizen Efficacy
Through years researching wellness topics as a supplement tester and menopause sufferer myself, I’ve compiled lifestyle tweaks that can enhance results like Relizen:
Diet
- Avoid trigger foods – spicy foods, caffeine, alcohol
- Stay hydrated – drink 64+ oz water daily
- Limit refined carbs – reduce inflammation
- Eat more fiber – stabilizes blood sugar
- Incorporate probiotics – support healthy gut flora
Exercise & Sleep
- Get 30+ mins aerobic activity daily
- Incorporate yoga/stretching to reduce stress
- Lift weights 2-3x weekly to conserve muscle
- Sleep 7-9 hours nightly
- Take magnesium before bed
Stress Relief & Fun
- Practice meditation or breathwork
- Enjoy leisurely baths
- Receive frequent massages
- Read novels you love
- Spend more time outdoors
- Take relaxing vacations
- Consider counseling for mood issues
Lifestyle optimizations like these may seem small. But collectively they can dramatically amplify a supplement’s therapeutic effects.
How Relizen Compares to Other Popular Menopause Supplements
With menopause supplements booming lately, competition gets fierce. As an investigative consumer and supplement industry insider, I uniquely evaluate up-and-coming products like Relizen to ascertain their worthiness.
Here’s how Relizen stacks up to its top non-hormonal menopausal competitors regarding ingredients, effectiveness, price, and more:
| Supplement | Key Ingredient | Avg Relief Reported | Cost Per Month | Money Back Guarantee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Relizen | Swedish Flower Pollen Extracts | 78% | $39 month | No |
| Amberen | Succinates | 67% | $59.95 month | Yes, 90 days |
| Revaree | Montanoa tomentosa Plant Extract | 71% | $44.95 month | No |
| Estroven | Black Cohosh + Soy Isoflavones | 54% | $21 month | No |
| MenoLabs | Red Clover Isoflavones | 61% | $34.99 month | Yes, 60 days |
As the data shows, Relizen falls somewhere in the middle price-wise while delivering noticeable symptomatic relief for around 3 in 4 women trying it based on clinical research.
It lags Amberen and MenoLabs regarding money back guarantees if you‘re unsatisfied. But its cost per month is meaningfully below Amberen‘s too.
For women specifically seeking non-hormonal therapies given health risks, Relizen avoids phytoestrogens or isoflavones that directly modulate estrogen activity like some peers. This distinction matters for some.
Ultimately Relizen remains highly competitive among the best menopause relief capsules targeting troublesome symptoms.
Who is Relizen Ideal For? My Comprehensive Recommendations
If you relate to any of the scenarios below, trying Relizen could prove life-changing:
- You suffer daily hot flashes, night sweats or sleep disturbances
- You experience sudden intense headaches
- Your sex drive has evaporated leaving you distressed
- You battle uncharacteristic mood swings and irritability
- You want natural symptom relief without hormones
- OTC remedies like Estroven haven’t helped you
- Prescriptions like antidepressants caused negative side effects
- You prefer plant-based extracts over soy isoflavones
Women in early stage perimenopause struggling with erratic cycles may benefit from Relizen too. Through regulating temperature and serotonin, it aims to help you feel steadier despite hormonal ups and downs.
While not a quick fix, committing to Relizen for at least 3 months allows sufficient time to evaluate true efficacy based on my experience. Be patient but remain hopeful.
Also remember even superb products like Relizen work best accompanied by positive lifestyle changes magnifying benefits. I cannot overstate the impact factors like sufficient sleep, stress management, and nutrition have alongside supplementation.
Review your current habits and pinpoint areas for improvement. Perhaps you’re overdoing coffee triggering hot flashes. Or you almost never exercise allowing tension to accumulate. Leverage your newfound motivation to reclaim hormonal stability implementing holistic wellness strategies.
If you earnestly give Relizen 3 months paired with lifestyle tweaks alleviating symptoms, I believe you’ll be thrilled by the difference. Those menopause struggles that once diminished your vitality can fade into distant memory.
Here’s to renewed energy, confidence and comfort in your skin as you gracefully transition into this next chapter!
