Rhodiola Rosea

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.

Active constituents
Phenylpropanoids: rosavin, rosin, rosarin (specific to R. rosea; Phenylethanol derivatives: salidroside (rhodioloside), tyrosol; Flavanoids: rodiolin, rodionin, rodiosin, acetylrodalgin, tricin; Monoterpernes: rosiridol, rosaridin; Triterpenes: daucosterol, beta-sitosterol; Phenolic acids: chlorogenic and hydroxycinnamic, gallic acids. 

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.

Duncan, Michael J, and Neil D Clarke. “The Effect of Acute Rhodiola rosea Ingestion on Exercise Heart Rate, Substrate Utilisation, Mood State, and Perceptions of Exertion, Arousal, and Pleasure/Displeasure in Active Men.” Journal of sports medicine (Hindawi Publishing Corporation) vol. 2014 (2014): 563043.

This study concluded that supplementation with Rhodiola rosea improves swimming-induced fatigue.

Lee, Fang-Tsai et al. “Chronic Rhodiola rosea extract supplementation enforces exhaustive swimming tolerance.” The American journal of Chinese medicine vol. 37,3 (2009): 557-72. doi:10.1142/S0192415X09007053

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. 

Murray, Michael T., and Joseph E. Pizzorno. Textbook of natural medicine. Churchill Livingstone Elsevier, 2006.

This book outlines the scientific principles of therapeutic herbalism and their application in medicine, which includes the effect of Rhodiola on relief of stress.

Hoffmann, David. Medical herbalism: the science and practice of herbal medicine. Simon and Schuster, 2003.

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.

Amsterdam, Jay D, and Alexander G Panossian. “Rhodiola rosea L. as a putative botanical antidepressant.” Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology vol. 23,7 (2016): 770-83. doi:10.1016/j.phymed.2016.02.009

This clinical trial compared Rhodiola’s efficacy against sertraline, an antidepressant, and showed an improvement in risk-to-benefit ratio.

Mao, Jun J et al. “Rhodiola rosea versus sertraline for major depressive disorder: A randomized placebo-controlled trial.” Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology vol. 22,3 (2015): 394-9. 

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.”

Skarpanska-Stejnborn, Ana et al. “The influence of supplementation with Rhodiola rosea L. extract on selected redox parameters in professional rowers.” International journal of sport nutrition and exercise metabolism vol. 19,2 (2009): 186-99.

This study suggests that R. rosea has antioxidant, immunomodulatory, antitumoral properties.

Recio, Mari-Carmen et al. “Immunmodulatory and Antiproliferative Properties of Rhodiola Species.” Planta medica vol. 82,11-12 (2016): 952-60. doi:10.1055/s-0042-107254

Researchers in this study found that Rhodiola may have anti-aging properties and anti-cancer properties.

Yokoyama, Noriko N et al. “When Anti-Aging Studies Meet Cancer Chemoprevention: Can Anti-Aging Agent Kill Two Birds with One Blow?.” Current pharmacology reports vol. 1,6 (2015): 420-433. doi:10.1007/s40495-015-0039-5

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.”

Kim, Sung Hee et al. “Antioxidative effects of Cinnamomi cassiae and Rhodiola rosea extracts in liver of diabetic mice.” BioFactors (Oxford, England) vol. 26,3 (2006): 209-19. doi:10.1002/biof.5520260306

Neuroprotective

This study suggests that Rhodiola may help in the prevention of Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative diseases and suppresses neuroinflammation.

Nabavi, Seyed Fazel et al. “Rhodiola rosea L. and Alzheimer's Disease: From Farm to Pharmacy.” Phytotherapy research : PTR vol. 30,4 (2016): 532-9.

Cognitive Function

In this book on adaptogenic herbs, the author discusses Rhodiola rosea and its effect on cognitive function.

Winston, David. Adaptogens: herbs for strength, stamina, and stress relief. Simon and Schuster, 2007.

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.

Winston, David. Adaptogens: herbs for strength, stamina, and stress relief. Simon and Schuster, 2007.

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).

Brown, Richard P., Patricia L. Gerbarg, and Z. Ramazanov. "Rhodiola rosea." A phytomedicinal overview. HerbalGram 56 (2002): 40-52.

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.”

Iovieno, Nadia et al. “Second-tier natural antidepressants: review and critique.” Journal of affective disorders vol. 130,3 (2011): 343-57.

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).

Brown, Richard P., Patricia L. Gerbarg, and Z. Ramazanov. "Rhodiola rosea." A phytomedicinal overview. HerbalGram 56 (2002): 40-52.

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).

Brown, Richard P., Patricia L. Gerbarg, and Z. Ramazanov. "Rhodiola rosea." A phytomedicinal overview. HerbalGram 56 (2002): 40-52.

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.

Murray, Michael T., and Joseph E. Pizzorno. Textbook of natural medicine. Churchill Livingstone Elsevier, 2006.

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.”

Kelly GS. "Rhodiola rosea: A Possible Plant Adaptogen." Alternative Medicine Review 2001; 6(3): 293-302

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.