Rhodiola rosea

For Stress, ADD, Anxiety and Depression

This was my adaptogen of choice when my son was going through his depression. My blood pressure dropped so low, I was fatigued, stressed, and my immune system was very weak.  Rhodiola supported my body and helped me cope and function during a very difficult time in my life.  

Herbs can be a very helpful mechanism to help support the body and help you with issues such as depression, anxiety, ADHD, fatigue and more.  They are a better option than medications if you want to avoid a host of side effects.  But always first check with your doctor as some herbs can interact with your medications.  

Rhodiola is an Adaptogenic herb that can be found in the mountainous areas of the northernmost parts of North America, Europe and northern Asia. The root is the part that has powerful properties.  Rhodiola can be used for when you are dealing with stress but as you can see below, this is a wonderful herb for many health issues. 

Adaptogenic herbs are herbs that help you adapt to the added stress in your life. It doesn’t make the stress go away or not matter, but helps you to cope and function when the stress gets too overwhelming for you to handle.  

It has been used for centuries as a very safe and medicinally useful herb in Russia, China and Scandinavia.

The root is the medicinal part used and it is harvested in the fall of the second or third year of growth. 

What Rhodiola Can Be Used For:

  • For stress
  • As an antidepressant
  • As an antioxidant
  • Antiviral properties
  • Supports the immune system
  • Calming and relaxing herb
  • Can protect against irregular heartbeat
  • Cardio protective
  • Neuroprotective
  • Liver protective
  • Anti-inflammatory properties
  • Can improve physical and sport performance
  • Can improve memory, concentration, work productivity and used as a brain tonic
  • Used for fatigue and for brain/mental fatigue
  • Can be useful for headaches associated with exhaustion
  • Can be used for low blood pressure
  • Energizing to use for sports, improves speed, strength and reaction time 

Rhodiola for Stress Relief, Fatigue, Focus, Your Workouts and Serotonin Boost

Rhodiola is an herb that has been well researched since the 1960’s and there are many published studies to support its usefulness. Most of these studies were done outside the United States and thus the U.S. did not learn more about this plant until the past 10 years when many of these studies were translated into English. 

This is a cooling herb (as some Adaptogenic herbs are warming herbs).  For this reason, it is not an overstimulating herb, meaning if you take it, it will not affect your sleep, make you nervous or be too stimulating.  But while it is not an overstimulating herb it can improve your alertness, decrease fatigue, improve your mood and memory. 

This is a good herb to use if you are going up in altitude (use along with cordyceps, holy basil and Reishi to prevent altitude sickness), for depression, for ADHD and if you have suffered from a head injury. 

For instance, it has been shown to increase serotonin in the brain and thus a helpful herb for those suffering with depression.  In other studies, it has been used as an effective remedy for anxiety.  For those with chronic fatigue syndrome, it has been shown to decrease pain, fatigue and improve concentration. 

It can also be useful if your immune system is depleted due to being overworked and under a great deal of stress, if you are training for an event (such as for a marathon or a triathlon), or if you are undergoing chemotherapy and/or radiation.  (animal studies have shown that it can protect cells and organs from chemical and radiation damage)

If you have blood sugar imbalance, whether it is low of high, it can help to balance it.  This is because herbs help to restore balance in the body. 

Both men and women can benefit from taking Rhodiola. It can improve male and female reproductive function. For men, it can improve erectile dysfunction. For women, it can be useful if you have amenorrhea and infertility that is caused by hormonal imbalances and/or stress related. 

How to Take

You want a product that uses the root portion of the plant.  Rhodiola is typically standardized to 3-5% rosavin and 1-2% salidroside.  These are the two active compounds found in Rhodiola.

 The capsules are typically 340- 450 mg per capsule.  You can take one to two of these capsules two times per day.  It is best to NOT take the second dose after mid-day.  Always start with the lower dose to see how you feel and work your way up from there. 

As with any adaptogen, your body can adapt to its use. For this reason, I suggest to my clients to take the herb for 8 to 12 weeks and then either switch to a different adaptogen or take a two week break and then resume again. 

Choose organic herbal products and purchase from reputable companies.  I like Floracopeia, Mountain Rose Herbs, Bayan Botanicals, Herb Pharm, and Gaia for quality herbal products. 

Who Should Not Use Rhodiola

Those who have bipolar disorder or paranoia should avoid it. Even though it is a non-stimulating herb, if you are a very sensitive person (you know who you are), it may cause difficulty with sleep.  Those with high blood pressure should not use it. 

Drug/Herb Interactions

There are no known drug interactions with Rhodiola, however because it can increase serotonin in the brain you should not take this if you are on an SSRI or MAOI antidepressant medication. 

As with any new herb, always discuss the use with your holistic health care provider. 

Bottom Line: This is an herb that can support your body when it is feeling the effects from too much stress in your life.  It can give your mood and your energy levels a lift and support you when feeling overwhelmed from too much stress in your life.  That being said, diet is still critical. If all you do is add in one herb and don’t include a diet to support your energy, stress and well-being, you may not get major results.  Organic herbs are very useful but they are not meant to replace/substitute a whole foods diet.  

Sources

Gaby, A. (2006) A-Z Guide to Drug-Herb-Vitamin Interactions. NY: Three Rivers Press

Hoffman, D. (2003) Medical Herbalism. The Science and Practice of Herbal Medicine.  Vermont:

   Healing Arts Press

Johnson, R., Foster, S. et. al. (nd). National Geographic Guide to Medicinal Herbs.  Washington, D.C.:

   National Geographic. 

Mars, B. (2007) The Desktop Guide to Herbal Medicine. CA: Basic Health Publications

Skenderi, G. (2003) Herbal Vade Medcum. NJ:  Herbacy Press

Winston, D. & Maimes, S.  (2007)   Adaptogens. Herbs for Strength, Stamina, and Stress Relief. 

   Vermont: Healing Arts Press

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https://www.naturalmedicinejournal.com/journal/2015-09/rhodiola-rosea-vs-setraline-major-depression

https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/b788/e57b4a10781be00aedfa0567accc3e5a8b90.pdf

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https://www.terrytalksnutrition.com/health-articles/adapt-to-stress-naturally-with-these-power-herbs/?