Rhodiola Rosea, a Super Herb for Energy and Stress Relief
There are copious supplements and herbal formulas on the market, but not all of them are pure or deliver any real health value. Many of them have filler in them like talc, vegetable gum, silicon dioxide, microcrystalline cellulose, magnesium stearate, silicon dioxide, titanium dioxide, starch, stearic acid, simethicone, and propylene glycol, and many more. None of these toxins are good for you, nor do they promote health.
I recently learned about Rhodiola Rosea and its impressive list of health-enhancing properties.
Rhodiola, sometimes called Golden or Arctic root, is deemed an adaptogenic herb, meaning it’s used to improve your health without disturbing natural biological functions. It’s a superior herb that can benefit Olympians to couch potatoes. The fact that a single plant can have such a wide variety of balancing and healing effects on the body is quite remarkable. It’s been attributed to anti-fatigue and anti-
Benefits
- Stress-reducing capabilities
- A sense of calm/peacefulness
- Fights the blues & depression
- Physical & mental fatigue
- Stimulate the immune system
- Enhance memory & attention span
- Mental and physical endurance
- Increase sexual function
- Fat burning power
- May even assist in weight loss
So far, approximately 140 compounds have been isolated from Rhodiola roots. These include:
- Rosavin
- Rosin
- Rosarin
- Salidroside
- Tyrosol
- P-Sitosterol
- 35 Trace Minerals
- Several volatile oils
- 18 amino acids
- Monoterpene alcohols and glycosides
- Cyanogenic glycosides
- Aryl glycosides
- Phenylethanoids
- Phenylpropanoids and their glycosides
- Flavonoids
- Flavonlignans
- Proanthocyanidins
- Gallic acid derivatives
Although this herb might not be that familiar to us, it’s indigenous to the mountainous regions of Siberia and Northern Europe. Several European countries have used this herb for centuries as traditional medicine and studies of its medicinal applications have appeared in the scientific literature. Russia has been using Rhodiola extensively as a tonic and remedy for fatigue, poor attention span, decreased memory, work performance, insomnia, depression, and increasing athletic endurance. A few Nordic countries also use it to increase mental capacity and boost general strength and vitality.
Let’s sum up what Rhodiola can do for our bodies. If you’re looking to shed a few pounds, then you’ll love to learn that according to some studies, Rhodiola may help your body burn stored fat as fuel. Rosavin, an active compound in Rhodiola, can create a fat-burning response. It stimulates an enzyme called hormone-sensitive lipase which has the power to break down stored fat.
Rhodiola amps up our energy and athletic performance by increasing our red blood cell count. Hemoglobin carries oxygen throughout our body including our muscles. More oxygen will dramatically improve your energy, vitality, and stamina, plus it impedes fatigue.
Too much stress means too much cortisol which leads to premature aging and a host of other physical issues. Cortisol is a steroid hormone that’s released from the cortex of your adrenal glands. It’s responsible for a wide range of processes within the body including immune responses, the regulation of metabolism, an anti-inflammatory, and response to stress. Our body releases cortisol in cycles and when in stressful situations. Rhodiola can calm the body from everyday stressors by balancing and reducing cortisol levels.
Is your memory getting bad? Rhodiola has been shown to improve the health of your brain, fight depression, and make you smart. Rhodiola increases the sensitivity of your neurons to the presence of two neurotransmitters serotonin and dopamine. These neurotransmitters are involved in focus, memory, pleasure, and improving your mood. Rhodiola has been prescribed as an effective anti-depressant medication by many alternative doctors. It increases dopamine sensitivity which improves mood and also helps fight food cravings and addictions.