Doug Brown
You'll mainly find him in the office writing reviews, researching supplements, or studying the fitness industry. When he's off his leash Doug spends his time in the gym, prepping the next meal or hanging out anywhere people will listen to him talk about fitness.
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Rhodiola Rosea is a natural nootropic that can boost concentration, reduce fatigue and lessen stress and improve your mood. It has remarkable energizing and motivating effect that lasts between 4 to 8 hours. It is better to keep the dosage low and to cycle when using Rhodiola for the first time.
What is Rhodiola Rosea?
The Rhodiola is known by many names given to it by the native people of the area where it is found such as roseroot, Aaron’s rod, King’s crown, and golden root.
The Rhodiola Rosea is a plant that typically grows in high altitudes and cold regions all across the world including eastern North America, Central Asia, Arctic, and the mountains of North Carolina.
Rhodiola Rosea supplements are marketed for their healing properties as well. It has been widely used for improving mood, healing depression, and eliminating stress. In cold areas like Scandinavia and Siberia. It has also been used as a supplement to cope with the cold weather.
This plant has been a part of the traditional Chinese medicines. Particular regions of the plant are also used in food, mainly in salads. Nearly 140 chemical compounds have been identified in it by scientists; these include alkaloids, flavonoids, etc.
Rhodiola Rosea: The Benefits
Unlike many other supplements, the Rhodiola Rosea has a right amount of scientific research to support the health claims that it has made. Here are a few of the nootropic and health benefits.
Reduced Fatigue and Improved Physical Activity
The Rhodiola Rosea has the ability to reduce fatigue and improve your physical activeness. Scientists claim that it can reduce both mental and physical fatigue. A meta-analysis of data [1] that was gathered from 11 well-designed studies suggests that this supplement has the benefits of improving you mentally, physical performance, and several mental conditions.
Researchers have also performed a study on 14 well-trained athletes where the athletes took the Rhodiola Rosea for four weeks. The final result from the athletes showed improved physical performance. It was found that the Rhodiola Rosea supplement, when added to daily usage, reduces lactate levels and markers of skeletal muscle damage after a hard and strenuous workout.
Enhanced mood and well – being
One of the most notable responses about the benefits of Rhodiola Rosea from users is enhanced mood. They have stated that it makes the feel more energetic, less depress, and more motivated. A study has been performed on the depressed patient where they took it for six weeks. During which they showed reduced and in some cases eliminated symptoms of depression. This all without any side-effects for which most anti-depressants are known.
It also shows an overall improvement of the sense of well-being and has positive effects on stress. It has the capacity to reduce your stress and enhance your overall well-being.
Reduced Anxiety
Among other nootropic benefits, the Rhodiola Rosea is known for its ability to reduce stress. These claims are made based on the reports that are collected from users who had an anxiety disorder.
A 2008 California pilot study [2] shows promising results. According to the study, 10 participants with Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) had 340mg of Rhodiola Rosea extract on a daily basis for ten weeks. The result showed that the patients who took the extract showed significant improvement.
Depression
The Rhodiola Rosea is known to have an extract called the SHR-5 of rhizomes when used on patients with mild/moderate depression can produce positive change and improve their condition. A study performed in 2007 [3], on participants for six weeks. The participants were both male and female between the ages of 18 – 70. All of them had depression. They were divided into groups based on the levels of their depression.
The result showed vast improvement in groups where patients suffered from insomnia, somatization, emotional instability. Nevertheless, the study was concluded with the final result as the standardized extract SHR-5 proved to be an effective anti-depressant for a patient with mild depression.
Cognitive vs. Mental Performance
One of the several nootropic benefits of the Rhodiola extract is improved cognitive performance. Users have reported an improved cognitive and mental performance, especially when taken during stress episodes. A study performed in 2013 [4] which involved a passive avoidance task, showed that it positively influence the memory of both healthy and those dealing with cognitive decline.
Self-experimenter Abelard Lindsay has some very insightful reviews about the Rh. Rosea effects on memory. She states how well she remembers instances from her childhood as well as the extract helped improve not only her mood but also reduced her anxiety effects.
What is the best Rhodiola Rosea dosage?
As the Rhodiola Rosea is a plant, different brands will use it in different concentrations. If you are taking it on a daily basis for prevention of fatigue, it is better to take 50 milligrams per day. Nevertheless, studies have shown much higher dosage.
Studies that have reported greatest benefits to physical performance, mood, anxiety, and cognition comprised of much higher dosages ranging between 300 to 800 milligrams per day.
Most of this supplements come in 500 mg capsules. If you are taking 500mg, you should take one capsule per day to reap the benefits of this amazing herb. Nevertheless, if you do not notice any changes after a week of usage, you can increase the dosage to twice a day.
It should not matter if you take the Rhodiola Rosea with or without food. But if you feel nauseated, avoid taking it on an empty stomach. Taking it with a small meal will reduce these side effects.
Rhodiola Rosea Conclusion – Is it effective?
Rhodiola Rosea is an amazing herb with a long history of usage both in medicine and food. It has tons of benefits some of which are stated above, with few or no side effects, and with a handful of research to back its claims.
It’s perfect for any nootropic stack or pre workout, or just for anyone looking to boost mood and motivation.
References
[1] Hung SK, Perry R, Ernst E., The effectiveness and efficacy of Rhodiola rosea L.: a systematic review of randomized clinical trials., Phytomedicine. 2011 Feb 15;18(4):235-44. doi: 10.1016/j.phymed.2010.08.014. Epub 2010 Oct 30.
[2] Bystritsky A, Kerwin L, Feusner JD., A pilot study of Rhodiola rosea (Rhodax) for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)., J Altern Complement Med. 2008 Mar;14(2):175-80. doi: 10.1089/acm.2007.7117.
[3] Darbinyan V, Aslanyan G, Amroyan E, Gabrielyan E, Malmström C, Panossian A., Clinical trial of Rhodiola rosea L. extract SHR-5 in the treatment of mild to moderate depression., Nord J Psychiatry. 2007;61(5):343-8.
[4] Damianka P. GetovaEmail, Anita S. Mihaylova., Effects of Rhodiola rosea extract on passive avoidance tests in rats, Central European Journal of Medicine April 2013, Volume 8, Issue 2, pp 176–181
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