Rhodiola Effects

Rhodiola is a plant with dozens of species that grow throughout the cold mountainous temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. It has been traditionally used as an energizing and uplifting herbal tonic that is also believed to be effective at fighting off certain diseases. Research on rhodiola's effects on the human body has found it possesses potent therapeutic action and may be able to help alleviate stress and fatigue, and even fight cancer.

History

• According to Dr. Andrew Weil, a respected authority on herbal medicine, rhodiola has been used by traditional Russian and Scandinavian societies for centuries. Also called golden root or Aaron's rod, rhodiola root is used to combat the stress of living in very cold climates and is believed to increase the body's ability to function while under physical duress. Rhodiola is also used in Chinese medicine as an alternative to ginseng and is believed boost energy and stamina.

Stress Research

• Stress can affect all systems of the human body, leaving a person feeling fatigued and unable to perform at an optimal level. A double-blind, crossover study of rhodiola extract on stress-induced fatigue in physicians who work night shifts was published in the journal Phytomedicine in 2000. The study showed a statistically significant improvement in memory and concentration, and lowered overall mental fatigue for subjects given a repeated low dose of rhodiola.

Cancer Research

• Cancer is a disease characterized by the proliferation of mutated cells. Recent evidence suggests that rhodiola may be able to halt the progression of some cancers. A 2006 study published in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology showed that rhodiola extract inhibited the cell division of certain cancer cells and effectively reduced their ability to survive.

Energy Research

• It is as an energy-boosting herbal tonic that rhodiola gained much of its current popularity in the supplement world. A study published in the Bulletin of Experimental Biology and Medicine in December 2003 showed that rhodiola extract was able to prolong the length of exhaustive swimming by nearly 25 percent in rats and was able to increase the post exercise recuperation rate.

Considerations

• The Rhodiola rosea species is traditionally used and is today marketed for its therapeutic value. However, many species of rhodiola grow worldwide---including in the Rocky Mountains---but most have not been studied for their medicinal qualities. It is the plant's ability to survive in extreme conditions that is traditionally believed to give it such powerful properties. Further investigation into the other hardy species of rhodiola may reveal similar effects.