Never have we lived in such challenging and stressful times…
Maybe you sense the demands on your time from work, family and friends. Or feel like there’s too little time to squeeze in all you need and want to do each day.
And of course, it’s only natural to feel concerned about the world we live in and the future, and maybe even your own well-being and safety.
The list of uncertainties and life stressors goes on and on…
What if there was a way to help your body adapt to these common sources of mental and physical stress?
It all starts with helping your body adapt and maintain homeostasis, or balance of your biological systems, in the face of a real or perceived threat.
Physician Walter Cannon coined the term “homeostasis” in his book published in 1930, The Wisdom of the Body. In it, he defines homeostasis as any process that living beings use to actively maintain stable conditions for survival.
One of the best ways to help the body adapt to stressors, or to maintain homeostasis, is something the Russians secretly studied for decades.
The Siberian Secret for Managing Stress and Living a Healthier Life
Researchers in the former Soviet Union spent many years searching for plants that would help energize their astronauts, soldiers and Olympian athletes.
They were looking for what they called “adaptogens,” or specific plants that could help the body adapt to physical and mental stress, feelings of anxiety associated with day-to-day life and occasional fatigue.
Over a period of 45 years, research scientists conducted a large number of studies. Most of the research was conducted by the Russian military, so many details were kept secret until the mid-1990s.
This early research led to the discovery of adaptogens, a term created by Soviet scientist Dr. Nicolai Lazarev.
Together with Dr. Lazarev, Professor Israel Brekhman, an internationally renowned and respected research scientist, showed how a new class of plant compounds could help people reduce stress and live healthier lives.*
Professor Brekhman developed qualifying factors for an herb to be considered an adaptogen. To be an adaptogen, the herb needed to:
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Be non-toxic.
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Help your entire system gain balance or homeostasis.*
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Possess “non-specific” activity by increasing the resistance of your entire body, rather than just one organ, to stress.*
During their research, these researchers began to focus on one adaptogen plant in particular – Rhodiola rosea.
When used in studies with soldiers, this plant helped them stay energized and alert during sleep-deprivation tests. And when it was used with astronauts at the Russian space station, it improved their moods.*
But because the Russians were so successful at keeping their work with rhodiola secret until about 1994, the U.S. did not learn about it until later.
“Golden Root” Adaptogen Enters Mainstream Research
Rhodiola thrives in tundra-like areas, particularly on slopes, ridges and cliffs. It can survive in somewhat moist environments, but it tends to do best in dryer regions, where the soil has low moisture content, such as northern Canada, Alaska, Greenland and of course, Russia.
Often referred to as “Golden Root,” or “Roseroot,” Rhodiola rosea has likely been used since the Viking Age to help boost endurance, reduce occasional fatigue and support mood.*
In recent years, rhodiola has intrigued international researchers, and well over 300 studies have been published.
These studies suggest this valuable plant:
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Promotes nervous system health.*
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Helps improve symptoms of burnout.*
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Supports normal cognitive function, clarity and focus.*
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Promotes improvement in general well-being and mood.*
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Aids in reducing occasional nervousness associated with day-to-day life.*
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Increases energy levels and helps reduce occasional fatigue.*
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Supports cardiovascular health.*
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Promotes a normal healthy immune response.*
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Protects muscle tissue during exercise.*
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Enhances athletic performance and shortens recovery time between workouts.*
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Supports male and female sexual functioning and reproductive health.*
How Rhodiola Supports Adrenal Health
Your body has two adrenal glands located just above each of your kidneys. As part of your endocrine system, your adrenals produce more than 50 different hormones, including aldosterone, which helps regulate your blood pressure, as well as cortisol and adrenaline.
Stress can cause your production of cortisol and adrenaline to become overactivated and lead to poor sleep, irritability and moodiness.
If your body produces too much cortisol at the wrong time, it can impact your healthy immune function, insulin levels as well as protein and carbohydrate metabolism.
That expanding waistline that plagues so many people can be the result of prolonged stress and your body’s erratic cortisol response.
Your normal, natural means of managing stress from any source – whether it be work or relationship issues, lack of sleep, injury, disease or poor diet – is through your hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis.
Exposure to unresolved stress – emotional or physical – can lead to HPA axis dysfunction, or as it’s sometimes called – adrenal fatigue or exhaustion. This can weaken your adrenal glands, which can adversely affect your hormone production.
When your adrenals become fatigued, your natural means of fighting stress declines. This can lead to the smallest details of everyday life making you feel tired and overwhelmed.
Rhodiola has been shown to help restore a healthy normal balance to your adrenal glands – and your cortisol production – in the early stages of exhaustion.
As an adaptogen, rhodiola stimulates your body’s ability to resist the damaging effects of stress. And as a result, you’re likely to feel more energetic with a greater sense of calm.*
That increased energy may even give you the boost you need to exercise regularly, allowing the natural release of endorphins.*
Could Rhodiola Help You Think Better and Boost Your Happiness?
Rhodiola contains unique phytochemicals that are thought to play important roles in its actions. The six active compounds include rosin, rosavin, rosaridin, rosarin, salidroside and Tyrosol…
Together, these plant chemicals have been shown in studies to help:
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Support your nervous system.*
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Reduce harmful effects on your body from stress.*
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Protect against free radical damage.*
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Positively influence your brain’s neurotransmitter levels.*
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Regulate the production of the stress hormone cortisol.*
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Promote greater resistance to stress and fatigue.*
Two of these bioactive components, rosavin and salidroside, improve the passage of precursors for the production of serotonin, your “happy hormone,” through the blood-brain barrier. Plus, they help preserve serotonin to help boost your mood.*
A study looked at the effects of rhodiola on the serotonin, or 5-HT level in the hippocampus part of the brains of rats. These rats started the study with lowered levels of serotonin induced by chronic stress.
After receiving rhodiola for three weeks, researchers measured their 5-HT levels. The levels of all three groups that received varying doses of rhodiola returned to normal.
One of the newest phytochemicals in rhodiola to come under the microscope is ferulic acid. Research suggests ferulic acid may be of value in supporting cognitive function as well as the structure and function of your heart, blood vessels, liver and kidneys.*
In one study, ferulic acid from rhodiola was fed to fruit flies, bees and mice. Their ability to recall a reward associated with a particular odor dramatically increased – confirming its positive effects on cognitive function.*
81% of Study Patients Report Improvements from Taking Rhodiola*
Brain fog is one of the most common complaints today from people of all ages, but especially those in their middle years and older. It can show up as difficulty in thinking clearly, slower brain power or simply forgetfulness and lack of focus.
Rhodiola has been found to be helpful for brain fog and other cognitive concerns as it works to restore homeostasis, or a healthy balance, in your brain.*
In a study of 120 adults, ages 50 to 89, cognitive and physical functions were recorded at the beginning of the study and then at six and 12 weeks.
The researchers looked at factors, such as exhaustion, decreased motivation, daytime sleepiness, decreased libido and sleep disturbances. Cognitive complaints included lack of concentration, occasional absentmindedness, irritability and stressful feelings.
All of the 120 participants who received Rhodiola rosea experienced significant improvement in overall physical and cognitive signs.*
In particular, the time it took to complete a cognitive “digit test” decreased significantly.* Both participants and physicians considered supplementing with rhodiola to be effective for over 80% of the individuals in the study.*
Rhodiola may especially be valuable for the signs of burnout…
Individuals suffering from burnout were given 400 mg of rhodiola extract for 12 weeks. At the end of the study, participants reported significant improvements, including lower levels of emotional and physical exhaustion and fatigue, and greater joy, libido and zest for life.
Work Out Harder and Feel Less Tired with Rhodiola*
Who wouldn’t like to exercise harder and longer than they do now and not feel so tired and worn out afterward?
Studies show that rhodiola can significantly increase the amount of time it takes you to reach exhaustion while exercising.*
In a recent study, 18 subjects who were described as “not in particularly good shape” were asked to ride a bike for six miles after taking a dose of rhodiola.
Compared to the placebo group who didn’t receive rhodiola, they had lower heart rates during their pre-exercise warm up, and they finished the trial in shorter time.*
Even animals can benefit. Rats given rhodiola in an animal study outswam other rats by nearly 25%.
An earlier study showed rhodiola extract protected muscle tissue by helping to promote a healthy normal inflammatory response during exercise.*
Rhodiola appears to improve muscle work while economizing the energy resources of your muscles, thus helping to improve endurance.*
Other studies show similar positive gain with competitive athletes. After supplementing with rhodiola for four weeks, a group of 14 athletes had decreased skeletal muscle damage and lowered blood lactate levels, a classic sign of overtraining.*
No matter if you’re an accomplished athlete, a casual exerciser or even a weekend warrior, rhodiola can potentially help improve your endurance during and recovery after exertion or exercise.*
Now in Organic Capsules – Organic Rhodiola Extract
Our Organic Rhodiola Extract provides you with a high-quality, effective Rhodiola rosae formula to help support your mind and body against everyday stressors.
And best of all, it’s sourced from a reliable manufacturer.
As reported by National Geographic, the New York Attorney General’s Office discovered that four out of five Rhodiola rosea supplements sold by major retailers didn’t include the plant that was on the label.
In some cases, the capsules were filled only with powdered garlic and rice.
This only emphasizes that you can’t be too cautious when buying any supplement.
As we discussed earlier, without rhodiola’s prime active ingredients, the adaptogenic capability of the herb can be gravely affected.
It’s important to do your homework and examine the label as well as understand the manufacturer’s quality processes.
Of course, what’s actually in the formula is not always evident from the bottle label, and finding details on the manufacturer can take real effort.
We recommend selecting a supplement based on a checklist of three critical factors:
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The product must contain verified Rhodiola rosea.
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It should avoid unnecessary fillers and excipients.
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It must be sourced from a trustworthy producer with high-quality standards and an effective extraction process.
While we had many options to choose from when searching for a quality producer for our Organic Rhodiola Extract, our research team selected a company with a high-quality process that met our standards.
Having over 15 years of experience working with Rhodiola rosea suppliers, this company uses some of the most advanced technology and analytical instrumentation, including UPLC-DAD/MS or GC-MS, in the analysis of the products.
They’re committed to continuous improvement of quality assurance, which is actively engaged in all aspects of product quality and safety.
Finally, they perform exact quantifications and characterizations of ingredients by a professional team in a state-of-the-art facility.
Below is how our Organic Rhodiola Extract scores against the criteria mentioned earlier:
Requirement |
Dr. Mercola Organic Rhodiola Extract |
Contains important Rhodiola rosea active ingredients? |
Yes – Our supplement contains the active Rhodiola rosea. Our supplier performs identity testing, verifying the botanical. |
Avoids unnecessary fillers and excipients? |
Yes – One particular “flow agent” often incorporated in Rhodiola rosea production but not used in our formulation is magnesium stearate. |
Utilizes a first-rate effective extraction process integrated by a high-quality producer? |
Yes – We use a unique producer of Rhodiola rosea with high-quality standard practices and effective extraction process. |
Help Beat the Symptoms of Burnout Due to Stress with Organic Rhodiola Extract*
Experience the many benefits of rhodiola with our quality Organic Rhodiola Extract, including increased energy levels, better sleep quality and mood, enhanced cognitive function and athletic performance, immune support and more.
Our USDA Organic Rhodiola Extract contains the most desirable active ingredients while utilizing high-quality processes and extraction methodologies – a formula you can trust.
Reap the benefits of one of the most versatile adaptogen herbs ever discovered, and order your supply of Organic Rhodiola Extract today.*