Rhodiola rosea may be, as the famous herbalist Kerry Bone describes it, "the new kid on the energy-boosting block," but this amazing herb isn't really new at all. It's actually been used since the times of the Vikings to boost endurance and treat fatigue and depression. Lately, I've been hearing more and more about this herb, so I decided to check it out.

"Rhodiola rosea is simply the best adaptogen plant I've ever seen or used," Decker Weiss, NMD, a naturopathic cardiologist and consulting staff physician at the Arizona Heart Hospital in Phoenix. An adaptogen, Dr. Weiss explained, works like a thermostat. When a thermostat senses that the room temperature is too high it brings it down, but when it senses that temperature is too low it brings it up. An adaptogen does the same things with hormones. "All the good things you've ever heard about Panax ginseng, Rhodiola does," says Dr. Weiss.

"Cortisol is one of our main stress hormones," Dr. Weiss explained. "For example, if you drink coffee on an empty stomach, as many of us do, it's very hard to balance cortisol. Too much cortisol can lead to the feeling of being wired, yet tired. It contributes to weight gain, especially around the belly. And it can contribute to exhaustion, fatigue, depression and a whole host of ailments. By acting as an adaptogen -- a kind of hormone thermostat -- Rhodiola literally helps balance cortisol. If it's too high, it can bring it down. If it's too low, it can bring it up." That's why, he explained, Rhodiola is so useful for increasing energy while easing fatigue and depression.

PROOF OF PRODUCT

The research on Rhodiola is compelling. When Belgian researchers gave 24 people a placebo or Rhodiola (200 mg daily) the latter group experienced a noteworthy jump in stamina. And according to a comprehensive review in HerbalGram, the journal of the American Botanical Council, the herb lessens the release of stress-related hormones and increases levels of feel-good compounds called endorphins.

"It's also great for time-zone changes because of its adaptogenic ability to modulate melatonin," Dr. Weiss told me. "And it will help you sleep. It's one of the few herbs I won't travel without." Dr. Weiss recommends using Rhodiola manufactured by a reliable company to ensure product quality -- he suggests Enzymatic Therapy, which makes it in pill form, or Herb Pharm, which makes it in a tincture. While generally thought of as safe, it is best to check with your trained practitioner before adding Rhodiola to your supplement mix. Rhodiola is a stimulant, so it is best taken early in the day on an empty stomach.

Dr. Weiss' last word on Rhodiola? "There are very few botanicals you can count on like Rhodiola."

Be well,

Carole Jackson
Bottom Line's Daily Health News

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