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.
Relief Factor is one of the most popular natural pain supplements in the U.S. The brand makes the bold claim that their supplement "reduces or eliminates pain all day, every day."
But can a dietary supplement really cause significant pain relief? Does Relief Factor contain ingredients proven in medical studies to be effective? Does it contain any harmful added ingredients? And how do real users respond to treatment with Relief Factor?
In this article we'll answer all of these questions and more as we analyze every ingredient in Relief Factor and share a real, unsponsored user's review of the product. We'll explain whether or not Relief Factor is likely to cause side effects, and provide a cost comparison showing the cheapest place to buy it.
Relief Factor Ingredient Review
Relief Factor contains four active ingredients: Epimedium, turmeric, Japanese Fleeceflower and fish oil.
Epimedium is the botanical name for a plant more commonly referred to as "Horny Goat Weed." A medical review published in the American Journal of Chinese Medicine found that this plant may have an anti-inflammatory effect based on results from animal studies.
A 2020 clinical trial found that the active chemical compound in Epimedium called icariin reduced pain in rats, but the dosage used was more than 50x the amount in Relief Factor. We'll consider this ingredient potentially effective but don't find the research convincing.
Turmeric is a spice often used for its analgesic (pain-relieving) effects. An extensive meta-study on turmeric supplementation for pain relief, published in the BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine journal, found that the ingredient was effective for reducing pain at a dosage range between 93 milligrams (mg) and 2,000 mg per day.
The turmeric dosage in Relief Factor is 667 mg. We consider this an effective ingredient.
Japanese Fleeceflower is a plant that has a high concentration of resveratrol. The resveratrol dosage in Relief Factor is 67 mg.
Resveratrol is a well-studied supplement for pain relief, but we cannot locate any medical studies proving it effective at as low a dose as 67 mg. A 2020 clinical trial found that resveratrol supplementation reduced pain at a 150 mg daily dose, and we cannot find any studies proving it effective at a lower dose than that. We'll consider this ingredient potentially effective but underdosed.
Omega-3 fatty acids are primarily sourced from fish, and as we documented in our fish oil benefits article, may be effective for pain relief. However, the amount in Relief Factor may be underdosed.
A medical review published in the Pain journal found that omega-3 fatty acid supplementation was effective for reducing joint pain, after analyzing data from 17 clinical trials on the topic. The lowest dose used in any of the trials was 1,800 mg, and most of the doses were at or above 2,500 mg. Relief Factor only provides 900 mg. We'll consider this ingredient potentially effective but underdosed.
Overall we believe Relief Factor may be effective for pain relief due to the effective turmeric dosage, however we don't find the formulation to be impressive and don't recommend it overall because we consider the active ingredients other than turmeric to either lack research backing or to be underdosed.
One benefit of Relief Factor is that the supplement is free of any questionable additive ingredients like added sugar or artificial dye that are common in dietary supplements.
Real User Review of Relief Factor
One of the most popular YouTube reviews of Relief Factor is published by a creator named Robert Ellis. The video is unsponsored and his experience after using Relief Factor, and answers whether the supplement caused him to experience pain relief:
Does Relief Factor Cause Side Effects?
Because many pharmaceutical pain medications have side effects, consumers are often curious about whether Relief Factor is likely to cause side effects.
Based on its active ingredients, we do not believe that Relief Factor is likely to cause side effects. All four of the active ingredients in Relief Factor are non-toxic and well-researched.
Relief Factor does not appear to have funded any clinical trials testing their product (and its side effects) on real human subjects, so it's impossible to say conclusively whether or not it's likely to cause side effects, but we consider this supplement to be relatively low-risk compared with many other dietary supplements we've reviewed on Illuminate Health.
Where Can I Find The Best Relief Factor Prices?
Relief Factor is available for sale at a variety of major retailers, so consumers are often curious about where they can find the best prices. Here's a cost breakdown based on prices at the time of updating this article:
Relief Factor website: $93.35 (plus shipping & handling)
Walmart: N/A
Amazon: N/A
Ebay: Varies
It's possible to find Relief Factor supplements on eBay, but we recommend only purchasing from the brand's official website. This reduces the risk of counterfeit products. We're surprised that Relief Factor seems to be unavailable on Amazon and Walmart.
Where Is Relief Factor Manufactured?
Many American consumers prefer to purchase supplements manufactured in the U.S., where government regulations on manufacturing may ensure higher product quality and safety compared to some other countries.
Unfortunately, Relief Factor does not appear to publish information on their website indicating where their product is manufactured. We urge the brand to do so, because this is an important consideration for many consumers.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has a set of guidelines requiring supplement manufacturers to publish information if a supplement is manufactured outside of the U.S. Because Relief Factor's website and Supplement Facts panel doesn't appear to have this notice, we would assume this product is manufactured in the U.S. The company should clarify this.
Our Pain Relief Supplement Recommendations
Cinnamon is a spice that has been studied for its ability to reduce pain and support joint health, and it can be taken in a more potent, extracted form. A 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 is effective for reducing joint pain in athletes at a 10 gram (g) daily dose, and for reducing arthritic pain generally (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 $39.95 for over a month's worth of product.
Interested consumers can check out Bulletproof Collagen powder at this link.
Both of these pain relief supplements are cheaper alternatives to Relief Factor (even when combined).
Relief Factor Consumer Complaints
Relief Factor has been reviewed nearly 100 times on the Better Business Bureau (BBB) website, and only has an average customer review rating of 1.5 out of 5 stars. Most of the complaints are about product ineffectiveness or billing issues.
A user named "Louis P" complains that the supplement is ineffective:
"I began taking this product 6-2 22 at 3 packs a day for 3 weeks. (Instructions say start with 3 packs a day for 5 days then as you start feeling better drop down to 2 packs a day.) Instead, I upped to 4 packs a day for 13 days. ( Never missing a day.) I have 2 days left. It's strange, I actually feel worse than when I started. The inflammation In my hands is so bad I can not make a fist."
A user named "Neal R" claims that Relief Factor is dishonest about their pricing:
"Total FRAUD, the commercials on the ***************** channel has multiple celebrities touting this product which I am interested in. The commercials state that for $19.99 for a starter 3 week trial, then when you call to order, they tell you, you have to pay an additional $79.99 for the product, This is a SCAM that ******************* and buddies should be ashamed of."
Relief Factor Pros and Cons
Here are the pros and cons of Relief Factor as a brand in our opinion.
Pros:
- Safe ingredients
- Some effective ingredients
- Potentially effective for pain relief
Cons:
- Expensive
- Some ingredients may be underdosed
- Negative reviews on BBB
