https://southernappalachianherbs.blogspot.com/2021/12/researching-rhodiola.html
Today’s article on Rhodiola will, by necessity, be fairly short. This herbs, also known as
Rose Root or Stonecrop is said to have a 3,000 year old history of use, but very little has been written of it historically. It seems to have been most used in Russia (especially Siberia) and Scandinavia, but the herb is not included in the only Russian herbal on my shelf, and I am unaware of a good Scandinavian herbal written in English. The English and German herbalists seem to have called several sedums “stonecrop”, but the only ancient reference I can find on this herb goes all the way back to Dioscorides, who wrote:
Rhodia radix grows in Macedonia, similar to costus but lighter and uneven, making a scent when bruised similar to that of roses. It is useful for those aggrieved with headaches, bruised and applied with a little rosaceum and applied moist to the forehead and temples. It is also called rhodida.
That this herb was known to the ancient Greeks as being of Macedonian origin would seem to indicate that it was more a medicine of the Balkans.
Wikipedia tells us:
In Russia and Scandinavia, R. rosea has been used for centuries to cope with the cold Siberian climate and stressful life It is also used to increase physical endurance and resistance to high-altitude sickness, but the scientific evidence for such benefits is weak. The plant has been used in traditional Chinese medicine, where it is called hóng jǐng tiān.
A 2012 report by the European Medicines Agency on literature concerning the dried extract of R. rosea stated that "The published clinical trials exhibit considerable deficiencies in their quality. Therefore 'well-established use' cannot be accepted" and added:
"The traditional use as an adaptogen 'for temporary relief of symptoms of stress such as fatigue and sensation of weakness' is appropriate for traditional herbal medicinal products. ... The long-standing use as well as the outcome of the clinical trials support the plausibility of the use of the mentioned herbal preparation in the proposed indication.
Unfortunately, the history of development and use of Rhodiola as a medicinal herb is something about which we can only speculate. It may be that it was an herb used by indigenous peoples that never fell out of use, but also never spread beyond its home region until recent times. It could have been propagated and spread through the region by herb and spice traders or Gypsies. Any of these scenarios are likely. However, modern herbalism has certainly become aware of it, as evidenced by this entry in Plants for A Future:
Medicinal use of Rose Root: Though little known as a medicinal plant, rose root has been used in traditional European medicine for over three thousand years, mainly as a tonic. Modern research has shown that it increases the body's resistance to any type of stress by regulating the body's hormonal response. Its use has been shown to have a protective effect upon the neurotransmitters such as serotonin and dopamine in the brain. It improves neurotransmitter activity by inhibiting their enzymatic destruction and preventing their decline caused by excessive stress hormone release. Rose root also enhances the transport of serotonin's precursors into the brain and studies have shown that use of this herb can increase brain serotonin by up to 30%. The root is adaptogen. It has an enhancing effect upon physical endurance and sexual potency. A decoction of the flowers has been used to treat stomach aches and intestinal discomfort. The raw flowers have been eaten in the treatment of tuberculosis.
The late herbalist, Michael Moore included it under adaptogens. My
class notes from the Southwestern School of Botanical Medicine include this entry:
Sedums or Rhodiola: Lessons stress of "adrenal exhaustion". This is exhaustion due to adrenals, not exhausted adrenals. Lessens adrenergic stress and lessens exhaustion. Good for muscle tone. Slightly stimulates thyroid. Improves lipid metabolism in liver. Better efficiency of CNS and muscles, fewer waste products - you get more energy from same amount of calories. Helps with blood sugar. Mood elevator, helps with depression. May help bladder cancer. Slightly hyper-tensive. Mild stimulant, kind of like coffee.
Root is used. but crushed plant material may be strong anti-inflammatory. Most (all?) sedums have this property due to cresylic acid. Rhodiola is an adaptogen-type herb that helps support the immune system.
STIMULANTS TO NON-SPECIFIC RESISTANCE These are herbs that tend to lessen the DEGREE of metabolic stress, from whatever cause. Aralia racemosa (Spikenard) Astragalus mongholicus Eleutherococcus senticosus (Siberian Ginseng) Panax ginseng, P. quinquefolia (Ginseng) Schisandra chinensis Sedum (Rhodiola) rosea or S. integrifolia (King’s Crown)
Even the Physician’s Desk Reference for Herbal Medicine omits Rhodiola from its thousand or so pages. The website of The National Center For Complementary And Integrative Health tells us only:
Latin Names: Rhodiola rosea
Background
Rhodiola grows in cold regions and at high altitudes in Europe and Asia.
Rhodiola has a long history of medicinal use in Russia, Scandinavia, and other parts of Europe.
Traditionally, it was used to attempt to increase endurance, work performance, and tolerance of high altitudes and to treat fatigue, weakness, and other symptoms.
Today, rhodiola is promoted to increase energy, stamina, strength, and mental capacity, improve athletic performance, resist the effects of stress, and help manage depression, anxiety, and other symptoms.
How Much Do We Know?
Some preliminary research has been done on rhodiola and its components, but few rigorous studies of this herb have been done in people.
What Have We Learned?
There isn’t enough evidence from studies in people to allow conclusions to be reached about whether rhodiola is helpful for any health-related use.
What Do We Know About Safety?
Rhodiola has been used safely in studies lasting 6 to 12 weeks. Possible side effects include dizziness and either dry mouth or excessive saliva production.
Little is known about whether it’s safe to use rhodiola during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.
The Lost Book of Herbal Remedies gives us the most full entry I have found:
Rhodiola rosea, also called Golden Root, Rose Root, or Arctic Root, can sometimes be difficult to find. It likes sea cliffs and high elevations in sandy areas in North-eastern America, Europe, and Asia. It is a perennial flowering plant that is sometimes planted as a ground-cover. It is in the Crassulaceae (Stonecrop) Family. Golden root likes cold weather, and is most often found it on sunny river and stream banks, in snow beds, and rocky shelves.
Medicinal Use: Rhodiola root is a powerful adaptogen. It is good for lifting the mood, increasing mental concentration, and it regulates the body’s reaction to stress and normalizes hormones. Rhodiola’s effects are often best at lower doses, so it is important to start with a lower dose and increase it only if needed.
Physical Endurance and Sexual Potency:
Athletes take Rhodiola root to enhance their physical strength and endurance. It increases energy levels and decreases the effects of strenuous exercise on the body. It allows the athlete to push harder without feeling the physical stress. It also promotes sexual health, libido, and stamina. It may increase fertility.
Fatigue and Adrenal Fatigue: Fatigue can be caused by a number of factors, everything from anemia to generally poor health or even stress. The adaptogenic properties of Rhodiola root helps increase energy and reduce fatigue in almost all of these cases.
Healthy Thyroid Function: Rhodiola root promotes healthy immune system function and regulates many of the hormones that allow the body to function normally, including the thyroid. It promotes healthy function of the thyroid and helps to balance the hormones. This is part of the reason that it increases energy, but it also does far more to help the thyroid function properly.
Memory and Brain Function: Rhodiola increases the mental capacity of the brain and helps with mental clarity. It improves memory retention, boosts the mood, reduces fatigue, and calms anxiety. This calm and improved function helps people relax.
Relieves Anxiety and Depression: For people suffering from anxiety and depression, Rhodiola can be a lifesaver. It calms anxiety, helps the person think clearly, and lifts the mood. It is not suitable for use with people who have manic episodes, but for others it is often considered a cure.
Warning: Do not take golden root with prescription anti-depressants or SSRIs as they can interact.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): Rhodiola regulates the brain hormones that cause anxiety, flashbacks, and other symptoms of PTSD. Start at a low dose.
Treatment of Tuberculosis: A combination of Rhodiola flowers and Astragalus root is used as a treatment for tuberculosis. Eat the raw flowers from the golden root plant and take Astragalus root powder daily.
Warning: Do not use if you have an autoimmune disorder as it may cause a flare up. Do not use if on SSRIs or if you have bipolar. Do not use if you are on thyroid medications. Consult with a doctor if you are on anticoagulants or ACE inhibitors. It may have stimulating effects so best taken in the morning so as not to interfere with sleep.
Rhodiola certainly seems to be a useful adaptogen and a mildly bitter herb with anti-inflammatory and immune supporting properties. Unfortunately, most of what I find
online about it are fairly fanciful marketing claims about immortal Vikings and such.... It is an herb that warrants further study.
Author: Judson Carroll. Judson Carroll is an Herbalist from the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. His weekly articles may be read at
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The Herbs and Weeds of Fr. Johannes Künzle:
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Disclaimer
The information on this site is not intended to diagnose or treat any disease or condition. Nothing on this site has been evaluated or approved by the FDA. I am not a doctor. The US government does not recognize the practice of herbal medicine and their is no governing body regulating herbalists. Therefore, I'm just a guy who studies herbs. I am not offering any advice. I won't even claim that anything I write is accurate or true! I can tell you what herbs have "traditionally been used for." I can tell you my own
experience and if I believe an herb helped me. I cannot, nor would I tell you to do the same. If you use any herb I, or anyone else, mentions you are treating yourself. You take full responsibility for your health. Humans are individuals and no two are identical. What works for me may not work for you. You may have an allergy, sensitivity or underlying condition that no one else shares and you don't even know about. Be careful with your health. By continuing to read my blog you agree to be responsible for yourself, do your own research, make your own choices and not to blame me for anything, ever.
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