Rhodiola Root Extract – A Scientific Overview of Anxiety and Stress Relief Benefits
Have you ever felt that you are afraid or worry about things that don't even deserve your attention? Rhodiola root for anxiety?
Fighting anxiousness is a fierce battle, and you need all the help you can get.
That is why people result in herbal remedies and natural supplements to help them experience anxiety relief.
According to experts, Rhodiola root extract could be one of the substances ready to help you relax and feel calmer.
Since this plant is famous for its use against stress, we decided to browse through scientific evidence.
Here is what the research studies have to say about this herb and its potential benefits.
What You Should Know About Rhodiola Rosea
Rhodiola Rosea is a scientific name for the plant we know as roseroot, orpin rose, or Arctic root.
The herb originates in Arctic sections of Europe, but also North America and Asia.
For a long time, the plant has been used in traditional medicine.
Over time, research started proving its medicinal properties.
Today, Rhodiola Rosea is a frequent addition to dietary supplements.
It features antioxidant properties to help fight aging and oxidative stress.
The herb also has properties to stimulate the immune system and anti-stress characteristics.
The scientists haven’t reached a unanimous decision on the recommended dose of Rhodiola Rosea.
It should be in the range from 200 to 600 milligrams, depending on the desired effects.
However, the dose might change when combined with other herbal remedies.
The important thing is that multiple reports indicate this plant is safe for human use.
Side effects are extremely rare, and they happen at high doses.
These include gastrointestinal distress, nausea, and dizziness.
However, the experts agree that Rhodiola is very safe to use by humans.
Rhodiola Rosea – What Does the Scientific Research Say?
A study that focused on Rhodiola Rosea extract was conducted in 2012.
The research included 101 participants who took the extract for four weeks.
A baseline was established by using seven questionnaires, and they focused on the stress, fatigue, and overall health of the patients.
The results in all questionnaires showed at least some enhancement.
According to the researchers, several days were enough to experience the first effects.
They also report the extract was well-tolerated and safe at doses of 200 milligrams daily.
Another study whose results were published in 2015 considered the effects of Rhodiola Rosea on wellbeing.
The researchers gathered 80 participants and divided them into two equal groups.
The first one received a placebo, and the other 400 milligrams of Rhodiola daily.
The administration method was oral capsules two times per day.
The trial lasted for two weeks, and the results relied on patient's reports regarding how they feel. They used Rhodiola root for anxiety.
The participants reported an improvement in their mild anxiety symptoms.
They also indicated they felt less stressed and more composed.
That indicates the Rhodiola root can assist in feeling calmer and less anxious.
Burnout and Stress-Related Symptoms and Rhodiola Rosea
A study that focused on burnout patients took place in 2017, and the published results were intriguing.
The study gathered 118 participants asked to take 400 milligrams of this herb's extract daily.
The trial took 12 weeks, and multiple scales showed results, including questionnaires about mood state and stress.
The results showed an enhancement in various categories, including stress, mood, and global clinical impressions.
The researchers concluded that Rhodiola Rosea could assist patients in dealing with the burnout syndrome caused by stress.
Multiple studies also discussed the potential effectiveness of Rhodiola root extract in fatigue caused by stress.
Phytomedicine published the results of a trial conducted in 2000 in Armenia.
The study focused on the effect of Rhodiola Rosea on relieving fatigue induced by stress.
The study included 56 physicians that belong to healthy young adults.
The physicians had night duty, and their cognitive performance was measured before and after the shift.
The participants started with a placebo, followed by a washout period, and then consumed Rhodiola extract for two weeks.
The conclusion was that they scored better on fatigue ratings when consuming the herb.
That indicates this plant could assist in decreasing overall fatigue, especially during stressful situations.
Students are frequently under stress, which is why they were the focus of a study conducted by Russian scientists in 2000.
The researchers focused on subjective and objective cognitive and physical performance before and after consuming Rhodiola root extract.
The results indicated the biggest improvement in mental fatigue.
Students who participated also reported they felt generally better after consuming the herb.
That seems that Rhodiola Rosea can assist in relieving fatigue induced by stress.
However, it is important to find an optimal dose for the user.
In 2008, the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine published another study related to this herb.
The researchers gathered ten participants diagnosed with a generalized anxiety disorder.
All the patients were adults from 34 to 55 years of age.
The administration of 240 milligrams of the Rhodiola root extract daily took ten weeks.
The researchers used the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale to measure the results.
The conclusion was that the scores were lower at the end of the study compared to the beginning.
That indicates Rhodiola Rosea is capable of helping with reducing GAD symptoms.
Although this study was small, its results in treating anxiety with this herb were promising.
Combining Rhodiola Root Extract with Other Herbal Remedies
Rhodiola root extract exhibits anxiolytic and anti-stress characteristics.
Multiple studies confirmed that, which is why Rhodiola root for anxiety, is often a part of herbal formulas for anxiety relief.
References
- https://europepmc.org/article/pmc/pmc6208354
- https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/herbal-report/final-assessment-report-rhodiola-rosea_en.pdf
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22228617
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26502953
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5370380/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11081987
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10839209?
- https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/abs/10.1089/acm.2007.7117