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Rhodiola Rosea for Depression

Jun 15, 2011 | By Alicia Miller
Rhodiola Rosea for Depression
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Depression is a real medical illness resulting in a significant impairment to your functioning and your overall quality of life. It's not "all in your head" and you cannot simply "wish" depression away, as some people might think. While antidepressants and psychotherapy are most commonly used to treat depression, certain herbal supplements, such as rhodiola rosea, may also provide benefits.

About Rhodiola Rosea

Rhodiola rosea, also known as goldenroot or rose root, is an herb that has been used for hundreds of years in the traditional medical practices of Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Russia and Finland. Traditional practitioners use rhodiola rosea to treat infections, reduce fatigue and enhance sexual functioning. Some refer to rhodiola as the new ginseng, as, like ginseng, it is believed to help improve mood, symptoms of fatigue and enhance mental functioning. According to the Tufts Medical Center, rhodiola is known as an adaptogenic herb, meaning that it may help your body adapt to different types of stress. Additionally, adaptogenic herbs are believed to cause no harmful side effects, although this claim has not been proved.

Depression -- Causes, Symptoms and Treatments

Depression is a type of mood disorder, a category which includes depressive disorders and bipolar disorders. While there are several types of clinical depressive disorders, certain symptoms are shared, including a depressed mood, feelings of sadness, crying spells that seem to come from out of nowhere, irritability, fatigue, sleep disturbances, appetite changes and, in serious cases, suicidal thoughts or gestures. While the causes of depression aren't totally understood, scientists believe a combination of biological, social and psychological factors play roles. An imbalance in the brain neurotransmitter known as serotonin is thought to be a key cause of depression. Antidepressant medications such as SSRIs, or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, and psychotherapy may help to improve depressive symptoms. Certain herbal supplements, such as rhodiola rosea, are also thought to provide significant benefits.

Clinical Evidence

A few clinical studies have demonstrated the antidepressant effects of rhodiola rosea. A review published in the June 2001 "Alternative Medicine Review" illustrates the benefits of rhodiola in improving a variety of depressive symptoms, including fatigue, appetite, irritability and sleep difficulties. A study published in 2007 in the "Nordic Journal of Psychiatry" compared the effects of rhodiola extract versus placebo on patients suffering from mild to moderate depression. The results showed an overall improvement in depressive symptoms among the patients treated with the rhodiola extract. Another study, published in the January 2007 issue of the journal "Phytotherapy Research," showed that rhodiola rosea extracts had an anti-depressant and anxiolytic, or anxiety-reducing, effect on laboratory mice exposed to certain behavioral tests. However, more research is needed to confirm the benefits of rhodiola rosea on humans suffering from depression.

Considerations

Although anecdotal evidence and a limited number of clinical studies appear to support the benefits of rhodiola rosea for depression, you should not use rhodiola as a replacement for your doctor's advice or any prescribed medications. If you think you are depressed, consult your doctor or a licensed mental health professional to obtain a proper diagnosis and advice about treatment. According to Tufts Medical Center, there do not appear to be any detrimental side effects associated with the use of rhodiola rosea, however, long-term studies regarding safety have not been performed. As with any herbal supplement, inform your doctor before using rhodiola rosea.

References

Article reviewed by GlennK Last updated on: Jun 15, 2011

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