Rhodiola Rosea: Boost Health, Reduce Stress & Aging

Rhodiola is very hard on your body if you have thyroid condition.

Dear Rhodiola Fan,

Wow, after your comment I went and found all of the "side effects" posts. I had not seen them in the past. I know that herbs affect people differently and the dosing is important.

I can't speak to all their experiences, but I can add my "yea" to Rhodiola. I have been taking it for many months and found it to be very helpful for a muscle spasm I have in my throat. I take 500 mg once or twice a day. Sometimes I take two at once if my spasm is bad. Always helps. And works better for me than passionflower or valerian, though I find them to help to a degree.

~Mama to Many~

Have been suffering from symptoms of anxiety, stress, fatigue, sleeplessness for a couple of years. GP initially prescribed anti-depressants after a 5 minute chat so I felt very reluctant to go down this route. Read a book that was recommended on combatting anxiety and panic attacks, which when I read it made sense and offered advice on how to manage situations but little about the associated symptoms that I have had for a long time.

I tried valerian and Kalms which helped a little with anxiety but did not regulate my sleep patterns. Every morning I wake up feeling exhausted which then exaggerates or adds to the rest of the symptoms.

I have taken a rhodiola rosea capsule for 5 days now and the effects have been instantly noticeable. I feel mentally alert, full of energy that lasts all day and evening and most noticeably this morning, the feeling that I had had a restful nights sleep which feels like the first in a long time. I felt jittery on one particular day but I think that was because I had drunk a strong coffee later that day.

Obviously it is early days but I feel able to make comparisons as to how I feel now and how I felt "before" and the difference I have to say is huge.

I'm not sure how long you can take them for and if prolonged use is advisable, but for now I'm going to keep taking one a day to see if the symptoms relief is long lasting.

The longer you can go between panic attacks, the calmer you become. Initially, you become very sensitive to what you think are triggers of attacks by association, such as "if I sat in the middle of a crowd and thought I may not be able to leave, " bringing on an attack, you may think "I won't be in crowds and will avoid an attack." The longer you go without an attack, the fewer associations will be made and the more confident you will become to be able to handle situations where you feel overwhelmed. Your sensitivities diminish the longer you can go about your business without an attack, so anything that helps in this way is beneficial.

Do rhodiola tablets cause indigestion or any other side effects?

I have a very hectic stressful lifestyle and fatigue was consuming me everyday! Rhodiola helped me stop drinking Mt. Dew to get home (driving) everyday! And my thinking seems to be MUCH sharper!

I saw something on TV recently about Mountain Dew containing some dangerous additive.

Michael, green tea, alone, totally gives me the jitters. Rhodiola on it's own does not. I'd try taking straight up Rhodiola. You might like it better. Also, I just read about green tea having loads of fluoride in it! Do some research!

I have been in a job where I sell products such as rhodiola and energy drinks, pills, cubes, bars and many more! I have never thought that a pill would be noticeable to wake you up. But I'm in landscaping and took it every morning last week except thursday.. I had extreme fatigue all day, weak and loss energy all day. That friday I took it in the morning after sleeping 1.5 hours because I was up with girls and my friend, and I had more energy all day for that 10 hour shift than I was for 10 hours the thursday with full sleep. I do belive this works and im buying alot of it in the future to come!!

Hi Debra, I completely relate to your post, it happened to me too... In my case I started taking 5HTP (which is extracted from Rhodiola) for several reasons but it made me very anxious and extremelly irritated with everyone and everything to the point I was feeling a bit crazy. The problem went away after a couple of days of stopping taking it (I have tried it twice with the same results).

However I have recently given it a shot one more time and it is working wonders now, I love it! The trick it what time of the day you should to take it! You should read the book "Mood Cure" by Julia Ross. She will go into the 4 groups of mood maintenance chemicals our body needs in order to maintain good mental health, how to identify imbalances and properly supplement, and how to maintain it through diet once the issue is fixed. Go to her website and take the questionnaire, and get the book! It's like 10 bucks on B&N. I failed miserably on the serotonin group and 5HTP (taken properly) fixed it. It HEALED me and it was so easy! Good luck!

Bruce, so sorry about your wife. It would make anyone wake up with a sick stomach every morning.

I know you didn't ask about your wife but has she tried Essiac Tea for the cancer? If you go to youtube and search for Rene Caisse, she cured people of even advanced cancer with Essiac Tea in about the 1940's. Many came to her unable to even walk after being given up by their Doctors and in a short time were able to walk back into her clinic. She was eventually shut down. The videos are very telling as to what is happening in the medical world.

You need the original Rene Case Essiac Tea. When you take the tea the tumor will go slightly bigger and turn hard as it is healing and then go.

She could also take comfrey leaves and roots in a tea. Comfrey has been used for thousands of years medicinally.

Also if she stops everything in her diet including all meat and dairy (except the teas above) and drinks nothing else but green smoothies (wheatgrass, chlorella and spirulina). Cancer cannot survive in an alkaline body. Wheatgrass also contains B17 which is anticancer. She could remain in these juices for a long time as they will provide all the needed nutrients she needs.

On your site you indicated that Rhodiola should only be from Siberia. What studies indicate this? Given that I live in Canada and I want this herb how am I to get it? It actually is grown here in Alberta, which is cold here like Siberia in Russia. The town of Thorsby has numerous farmers that grow Rhodiola. There is a seller that sells the seeds to individuals from Barrhead, AB. You can grow your own in your yard here. Rhodiola is available from supplement companies in eastern B. C. And A. B. So you know its grown locally and it does work. It does something, the effects are subtle, but it is worth the money. It makes me very happy that I can grow it in my backyard and that it is locally grown because it is so cold here in Alberta most of the year. So forget about that nonsense of having to go to Siberia. It is available in North America also.

I was first introduced to Rhodiola in 2005 for depression, with excellent results the first time in my life I felt alive. The store closed and I haven't been able to find any other rhodiola that works for me they either send my anxiety levels way too high or I suffer from deliberating headaches. I am not sure if the fillers cause problems or the rhodiola is not good quality, I would love to feel alive again please can anyone help.

Is there a difference between rhodiola rosea and rhodiola rosea root extract? I have bought both in the past but nothing worked like the stores own brand I tried in 2005.

Ella, St. Johns Wort is standard herb for depression. I get good results in combination with the amino acid Tyrosine. Consider 3 mg Melatonin before retiring for good night sleep AND a Glutathione boost. Take a good multivitamin/mineral supplement w/ every meal. Maybe extra Vit B-12 and D.

There are very many causes of Depression, have you tried any detoxification or body cleanses, fast???

Any type spiritual practice, particularly Meditation can allow some degree of light from BEING into consciousness. Cannabis is a wonderful happy herb, but can cause anxiety if used improperly.

Hope this helps.

Rhodiola was prescribed for me by a naturopathic doctor in a la di dah clinic in La Jolla, CA, for helping my adrenals. It is an adaptogen that lowers or raises your cortisol levels depending upon what's needed. I noticed an increase in energy as soon as I started taking it.

BETTER BUT WITH SIDE EFFECTS

I like AOR rhodiola and it does give me a lot of energy and stamina in my exercise classes. But I do always have a low grade headache that makes me feel out of sorts. I also am annoyed with companies that claim Asian Rhodiola is the same as Siberian as there is a massive difference. I have absolutely no effect from Asian Rhodiola. Over all a very good herb but you should cycle this from time to time. Take a few days off a week for instance.

The dose is everything with Rhodiola. Low doses are stimulatory, raising dopamine/norepi levels. High doses are (paradoxically) sedating, raising serotonin levels. To make things more complex, each brand has a different potency and source, so the amount in milligrams is not the only indicator of strength. If you want to get serious about trying Rhodiola, you need to try different brands. I have tried three (Planetary Herbals, Thorne, and NSI), all have different effects.

I also want to add that Rhodiola should be seen as something you take in times of stress, not something you should plan to take every day for months at a time. I can personally only take it every other day, even during stressful times.

The medical literature includes one case study of a woman who had a complete recovery from depression with daily dosage of Rhodiola over many years, but everyone has different genetic, environmental, and dietary factors. You have to experiment to know what works for you, and since it's something you should only take when you're stressed, you might provoke a negative reaction. So be careful, Rhodiola is powerful and can have negative effects, but it can also be a lifesaver in times of persistent stress and anxiety.

Rhodiola Rosea by itself does not contain caffeine, but some brands are combined with green tea, which has caffeine. If there is added caffeine, it should say so on the label. Otherwise assume that tea has it and avoid added tea. The energy from Rhodiola is healthy feeling, smooth and steady. Unlike caffeine, it does not rob your body, leaving you more pooped when it drops you off. Instead, it is supplying you with energy and helping your body to work more efficiently. It is especially important if you have a thyroid deficiency, as low adrenal function is usually present, having been taxed as a result of trying to cover for weak thyroid function. It is even more important to use Rhodiola when you are taking thyroid hormone, as your now faster metabolism will require more from your adrenals. Think of it like a car-your thyroid is the battery and your adrenals are the alternator. If the battery goes bad, the alternator will run the battery for awhile, but it will eventually die, too. If both are in good shape, you are on your merry way!

Iherb sells Siberian Rhodiola. Just enter Siberian Rhodiola in search and you will find this particular product.

Love this. Started taking Rhodiola a week ago due to fatigue and menopause issues. Haven't felt this good in a long time. Major improvement in overall energy, mental clarity and depression.

The best brand of this product is New Chapter. Buy it on vitacost.com -- cheaper than anywhere. Read what people say about the product.

Hi Bee... there might be some helpful advice here...(no need for me to repeat it)
http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/ART00696/depression-treatment

Mix 1 tablespoon each Chamomile, Catnip, and Basil in hot water, steep 10 minutes or so. While it's steeping eat a cup of plain yogurt, not lowfat or anything. Then drink the tea, strain out the leaves if you like. This makes the abdominals quite relaxed and peaceful. Also try Horse Chestnut with yogurt.

Bear: I was just like you a while back, confused, worried, and suffering. After I learned that God put healing in creation for all His dear beloved creatures I discovered all a person has to do is eat right. When I get a sore heal I apply a salve. Herbs are good for local conditions. You have an autoimmune disorder caused by eating cooked conventionally grown food that is low in nutrients and high in toxins. Meds are a toxin. You need a best food program. Search raw food videos, become enlightened, and function optimally.

Yikes! You absolutely cannot get off your thyroid meds by taking rhodiola alone. Rhodiola does not increase thyroid production and it does not regulate your hormones. It only increases energy. Do not get off your thyroid meds unless your thyroid levels have returned to normal on your own and this has been cleared with your doctor.

I have cysts in my breasts and was having xrays at hospital done and they made my left side breast cyst burst . The pain was very bad and I went looking for natural cures and found Rhodiola rosea and one capsules stopped the pain . I took it every day from that time on to now. I use only natural cures now and eat natural foods only

I have chronic pain and would need to know the dosage, frequency and the brand. Thank you, Sarah

Hi All; I love this website. I am interested in making the Rhodiola Elixir as seen on Oprah/Dr. Oz using 80 proof vodka. Has anyone made this? I can't find the recipe anywhere. And where would I get the pure Rhodiola Root to use in this elixir? Thanks for all your help. Bev

Anxiety. Depression. Fatigue. That was me. Before going raw vegan. Cooked eggs give me anxiety. Raw eggs do the opposite. Eating meat gives me social anxiety, like while shopping. Citrus fruit helps my anxiety and depression. I also feel better when I avoid soap, I feel better using vinegar, baking soda, and borax for showering and wear gloves while washing dishes. Cold showers are great, too. Green tea is another anxiety buster.

I have suffered from mild to moderate depression my whole life. I've tried many things over the years ... Zoloft, therapy, hypnosis, yoga, seminars ... you name it. Nothing helped much. I had also tried natural supplements like SAM-e, 5-HTP, etc. They help some but not a lot. When I started Rhodiola on the second day I felt transformed! Not only did it lift my depression but it actually made me happy! I wanted to do things, live life! I had enthusiam and energy, which I've never really had my whole life. This wonderful little herb has made me feel the best I've ever felt in my life.

Can you explain your comment re: rhodiola being hard on the body if you have a thyroid condition?

I am 65, woman with Mitral valve and an adrenalin problem. I was told by an herbologist that rhodiola mixed with a couple other herbs would improve my libido. I have been taking a combo with about 9 different herbs with rhodiola of each 75%...and on the end of the first week...I woke up with rapid heartbeat, had to take athenolol to stop it...

I am wondering what I should supplement with rhodiola to prevent this in the future...how much each day? Thank you. Jean

I having been using Rhodiolia for a little over a month, I am 68 and generally in good health, I was having stamina problems hiking with my left calf cramping and the problem seems to be gone, I am taking small doses about ever other day and so far so good, I do feel that my overall stamina and energy is better.