Women's health update: Rhodiola rosea

Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients, Jan, 2004 by Tori Hudson

An Overview of its Versatility, Effectiveness and Indications Fatigue? Depression? Stress? Tension headaches and sleep disturbances? Poor memory? Amenorrhea? A little known herb, Rhodiola rosea, could be the perfect solution for these varied problems.

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Rhodeola rosea, or "golden root," has been used for centuries in Eastern Europe, Scandinavia and Asia for centuries. It has remained largely unknown in the West, until recently. Traditionally, R. rosea was used in folk medicine with a reputation to increase physical endurance, productivity, longevity, resistance to high altitude sickness, fatigue, depression, anemia, impotence, gastrointestinal ailments, infections and disorders of the nervous system. (1) The roots were uses as bouquets to enhance fertility in young Siberian couples prior to their marriage. The tea was used for colds and the flu during the hard winters in Asian. Rhodiola was highly coveted as a trade item by outsiders, and in exchange, they gave up their fine wines, fruits and honey.

The Vikings of Scandinavia used the herb to enhance their physical strength and endurance--something they came to be famous for. All of this folklore first led to investigations of its phytochemistry in the early 1960s that identified adaptogenic compounds in the roots of the plant. These adaptogens, as well as the later discovered antioxidant and stimulating compounds in Rhodiola rosea, are responsible for its medicinal properties.

Active constituents

The root of R. rosea has six distinct groups of chemical compounds:

* Phenylpropanoids: rosavin, rosin, rosarin

* Phyenylethanolo derivatives: salidroside (rhodioloside), tyrosol

* Flavonoids: rodiolin, rodionin, rodiosin, acetylrodalgin, tricin

* Monoterpernes: rosiridol, rosaridin

* Triterpenes: daucosterol, beta-sitosterol

* Phenolic acids: chlorogenic and hdroxycinnamic, gallic acids.

Rosavin is the constituent currently selected for standardization of extracts. (2)

Mechanism of Action

The properties of Rhodiola rosea to influence the cardiopulmonary system, central nervous system, and improve the ability to adapt to stressors have been attributed primarily to its influence on the levels and activity of serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine in different structures in the brain. It may be that the plant inhibits the breakdown of these chemicals and facilitates the neurotransmitter transport within the brain. (3) In addition to these effects on the central nervous system, Rhodiola has been reported to increase the chemicals that provide energy to the muscle of the heart and to prevent the depletion of adrenal catecholamines induced by acute stress. (4)

Central Nervous System Effects.

Historically, Rhodiola was observed to act in humans as a tonic, increase attention span, memory and work performance. Two human studies were able to show that individuals with fatigue, irritability, insomnia and decline in work capacity responded favorably to a Rhodiola dose of 50 mg three times a day. (5), (6)

In another human study of 128 patients aged 17-55, Rhodiola alleviated fatigue, irritability, distractibility, headache and weakness in 64% of the cases. (5) In a study of students, physicians and scientists, Rhodiola was given for 2-3 weeks beginning several days before intense intellectual work such as final exams. (66) The extract improved the amount and quality of work and prevented decreased performance due to fatigue. Using Rhodiola during final exams appears to be beneficial as well. Medical students took a Rhodiola extract for 20 days and had significant improvements in mental fatigue, general well-being, final exam grades and physical fitness. (7)

Case studies have reported that Rhodioa rosea can help with depressive syndromes, memory loss, anxiety, cognitive dysfunction and menopause related symptoms.

Cardioprotective Effects and Effects of Work Capacity

Several studies have shown that Rhodiola increased physical work capacity and significantly shortened the recovery time between bouts of intense exercise. In one study, work capacity was increased by 9 percent and the pulse slowed to normal much more quickly. (8) Biathlon athletes given Rhodiola also have shown statistically significant increased shooting accuracy, less arm tremor and better coordination. Improved recovery time, strength, endurance and cardiovascular measures were also significantly better in those who took Rhodiola. We're not really sure what is responsible for these effects, but animal studies suggest that Rhodiola increases essential energy metabolites in the muscle and brain cells. It may also increase metabolism of fats.

Endocrine System

Animals studies looking at the effect of rhodiola on thyroid function, adrenal function and ovarian egg maturation has raised interest in Rhodiola for endocrine problems in humans. Forty women suffering from amenorrhea (loss of menstrual cycles) were given 100 mg of Rhodiola twice daily for 2 weeks or an injection for 10 days. In some women, the regimen was repeated 2-4 times. Remarkably, normal menses were restored in 25 women, 11 of whom became pregnant. (9) Physicians have reported cases of women who had failed to conceive with standard fertility drugs, who then became pregnant within several months of beginning Rhodiola rosea extract. This would be truly a remarkable contribution to women's health, if follow-up controlled clinical trials confirmed these findings. For men, 26 out of 35 with erectile dysfunction and/or premature ejaculation responded to R. rosea (150-200 mg/day for 3 months) with significantly improved sexual function. (10)