REM Sleep and Depression
★★★★★
Depressed people are usually in the REM sleep state for a lot of the night (compared to non depressed) and hence wake feeling exhausted mentally and with low levels of serotonin.
Throughout the day activity gradually increases the serotonin levels but of course the cyle begins again each evening.
Placebo trials have also shown that increasing the level of serotoninvia medication does little to affect the nervous anxiety and exhaustion created by over REMING.
So basically the reduced serotonin experienced by depressives is a symptom rather than a cause.
(Athens - Greece)
11/03/2025
★★★★★
I took a magnetic insert for pillow for better sleep and to increase serotonine for my depressed mother. She confirms that she sleeps better and I believe her mood is better.
Here are the health benefits mentioned in the manual.
https://ibb.co/0RNcGLXy
Rhodiola
| 5 star (6) | 86% | |
 (1) |
14% |
★★★★★
Mary
Rhodiola
★★★★★
(Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada)
07/15/2013
How much did you take and how often. Great to hear you feel so good and so soon!
Rhodiola
EC: Hi Jim,
It's helpful if people wait at least a few days before sending in feedback about a remedy or supplement. From your post it appears to only have been an hour or two... Thanks.
(Boston, Ma Usa)
07/24/2012
Thanks to everyone who posted about rhodiola. Does anyone know where to buy the root (chopped is fine, but not powdered) grown in Russia, not in China, and preferably organic, or ethically wildcrafated? I prefer making teas and tinctures of the root rather than taking powdered capsules or pills. This is because I like to connect with the plant itself, so the closer to its original form, the better. (This is a beautiful plant judging from online photos. ) My web search has only shown grown in China or pill/capsule form. Also, many thanks for this wonderful website. Have found so much help here and have recommended it to others!
(Kansas City, MO)
04/05/2026
I'm aware this was posted 14 years ago, but like you I spent years looking for a quality place to buy wild crafted herbs not from China. The best places I have found to date are Spirit of Health KC located in Grandview, MO (all herbs can be purchased online). I happen to live close enough to buy in store.
If I can't locate what I'm looking for here, I go online to Mountain Rose Herbs or to Oregon's Wild Harvest.
It is hard to find quality Rhodiola and Licorice Root as well as many other herbs.
Best Wishes to All Seeking to escape depression and anxiety. Rhodiola has been helpful to me on several occasions. Quality matters!
Rhodiola
★★★★★
Rhodiola
★★★★★
(San Francisco, California)
05/20/2008
Who knows what these acronyms mean? Please speak in plain English. What are UTI's, VCO??
EC: UTI: Urinary Tract Infections VCO: Virgin Coconut Oil
(San Francisco, California)
05/24/2008
thanks :)
Rhodiola
★★★★★
I really noticed that this worked when I stopped taking it for a week to cycle it. Back to being tired and not wanting to do much.
This herb has given me my life back. It sounds cliche, but it's true.
(Welland, Ontario)
07/10/2012
Actually, I don't think it is considered a mood altering herb. I have heard very good comments about it.
Rhodiola
★★★★★
Rhodiola and 5-HTP
★★★★★
Rhodiola and 5-HTP
★★★★★
Anyway, I've been taking it for a short while and I am still flabbergasted at how effective it is. I really just can't get over it. I could feel the effects after the very first dose of rhodiola. Not only did it improve my mood, it made me feel, well, happy! And it improved my personality. Low seratonin levels were impacting my life in many negative ways but now I am a new person.
Also it seems to have eliminated my morning headaches and neck stiffness, but I can't say whether that is attributed to the rhodiola or the 5-HTP. From what I've read it may likely be the 5-HTP.
However as others have stated, I would take caution in the dosage of rhodiola. I have found that if I take the afternoon dose too close to the morning dose, I do become a bit jittery and restless. Still happy--not nervous--but jittery and restless nonetheless.
Rhodiola is obviously powerful stuff and I'm sure it's not for everyone, but if you are the type of person that it can benefit, then like the others here that have reported positive experiences, I think you'll be astounded as to how effective it can be.
(SF, California)
05/24/2008
★★★★★
I agree, for weeks I was in a horrible depression and the next day I was better (and physically stronger). I took Gaia Herbs Adrenal Support (has Rhodiola) + straight Rhodiola.
Rhodiola and St John's Wort
(Sevierville, Tn)
02/03/2010
(Las Vegas, Nv, Usa)
02/11/2010
I, too, suffer from these. I have been doing a ton of research, and I will share with you the three best supplements for women with PMS/depression/anxiety. From what I have read, they are safe, with few negative side effects, unlike St. John's wort, which can cause sun sensitivity, and interacts with some medications. #1 & 3 have been found in studies to work as well as SJW or even SSRI's.
1. Chasteberry aka chinese vitex - helps balance hormones. People with PMS usually are progesterone deficient, and this helps balance that out.
2. L-Theanine - found in green tea, but can be found in supplemental form. Very calming, takes the edge off. Does not make drowsy. Safe.
3. Inositol - found to be particularly helpful with depression, bi-polar disorder, and OCD.
I would also highly recommend taking an Omega 3 supplement in conjunction with, specifically B-12, Folic Acid, B-6 and including a B vitamins complex.
When I do these, as well as avoid too much sugar and get regular sleep, I feel like a new person. If I slip and don't do these things, the monster comes out.
Important note: Anything involving balancing hormones or deficiencies usually takes at least three cycles to notice the positive effect. It's not usually a try for a day or two thing. Also, trying one at a time helps you to see which one is actually helping or not. It's not an overnight solution. This kind of thing takes time and patience, but I believe there is natural help out there with these things.
Good Luck. Sorry this didn't have to do with Rhodiola, but I had to share.
Rose Oil
★★★★☆
I am on Citalopram 20 mg. a day. I exercise and eat mostly organic & avoid sugar & other no nos. Also, I take tons of supplements like magnesium & fish oil. Still, the depression has not all gone away. I heard that rose oil was an antidote for depression & decided to try it. All I did was put 1 or 2 tiny drops of rose absolut (the real stuff) on my upper lip, well massaged in, under my nostrils at my "droop time" at night. About an hour later I would also do a bit more aroma therapy by burning just one stick of good incense (not the kind that is made from cow dung, really healthy kind, any "flavor".) I waited an hour for the incense because I wanted my olfactory sense to get the full benefit of the rose oil by itself. (I also rubbed the left over bit on my finger onto my wrists.) The effect has been wonderful. Boy does it put me in a happy, even joyful mood. And this lasts about 24 hours! Also, I noticed it was helping me with attention deficit order, definitely. Well, at first I could find no one else saying that it helped A.D.D. But since then, I have found on the net that yes, people say it helps with A.D.H.D. (A.D.D. is sometimes lumped into that category.) per empirical studies. Now A.D.D. & depression go together commonly. No way I believe this was placebo effect. I didn't dream it would help with A.D.D. for example.
Rose absolut is pricey. However, I get it at a major discount vitamin site that sells everything for about 40% off. It could last me several months at the rate I'm using it, personally.
Saffron
★★★★★
(Brooklyn, New York)
02/07/2010
(Athens - Greece)
11/10/2025
Sage
★★★★★
Sam-E
★☆☆☆☆
WARNING!
I am very allergic to Sulpha drugs and about a half hour later I started to itch. I called the pharmacist where I live and explained to her what it had. She said it would only have a minute amount in it but to get benadryl if I had any side effects. I started to feel needle like picks all over my body and took care of it with the benadryl. Maybe it won't happen to you but be careful.
Mary: I think Tosylate disulfate is the generic name for SAM-e, which is a derivative of the sulfur amino acid Methionine.
As for the reaction, it is ether a problem of Molybdenum deficiency or genetic defect. It's what called a dysfunctional Sulfoxidation mechanism. You should try 500mcg MolyB daily w/ B complex or B-50-100. After 1 wk of this try the SAM-e again as you should have no more reaction and maybe start feeling up and better.
Also for depression, try 500mg Tyrosine in the AM and 100mg 5HTP before retiring.
