Rhodiola rosea, a project of (Alberta Agriculture and Food and Rural Development) AAFRD's Functional Foods/Natural Health Products Theme has been quoted in the Edmonton Journal as being a replacement to Prozac. Others say that Rhodiola rosea will be the next big weight loss herb or the herb which will replace Ginseng. In five minutes on the web you can read that it's an antioxidant, lowers blood pressure, increases stamina, combats hypoxia, mobilizes stubborn fat, stops depression, reduces stress, improves memory, fights Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases and bolsters sexual performance.
What does Rhodiola rosea really do?
It has been over 50 years since the first scientific appear on the chemical composition and pharmacological properties of Rhodiola rosea appeared. Rhodiola rosea was introduced into medical practice in Russia and used in the form of a liquid extract as an adaptogen remedy.[1] The term adaptogen was originally created in 1947 by Russian pharmacologist NV Lazarev to describe the unexpected effects of a chemical, which increased the resistance of organisms to stress in experimental studies.
An adaptogen is also known as agent that increases the body's ability to adapt to environmental and internal stress by strengthening the immune, nervous and glandular systems. It enhances an organism's resistance to stress, disease and the environment as well as normalizing metabolic functions and increasing metabolic efficiency.
Explaining the effects of the adaptogens is difficult, since they will influence each individual differently. If you are mentally exhausted or physically fatigued an adaptogen may help you feel more energetic, vitalized, and full of zest for life - but it is not stimulant, like caffeine.
There have been some human trials conducted on Rhodiola rosea and there may be more conducted here in Alberta in the near future on various aspects. But like the companies in Europe, in Alberta, the health claim associated with Rhodiola rosea will be that Rhodiola rosea is an adaptogen.
