Rhodiola Rosea Benefits

In the cold, high altitude regions of Europe, Asia and North America grows a very special herb whose roots are known to have adaptogenic properties. The herb is called Rhodiola rosea and it has long been a traditional healing plant in Russia, China, Scandinavia, Iceland, and other European countries.

Modern research has found Rhodiola to contain over 140 health-boosting compounds with properties that help the body cope with many aspects of both physical and mental stress. Not surprisingly, Rhodiola is a much sought after medical herb.

The Story of Rhodiola

Rhodiola is a hardy perennial plant with fleshy leaves and bright yellow flowers. It has powerful medicinal properties which are found within its rhizome roots. Also known as roseroot, golden root and arctic root, Rhodiola is a member of the Crassulaceae plant family and a relative of the sedum which is a well-known herbaceous garden plant. Its preferred terrain is the dry sandy soil of the cliffs and mountainous regions of Siberia. It can also be found growing wild in the eastern coastal areas of North America.

For centuries Rhodiola rosea had a reputation for boosting physical endurance and reducing fatigue, particularly work-related physical and mental exhaustion. It was well-known for its ability to reduce high-altitude sickness and ease gastrointestinal illnesses. Its properties were traditionally used to help with depression, impotence and nervous system problems.

The Active Ingredients of Rhodiola Rosea

Scientists have found that the properties stored within the rhizome of Rhodiola, or golden root as it is often called, which provide its adaptogenic, cardiopulmonary protection and central nervous system activity, are ‘due to its ability to influence the levels and activity of monoamines and opioid peptides such as beta-endorphins.’

Amongst the 140 identified and isolated compounds of Rhodiola rosea, the main therapeutically active phytochemicals are known collectively as rosavins. An important and unique characteristic of Rhodiola rosea is the presence of rosavin which has not been found in any other members of the species. The presence of rosavin is now acknowledged as the marker for genetically pure Rhodiola rosea.

A further active ingredient of Rhodiola is salidrosides, noted by research to be a powerful anti-inflammatory, capable of supporting cell survival and regeneration. Research is particularly interested in this compound for its therapeutic benefit in the management of diabetes.

Rhodiola Rosea Benefits

Due to its very well-established use and success in traditional medicine, Rhodiola rosea has caused much interest amongst scientific researchers and this has resulted in its identification as an ‘adaptogen’ which is a term first coined in 1947 by Nikolai Lazarev, a Russian scientist. His definition of an adaptogen was ‘a plant extract which allows for an organism to counteract adverse physical, chemical, or biological stressors by generating non-specific resistance.’

Rhodiola rosea, in its capacity as an adaptogen, has been found to have anti-inflammatory and nootropic properties, enabling it to support health in various ways:

Stress

R. rosea has been found to help in the management of stress-induced exhaustion and to stimulate the nervous system. It has also been used to ease symptoms of anxiety and to boost physical performance.

It has been found to give support following periods of high stress for issues such as poor sleep, low appetite, decline in work performance, irritability, high blood pressure, and headaches.

A 2017 exploratory, open-label, study involved the enrolment of 118 outpatient participants with stress-related fatigue, sometimes known as burnout. The study took place over a period of 12 weeks with participants taking 400 mg of rhodiola daily. The study was designed to provide a basis for the planning of subsequent studies. The results were deemed encouraging enough to warrant the scheduling of future trials.

A double-blind cross-over study was conducted in 2000 to investigate the effect of a repeated low-dose Rhodiola rosea administration on the mental performance of 56 young, healthy physicians during night duty. A significant improvement was observed amongst the treatment group during the first two weeks of the study and no side-effects were reported. The results suggest that R. rosea can reduce general fatigue under stressful conditions.

Depression

Brain chemicals called neurotransmitters sometimes become unbalanced and this results in depression. Medical professionals prescribe antidepressant medication to correct these chemical imbalances but following clinical studies it has been found that Rhodiola rosea may have antidepressant properties which could help manage this illness.

A randomized placebo-controlled trial conducted in 2015 compared the benefits of rhodiola with the antidepressant drug sertraline. The trial involved 57 participants diagnosed with depression who were randomly given either rhodiola, sertraline, or a placebo for 12 weeks. Both rhodiola and sertraline reduced symptoms, with sertraline having a greater effect. However, participants taking rhodiola had fewer side effects.

Cognitive Function

Rhodiola has been found in laboratory studies to improve learning and memory function. It is possible that rhodiola could be used to boost brain function and help with mood disorders. Further research and human trials are needed to establish the therapeutic properties of rhodiola for use with age-related cognitive issues.

Fatigue

Physical and mental stress, along with a lack of sleep can cause fatigue. Due to its adaptogenic benefits, rhodiola can help alleviate symptoms of fatigue.

Results of a 2017 clinical trial found that 100 participants with chronic fatigue symptoms, who received 400 mg of rhodiola every day for 8 weeks experienced significant improvements in fatigue symptoms, stress levels, mood, and concentration. The improvements were observed after the first week of the study and continued through to the final week.

Diabetes

Research has found that salidroside, a compound found in rhodiola, can help protect against diabetes. It also has a protective effect against diabetic nephropathy which is when the disease affects the kidneys. Research to date have been performed under laboratory conditions but the encouraging results give strong incentive for human studies to take place.

Visceral Fat

There is emerging evidence to show that Rhodiola rosea may help boost metabolism which is the process by which the body converts food into energy.

A 2015 study found that Rhodiola may help improve glucose and lipid metabolism, leading to a reduction in visceral fat forming around the internal organs.

Researchers have found that Rhodiola rosea may also have anticancer, cardioprotective, and central nervous system benefits. A further validation of the effectiveness of R. rosea’s adaptogenic status was given in 2011 when the European Medicines Agency (EMA) approved its use as an adaptogen for the temporary relief of symptoms arising from stress.

Current scientific research into its use for depression, anxiety, fatigue, cardiovascular disease, physical strength and endurance, impotence, high-altitude sickness and nervous system disorders, has confirmed that R. rosea is an effective psychostimulant, general strengthener and an anti-stress agent.

Sustainability of Rhodiola Rosea

Rhodiola, as a medicinal plant, has become extremely popular over recent years, and this is almost certainly due to it having properties which alleviate the symptoms of stress. Rhodiola rosea grows wild in 29 countries but because of the huge demand for its roots containing the active compounds of rosavin and salidroside, the wild populations of the plant are under threat and are now on the Red List of the categories of Critically Endangered Plants.

Many medicinal plants are endangered due to over harvesting, but fortunately global biodiversity policies exist to protect them. One such policy is the Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species (CITES) created in 1975 to help ensure the protection of wild animals, birds and plants.

CITES is a science-based convention and to be listed, plants must meet certain biological criteria. Rhodiola rosea is included on the CITES protection list due to its long history of medicinal use for health benefits, namely stress-related fatigue and physical and mental performance enhancement.

Although Rhodiola has been grown as a cultivated crop in various countries, it takes between five to seven years for the roots to reach the maturity needed for harvesting. This means that despite cultivation, it is not meeting global needs quickly enough and therefore wild populations of the plant continue to be harvested.

A further problem to arise from the plant shortage is the risk of adulterated products being put out into general trade. After the dried rhizomes of rhodiola have been processed into various products it is very difficult to identify the provenance of the source. For a species to be regulated on CITES it must meet various criteria ensuring its purity as well as sustainability and these regulations are in place not only to protect the future of the plant but also to safeguard the interests of those supplementing with Rhodiola rosea for its health-giving compounds.

When purchasing supplements containing Rhodiola rosea it is therefore imperative to choose a product supplied by a company whose source is CITES licensed.

Taking Rhodiola Rosea as a Supplement

Our Rhodiola capsules contain Rhodiolife®, a CITES licensed source of Rhodiola and the only established, sustainably sourced Rhodiola rosea in the world. It is a high quality, standardised extract providing a minimum of 3% rosavins and 1% salidrosides. Learn more about supplement extracts here.

Taking Rhodiola rosea as a dietary supplement, along with a healthy, wholefood diet, may give the following support:

• Help fight depression, anxiety and stress
• Improving focus and memory
• Boosting physical and mental energy and increasing stamina
• Helping to manage cardiovascular disease
• Reducing visceral fat

Cautions: If you are breast feeding or wish to take Rhodiola rosea with antidepressant, diabetic or contraceptive medication you should first consult your doctor.

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