Botanical Name: Rhodiola rosea
Family: Crassulaceae
Common Names: Rose root, golden root, hong jing tian (the Chinese name for R. crenulata)
Taste/Energy: Sweet, slightly bitter, spicy, cool, dry
Part Used: Root
Location/Cultivation: Rhodiola is native to the northern circum polar regions of Canada, Scandinavia, and Siberia. It also is found at higher elevations in the Alps, Pyrenees, and Carpathian Mountains in Europe. It now is being cultivated in Canada, Finland, Sweden, and Russia. It prefers dry, sandy soil, cool temperatures, and full sun.
Safety Rating: Safe to Use
Properties: Adaptogen (stimulating), antiarrythmic (protects against irregular heartbeats), antidepressant, antioxidant, antiviral, cardioprotective, immune system stimulant, mild central nervous system stimulant, nervine, neuroprotective
Constituents: Rhodiola contains rosavins (rosavin, rosin, rosarin), salidrosides, flavonoids/phenolics (rodiolin, rodionin, p-tyrosol), and fragrant monoterpenes such as geraniol.
Modern Uses
An excellent review of the use of rhodiola was printed in HerbalGram, a publication of the American Botanical Council. The authors (Brown, Gerbarg, and Ramazanov 2002) noted that since 1960, more than 180 studies on the uses, chemistry, and pharmacology of this herb have been published. A major reason that this plant was little known in the West until the last thirty years is that almost all of these studies were written in Russian, Swedish, German, or Chinese. Only in the last three decades have any of these studies been translated into English, thus making them available to Western researchers and clinicians.
The plant has been an official, accepted medicine in the Soviet (now Russian) pharmacopoeia since 1969, where it is listed as an adaptogen, nervous system tonic, and antidepressant. Rhodiola has been used in the traditional medicine of Russia, Sweden, Norway, Germany, and Iceland.
Rhodiola is a stimulating adaptogen (only red ginseng is more stimulating) but not a nourishing one. It has significant benefits for the nervous system, and it has been shown to enhance alertness, reduce fatigue, improve memory, and relieve depression.
I regularly use rhodiola for people with deficient (asthenic) depression or stagnant depression, for altitude sickness (used with cordyceps, reishi, and holy basil), and for adult attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) as well as to help people recover from head trauma injury. For head trauma injuries, I combine it with gotu kola, bacopa, white peony, standardized ginkgo extract, holy basil, or Chinese polygala.
Rhodiola is also capable of preventing or addressing immune depletion resulting from overexertion, intense physical training, chemotherapy, or radiation therapy. Research conducted on animals has demonstrated its ability to safeguard cells and organs from chemical and radiation-induced damage.
As with all adaptogens, rhodiola influences the endocrine, nervous, and immune systems, contributing to the regulation of blood sugar levels, alleviating symptoms associated with Parkinson’s disease, reducing muscle stiffness and spasms, and enhancing reproductive functions in both men and women. In males, it aids in the treatment of erectile dysfunction, while in females, it addresses amenorrhea and infertility linked to minor hormonal imbalances or stress.
Both animal and human studies have indicated that rhodiola provides significant cardiovascular benefits. It has been shown to prevent heart damage and arrhythmias induced by stress and to enhance the strength of the heart muscle.
Given its extensive range of benefits, incorporating rhodiola into a clinical protocol for individuals with early-stage Alzheimer’s disease, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue immune deficiency syndrome, diabetes, or mild congestive heart failure may be a prudent option.
Additional Information
Various other species within the Rhodiola genus are utilized in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Tibetan medicine, including R. crenulata, R. algida, R. imbricata, R. kirilowii, R. sacra, and R. sachalinensis. These species do not contain the active compounds known as rosavins, although they do possess salidrosides and p-tyrosol. Some of these species have undergone testing in animal and in vitro studies, revealing potential radioprotective, hepatoprotective, neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and possibly immune amphoteric properties. It is also important to note that a significant portion of rhodiola marketed in the United States as Rhodiola rosea is actually the Chinese species, Rhodiola crenulata, which does not exhibit the same level of efficacy as R. rosea.
Dosage and Safety
Tincture (1:4 or 1:5): 2–3 mL (40–60 drops), three times per day.
Decoction: Take 1–2 tsp. of the cut/sifted dried root in 8–10 oz. of water. Simmer for 15 minutes, then steep, covered, for an additional 45 minutes. Take one to two cups per day.
Capsules: Capsulated products are usually standardized to 3 to 5 percent rosavins and 1 percent salidroside. Take two to four per day.
Safety Issues: Avoid using rhodiola in people who have bipolar disorder or manic episodes, as it can worsen them. It can also cause insomnia in sensitive people, and it is very drying and can cause or exacerbate dry coughs, dry constipation, vaginal dryness, and dry eyes or skin.