An official website of the United States governmentRhodiola
Common Names: arctic root, golden root, rose root, king’s crown
Latin Names: Rhodiola rosea
Background
- Rhodiola grows in cold regions and at high altitudes in Europe and Asia.
- Rhodiola has a long history of medicinal use in Russia, Scandinavia, and other parts of Europe. Traditionally, it was used to attempt to increase endurance, work performance, and tolerance of high altitudes and to treat fatigue, weakness, and other symptoms.
- Today, rhodiola is promoted to increase energy, stamina, strength, and mental capacity, improve athletic performance, resist the effects of stress, and help manage depression, anxiety, and other symptoms.
How Much Do We Know?
- Some preliminary research has been done on rhodiola and its components, but few rigorous studies of this herb have been done in people.
What Have We Learned?
- There isn’t enough evidence from studies in people to allow conclusions to be reached about whether rhodiola is helpful for any health-related use.
What Do We Know About Safety?
- Rhodiola has been used safely in studies lasting 6 to 12 weeks. Possible side effects include dizziness and either dry mouth or excessive saliva production.
- Little is known about whether it’s safe to use rhodiola during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.
Keep in Mind
- Take charge of your health—talk with your health care providers about any complementary health approaches you use. Together, you can make shared, well-informed decisions.
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Key References
- Amsterdam JD, Panossian AG. Rhodiola rosea L. as a putative botanical antidepressant. Phytomedicine. 2016;23(7):770-783.
- Anghelescu I-G, Edwards D, Seifritz E, et al. Stress management and the role of Rhodiola rosea: a review. International Journal of Psychiatry in Clinical Practice. 2018;22(4):242-252.
- Punja S, Shamseer L, Olson K, et al. Rhodiola rosea for mental and physical fatigue in nursing students: a randomized controlled trial. PLoS One. 2014;9(9):e108416.
- Rhodiola. Natural Medicines website. Accessed at naturalmedicines.therapeuticresearch.com on April 2, 2020. [Database subscription].
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