Rhodiola

Rhodiola or Rhodiola rosea is a healing herb that is found in the mountainous regions in Asia and parts of Europe and the Arctic.  It is used by traditional healers to counter fatigue and restore energy.  Ancient Greek physician Dioscorides once recommended this plant. But it has gain prominence and was constantly associated with Scandinavia and Russia where the Swedish researchers believed that the Vikings regularly used rhodiola.  Most of the researches done on Rhodiola rosea were published in Slavic and Scandinavian languages.  Recently, American and other Western researchers have begun to explore its effect on the body and its capacity to help in the healing process based on the studies conducted by the Scandinavian countries and the Soviet Union. 

Rhodiola’s property as an adpatogen or as endurance enhancers is believed to help the body stay healthy and alert despite the physical exhaustion or environmental stresses such as high heat or pollutants in the air or water.  There are currently more than 200 different species of rhodiola. Although several species have been used in traditional healing, R. rosea is the one with the most benefits.  The root is the part that has some medicinal value and they refer to R. rosea as the ‘golden root’ or ‘Arctic root.’ 

Rhodiola rosea has several health benefits. Among these include: used to treat depression and fatigue, it enhances memory and intellectual capacity, increases work performance and endurance and stimulates the nervous system.  The adaptogenic characteristics of rhodiola are believed to have brought about these benefits.  It seems to have different effects to the body compared to those other adpatogens particularly the Siberian ginseng.  It is believed to work by influencing key central nervous system chemicals or neurotransmitters called monoamines.  The monoamine imbalance is the factor that could cause hard-to-treat illnesses such as fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome and seasonal affective disorder (SAD).  Taking rhodiola to normalize monoamine levels may help these ailments.

Other adaptogens on the other hand such as the Siberian ginseng boost the body’s reserves by enhancing the output of stress-fighting hormones from the adrenal glands. 
Other benefits derived from rhodiola include the following:

o It increases performance capacity of individuals who are working under stressful conditions.
o It eases chronic fatigue syndrome by increasing levels of neurotransmitters, improving fatty acids metabolism and enhancing energy molecules such as ATP (adenosine triphosphate) and CP (creatine phosphate).
o It fights fatigue and boosts energy due to the rhodiola’s energy-boosting powers.
o It prevents stress-related illnesses because it boosts resistance to physical stresses. 

In order to get the most out of this herbal medication, the following pointers are suggested:

- See to it that the species of rhodiola used in the product must be Rhodiola rosea.
- Buy only rhodiola products from a reputable company.
- The standard amount of rosavin which is an active ingredient used in clinical studies should be 2%.
- Read carefully the product you buy. Rhodiola content could vary from 60mg to 300 mg.
- 10 drops of rhodiola tincture are equal to more or less 100 mg of rhodiola found in a standard herbal capsule.
- Start at a lower dose then gradually increase the amount over the days.
- Take rhodiola at the exact recommended dosage and only for short period. Rhodiola was safely taken from one day to four months.
- Take one or two–week pause in the daily rhodiola regimen for at least every 3 months to give your body a rest. High doses of rhodiola could result in irritability and insomnia.