Benefits of Rhodiola Rosea And Its Side Effects
Last Updated: Nov 15, 2024
Rhodiola Rosea,also known as “golden root”, is an adaptogen herb with tremendous fat burning, energy enhancing and brain boosting power. It is also favorable for proper thyroid functioning, cancer treatment, fighting depression, anxiety and subsequent disorders.
Rhodiola Rosea
Rhodiola rosea is a perennial flowering plant in the family Crassulaceae. It is highly profitable as it serves to amp our energy, reduces stress and other disorders. These plants can be easily identified by several stems growing from the same root, topped by smallyellowish-white flowers, and the plants commonly grow in cliffs or rocky sea regions.
Nutritional Value of Rhodiola Rosea
Rhodiola roots contain an increased proportion of organic compounds like phenols, rosavin, rosin, rosarin, organic acids, terpenoids, phenolcarbonic acids and their derivatives, flavonoids, anthraquinones, and alkaloids.Rhodiola benefits have been used extensively for improving work performance, insomnia, fatigue, depression, and increasing athletic endurance.
Health Benefits of Rhodiola Rosea
Beat Depression and Improve Brain Function
Rhodiola extracts facilitates the transport of serotonin precursors, tryptophan, and 5-hydroxytryptophan into the brain. It can thus act effectively as an anti-depressant. Rhodiola rosea tea can be extremely effective for curing depression. Some of the organic compounds in this herb are considered adaptogenic, meaning that these act to cure depression completely.
Memory boost
Rhodiola rosea enhances memorisation capabilities and concentration ability over prolonged periods. It increases the bioelectrical activity of the brain which enhances memory and brain energy. Rhodiola increases the sensitivity of neurons including two neurotransmitters serotonin and dopamine. These two neurotransmitters are highly beneficial for increasing focus, memory, pleasure, and improving mood.
Cancer Prevention
The high concentration of antioxidants found in the roots of Rhodiola rosea aid in the body’s natural resistance to toxins. It can be helpful in preventing and treating certain types of cancer. Anti-tumor activity is just as vital as antioxidant effects, and this herb boasts both of these. Rhodiola rosea has been found highly effective particularly for bladder cancer
Energy Boost
Rhodiola can increase stamina and endurance by increasing red blood cell count of our body. Red blood cells (RBC) carry oxygen to muscles, and a large number of RBC can enhance an athlete’s performance and delay fatigue. Rhodiola benefits work by boosting erythropoetin(EPO) which stimulates RBC production. Rhodiola has played important roles in increasing metabolism and stimulating greater circulation of blood and oxygen within the body.
Stress Relief
The chemical constituents present in Rhodiola rosea can positively affect the hormonal levels of the body and induce relaxation. It is considered as a potent adaptogen that allows our physiology to handle the stressful situation in a more resourceful manner. Rhodiola can be used as a therapy in asthenic conditions (decline in work performance, sleep disturbances, poor appetite, irritability, hypertension, headaches, and fatigue) developing due to excessive physical or intellectual strain, influenza and other viral exposures, and other illness.
Cardiac Problems
Rhodiola is also effective in boosting cardiac functioning. It helps to decrease the amount of catecholamines and corticosteroids which are released by the adrenal glands during stress.These stress hormones subsequently raise blood pressure, cholesterol, potassium levels and increase risk factors for heart disease. Rhodiola has been found to lower unwanted harmful blood lipids and thus prevent heart diseases. It also decreases the amount of cyclic-AMP (c-AMP) released into cardiac cells.It assists in the uptake of more intracellular calcium into the heart and thus promotes a greater potential for heart muscle contraction,regulating the heartbeat and counteracting heart arrhythmias.
Immune System
Rhodiola stimulates and enhances the immune system by reinstating homeostasis (metabolic balance) in the body. It also escalates the natural killer cells (NK) in the stomach and spleen. This action is possible because of its ability to normalise hormones by controlling the release of glucocorticoid into the body.
Sexual Health
Rhodiola rosea has substantially improved erectile dysfunction and premature ejaculation. It also normalises their prostatic fluid.This can lead to increased fertility, boosted libido, and a generally healthier sex life.
Weight Loss Efforts
Rhodiola rosea extracts and teas are beneficial for weight loss efforts. The release of greater quantity of adipose tissue is one of the keys to losing weight and rhodiola rosea speeds up the fat-burning cells in our body, when coupled with exercises. Thus, extracts of this can help in weight loss.
Uses of Rhodiola Rosea
Rhodiola is highly effective in burning belly fat by activating the lipolytic processes (fat breakdown) and mobilizing lipids from adipose tissue. It also improves hearing, regulates blood sugar levels for diabetics and protects the liver from environmental toxins.It can also clinically enhance thyroid function without causing hyperthyroidism, thymus gland function and delay involution that occurs with ageing. It can also ameliorate adrenal gland reserves without causing hypertrophy.
Cultivation of Rhodiola Rosea
Rhodiola is a small, hardy perennial found to grow in cold regions, including Siberia, the Arctic, as well as northern parts of Asia, North America, Europe, and the UK. In order to survive in the extreme climate, these plants developed special compounds that helped them resist environmental stresses.
References
- Brown RP, Gerbarg PL, Ramazanov Z. Rhodiola rosea. A phytomedicinal overview. HerbalGram. 2002;56:40-52. [Cited 26 June 2019]. Available from:
- Wiedenfeld H, Dumaa M, Malinowski M, Furmanowa M, Narantuya S. Phytochemical and analytical studies of extracts from Rhodiola rosea and Rhodiola quadrifida. Die Pharmazie-An International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences. 2007 Apr 1;62(4):308-11. [Cited 26 June 2019]. Available from:
- Brown RP, Gerbarg PL. The Rhodiola revolution: transform your health with the herbal Breakthrough of the 21st Century. Rodale; 2005 Nov 5. [Cited 26 June 2019]. Available from:
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