Overview
Although not popular in the United States until the 1990s, Rhodiola has been used as a folk remedy in arctic mountain cultures, from Scandanavia to Siberia, to combat fatigue, depression and inflammation. Asian cultures used it to treat colds and flu during the severe winters in the high elevations. Soviets even kept its use secret. Rhodiola has many uses and benefits and now has the backing of several scientific studies documenting its healing properties.
Botanical Information
Rhodiola rosea is a plant that grows in the high altitudes of eastern Europe. Preferring colder temperatures and sandy soil, this perennial plant blooms with yellow flowers and its root exudes a rose scent when cut open. It has a thick, gold-pink rhizome, which leads to its common names: golden root or rose root.
History
Rhodiola rosea has been used for hundreds of years as a tonic to increase energy. It was revered by one of the most fierce cultures of men, the Vikings, and was used to enhance their physical strength and endurance. The Soviet military kept its use a secret, as the plant was thought to give Soviet soldiers an edge on the field. Rhodiola’s uses were first recorded in the Swedish Pharmacopeia and in the Greek treatise De Materia Medica by Dioscorides. It was not brought to the United States until the late 20th century by a former Soviet soldier, Zahir Ramazanov. He translated the declassified Russian research about its adaptogenic properties.
It was not until Dr. Richard Brown came across the information that news of the herb’s reported usefulness began to take off. Dr. Brown recommended it to his wife, who was suffering from Lyme disease. After 10 days she felt better, and after a few months, she said she felt cured.
Active Constituents
There are approximately 50 species of Rhodiola, but it is Rhodiola rosea that is used medicinally. Rhodiola rosea is distinguishable from other Rhodiolas by the presence of rosavin, a phenylpropanoid. It also contains phenylethanol derivatives, flavonoids, monoterpenes, triterpenes and phenolic acids.
Benefits
According to “The New Healing Herbs,” studies have shown that Rhodiola improves physical endurance and aerobic capacity. When tested in humans against a placebo, the Rhodiola group showed better endurance and energy levels than the control group. The herb has also been shown to help attenuate the stress response, as well as improve cognitive function. In an Armenian hospital, 56 residents were given Rhodiola or a placebo on an overnight rotation. Those who took the herb showed less mental fatigue than those who did not receive the herb.
Rhodiola can help to lower blood pressure and help correct heart rhythm disturbances. Scandinavian researchers found that after taking Rhodiola daily for six weeks, subjects had improved mood and less depression. The herb can also increase sleep quality, has antioxidant and anticancer properties, and can protect the liver from damage.
Dosing
In “The Natural Pharmacy,” Dr. Alan Gaby and others say that Rhodiola has a more stimulating effect at lower doses and a more sedative-like effect at higher doses. In tincture form, typically five to 40 drops are used, two to three times a day. Between 200 mg and 600 mg of the standardized extract (at least 3 percent rosavins) can be used in a day. Rhodiola is typically taken before a meal.
Safety
Rhodiola has a low level of toxicity, and the typical recommendations provide a margin of safety. Some caffeine-like jitters are possible, and its safety in pregnancy and lactation has not been studied. People with a diagnosis on the bipolar spectrum should not use Rhodiola, and it should not be given to children under the age of 2. Always inform your physician of the herbs you may be taking–checking with her before beginning any new supplement–and follow package instructions.
About this Author
Christy Callahan has been researching and writing in the integrative health care field for the past five years, focusing on neuro-endocrinology. She has a B.S. degree in biology, earned credits toward a licensure in traditional Chinese medicine, and is a certified Pilates and sport yoga instructor.
