Herb of the Month – Rhodiola, an adrenal gem!
This beautiful herb is one of personal favourites. Rhodiola rosea is classified as an adaptogen due to its potent ability to increase resistance to stress, be it biological, chemical or physical stress. This marvellous herb has the ability to increase the body’s resistance to stress, trauma, anxiety and fatigue.
Traditionally, Rhodiola has been used to increase physical endurance, work productivity, longevity and even resistance to altitude sickness. In the clinic I most commonly prescribe
Rhodiola for adrenal fatigue, stress, fatigue and anxiety.
In a 2012 open label study, participants who received four weeks treatment with Rhodiola rosea extract showed clinically relevant improvement with regard to symptoms of stress and
anxiety, functional impairment affecting work, social and family responsibilities and fatigue. Indeed symptom improvement was seen in as few as three days of treatment with continuing improvements after one to four weeks. (Just a quick reminder to all those taking herbal medicine, symptom improvement continues with the length of treatment, so keep with it!)
Rhodiola increases physical and mental performance by enhancing muscle energy and stamina during periods of peak physical stress speeding muscle energy recovery time and stimulating anabolic activity. Russian studies show that supplementation with Rhodiola improves speed and strength during track and field activities, swimming, ski racing, as well
as in weightlifters and gymnasts.
Recent animal studies have also demonstrated Rhdiola’s ability to decrease blood glucose, increase glutathione.
This combined effect of Rhodiola as an anti-oxidant and hypoglycaemic, suggests it may be useful in the treatment of altered glucose metabolism and obesity.
I commonly blend Rhodiola with Siberian Ginseng and Withania which makes for a pretty powerful adaptogenic mix, guaranteed to improve fatigue, stress and increase physical
and mental endurance.
Don’t worry about the taste, you adapt quite quickly! And for those who prefer their herbal medicine in a non-liquid form it also comes in capsules!
