Rhodiola Rosea, also known as arctic root, golden root, king’s crown or roseroot, is an adaptogenic herb with incredible brain-boosting, fat-burning and energy-boosting power. Rhodiola contains active compound such as rosoavin that help balance cortisol (stress hormone) hence helping your body adapt to environmental, physical and chemical stress. It can be found growing at high altitudes particularly in the arctic areas of Eastern Europe and Asia. Rhiodola rosea (R. rosea) has been a part of various traditional medicine systems practiced in parts Asia, Russia and Europe, for many centuries.

Numerous studies around the world have found that Rhodiola contains more than 40 different chemical compounds that responsible for its numerous pharmacological effects. These chemical compounds include salidroside and rosavin which contribute to its benefits by having stimulating, anxiolytic-like, adaptogentic and antidepressant effects.

Rhodiola rosea was also commonly used by the Viking and in Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems, especially for reducing stress, enhancing physical strength and improving stamina. Moreover, the Russians have studied this herb extensively, mostly for fighting anxiety, fatigue and depression, while improving endurance and performance.

Here are some of the Benefits of Rhodiola Rosea:

1. Can Rhodiola Help with Stress?

Rhodiola is a stress-busting herb that makes your body more capable of dealing with both physical and mental stressors. As an adaptogen and ergogenic aid, Rhodiola Rosea helps improve both mental and physical energy for overcoming the effects if stress.

It also helps the body adapt to stress buy preventing or decreasing hormonal changes that are linked to prolonged stress. It acts on opioid neuropeptides and beta-endorphins to enhance stress adaptation and tolerance.

2. Helps your body burn belly fat more efficiently

One of the numerous health benefits of Rhodiola rosea is that it helps burn more stored belly fat more efficiently. Studies have found that rhodiola helps prevent diet-induced obesity by increasing hypothalamic norepinephrine and reducing visceral white adipose tissue.

Rosavin, one of Rhodiola’s most active compounds, triggers a fat-burning response and also helps reduce cravings for “comfort foods” that is linked to high cortisol levels. Moreover, rosavin stimulates hormone-sensitive lipase which helps down excess fat stored in the belly area. Therefore, combining taking Rhodiola rosea along with regular moderate exercise can give you and extra edge and help accelerate the breakdown of fat stored in adipose tissue.

3.Boosts Athletic Performance

Rhodiola Rosea is commonly used for increasing strength, stamina and energy. Therefore, Rhodiola may be great for you if you’re looking for a way to increase athletic performance and boost energy. It helps increase your endurance and stamina by lowering oxidative stress and increasing your RBC (red blood cell) count. Red blood cells carry O2 (oxygen) to the muscles and a higher RBC count can help delay fatigue and improve athletic performance. Rhodiola boosts Erythropoietin (EPO) which stimulates the production of red blood cells. Rhodiola rosea has anti-inflammatory benefits that improve endurance by aiding rapid recovery of muscles. Studies have found that these improvements happen because rhodiola powers the synthesis of ATP, hence improving cellular energy.

4.Helps Balance Cortisol with Rhodiola Rosea

Many people use adaptogenic herbs such as rhodiola to help lower cortisol levels which is highly beneficial for slowing/delaying age-related symptoms and for feeling and looking better. Rhodiola rosea can also help cam your nerves when dealing with everyday stressors. Prolonged high cortisol levels due to physical or emotional stress can cause various stress-related symptoms including decreased memory, lowered blood glucose response, weakened immunity, thyroid issues, hormone imbalance and abdominal weight gain.

5.Help Fight Mental and Physical Stress Naturally

Besides reducing physical fatigue, rhodiola also decreases mental fatigue and other symptoms like lack of concentration ad brain fog. Rhodiola rosea is also commonly used to help the body overcome fatigue from low intensity movements or exercise.

Therefore, whether you’re a student, stay-at-home mom or business executive, you’ll be glad to know that this adaptogenic herb has been shown to help overcome the effects of sleep deprivation and increase workplace performance.

Rhodiola was commonly used in many traditional medicine systems to treat chronic fatigue, adrenal fatigue, problems with athletic/physical performance and poor recovery from workouts. Balanced cortisol levels can help you feel more energized and younger. High cortisol levels for a long period of time can lead to poorer cognitive performance, accelerated signs of ageing, exhaustion, weight-gain, stress, and higher levels of both psychological and physical stress. This is one of the main reasons why Rhodiola rosea makes such a great anti-aging supplement.

6.Can Rhodiola Rosea Improve Brain Function?

Rhodiola rosea has been shown to help as a natural depression remedy and to help boost cognitive functioning. It also helps improve the sensitivity of the cells of your nervous system and brain, including dopamine and serotonin. These two neurotransmitters help improve memory, focus, mood and pleasure, making them important for preventing depression and anxiety. Rhodiola is also used as a natural alternative to antidepressants. It works by increasing dopamine sensitivity, which helps improve general mood and fight addictions and food cravings.

7.Can Rhodiola Help Fight Anxiety and Depression?

Various clinical studies show that besides improving general mood, Rhodiola also helps reduce stress, depression, confusion, anger and anxiety. According to these studies, people who use Rhodiola rosea on a regular basis also report improvement in symptoms of GAD (generalized anxiety disorder) and a significant reduction in HARS (Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale) scores. In fact, some physicians recommend Rhodiola for ADHD and ADD because it has been shown to help improve focus.

Potential Side Effects of Rhodiola Rosea

Rhodiola has been found to be well-tolerated by most individuals and is less likely to cause any serious side effects. However, when taken orally, it can potentially cause mirror side effects such as dry mouth and dizziness. If you’re under any medications, you should consult your doctor before taking Rhodiola or stopping any medication.

The bottom-line

While some reviews and studies have found that Rhodiola rosea shows promise for providing many health benefits on both mental and physical performance, the quality of research is still limited and firm conclusions cannot be made. Therefore, more research and quality publications are warranted.

Read more on natural help for stress and brain degradation – using CBD oil!

Wishing you balance and inner calmness,