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What is Rhodiola Rosea?

Rhodiola Rosea- otherwise known as golden root or arctic root- is a yellow-flowering herb native to colder, mountainous regions in Asia and Europe. People have used it for centuries to help treat fatigue, depression, and anxiety. Its roots possess adaptogenic nootropic properties and contain more than 140 active ingredients to help your body adapt to physical and emotional stress and to keep you calm. According to several scientific studies and systematic reviews, Rhodiola Rosea shows promising effects in helping to relieve people of several symptoms related to brain fog.

Related: Herbs For Anxiety: A Guide To Natural Anxiety Remedies

How Does Rhodiola Rosea Work?

According to research, Rhodiola Rosea seems to operate by stimulating the release of various neurotransmitters within the brain, specifically serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine. More studies will be needed to be sure the plant does indeed operate in this way and that it is effective in treating the various conditions and symptoms that will be explored in more detail below. Scientists must be sure of Rhodiola’s effects on these neurotransmitters, as a proper balance of them is strongly involved in people’s emotional and neurological functioning. It can be taken in the form of powders, pills, tinctures, and extracts.

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Health Benefits of Rhodiola Rosea

Scientific studies conducted on Rhodiola Rosea have shown it to impact people’s general mental and physical health significantly. More long-term studies need to be undertaken for scientists to understand its impact on the following conditions fully. Still, research that has been done up until this point has demonstrated encouraging results.

Mental Health

Depression 

Rhodiola Rosea is thought to have potential antidepressant properties due to its ability to stimulate and help balance the levels of certain neurotransmitters within the brain. In one study, 89 people with mild to moderate depression experienced significant improvements when given between 340-680 mg of Rhodiola each day. They also reported improvements in their overall emotional stability and insomnia.

Stress

As an adaptogen, Rhodiola Rosea is a substance that can naturally increase your body’s resistance to various stress responses in non-specific ways. Taking it during times of significant stress has been shown to help keep people calm and allow them to handle the situation in a more effective, less problematic way. Some studies have found that those taking this nootropic for work and life-related stress saw significant improvements in stress symptoms, including exhaustion, fatigue, and anxiety. These improvements were able to be noticed after just three days, and they continued to increase throughout the study.

Brain Function

A study involving 56 physicians working night duty provided them with 170 mg of Rhodiola Rosea a day for two weeks. Those taking the supplement demonstrated significantly reduced levels of mental fatigue compared to those in the placebo group. Additionally, these study participants saw a 20% improvement in the performance of work-related tasks.

Physical Health

Fatigue 

As a result of its adaptogenic properties, Rhodiola Rosea has been shown to help alleviate symptoms of fatigue that often come along with stress. Studies have found that it positively affects fatigue and enhances attention levels in study participants compared to those who received a placebo. Participants of another similar study also saw significant increases in their concentration, mood, and overall quality of life.

Exercise Performance

Rhodiola Rosea has shown promising results in improving people’s exercise performance during cycling tests and six-mile time-trial races. Those who received it two hours before the tests were able to cycle for an average of 24 seconds longer and took significantly less time to finish the race than those who were given a placebo. Other similar studies have also shown that it may increase exercise performance by decreasing people’s perceived exertion levels while exercising.

Related: What Exactly is L-Theanine?

Potential Side Effects

The potential side effects of taking Rhodiola Rosea are considered to be generally rare. When they do occur, they tend to range from mild to moderate in terms of overall severity. They can include symptoms such as dizziness, headaches, stomach upsets, difficulty sleeping, and drowsiness. Drowsiness may be more likely to be experienced by those already taking selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), benzodiazepines, and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs).

Please always consult your regular physician before starting any nootropic supplements to ensure that it is safe for you to do so. This is especially the case if you’re pregnant, nursing, or already take regular medication, as it could negatively interact with Rhodiola. Pregnant and nursing women, along with patients who are already taking prescription monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) should not take Rhodiola Rosea.

Related: Huperzine A: What it is? Benefits & Consumption of Huperzine-A

Final Considerations 

Rhodiola Rosea is an adaptogenic nootropic that has shown encouraging results in improving people’s overall mental and physical health. Studies have indicated that it can help to improve people’s brain function and exercise performance while also reducing the effects of stress, including fatigue, anxiety, exhaustion, and more. Additional studies will need to be performed to understand Rhodiola’s effects on these conditions fully. If you’re interested in finding some other beneficial nootropics or nootropic stacks, consider trying the product Magic Mind, the world’s first productivity drink that can help to boost your mood, energy levels, motivation, and more.

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