Positives

• Patients describe magnolia bark and Relora improving sleep onset and increasing time in REM and NREM sleep, attributed to honokiol and magnolol acting on GABA-A receptors Psychologytoday.
  
  
• In Relora trials, patients reported a 42 percent improvement in mood states and an 11 percent reduction in stress while taking the magnolia and phellondendron blend RTHM.
  
  

Negatives

• Some patients describe pronounced morning grogginess after evening doses of magnolia bark, particularly with higher honokiol concentrations Drugs.com.
  
  
• A subset of users on the WebMD review database reported no measurable change in anxiety or sleep latency after several weeks WebMD.
  
  

Hurdles & Side Effects

• Magnolia bark can have additive sedative effects when combined with benzodiazepines, alcohol, or sleep medications WebMD.
  
  
• Patients with low blood pressure or those on antihypertensives need caution given reports of further blood pressure lowering Drugs.com.