Rhodiola rosea is a plant that grows naturally in high altitudes of the Arctic areas of Europe and Asia, where people use it for traditional medicinal purposes. Rhodiola is considered an adaptogenic herb, or an herb that is helpful during physical or mental stress. Cortisol is the main stress hormone, released by the adrenal glands to alter and manage physical processes during stress. Consult a qualified health care provider before taking rhodiola as an herbal remedy.
Stress Effects
When animals and humans are subjected to stress, changes occur in several hormones. This includes an increase in the secretion of cortisol and depletion of the neurotransmitters norepinephrine and dopamine, explains an article by Gregory S. Kelly published in the June 2001 issue of "Alternative Medicine Review." Successfully dealing with stress requires adaptation, the ability to encounter a stressful event without having significant hormonal reactions.
Significance
Chronic stress can cause health problems, as it keeps your body in fight-or-flight mode and causes overexposure to cortisol and other stress hormones, according to MayoClinic.com. Cortisol increases sugar in the bloodstream, alters immune system responses, suppresses the digestive and reproductive systems, and inhibits growth processes. Continued elevated stress hormone levels increase the risk of depression, memory problems, digestive issues, sleep problems, weight gain and heart disease.
Benefits
Some research indicates rhodiola reduces stress-induced fatigue, improves physical endurance and mental performance, and may decrease symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder, according to the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, or MSKCC. People also take rhodiola for relief of depression and to improve sleep.
Expert Insight
A study published in the February 2009 issue of "Planta Medica," with lead author E.M. Olsson, evaluated the effectiveness of a standardized extract of Rhodiola rosea in people with stress-related fatigue. Cortisol responses to stress were significantly less in the treatment group compared to participants who did not take rhodiola. Rhodiola extract also had an anti-fatigue effect that increased mental performance, especially concentration.
How It Works
Rhodiola works by changing the levels of brain neurotransmitters and by assisting in the transport of neurotransmitters, including dopamine, norepinephrine and serotonin, explains the MSKCC. This likely involves the effects of rhodiola on certain enzymes. Inhibiting monoamine oxidases, for instance, has antidepressant effects.
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