Learn more about Rhodiola Extract

Learn more about Rhodiola Extract Rhodiola rosea (also Golden Root, Rose Root, Roseroot) is a plant in the Crassulaceae family that grows in cold regions of the world. These include much of the Arctic, the mountains of Central Asia, the Rocky Mountains, and mountainous parts of Europe, such as the Alps, Pyrenees, Carpathian Mountains, Scandinavia, Iceland, Great Britain and Ireland. The perennial plant grows in areas up to 2280 meters elevation. Several shoots grow from the same thick root. Shoots reaches 5 to 35 cm in height. Rhodiola rosea is dioecious – having separate female and male plants.
Rhodiola is considered and adaptogenic herb that helps the body deal with stress and increases physical and mental endurance. Rhodiola has been used by Russian and Korean athletes and has been used by native arctic people to increase their endurance during traveling and during harsh winter months.
Traditional Chinese medicine also includes rhodiola root in its pharmacopeia as a treatment for certain nervous and fatigue syndromes. Rhodiola was mentioned by the ancient Greek physician Dioscorides in his work "Materia Medica" and it appears that rhodiola was actively traded on the ancient trade routes between east and west. According to Richard P. Brown, in his book "The Rhodiola Revolution," rhodiola was taken by the Vikings to increase strength and stamina and used by ancient Mongolians for tuberculosis and cancer.
In a study conducted in Belgium and published in the "International Journal of Sports Nutrition Exercise Metabolism," rhodiola was found to improve exercise endurance capacity in young healthy volunteers. The researchers studied both the acute effects and long term effects of rhodiola on the participants and found that rhodiola is more effective as a short term or acute stimulant to athletic endurance, taken just an hour before exercise. The long term participants, those who ingested rhodiola for 4 weeks or more, did not show increased performance in this study.
There are several herbs and nutrients that are helpful for anxiety including kava, passion flower, 5-HTP, tryptophan, ashwagandha, and others. Perhaps rhodiola rosea could be an additional herb to consider. It is possible that high dosages of rhodiola extract could cause overstimulation and insomnia, thus aggravating anxiety. If a person has anxiety, it is worthwhile to explore the different natural treatment options.