Rhodiola Benefits
by Elise
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Rhodiola Benefits include well-established uses proven in clinical studies and theoretical rhodiola benefits, which several researchers feel confident exist but which haven’t yet been the subject of a specific controlled study. This guide to rhodiola rosea benefits acts as an accessible guide to Dr. Zakir Ramazanov’s pioneering research (Dr. Ramazanov founded RhodiolaRosea.org). To view his research directly, view the PDF section listed in the sidebar of this website. Keep in mind they are scientific documents.
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Rhodiola rosea research — along with research on other medicinal herbs — comprised part of the Soviet Union’s zealous campaign to contend with the United States in many areas, including the arms race, science and medicine. It is neither a myth nor an unfounded legend that the KGB utilized rhodiola to help toughen its agents in the face of stressful conditions.
Navigate my guide to Rhodiola Benefits:
- Rhodiola Rosea As An Adaptogen
- How Do Rhodiola Benefits Occur?
- Rhodiola Rosea Extract For Asthenic Conditions
- Rhodiola Rosea Improves Physical And Mental Performance
- Rhodiola Rosea Benefits for Stress Relief and Treating Depression
- Rhodiola Benefits Suggested In Cardiac and Cancer Research
- Additional Theoretical Rhodiola Rosea Benefits
Rhodiola Rosea As An Adaptogen
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Rhodiola rosea has long been recognized as a powerful adaptogen. An adaptogen is a natural herbal substance which improves our body’s resistance while also normalizing its functions, particularly under rigorous or stressful mental of physical conditions.
Because rhodiola rosea administration seems to affect primary monoamine levels, it may also furnish benefits within clinical conditions defined by an imbalance of central nervous system monoamines. Read more on how rhodiola benefits you by improving your physical work capacity and how rhodiola rosea effects the central nervous system.
How Do Rhodiola Benefits Occur?
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If you have a healthy skepticism, you probably want to know how rhodiola rosea benefits occur before you read a long list of beneficial properties.
Rhodiola rosea inhibits subtypes A and B of the enzyme monoamine oxidase. It also appears to affect opioid peptides, which are chained amino acids, such as beta-endorphin, which functions as a neurotransmitter within your peripheral and central nervous systems. Some evidences also suggests Rhodiola benefits occur because Rhodiola rosea modulates how the human body’s adrenal glands produce cortisol (the “stress hormone”) during periods of psychological or physical stress.
Rhodiola Benefits - Serotonin and Dopamine Inhibitor
How do these chemical reactions benefit us? Subtypes A and B of monoamine oxidase, which you will sometimes see as MAO-A and MAO-B, metabolize serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine or 5-HT) and dopamine (DA). By inhibiting this enzyme’s ability to metabolize these neurotransmitters (note: not stopping, but inhibiting), you keep them in your brain for longer and in higher concentrations (this is a layman way of looking at it, technically). Serotonin activity in your brain improves and stabilizes your mood. Dopamine activity in your brain makes you feel more confident, positive and motivated.
The cortisol modulation theoretically keeps this “stress hormone” from wearing you down because excessive cortisol may compromise your immune system and counteract insulin. Read on to learn more on how these functions of rhodiola rosea might benefit you.
Rhodiola Rosea Extract For Asthenic Conditions
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Thus many believe that rhodiola benefits include its use as a treatment in asthenic conditions, which develop as a result of exposure to intense physical or intellectual strain, influenza or other illness. Asthenic conditions include sleep disturbances, decline in work performance, poor appetite, irritability, hypertension, fatigue and headaches.
Rhodiola Rosea Improves Physical And Mental Performance
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Rhodiola rosea studies indicate that it can reduce recovery time after extended workouts, improve attention span and memory. Clinical studies using proofreading tests demonstrated that rhodiola rosea raises memorization and concentration capability over extended periods.
For example, in one study 40 students randomly received either 50 mg standardized rhodiola rosea extract or a placebo twice-a-day for twenty days. The subjects consuming the standardized extract exhibited statistically significant improvements in physical fitness, psychomotor function, and mental performance. For the most comprehensive essay you’ll ever find on rhodiola and muscle development, read Dr. Zakir Ramazanov’s essay on Rhodiola Supplements for Muscle Development. For an overview on how rhodiola rosea benefits your endurance, read Rhodiola Rosea Effects On Physical Work Capacity.
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Rhodiola Rosea Benefits for Stress Relief and Treating Depression
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Rhodiola rosea came to prominence in the United States after a study conducted by the Swedish Herbal Institute conducted a comprehensive study to evaluate using rhodiola for depression. The results of this study made waves for strongly suggesting the use of rhodiola rosea for treating mild depression and anxiety. You can read about the details of this study in my Rhodiola For Depression essay.
How Rhodiola Rosea Benefits the Heart During Emotional and Physical Stress
Additionally, Newsweek magazine covered this herbal stress buster in 2003. You can now view that original article, reformatted and updated for the web, here: Herbal Stress Relief: Rhodiola For Stress Relief.
Rhodiola Benefits Suggested In Cardiac and Cancer Research
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Some studies also indicate that rhodiola may be effective in treating cardiac afflictions caused or provoked by stress. Its mechanism for these circumstances is its ability to lessen the corticosteroids and catecholamines secreted by adrenal glands while a person endures stress. A series of double-blind, placebo-controlled studies jointly conducted by Swedish and Russian researchers suggests Rhodiola heart benefits. Read more on this research here: Rhodiola Rosea Cardioprotective Effects
Another potential rhodiola benefit may be that it increases anti-tumor activity by improving the body’s resistance to toxins. A range of anti-oxidant compounds have been discovered within rhodiola rosea and considerable free-radical scavenging action has been exhibited in rhodiola extracts (both alcohol-based and water-based extracts). Research currently is being conducted on whether or not rhodiola rosea can be defined as a legitimate cancer treatment, or at least as a safe supplement to be used to help patients endure chemotherapy.
Rhodiola rosea extract both protects and stimulates the immune system by reestablishing homeostasis — or metabolic balance — in our body.
Rhodiola Rosea In the Wild
In clinical animal studies, rhodiola rosea extracts appear to heighten the transfer of serotonin precursors tryptophan and 5-HTP (or 5-hydroxytryptophan) into our brains. Serotonin is a broadly analyzed brain neurotransmitter chemical, which appears to be involved in several functions, including temperature regulation, appetite, pain perception, behavior, blood pressure and respiration.
Image Credits: (1) National Institute of Health (Public Domain), (2) Dr. Zakir Ramazanov, and (3) Benjamin Zwittnig.
Additional Theoretical Rhodiola Rosea Benefits
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Many other rhodiola benefits are believed to exist and may soon be proven through clinical trials. These possible benefits includes its ability to amend hearing, to regulate blood sugar levels for diabetics as well as protect the liver from environmental toxins. In addition, some early studies indicate it may activate the lipolytic operations (fat breakdown) and mobilize lipids from adipose tissue to the natural fat burning system of your body for weight reduction.
One reason these benefits of rhodiola enthuse researchers is that there appear to be very few significant rhodiola side-effects, something weighing down many pharmaceutical treatments and even a few natural supplements sold over-the-counter.
As I learn about new studies conducted to address specific rhodiola benefits, I will add them to my site.