Rhodiola - Rhodiola rosea

Rhodiola rosea or Rose Root is an exalted herbal stress “adaptogen.” Thriving in high altitudes and in nature’s most challenging climates, this most resilient herbal is intensively studied for enhancing concentration and endurance, uplifting one’s mental state, and supporting optimal immune, adrenal, and cardiovascular function even under conditions of severe stress. Widely used by Russian athletes and cosmonauts to increase energy, Rhodiola delivers the promise of an inner oasis of peace and energy in our hurly-burly world.

Rhodiola rosea may be effective for improving mood and alleviating depression. Pilot studies on human subjects showed that it improves physical and mental performance, and may reduce fatigue. Rhodiola rosea's effects are potentially mediated by changes in serotonin and dopamine levels due to monoamine oxidase inhibition and its influence on opioid peptides such as beta-endorphins, although these specific neurochemical mechanisms have not been clearly documented with scientific studies.

Like the better known eleuthero root, rhodiola is an adaptogen, enabling the body to maintain physiological balance during times of physical or mental stress. There is a substantial body of research that confirms that the herb confers numerous benefits to health, especially in normalizing the heart rate after exercise or stress.

Rhodiola has been used in traditional Chinese medicine, where it is called hong jing tian

Rhodiola is a perennial plant of the high altitudes of the northernmost reaches of Norway, Sweden, Finland, Iceland, China, Mongolia, and Russia, and also of Tibet. It bears spikes of blue-green leaves bearing a single yellow flower that blooms during the brief arctic summer.