Welcome to our big Rhodiola Rosea test 2023. Here we present all the rose roots we have tested in detail. We have compiled detailed background information and added a summary of customer reviews on the internet. We would like to make your purchase decision easier and help you find the best Rhodiola Rosea for you.
You will also find answers to frequently asked questions in our guide. If available, we also offer interesting test videos. Furthermore, you will also find some important information on this page that you should definitely pay attention to if you want to buy Rhodiola Rosea.
Contents
- 1 Summary
- 2 The Best Rhodiola Rosea: Our Picks
- 3 Guide: Questions you should ask yourself before buying Rhodiola Rosea
- 4 Decision: What types of Rhodiola Rosea are there and which one is right for you?
- 5 Buying criteria: You can use these factors to compare and evaluate Rhodiola Rosea
- 6 Trivia: Interesting facts about Rhodiola Rosea
Summary
- Rhodiola Rosea is a beautiful flowering plant that can be found in the cooler regions of Europe, Asia and North America. It grows quite tall and has yellow/green petals and many stalks growing from a single root.
- Rosenwurz, the German name of Rhodiola Rosea, is used against anxiety, depression and insomnia. However, the field of application of Rhodiola Rosea is much broader and covers many stress-related diseases, such as acne, migraine and stomach pain.
- Rhodiola Rosea is an adaptogen, a natural substance that increases the body’s resistance to stress in a non-specific way. On one hand, the plant gives more energy and on the other hand, it increases stress tolerance.
The Best Rhodiola Rosea: Our Picks
Guide: Questions you should ask yourself before buying Rhodiola Rosea
What is Rhodiola Rosea used for?
Many studies have shown that Rhodiola Rosea can have a positive effect on performance as well as on certain diseases such as depression and burn-out. Several more studies are being conducted today to explore this traditional medicinal plant. In Russia and Scandinavia, the plant has been used for medicinal purposes for centuries, and in Tibetan and Chinese medicine for even longer.
It is also often used to alleviate symptoms of epilepsy, anxiety disorders, erectile dysfunction and ADHD. You could also try rose root if you want to lose weight or if you are bodybuilding and want to build muscle.
How does Rhodiola Rosea work?
The mechanism of action is both an influence on monoamines, opioid peptides and neurotransmitters and a reduced release of stress hormones. The antidepressant effect of rose root depends on the combination of the rose root-typical active substances of rosavins, rosiridin and salidroside. These active substances are very important and inhibit the breakdown of serotonin and other messenger substances in the brain (e.g. dopamine).
This prevents serotonin and dopamine levels from dropping too much, which would lead to low moods, listlessness and even depression. This way, you can get back into a good mood without medication such as antidepressants. However, you should always keep in mind that Rhodiola Rosea is a herbal medicine and if you are not 100% satisfied with its effect and you still have complaints, you should not underestimate it and consult your doctor.
How and for how long should I take Rhodiola Rosea?
| Rosavin in % | dosage |
|---|---|
| 1 % | from 400 mg to 1000 mg daily |
| 2 % | from 200 mg to 500 mg daily |
| 3 % | from 150 mg to 400 mg daily |
| 5 % | from about 100 mg to 300 mg daily |
These amounts refer to intake over a longer period of time. It is recommended to take rose root for several months. Professor Dr Alexander Panossian of the Swedish Herbal Institute, Vallberga recommended namely:
“Two capsules of SHR-5 extract 200 mg daily for a period of one to three months followed by a two-week wash-out period”
If necessary, the dosage can of course be increased. For example, if you notice that you are not getting any positive effects after several months or if you are overweight. And what happens if you take Rhodiola Rosea only once? Rosea root can also work quite quickly: Professor Dr. Wilfried Dimpfel says:
“Taking this Rhodiola rosea extract once positively influences emotional capacity because relaxing brain activities are stimulated and stressful ones are suppressed.”
How much does Rhodiola Rosea cost?
Of course, if you want to try Rhodiola Rosea, it would make more sense to order a smaller pack, look at the effect and only then decide if you want to buy more. However, we have found that the most popular forms of rose root extract are capsules and powder. In the table below you can see what the price ranges are for the only products.
What are the alternatives to Rhodiola Rosea?
Ashwagandha
Ashwagandha is also known as sleeping berry, winter cherry or Indian ginseng and is also a root. Like rose root, it is one of the so-called adaptogens due to its stress-reducing and balancing properties. This medicinal plant is used especially in Ayurvedic herbalism for sleep disorders and stress, for digestive complaints and as an aphrodisiac. It also has a regenerating effect on the tissue, especially on muscles.
Ginseng
Ginseng, especially American ginseng, is already very well known for its positive effect on heart and kidney function because it is effective against free radicals. What perhaps not everyone knows is the effect of ginseng on psychological problems such as anxiety. Many positive properties are attributed to this root: it can achieve a strengthening of the body’s defences, but also resist tiredness and fatigue. It is used to increase potency and also to support memory function.
Decision: What types of Rhodiola Rosea are there and which one is right for you?
If you want to buy rose root, there are two alternatives you can choose between:
- Rose root in capsules
- Rose root powder
Although there are many different preparations such as drops, tea, tablet or tincture, the two more common forms are capsules and powder. This distinction, might sound like a mere distinction of dosage form. But is it really that simple? There are advantages and disadvantages to choosing between the two different forms. In the following section, we would like to make the decision easier for you.
What distinguishes Rhodiola Rosea in capsules and what are its advantages and disadvantages?
Rosea root in capsules is more common. If you buy it in this form, you should then take 1 to 2 capsules every day, usually with meals. The capsules usually contain between 200 to 800 mg of rose root extract. Sometimes it is useful and more beneficial to combine the capsules with rose root tea, but this depends on the nature of your condition. In any case, you should take them regularly, as the first progress will only become apparent after a while.
What distinguishes Rhodiola Rosea as a powder and what are its advantages and disadvantages?
It is also possible to find rose root in powder. Without a capsule shell, the product is more natural, but it is always useful to ensure that the product is organic and pure. It is simple! You should only look at the ingredients: if it says “100% pure Rhodiola Rosea” on the package, then that’s a sign that you’ve bought a high quality product. Since the product is in powder, it would also be good if the bag is resealable.
Buying criteria: You can use these factors to compare and evaluate Rhodiola Rosea
In the following, we will show you which aspects you can use to decide between the many options. The criteria you can use to compare Rhodiola Rosea include:
- Origin
- Additives
- Processing
- Rosavin and salidroside content
In the following paragraphs, we will explain what is important in each of the criteria.
Origin
It is important that your Rhodiola Rosea comes from a certified cultivation. This is not always the case for the variety of products on the market. That is why you should pay a lot of attention to this. Worldwide, only a few herbal active ingredients have managed to meet the criteria of the EMA, namely the Chinese split-grain (Schisandra chinensis), the taiga root (Eleutherococcus senticosus), the ginseng root (Panax ginseng) and the rose root (Rhodiola rosea). Rose root is now also cultivated in northern Europe and Asia, but it is rare and therefore very expensive.
When you buy Rhodiola rosea, it is always important to note that your product is organic and that organic controls are carried out.
Supplements
As with all ingestible products, it is essential that your Rhodiola Rosea does not contain any chemicals or artificial additives. This includes flavour enhancers, chemical additives, colourings, preservatives, sugars and flavours. In addition, the manufacturer may try to change the taste of the preparation with flavourings or sugar and other additives. Sometimes derivatives are also used to make the product cheaper.
Therefore, you should always check the ingredients carefully before buying Rhodiola Rosea. Also, always make sure that the rose root does not contain genetically modified substances or heavy metals. It is better to buy an organic product! If you are allergic to dairy or soy, or if you are vegan, you should also make sure that the capsules are free of these substances.
Processing
What many manufacturers may not be specific about is how they process their products. You should pay attention to the processing of your rose root so that your Rhodiola Rosea still contains the important active ingredients. Rose root is a beautiful flowering plant that can be found in the cooler regions of Europe, Asia and North America. It grows quite tall and has yellow/green petals and many stalks growing from a single root.
There are many ways in which the medicinal plant can be used and it is processed in different ways. In the countries of origin, it is valued as a vegetable or tea plant: its delicately rose-scented tuber with its storage roots is used. For the capsules, extracts are needed that contain at least 0.8 to 1 percent salidroside and up to 3 percent rosavin as standard. They are cultivated for this purpose and processed into powder for the various preparations.
Rosavin and salidroside content
The rose roots on offer usually contain extracts from the root of Rhodiola rosea. The amounts contained can range from a few mg in some mixed preparations to over 500 mg in a single capsule. It is precisely because of this inconsistency that the efficacy of some products can be doubted. However, according to the current state of knowledge, two ingredients are even more important for an effective effect of Rhodiola rosea (rose root), namely rosavin and salidroside. The following table shows the properties of the two active ingredients in detail:
| Active ingredient | content in cheap products | content in high-quality products | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rosavin | This substance is contained in the extract of most Rhodiola products at 3%. However, you might also find cheap products with only 1 % or even less | Very high-quality rose root, on the other hand, has a content of 5 % rosavin. | |
| Salidroside | Most rhodiola extracts contain around 1 % salidroside, often much less | High-quality rhodiola extracts, on the other hand, contain up to 3 % salidroside. |
Trivia: Interesting facts about Rhodiola Rosea
What is the best way to prepare Rhodiola Rosea?
In its native countries, Rhodiola Rosea is eaten raw or cooked like other vegetables. However, it tends to be mixed with other vegetables because it tastes slightly bitter. The stems can be eaten cooked like asparagus and in North America it is prepared almost like suerkraut. In its native regions, rose root has also been known and used for its special effects for thousands of years.
In Siberia it is also known as “golden root”. It is known as a tea and, according to Russian youths, should improve memory, concentration and receptivity. For an infusion preparation, you should cut the root pieces very finely and boil them with little water for over four hours. To make a tincture, you should extract the root powder with vodka for five days at room temperature. Medicinal extracts are made from the salivary root of the plant.
Can Rhodiola Rosea have side effects?
Rose root is of course not a medicine, so the possible side effects are also very low. Rose root should not be used in case of hypersensitivity, severe liver or kidney diseases, during pregnancy and breastfeeding. If there is no improvement within two weeks, a doctor should be consulted. Children under the age of 18 should not take Rhodiola rosea. Interactions with other medicines have not been proven. Nevertheless, rose root extracts could increase the concentrations of CYP3A4 substrates.
How can you grow Rhodiola Rosea?
Would you like to have Rhodiola Rosea in your garden? Of course you can try growing it. We will give you some suggestions!
Rosea can be planted in the mountains, among rocks, on cliffs and on scree slopes. It grows best in a mixture of gravel and mature compost soil. The soil should be well-drained, preferably free of lime and slightly acidic. You should choose a spot in partial shade or sun. The plants should be placed about 25 cm apart. How should you care for it? Rhodiola rosea needs regular water and fertiliser during the growing season. The plant has a relatively high nutrient requirement. Rose root does not need winter protection and is genuinely frost-resistant.
Image source: 123rf.com / 76463383
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