Rhodiola Rosea The New Super Herb

Rhodiola Rosea has a centuries-long history in Eastern European and Asian countries but has only recently made its way into the mainstream US herbal medicine and supplement arenas. So, what exactly is Rhodiola Rosea, and can its health benefits help you? 

What Is Rhodiola Rosea?

Rhodiola Rosea is part of a group of naturally occurring substances called adaptogens, which aid the human body in responding to and processing stress. Rhodiola Rosea and other well-known adaptogens such as Wild Yam, Holy Basil, and Siberian Ginseng provide several cognitive, physical, and emotional health benefits.

 Known visually for its yellow blooms and lush green stems, the true power of Rhodiola Rosea lies underground in its roots. For this reason, it is often nicknamed the golden root.

Known visually for its yellow blooms and lush green stems, the true power of Rhodiola Rosea lies underground in its roots. For this reason, it is often nicknamed the golden root.

 The Health Benefits of Rhodiola Rosea 

Rhodiola Rosea has recently gained popularity in the US due to its vast array of health benefits. At a glance, here are a few highlights of the cognitive, physical, and emotional health benefits of Rhodiola Rosea: 

• Reduces the stress hormone cortisol
• Helps maintain normal hormone levels
• Bolsters energy production at the cellular level
• Alleviates symptoms of mental health disorders including depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, ADHD, fibromyalgia, and chronic fatigue syndrome.
• Improves internal function of the liver, adrenal glands, and gastrointestinal system
• Enhances memory, attention span, and overall cognitive performance
• Aides in mental focus and physical endurance during stress 

Stress Control

As we encounter stress, our bodies respond by releasing the stress hormone cortisol, which can interact with nearly every organ system to help us survive. While this is a normal function of the body, problems can arise when we experience long-term stress or too-frequent stress. In these situations, cortisol may be released in excess or even unnecessarily, leading to weight gain, muscle and bone weakness, and high blood pressure. Preliminary studies have shown that Rhodiola Rosea helps regulate how much cortisol is released, which greatly reduces the risks associated with high cortisol levels. 

Cognitive Advantage

Cognitive functions are also impacted during times of stress. Stress quite literally makes it hard to think. The ability to reason, remember, concentrate, make decisions, and even read can be impaired as the body attempts to neutralize the stress threat. Rhodiola Rosea helps to counteract these effects and enhances memory, attention span, and focus. 

Mental Health Aid

US-based clinical studies continue to validate the mental health benefits of Rhodiola Rosea. Considered a complementary and alternative medicine for mental health conditions, Rhodiola Rosea has been found to stabilize moods, reduce the dosage of antipsychotic medication needed, and treat physical symptoms such as exhaustion, irritability, and lack of motivation. While additional tests and trials are necessary and already ongoing, benefits from Rhodiola Rosea have already been experienced by individuals with depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, ADHD, fibromyalgia, and chronic fatigue syndrome. 

Side Effects of Rhodiola Rosea 

The great news about Rhodiola Rosea is the extremely low number of side effects. The side effects are typically the same as those associated with an influx of caffeine, such as coffee. The most common side effects include jitters, restlessness, difficulty falling asleep, and irritability. All in all, the known side effects are rather benign. Rhodiola Rosea has not yet been studied for how it may interact with all other medications. It is important to always consult your physician about possible interactions before taking a new supplement. 

The Chemical Constituents of Rhodiola Rosea 

Rhodiola Rosea is composed of two active chemical compounds known as rosavin and salidroside. Rosavins are a combination of the compounds rosavin, rosin, and rosarin. The rosavins in Rhodiola Rosea are credited with providing cortisol level control, anxiety relief, and mood stabilization benefits. 

Salidroside is the more potent and active compound in Rhodiola Rosea. The salidroside in Rhodiola Rosea is responsible for the benefits related to increased cognitive functions in times of stress and antidepressant properties. 

Rosavins and salidroside work together to make Rhodiola Rosea so largely beneficial. When seeking out Rhodiola Rosea as a supplement, it is imperative to note the ratio of rosavin to salidrosides. In nature, the ratio of rosavin and salidroside in Rhodiola Rosea is 3:1. For this reason, the majority of Rhodiola Rosea supplements are standardized at a ratio of 3% rosavins to 1% salidroside. In fact, in studies where the Rhodiola Rosea only contained either rosavins or salidroside, the overall health benefits decreased greatly. 

Rhodiola Crenulata and Rhodioprime 6X 

The research in Rhodiola Rosea led to the discovery of another species of Rhodiola called Rhodiola Crenulata. Rhodiola Crenulata amplifies some of the benefits of Rhodiola Rosea because of its naturally occurring higher levels of salidroside. 

Athletes, trainers, and gym enthusiasts alike should be excited by this news because Rhodiola Crenulata is now available in pre-workout supplements. While most pre-workouts incorporating a species of Rhodiola only have 1% salidroside,

a pioneering new ingredient, Rhodioprime 6X, has a whopping 6% salidroside! A form of Rhodiola Crenulata, Rhodioprime 6X, has been lab-tested for safety and efficacy at the 6% salidroside standardization. 

Studies indicate the greater the percentage of salidroside, the greater the effectiveness and impact of the pre-workout, which is why we have incorporated this exciting new ingredient, Rhodioprime 6X, in our latest pre-workout supplement! The peak benefits of Rhodioprime 6X with its 6% salidroside include increased energy levels and decreased exercise fatigue. With Rhodioprime 6X, you can work harder, longer, and still leave your workout feeling better than ever. That's why we put Rhodiola in our Beast Mode X preworkout and Super Test test booster.

While Rhodiola Crenulata does have higher levels of the potent salidroside constituent, it does not contain any rosavin. Rhodiola Rosea is the only Rhodiola species that contains rosavin. Suffice it to say, both species of Rhodiola are highly beneficial, but each has its strengths. 

Conclusion

 Ongoing research and clinical studies reveal the cognitive, physical, and emotional health benefits of the Rhodiola genus, specifically the Rhodiola Rosea species. While fairly new to the US, this "golden root" has a centuries-long tradition of decreasing physiological and cognitive reactions to stress and alleviating symptoms of mental health disorders. New advancements in the exercise science community are now maximizing the benefits of salidroside through Rhodioprime 6X.