Rhodiola Rosea: Healing Herb

Rhodiola Rosea is a plant that only grows in some of the coldest areas in the world. It can be found in places like the British Isles, the Alps, the Rocky Mountains, the Pyrenees, Scandinavia, Iceland, the Central Asian mountains, the Carpathian Mountains and the Arctic.

It is very popular in Russia and China, and is now being used in the United States. Because it is so powerful, Rhodiola Rosea can be used for a large variety of purposes, but it's main purpose is as an anti-stress formula.

During clinical studies, it was discovered that Rhodiola Rosea is an adaptogen that helps increase your resistance to quite a few stressors in your life, regardless if they are biological, chemical or physical.

Scientists also say that this miracle plant affects more than just one system in your body, and this is why it works so well at promoting physical endurance, emotional well-being and mental clarity and sharpness.

The people in Russia have been using this plant for hundreds of years to help them cope and tolerate the extremely cold Siberian winters. Their research also show that if you combine Rhodiola Rosea with exercise, it may help you loose weight by breaking down stored fat.

This powerful plant is also said to help with anti-aging problems, alleviating depression, preventing altitude sickness, improving your mood, reduces fatigue, and improves mental and physical performance.

People taking Rhodiola Rosea, who had been deprived of sleep because of their odd working hours, were functioning very well and they were alert. This is why it's so popular with athletes, astronauts, soldiers, air traffic controllers, long distance truck drivers, flight attendants, proof readers, the elderly and even aging politicians.

Studies show that these effects come from the plants influence on opioid peptides such as beta-endorphins, and its' ability to increase serotonin and dopamine levels.

A study was done in China on animals, and it was discovered that Rhodiola Rosea lowered blood pressure, as well as slowing the heart rate. Other studies in Russia and Korean discovered it also protects the liver, and can even aid the liver in recovering from certain poisons it may have been exposed to.

Scientists know this plant is a very powerful antioxidant, now they are saying that it could possibly be used in treating cancer. This is because Rhodiola reduces cell mutations that are directly related to cancer, and it aids the body in repairing DNA mutations.

The surprise in all of the studies done is discovering that in low doses, Rhodiola stimulates, and in high doses it sedates. Any amounts between 1,500 - 2,000 mg is considered high.

Should you take this supplement? That is between you and your doctor. But there are a few more things you should know first. One is that the studies done show that there are no side effects, and that toxicity level is very low, but I would suggest for you not to take this if you are pregnant, lactating or breast feeding.

Another thing to consider is that even though there may not be any nutrient or drug interactions known, Scientists have not done enough studies to determine how it will interact with dietary supplements or adaptogens like ginseng.

Now the question is should you take ginseng or Rhodiola Rosea, and my answer is that Rhodiola Rosea has all the benefits of ginseng, but it is less toxic than Panax ginseng (about 5 times less), and will not cause constipation or over-excitement.

Another thing to watch out for when taking Rhodiola is the caffeine content, because it will cause you to be jittery and anxious. So it has been recommended that you purchase the Russian Rhodiola only.

The Russian brand has the key active components of Rosavin, Rosarin and Rosin, where as, the formulas sold in the USA as "Tibetan" Rhodiola or Chinese Rhodiola do not have any active components. "Tibetan" Rhodiola and Chinese Rhodiola don't have the key ingredient Rosavins, but they do have a high dose of Salidroside. If you want the best, it has been suggested that you use the Russian formula only.

USED FOR:
Memory, Attention Span, Mental Sharpness, Anxiety, Panic Attacks, Depression, Focus, Mental and Physical Fatigue

DOSAGE:
Typically 200 - 600 mg per day. Make sure it is standardized and contain 2-3% rosavins and 0.8-1% salidroside. Take it with water either before or at meals.

COMMON NAMES:
Rhodiola Rosea, Roseroot, Golden Root, Introduction to Rhodiola Rosea