{"id":604449800498,"title":"BeActive Plus Review: Can Acupressure Relieve Pain?","created_at":"2022-12-01T23:30:00-05:00","body_html":"\u003cscript type=\"application\/ld+json\"\u003e\/\/ \u003c![CDATA[\n{\n \"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\",\n \"@type\": \"Article\",\n \"headline\": \"BeActive Plus Review: Can Acupressure Relieve Pain?\",\n \"keywords\": \"beactive plus, beactive plus reviews, beactive plus review, beactive plus amazon, does beactive plus really work, beactive plus walmart, beactive plus fda approved, beactive plus fda\",\n \"description\": \"Our research team reviews clinical studies on acupressure (the technology in BeActive Plus) to determine if it's effective for pain relief. We explain if BeActive Plus is likely to cause side effects and share real, unsponsored user reviews of the device.\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/blogs\/health\/beactive-plus-review\",\n\"author\": {\n \"@type\": \"Person\",\n \"name\": \"Calloway Cook\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/pages\/calloway-cook\",\n \"sameAs\": \"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/calloway-cook\/\",\n \"jobTitle\": \"President\",\n \"knowsAbout\": \"entrepreneurship, dietary supplements, herbal supplements, eCommerce, medical research\",\n \"alumniOf\": {\n \"@type\": \"EducationalOrganization\",\n \"name\": \"S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University\"\n },\n \"memberOf\": {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Illuminate Labs\"\n }\n},\n\"creator\": {\n \"@type\": \"Person\",\n \"name\": \"Calloway Cook\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/pages\/calloway-cook\",\n \"sameAs\": \"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/calloway-cook\/\",\n \"jobTitle\": \"President\",\n \"knowsAbout\": \"entrepreneurship, dietary supplements, herbal supplements, eCommerce, medical research\",\n \"alumniOf\": {\n \"@type\": \"EducationalOrganization\",\n \"name\": \"S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University\"\n },\n \"memberOf\": {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Illuminate Labs\"\n }\n},\n\"editor\": {\n \"@type\": \"Person\",\n \"name\": \"Taylor Graber\",\n \"honorificSuffix\": \"M.D.\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/pages\/taylor-graber\",\n \"sameAs\": [\n \"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/taylor-j-graber-md-81351642\/\",\n \"https:\/\/www.asapivs.com\/\"\n ],\n \"jobTitle\": \"Content Partner\",\n \"knowsAbout\": \"medicine, health, anesthesiology, iv therapy, science, drugs, pharmaceutical, medical research, scientific research, medical journals, entrepreneurship, healthcare, orthopedic surgery, biomedical engineering\",\n \"alumniOf\": {\n \"@type\": \"EducationalOrganization\",\n \"name\": [\n \"University of California San Diego\",\n \"Arizona University\",\n \"University of Arizona College of Medicine\"\n ]\n },\n \"memberOf\": {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Illuminate Labs\"\n }\n},\n\"image\": {\n\"@type\": \"ImageObject\",\n\"url\": \"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0047\/1524\/9737\/files\/BeActive_Plus_Thumbnail_Optimized.png?v=1669956581\",\n\"width\": \"2500\",\n\"height\": \"2500\"\n},\n\"citation\": [\n\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/23415783\/\", \n\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC3749058\/\",\n\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/12165194\/\",\n\"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/blogs\/health\/reliefband-review\",\n\"https:\/\/www.fda.gov\/consumers\/consumer-updates\/it-really-fda-approved\",\n\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/29722610\/\",\n\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/32638445\/\",\n\"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/products\/ceylon-cinnamon-extract\",\n\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/18416885\/\",\n\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/30368550\/\",\n\"https:\/\/www.fakespot.com\/product\/beactive-plus-knee-brace-acupressure-system-for-instant-relief-from-sciatic-nerve-pain-lower-back-hip-pain-acupoint-pressure-pad-applies-gentle-targeted-compression\"\n],\n\"mentions\": [{\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"FDA\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Thing\",\n \"name\": \"sciatic nerve pain\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Brand\",\n \"name\": \"Relief Band\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Thing\",\n \"name\": \"physical therapist\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Amazon\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Walmart\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Brand\",\n \"name\": \"James White\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Brand\",\n \"name\": \"Fakespot\"\n }\n],\n\"datePublished\": \"2022-12-01\",\n\"copyrightHolder\": {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Illuminate Labs\"\n},\n\"publisher\": {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Illuminate Labs\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/\",\n \"description\": \"Illuminate Labs is the most transparent supplement company in the U.S., and is a leading publisher of research-based health information.\",\n \"knowsAbout\": \"supplements, science, nutrition, exercise, health, medication, pharmaceutical, wellness, diet, weight loss, medical research\",\n \"publishingPrinciples\": \"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/pages\/editorial-guidelines\",\n \"memberOf\": [\n {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"U.S. Chamber of Commerce\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/www.uschamber.com\/\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Certified B Corp\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/www.bcorporation.net\/en-us\/\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Natural Products Association\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/www.npanational.org\/\"\n }\n ],\n \"logo\": {\n \"@type\": \"ImageObject\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0047\/1524\/9737\/files\/Illuminate_Labs_Favicon_48x48_7595c3cc-e27b-47b8-a4fe-edcc7ed9b29a.png?v=1666502785\", \n \"width\": 48,\n \"height\": 48\n},\n \"foundingDate\": \"2019-01-30\",\n \"sameAs\": [\n \"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/illuminatelabs\",\n \"https:\/\/twitter.com\/illuminatelabs\",\n \"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/illuminate-labs-supplements\",\n \"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCpgSJAsIPb-fZ25djtTxBEA\"\n ]\n }\n}\n\/\/ ]]\u003e\u003c\/script\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0047\/1524\/9737\/files\/BeActive_Plus_Review_Article_Header_Image_Optimized.png?v=1669956383\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eDisclaimer: None of the information in this article constitutes medical advice, and is just the opinion of the writer(s). We recommend that patients follow their doctor’s guidance in regard to pain relief.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"dc\"\u003eB\u003c\/span\u003eeActive Plus is an FDA-cleared device to provide relief from sciatic nerve pain. The device works by applying targeted compression to pain sites that the brand claims “turns off sciatic nerve pain signals for quick relief.”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eBut is acupressure actually proven in clinical trials to be effective for sciatic pain relief, or pain relief generally? Does FDA-cleared mean the device is proven to work? Are there any risks associated with the use of the BeActive Plus device? And how do real users rate it and describe its effects?\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eIn this article we’ll answer all of these questions and more as we review clinical trials to give our take on whether or not the BeActive Plus is likely to be effective for pain relief. We’ll explain whether FDA-clearance means a device is proven to work and what that term even means, and share real, unsponsored user reviews of BeActive Plus.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eDoes Acupressure Actually Relieve Pain?\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eAs stated in the intro section, the technology underlying BeActive Plus is called acupressure. This is a broad term that generally refers to targeted pressure applied to specific pain sites in the body that’s meant to relieve pain due to energy transfer.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eA \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/23415783\/\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003emedical review\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e on the effectiveness of acupressure published in the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003ePain Management Nursing\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e journal analyzed data from 15 clinical trials and concluded that \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003e“acupressure has been shown to be effective for relieving a variety of pains.”\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eIt’s worth noting that the above review mostly analyzed trials that involved acupressure applied with the hands and not with a medical device like the BeActive Plus.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eAnother \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC3749058\/\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003emedical review\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e published in 2015 also concluded that acupressure can be effective for natural pain relief, but the study authors noted that “The selection of which point to target is a key step in acupressure practice, and selection of the correct acupuncture point is essential to achieve good treatment outcomes.”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThis suggests that acupressure may not be effective without the guidance of a medical practitioner.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eA \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/12165194\/\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eclinical trial\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e examined the effectiveness of an acupressure device (not the BeActive Plus) for managing pain associated with menstruation. The researchers found that \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003ethe acupressure device decreased pain by 50% in more than two-thirds of the trial participants.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eOverall it appears based on early research that acupressure is effective for reducing pain. We cannot identify any clinical trials proving that acupressure is effective for treating sciatic nerve pain specifically, nor can we identify any clinical trials on the BeActive Plus device specifically.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eDoes FDA-Cleared Mean BeActive Plus is Proven to Work?\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThere is a difference between FDA clearance and FDA approval that consumers should be aware of.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eFDA clearance does not necessarily mean that a medical device is proven to be effective. As we documented in our \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/blogs\/health\/reliefband-review\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eRelief Band reviews\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e article that covered another FDA-cleared device, this designation simply means that the device is “substantially equivalent” to another device on the market.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eIn BeActive’s case, there is likely another acupressure device that is structurally and functionally similar on the market.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eFDA approval means that the FDA has actually deemed a product, drug or supplement to be effective based on a review of clinical research. This is a different process than FDA clearance, as outlined by the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.fda.gov\/consumers\/consumer-updates\/it-really-fda-approved\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eFDA’s website\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIt’s a good sign that BeActive Plus has gone through the steps to get their device FDA-cleared\u003c\/strong\u003e, and definitely a sign that indicates legitimacy of the brand and safety of the product, \u003cstrong\u003ehowever it does not definitively prove that the device is effective at pain relief.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eHow Do You Use BeActive Plus?\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eA YouTube review published by a physical therapist unboxes the BeActive Plus device, explains how it should be properly applied, and the therapist also gives his take on whether the product is likely to be effective or not:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ciframe width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/vXP7d-q98mk\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eWhere to Buy BeActive Plus\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eBeActive Plus is sold both on the official manufacturer’s website and on Amazon. There is also a product titled “BeActive Plus” currently being sold on Walmart, but this product has a totally different design so we would recommend avoiding it as we cannot confirm that this is the official BeActive Plus device.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eAt the time of writing this article, BeActive Plus is cheaper on Amazon. Here’s a price breakdown:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eManufacturer website: $29.99 (plus $8.95 shipping, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.buybeactiveplus.com\/BEACTIVEPLUS\/15.0000\/Index.dtm\"\u003elink\u003c\/a\u003e)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eAmazon: \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003e$29.99 (free shipping\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e – \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca rel=\"sponsored\" href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3uBwOEt\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003elink to Amazon listing\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eReal, Unsponsored BeActive User Review\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThe only unsponsored YouTube review we can identify is published by a creator named James White. He forgot to set a thumbnail as you can see below, but the video works, is only two minutes long, and is quite informative as he shares his experience after actually using the device for pain relief:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ciframe width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/RWICqGxau1A\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eWill BeActive Plus Cause Side Effects?\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eWe do not believe that BeActive Plus is likely to cause side effects.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eAs stated previously, the device has been FDA-cleared which means it’s somewhat similar to other acupressure device(s) on the market that the FDA has safety data on. If one of these devices was causing side effects in many consumers, the FDA would likely not have cleared BeActive Plus.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThis device is just an acupressure device that’s strapped onto a part of the body that’s in pain. It’s an external rather than internal device, so logically there isn’t much risk of injury or side effects. If the device is causing irritation or discomfort, the user can just remove it.\u003c\/strong\u003e We can’t envision any scenario where this device could cause long-term adverse effects.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eSince BeActive Plus doesn’t appear to have been studied in any clinical trials it’s impossible to say for sure whether it will cause side effects or not, but our educated guess is that it’s safe to use.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eCan Food-Based Supplements Relieve Pain?\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0047\/1524\/9737\/files\/Cinnamon_Image.png?v=1665113555\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eCinnamon\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003e is a spice that has been studied for its ability to reduce pain and support joint health.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/29722610\/\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eclinical trial\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e published in the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cspan\u003eJournal of the American College of Nutrition\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e found that cinnamon supplementation at a daily dose of 500 mg reduced inflammation and joint swelling in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA 2020 \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/32638445\/\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eclinical trial\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e found that cinnamon supplementation reduced inflammatory markers. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe study authors concluded that “Cinnamon could be regarded as a safe supplement to relieve pain.”\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIlluminate Labs manufactures a \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/products\/ceylon-cinnamon-extract\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCeylon Cinnamon Extract\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e supplement that’s potent (standardized to minimum 8% flavonoids) and third-party tested to ensure purity and label accuracy (test results published transparently on the product page). It only costs \u003cstrong\u003e$15\u003c\/strong\u003e for a monthly subscription.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eInterested consumers can check out Illuminate Labs Ceylon Cinnamon Extract \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/products\/ceylon-cinnamon-extract\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eat this link\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eCollagen\u003c\/b\u003e is the core structural protein in joints. The body produces it naturally, but its production decreases with age.\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/18416885\/\"\u003eMedical research\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ehas shown that collagen can reduce joint pain in athletes at a 10 gram (g) daily dose, and can reduce arthritic pain (\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/30368550\/\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003emeta-study\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e, doses ranging between 40 mg and 10 g daily dose).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWe recommend \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca rel=\"sponsored\" href=\"https:\/\/bulletproof.fdf2.net\/c\/3271428\/1278011\/9221\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBulletproof Collagen Powder\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e as our top collagen product because it provides an effective collagen dose per serving (20 g) and contains one single ingredient: collagen peptides sourced from grass-fed animals. There are no questionable additives. This supplement only costs \u003cstrong\u003e$45.16\u003c\/strong\u003e for over a month's worth of product.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eInterested consumers can check out Bulletproof Collagen powder \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca rel=\"sponsored\" href=\"https:\/\/bulletproof.fdf2.net\/c\/3271428\/1278011\/9221\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eat this link\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e to the brand's official website.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/activation.healthline.com\/api\/member-offers\/8359\/redirect?lp=328\u0026amp;tc=120226\u0026amp;subid=rvosubaff_illuminatelabs\" rel=\"sponsored\"\u003eCornbread CBD Lotion\u003c\/a\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eis our top pick for a topical CBD product.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCBD \u003cspan\u003eis\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC9859876\/\"\u003eclinically shown\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eto be effectively absorbed through the skin, and CBD caused\u003c\/span\u003e \u003cstrong\u003e\"significant improvements in pain\" when applied topically\u003c\/strong\u003e in a 2020 \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/31793418\/\"\u003eclinical trial\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis lotion also contains menthol, which was shown in a 2022\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/34552033\/\"\u003eclinical trial\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eto reduce pain scores.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eInterested consumers can check out Cornbread CBD Lotion\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/activation.healthline.com\/api\/member-offers\/8359\/redirect?lp=328\u0026amp;tc=120226\u0026amp;subid=rvosubaff_illuminatelabs\" rel=\"sponsored\"\u003eat this link\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eto the product page on the official brand's website.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWe do not recommend using dietary supplements to treat any specific medical condition related to pain, \u003c\/span\u003eand we recommend that individuals speak with their doctor prior to using any supplement for pain relief.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eBeActive Plus Real Customer Reviews\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eBeActive Plus is sold on Amazon, which is a more objective resource for customer reviews than a brand’s website in our opinion.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThe top positive review from a verified purchaser comes from a user named “M. Canada” who claims that the device is effective for pain relief:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e“It works for ME! It reduces the pain and stiffness in my lower back. I sleep in it and wear it to work. It’s not needed all the time… just when I have symptoms. It’s worth it in my opinion!”\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThe top negative review from a verified purchaser is written by a user named “ShayMa” who claims that the device caused some minor benefit but was not effective overall:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e“I believe in order for this to work you must be in the beginning stages of having Sciatica. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe person I purchased it for is adamant about the fact that it hasn’t helped at all. The only thing is that depending on how tight it is adjusted it may numb the pain,but doesn’t necessarily stop the pain that is experienced.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eConclusion\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eBeActive Plus uses a technology that appears to be effective for at least some degree of pain relief. The device itself doesn’t appear to have been studied in any clinical trials, but given its relatively low price and reasonable lack of any negative effects it may be worth a try for patients experiencing pain regularly.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eIt seems logical in our opinion for patients with minor or moderate pain to experiment with natural solutions like BeActive Plus before considering pharmaceutical pain medications which can have a serious risk of addiction and other negative health effects.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eBeActive Plus is FDA-cleared which is a good sign of the legitimacy of the brand, and also that the device is unlikely to cause harm.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eAt the time of writing this article, Amazon appears to have the best price on BeActive Plus when considering shipping and handling fees.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","blog_id":49281925193,"author":"Calloway Cook","user_id":26601750601,"published_at":"2022-12-01T23:54:44-05:00","updated_at":"2023-09-29T23:31:19-04:00","summary_html":"We review clinical studies on acupressure (the technology in BeActive Plus) to determine if it's effective for pain relief. We explain if BeActive Plus is likely to cause side effects and share real, unsponsored user reviews of the device.","template_suffix":"","handle":"beactive-plus-review","tags":"_related:health-device, _related:pain-relief"}

BeActive Plus Review: Can Acupressure Relieve Pain?

BeActive Plus Review: Can Acupressure Relieve Pain?


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Disclaimer: None of the information in this article constitutes medical advice, and is just the opinion of the writer(s). We recommend that patients follow their doctor’s guidance in regard to pain relief.

BeActive Plus is an FDA-cleared device to provide relief from sciatic nerve pain. The device works by applying targeted compression to pain sites that the brand claims “turns off sciatic nerve pain signals for quick relief.”

But is acupressure actually proven in clinical trials to be effective for sciatic pain relief, or pain relief generally? Does FDA-cleared mean the device is proven to work? Are there any risks associated with the use of the BeActive Plus device? And how do real users rate it and describe its effects?

In this article we’ll answer all of these questions and more as we review clinical trials to give our take on whether or not the BeActive Plus is likely to be effective for pain relief. We’ll explain whether FDA-clearance means a device is proven to work and what that term even means, and share real, unsponsored user reviews of BeActive Plus.

Does Acupressure Actually Relieve Pain?

As stated in the intro section, the technology underlying BeActive Plus is called acupressure. This is a broad term that generally refers to targeted pressure applied to specific pain sites in the body that’s meant to relieve pain due to energy transfer.

A medical review on the effectiveness of acupressure published in the Pain Management Nursing journal analyzed data from 15 clinical trials and concluded that “acupressure has been shown to be effective for relieving a variety of pains.”

It’s worth noting that the above review mostly analyzed trials that involved acupressure applied with the hands and not with a medical device like the BeActive Plus.

Another medical review published in 2015 also concluded that acupressure can be effective for natural pain relief, but the study authors noted that “The selection of which point to target is a key step in acupressure practice, and selection of the correct acupuncture point is essential to achieve good treatment outcomes.”

This suggests that acupressure may not be effective without the guidance of a medical practitioner.

A clinical trial examined the effectiveness of an acupressure device (not the BeActive Plus) for managing pain associated with menstruation. The researchers found that the acupressure device decreased pain by 50% in more than two-thirds of the trial participants.

Overall it appears based on early research that acupressure is effective for reducing pain. We cannot identify any clinical trials proving that acupressure is effective for treating sciatic nerve pain specifically, nor can we identify any clinical trials on the BeActive Plus device specifically.

Does FDA-Cleared Mean BeActive Plus is Proven to Work?

There is a difference between FDA clearance and FDA approval that consumers should be aware of.

FDA clearance does not necessarily mean that a medical device is proven to be effective. As we documented in our Relief Band reviews article that covered another FDA-cleared device, this designation simply means that the device is “substantially equivalent” to another device on the market.

In BeActive’s case, there is likely another acupressure device that is structurally and functionally similar on the market.

FDA approval means that the FDA has actually deemed a product, drug or supplement to be effective based on a review of clinical research. This is a different process than FDA clearance, as outlined by the FDA’s website.

It’s a good sign that BeActive Plus has gone through the steps to get their device FDA-cleared, and definitely a sign that indicates legitimacy of the brand and safety of the product, however it does not definitively prove that the device is effective at pain relief.

How Do You Use BeActive Plus?

A YouTube review published by a physical therapist unboxes the BeActive Plus device, explains how it should be properly applied, and the therapist also gives his take on whether the product is likely to be effective or not:

Where to Buy BeActive Plus

BeActive Plus is sold both on the official manufacturer’s website and on Amazon. There is also a product titled “BeActive Plus” currently being sold on Walmart, but this product has a totally different design so we would recommend avoiding it as we cannot confirm that this is the official BeActive Plus device.

At the time of writing this article, BeActive Plus is cheaper on Amazon. Here’s a price breakdown:

Manufacturer website: $29.99 (plus $8.95 shipping, link)

Amazon: $29.99 (free shippinglink to Amazon listing)

Real, Unsponsored BeActive User Review

The only unsponsored YouTube review we can identify is published by a creator named James White. He forgot to set a thumbnail as you can see below, but the video works, is only two minutes long, and is quite informative as he shares his experience after actually using the device for pain relief:

Will BeActive Plus Cause Side Effects?

We do not believe that BeActive Plus is likely to cause side effects.

As stated previously, the device has been FDA-cleared which means it’s somewhat similar to other acupressure device(s) on the market that the FDA has safety data on. If one of these devices was causing side effects in many consumers, the FDA would likely not have cleared BeActive Plus.

This device is just an acupressure device that’s strapped onto a part of the body that’s in pain. It’s an external rather than internal device, so logically there isn’t much risk of injury or side effects. If the device is causing irritation or discomfort, the user can just remove it. We can’t envision any scenario where this device could cause long-term adverse effects.

Since BeActive Plus doesn’t appear to have been studied in any clinical trials it’s impossible to say for sure whether it will cause side effects or not, but our educated guess is that it’s safe to use.

Can Food-Based Supplements Relieve Pain?

Cinnamon is a spice that has been studied for its ability to reduce pain and support joint health.

clinical trial published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition found that cinnamon supplementation at a daily dose of 500 mg reduced inflammation and joint swelling in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

A 2020 clinical trial found that cinnamon supplementation reduced inflammatory markers. The study authors concluded that “Cinnamon could be regarded as a safe supplement to relieve pain.”

Illuminate Labs manufactures a Ceylon Cinnamon Extract supplement that’s potent (standardized to minimum 8% flavonoids) and third-party tested to ensure purity and label accuracy (test results published transparently on the product page). It only costs $15 for a monthly subscription.

Interested consumers can check out Illuminate Labs Ceylon Cinnamon Extract at this link.

Collagen is the core structural protein in joints. The body produces it naturally, but its production decreases with age. Medical research has shown that collagen can reduce joint pain in athletes at a 10 gram (g) daily dose, and can reduce arthritic pain (meta-study, doses ranging between 40 mg and 10 g daily dose).

We recommend Bulletproof Collagen Powder as our top collagen product because it provides an effective collagen dose per serving (20 g) and contains one single ingredient: collagen peptides sourced from grass-fed animals. There are no questionable additives. This supplement only costs $45.16 for over a month's worth of product.

Interested consumers can check out Bulletproof Collagen powder at this link to the brand's official website.

Cornbread CBD Lotion is our top pick for a topical CBD product.

CBD is clinically shown to be effectively absorbed through the skin, and CBD caused "significant improvements in pain" when applied topically in a 2020 clinical trial.

This lotion also contains menthol, which was shown in a 2022 clinical trial to reduce pain scores.

Interested consumers can check out Cornbread CBD Lotion at this link to the product page on the official brand's website.

We do not recommend using dietary supplements to treat any specific medical condition related to pain, and we recommend that individuals speak with their doctor prior to using any supplement for pain relief.

BeActive Plus Real Customer Reviews

BeActive Plus is sold on Amazon, which is a more objective resource for customer reviews than a brand’s website in our opinion.

The top positive review from a verified purchaser comes from a user named “M. Canada” who claims that the device is effective for pain relief:

“It works for ME! It reduces the pain and stiffness in my lower back. I sleep in it and wear it to work. It’s not needed all the time… just when I have symptoms. It’s worth it in my opinion!”

The top negative review from a verified purchaser is written by a user named “ShayMa” who claims that the device caused some minor benefit but was not effective overall:

“I believe in order for this to work you must be in the beginning stages of having Sciatica. The person I purchased it for is adamant about the fact that it hasn’t helped at all. The only thing is that depending on how tight it is adjusted it may numb the pain,but doesn’t necessarily stop the pain that is experienced.

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Conclusion

BeActive Plus uses a technology that appears to be effective for at least some degree of pain relief. The device itself doesn’t appear to have been studied in any clinical trials, but given its relatively low price and reasonable lack of any negative effects it may be worth a try for patients experiencing pain regularly.

It seems logical in our opinion for patients with minor or moderate pain to experiment with natural solutions like BeActive Plus before considering pharmaceutical pain medications which can have a serious risk of addiction and other negative health effects.

BeActive Plus is FDA-cleared which is a good sign of the legitimacy of the brand, and also that the device is unlikely to cause harm.

At the time of writing this article, Amazon appears to have the best price on BeActive Plus when considering shipping and handling fees.