WHAT WE KNOW
Rhodiola rosea is a perennial flowering plant indigenous to cold regions around the world, such as the Arctic, the province of Alberta, Canada, and the mountainous regions of Europe and Central Asia. Its provenance is of interest, as Rhodiola has been used in Russia for generations to help cope with life in bitter Siberia. As an adaptogen, Rodhiola has traditionally been used to help alleviate stress, which makes sense since life in the remote north certainly can’t have been easy.
More recently, Rhodiola has been approved by Health Canada for use to help to temporarily relieve symptoms of stress, such as mental fatigue and sensation of weakness, and to support cognitive function, such as mental focus and mental stamina. Rhodiola is also recognized as a source of antioxidants and has also been shown in studies to help improve exercise tolerance.
Research studying the effects of Rhodiola in relation to depression, its neuroprotective qualities, and how it may help improve cognitive function is ongoing.
Cautions and warnings
If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, consult a health care practitioner prior to use.
If you are taking antidepressant medication, consult a health care practitioner prior to use.
If you are taking hormone replacement therapy (HRT) or birth control pills, consult a health care practitioner prior to use.
If you experience irritability or insomnia, discontinue use.
Contraindications
If you have bipolar disorder or bipolar spectrum disorder, do not use this product.
Contraindications include concurrent use of drugs metabolized through CYP450 – please consult your health care practitioner for more information.
AVAILABLE RESEARCH
Exercise Tolerance
May improve the rating of perceived exertion during exercise without changing actual energy expenditure and improved mood.
This study concluded that supplementation with Rhodiola rosea improves swimming-induced fatigue.
Stress
In this textbook, the authors outline various natural medicines including Rhodiola, using philosophy and clinical studies. The authors offer a comprehensive guide to Rhodiola and include its effect on reducing the symptoms of stress.
This book outlines the scientific principles of therapeutic herbalism and their application in medicine, which includes the effect of Rhodiola on relief of stress.
ADDITIONAL RESEARCH
There is ongoing research on the effects of Rhodiola rosea as it relates to the following health concerns:
Depression and Mood
This study examined the multi-targeted effects on stress, depression and anxiety affecting various components of the neurotransmitters responsible for mood. Researchers found that Rhodiola was well tolerated and had a good safety profile.
This clinical trial compared Rhodiola’s efficacy against sertraline, an antidepressant, and showed an improvement in risk-to-benefit ratio.
Antioxidant / Anti-tumour
In this study, the effect of Rhodiola rosea supplementation on the balance of oxidants and antioxidants in the serum and erythrocytes of 22 competitive rowers was investigated. The results found that “supplementation with R. rosea increased antioxidant levels in the plasma of professional rowers but had no effect on oxidative damage induced by exhaustive exercise.”
This study suggests that R. rosea has antioxidant, immunomodulatory, antitumoral properties.
Researchers in this study found that Rhodiola may have anti-aging properties and anti-cancer properties.
This study was designed to examine the effects of Cinnamomi cassiae and Rhodiola rosea extracts on blood glucose, lipid peroxidation, the level of reduced glutathione and its related enzymes (glutathione reductase, glutathione S-transferase), and the activity of the antioxidant enzymes (catalase, superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase) in the liver of db/db mice. The research concludes that “Cinnamomi cassiae and Rhodiola rosea extracts may be effective for correcting hyperglycemia and preventing diabetic complications.”
Neuroprotective
This study suggests that Rhodiola may help in the prevention of Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative diseases and suppresses neuroinflammation.
Cognitive Function
In this book on adaptogenic herbs, the author discusses Rhodiola rosea and its effect on cognitive function.
AVAILABLE RESEARCH ON CONTRAINDICATONS
If you have bipolar disorder or bipolar spectrum disorder, do not use this product.
In this book on adaptogenic herbs, the author discusses rosea and its potential to affect those with biopolar disorder and bipolar spectrum disorder.
This review provides an introduction to some of the traditional uses of R. rosea, its phytochemistry, scientific studies exploring its diverse physiological effects, and its current and future medical applications (including its interactions with biopolar disorders).
If you are taking antidepressant medication, consult a health care practitioner prior to use.
This article reviews some natural products with potential psychiatric applications that are starting to emerge with some scientific and clinical evidence and may constitute a next wave of natural antidepressants, including Rhodiola rosea. The research found that “R. rosea is an adaptogen plant that can be especially helpful in treating asthenic or lethargic depression, and may be combined with conventional antidepressants to alleviate some of their common side effects.”
This review provides an introduction to some of the traditional uses of R. rosea, its phytochemistry, scientific studies exploring its diverse physiological effects, and its current and future medical applications (including its interactions with antidepressant medication).
If you are taking hormone replacement therapy (HRT) or birth control pills, consult a health care practitioner prior to use.
This review discusses the traditional uses of R. rosea, its phytochemistry, scientific studies exploring its diverse physiological effects, and its current and future medical applications (including its effect on HRT and birth control pills).
If you experience irritability or insomnia, discontinue use.
In this textbook, the authors outline various natural medicines including Rhodiola, using philosophy and clinical studies. The authors offer a comprehensive guide to Rhodiola and include its effect on irritability and insomnia.
In this review, the author discuses the uses of Rhodiola and its effect on various conditions. The research concludes that at “doses of 1.5 grams to 2.0 grams and above of Rhodiola rosea extract standardized for 2% rosavin, some individuals might experience an increase in irritability and insomnia within several days.”
If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, consult a health care practitioner prior to use.
Safety during pregnancy and lactation has not been established. In the absence of sufficient data, the use during pregnancy and lactation is not recommended.
