Common Name:  Artic Rose, Rhodiola rosea, Golden root; Rose root; Hong Jing Tian

 

Family:  Crassulaceae

 

Part Used:  rhizome and root

 

Active constituents:  Phenylpropanoids- Rosarin and Rosin, Glycosides- Salidroside, Monoterpenes- Rosiridin, Flavonoids, Tannins, Essential oils, Small quantity of Geraniol; Rhodiola polysaccharides are Hypoglycaemic + Antidiabetic in diabetes Type 2;

 

Actions:  Sweet, slightly bitter, spicy cool, dry.  Adaptogenic , anti-viral, Mild central nervous system stimulant, Tonic, Antitumor, Hepatoprotective, Hepatotrophorestorative, Cognitive effects- Antidepressant, Mild ionotrope (antiarrhythmic), cardioprotective and neuroprotective, Antioxidant, nervine

 

Chinese Actions:

1. Tone / Nourish Qi + Support

Zheng Qi (Boost Resistance) + Secure Root [KI];

Strengthen total muscle RNA + protein synthesis;

2. Tonify Xue (Blood) and move Blood stagnation Astringent~ Stop Bleeding and discharges and swelling, treats anemia (boost both RBC and WBC), edema, and protects hair; Dredge Xue Vessels;

3. Calm Shen, nourishes happiness, Brain protector, rectify CNS; strengthen resistance of Heart muscle to hypoxia, Heart protector;

4. Support Kidney Qi; (support adrenal cortical function and Pituitary;

5. Tonify Liver Yin and Liver Blood,

6. Strengthen Wei Qi;

7. Treats Lung Yin deficiency;

8. Clear Heat toxins

 

Indications:  "brain tonic", Aids both immediate cognitive + memory performance + Aids prolonged preservation of Brain ;Cognitive dysfunction, Fatigue mental and or physical exhaustion, Improve mental performance esp. under stress, rectify endocrine system; Enhance physical performance and endurance, May assist male sexual function and menopausal symptoms, Adjuvant cancer treatment; diabetes Type 2;  chronic fatigue, immune deficiency syndromes, congestive heart failure.; Strengthen Anticancer + Antimetastatic effects of cyclophosphamide in LU carcinoma; Antidote to rubomycin poisoning; aids tissue repair; Topical for Damage fro, falls + blows + scalds / burns Damage; Ulcers / sores, sores

 

Cautions:  With climate changing, its native environment is shrinking; very difficult to cultivate; No Adverse Reactions / drug interactions reported; few adverse effects; Occasional HBP; some people esp. anxious ones may feel overly activated, jittery / agitated; Reduce dose for those; pregnancy + lactation

 

Contraindications:  Avoid in patients that are bipolar, manic, or have paranoid mental states.

 

Herb Drug Interactions:  Theoretically may be synergistic w other Stimulants, no known reactions; no known interactions with other herbs,

But it Strengthens adrimycin effect in LV carcinoma; Strengthen Anticancer Fxs of cyclophosphamide, rubomycin + adriamycin, w less adverse effects

 

Dosage (use animal doses where available, otherwise human doses can be included here but specify):  Human: 1:2 Fluid Extract: 20ml to 40ml per week containing at least 3mg/ml Rosavins and 1mg/ml of Salidrosid;  Decoction:  soaked in wine: 3-9g; Topical: pulped fresh Herb powdered Herb, applied as needed; Mill 30g Rx in coffee-grinder to <5mm; add 50mL of light spirits (30-40%), agitate + steep 3-5d at room temperature; Separate + filter extract; Take / 2tsp TID; As Tea: cut 5g Rx finely; Add to cup of boiling Water + brew for >4h; filter; take / 5 cup 3-5 times / d; dilute w juice /herbal tea for better taste; Standard extract, as Pills: 100-600mg / d; best absorbed when taken 30mins before meal / take h before Physical / sexual / mental activity; Tincture: drop=10-15mg extract; dose 10-40 drops / d (=100-600mg extract / d) but 10-20 drops / d (=100-300mg extract / d) are more usual; may lose effect on mental / Physical stamina after 6 weeks; Extract now standardized for >3% rosavins + >0.8% salidroside; 100-300mg / d; Higher doses are Sedative; as Tonic / Stimulant, take for 10-20d; in psychiatric DysFxs w fatigue, take 2-4 times usual dose for 1-2 months; tincture: CNS effects: small + medium doses simulate norepinephrine (NE), dopamine (DA), serotonin (5-HT) + nicotinic cholinergic effects in CNS + increase permeability of Xue Brain barrier to precursors of DA + 5-HT; medium doses, unlike Sedatives, Aid development of conditioned avoidance reflexes + Aid

learning; large doses sedate

 

Notes:  Native to the northern circumpolar regions of Canada, Scandinavia, and Siberia.  It is also found at higher elevations in the Alps, Pyrenees, and Carpathian Mountians in Europe; It is now being cultivated in Finland, Sweden and Russia.  It prefers dry, sandy soil, cool temperatures and full sun

 

Energetics:  Sweet, slightly bitter, spicy, cool, dry, astringent; non-toxic, non-addictive

 

Channels: Lung, Heart

 

David Winston:  Rhodiola has a long history of use in Tibet, Siberia, and Scandinavia.  In Tibetan medicine, it is used to nourish the lung and treat lung problems such as coughing blood and pneumonia.  It also is used to lower fevers, improve blood circulation, and enhance energy.   In Siberia, it is used to prevent sickness; in Mongolia it is used in the treatment of TB and cancer.  In Siberian villages, used to enhance fertility and assure the birth of healthy children.  The Vikings used it to enhance mental and physical endurance.  It is a cooling adaptogen thus unlikely to cause overstimulation.  It has been shown to enhance alertness, reduce fatigue, and improve memory and depressed mental states.  David used it for people with deficient (asthenic) depression, altitude sickness (with Cordyceps, Reishi, and Holy Basil), ADHD, and recover from head trauma;  can act to prevent  or treat immune depletion caused by overwork, excessive physical training, chemotherapy, or radiation therapy.  It protects cells and organs against chemical and radiation damage.  It has effects on endocrine glands and it helps balance blood sugar levels, decreases symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, relieve muscle stiffness and spasm, and enhance male and female reproductive function.  In men, it improves erectile dysfunction, and in women, it relieves amenorrhea and infertility caused by minor hormonal imbalances or stress. It has substantial benefit for the heart; is able to prevent stress-induced heart damage and arrhythmias and improve the strength of the heart muscle.

 

Linnaeus:  styptic and astringent to be used for people with hernias, leucorrhea, dysentery, hysteria, and headaches.

 

Phil Rogers:  It has a dual action in that it stimulants the cognitive functions of the brain yet sedates the emotional aspects; It strengthens learning and memeory and increases the 5-HY levels in the frontal cerebral cortex. Agents that Block Ach suppress activity of ascending pathways + interfere w memory, R rosea can reverse these Ach Blockades.

 

CHINESE NAME:  Hongjingtian; (); Dahongqi ; Daheqi ; ??Guijiu;

[Tibetan name: Caoluoma'erbu / Suoluomabo ]; Gaoshanhongjingtian

(Alpine Rhodiola); Kuyehingjingtian (Sakhalin Rhodiola);

Dahuahongjingtian (R crenulata); Yunnanhongjingtian (R

yunnanensis); Changbianhongjingtian (R fastigiata); Siliehongjingtian

(R quadrifida); Hushenghongjingtian (R alterna); Siliehongjingtian (R

quadrifida / coccinea; Jap: Shi retsu kou kei ten);

 

COMMENTS:  rare sacred Hb of Tibet; in mountains of Siberia, China, Tibet, Russia + other countries; Safe; poisoning 5-times less than that of Renshen

 

In addition to the above clinical actions:

Actions:

(1) Strengthen efficiency of oxygen consumption; Resist altitude sickness; inhibit lipid peroxidation + formation of peroxide

radicals; Free Radical Scavenger; decrease body oxygen consumption, Promote tolerance of Strengthen HT + increase HT contraction strength + HT rate; Normalize BP / Rectify BP bi-directionally; Hypotensor / Hypertensor in HBP / LBP linked to diabetes mellitus + associated cardiovascular diseases; correct brain ischemia reperfusion Damage; Rectify nervous system; Brain Protector; Nervine / Neuro-Protector; Rectify CNS w amphoteric action (Tone CNS + / Calm CNS); improve work efficiency of mental work; stimulate cerebral Fxs; Support Brain + Aid Intellect; Normalize neural / brain Fxs; Strengthen Cognition; Strengthen Memory + Aid Study / Learning; raise working efficiency of brain + whole body + hence reduce probability of work errors; Strengthen concentration / attention; Ease Convulsion; Nourish Intellect; cerebral tissues to iron-deficiency hypoxia;

(2) Rectify endocrine Fxs; activate pituitary Fxs; stimulate ovary, Stimulate gonadal action: salidroside Strengthen Thyroid Fxs; Rectify adrenal cortical Fxs, in pituitary-adrenal axis failure w hyperthyroidism; Rectify gonadal Fxs + Menses; Aphrodisiac~ female; increase testis weight; increase implantation rate of fertilized ova; Antileucorrhoea; Strengthen Sexual Fx; Strengthen Erection;

(3) LV Protector; Rectify Glycemia bi-directionally; Hypoglycemic; Strengthen efficiency of glucose + glycogen use; Hypolipaemic but can increase fasting levels of Xue glucose + tissue glycogen; Antidiabetes in diabetes Type 2 w minimal adverse effects like abdomen

distension, flatus, meteorism + / - diarrhoea dt Xs inhibition of pancreatic -amylase that causes abnormal bacterial fermentation of undigested carbohydrates in LI; Digestive; Activate SI-LI peristalsis; Ease Constipation;

(4) Secure Body / Exterior; Strengthen Resistence; Strengthen Body + Correct adverse environmental factors; Resist Cold / Anticold; Px Winter Cold in mountains;

(5) Clear LU [Heat] + Ease Cough; Moisten LU; Ease Asthma**~ bronchial;

(6) Clear Heat + Toxin; AntiTOXIC; Clear Toxin in haemotoxicity; Antiradiation Damage; Antimicrowave radiation etc; CYTOTOXIC Chemotherapy / Radiotherapy Support (Antianaemic + increase WBCs); Reverse leucopenia dt Toxin;

(7) Immunostimulant; Strengthen Immunity effect better than Ginseng by 2-times but wo side-effect of feeling Hot + dry; Normalise WBC; Antivirus; Anticancer; Antitumour; Anticarcinogen;

 

Extra CLINICAL INDICATIONS:

(1) Qixu / Zhengqixu / Yuanqixu / Yinxu / Dual Qixu + Yinxu w general weakness in

convalescence / asthenia; debility, poor health; asthenia w fatigue / low activity (Physical /sexual / mental); Body Xu in convalescence; weakness~ senile / postpartum / post surgery /convalescence; fatigue / exercise intolerance; physical strength / endurance / stamina~ low;endurance poor~ Physical / mental; sports performance~ poor; muscle / work capacity / workefficiency~ low; energy metabolism DysFx;

(2) Xuexu / anaemia w weakness in convalescence / asthenia; trauma / injury w Xueyu + / -bleeding / haemolysis; oedema / swelling; leucopenia; alopecia; circulation~ poor.

(3) oxidative stress / hypoxia / ageing~ premature; Chronic Stress Patterns (fibromyalgia, fatigue~ chronic; stress DysFx after trauma, etc), as in physical / mental stress (astronauts,pilots, submariners, miners, soldiers in battle, athletes, heavy manual work, athletes,mountaineers, workaholics, etc); Stress~ physical;; fatigue after Physical / intellectual strain;mountain sickness / altitude sickness; cerebral hypoxia in iron-deficiency; HT Xu / HTdiseases / HT DysFx w Shen upset / unhappiness / depression; chest Bi w HT pain / chest pain / angina; irritability + agitation, sleep disturbance, insomnia, etc; anxiety, inability to relax+ Vexation, inability to recover through rest, relaxation / enjoyment; wo presence of organic mental DysFxs; HT failure~ senile; CHD; myocardial / brain hypoxia / ischaemia; myocardial failure~ senile-Type; HT Damage~ stress-induced (adrenergic); stress w HT~ arrhythmia adrenergic; opioid dependent); HBP / LBP, esp in diabetes mellitus + cardiovascular diseases; CNS system / brain DysFx; CVA / cerebral vascular disease / Windstrike / stroke~brain lesions~ after trauma + vascular lesions; paralysis / hemiplegia dt stroke; neurological /nervous system DysFxs; nervous fatigue etc; autonomic nervous DysFx; brain diseases; Brain trauma, mental work efficiency / cerebral Fxs / study capacity / concentration~ low; cognitive DysFx; DysFxs of memory + cognition, cognition / intellect / memory~ impaired /sluggish; amnesia, convulsion; Parkinson's disease [high dose Antipsychotics over manyyears in schizophrenics may affect dopaminergic basal ganglia nerves (same nerves are Damaged in Parkinson's Disease) - their compromise induces "Parkinsonian SSs", incl stiffness, tremor, bradykinesia, etc; Anticholinergics incl R rosea relieve these

Antipsychotic-induced SSs]; Alzheimer's disease; hearing poor; vision poor; ADHD, affective DysFxs; panic; mental + neuro-motoric DysFx; neurosis, mood swings; hysteria; psychiatric DysFx; psychic fatigue; anxiety~ situational; depression, mental fatigue (secondary to psychiatric + medical conditions); mental dullness; confusion; concentration~ poor; ADD; Neurasthenia=mental / physical fatigue / exhaustion after minor mental effort / persistent +distressing feelings of fatigue after minor work effort w one / more of following SSs: muscleaches / pains, vertigo, tension HA, stress~ mental;

(4) endocrine DysFx; pituitary / ovary / gonadal DysFx; hypothyroidism; stress / adrenal

DysFx in pituitary-adrenal axis failure w hyperthyroidism; gonadal / Menses DysFx; KI Xu w sexual DysFx, sexual debility, libido~ low~ female; hypogonadism, infertility~ female; hyposexuality; ED / impotence; prospermia; spermatorrhoea, leucorrhoea, amenorrhoea;

menopausal-related DysFxs; urine incontinence;

(5) LV Dys Fx; hepatitis; glycaemia~ unstable (hypoglycaemia / hyperglycaemia); diabetes Type 2; obesity; hyperlipaemia; hypercholesterolaemia; ST-SI-LI DysFx + infections, anorexia; appetite~ poor, dyspepsia, weight loss; SI-LI peristalsis~ low, constipation;

haemorrhoid, hernia;

(6) Epidemic diseases; infectious diseases; Exogenous diseases, esp dt Cold / hypothermia /frostbite, / dt altitude sickness / hypoxia, Winter Cold in mountains; Cold + flu-like SSs esp insevere winters w Fever, HA, pneumonitis w cough, haemoptysis;; arthritis, Wind Damp arthritis, Wind~ postpartum;

(7) LU Xu; LU Heat / Dryness w cough / asthma** / SOB; pneumonitis, haemoptysis, spitting blood; LU TB;

(8) Heat + Toxin; Toxins / Intoxications (all kinds: chemical toxins, alcohol, Hbs, etc);

haemotoxicity; radiation damage / sickness; exposure to EMFs (from high-tension cables,

computers, electrical equipment, cell-phones, etc); side-effects of CYTOTOXIC

Chemotherapy / Radiotherapy (anaemia / leucopenia / fatigue / weakness);

(9) diseases w immunosuppression, virus diseases, cancer / carcinoma / tumours (LV / LU /BL);

(10) Also: tooth / gum / odontogenic inflammatory diseases; periodontosis; TB; myasthenia; pain; scurvy, somatic illnesses; inflammation

 

Other species of Rhodiola genus do not contain the rosavins found in R.rosea and so not have the same level of activity.  But many have been found to have radioprotective, hepatoprotective, neuroprotective and antioxidant effects. (R. fastigita, R. kirilowii, R. sacra; and R. sachalinensis)

 

Other Species of Rhodiola; part used and Chinese name

1. Rhodiolae algidae / tanguticae Herb Hongjingtian ; Tangutehongjingtian

2. Rhodiolae angustae Hb Changbaihongjingtian ; Changbaijingtian ; Wusulijingtian ; Bitter~ Slightly, Cold; Enrich + Tone + Strengthen Erection; ED /

Impotence, Diabetes / Glucosuria; As Dec: 1-3g;

3. Rhodiolae crenulatae Hb + Rx Kuanbanhongjingtian ; Yuanchihongjingtian; Suluomabao

4. Rhodiolae dumulosae Hb + Rx Xiaoconghongjingtian ; Fengweiqi ; Fengweicao [NOT Pteris Hb]; Wulinghongjingtian

5. Rhodiolae henryi Hb Lingyehongjingtian ; Wandouqi

6. Rhodiolae kirilowii Rx Xiayehongjingtian ; Dazhuhongjingtian ; Shiziqi; Shizicao

7. Rhodiolae roseae Rx + Rz; Hongjingtian ; Dahuahongjingtian ; Gaoyuanrenshen ; Meiguihongjingtian ; Qiangweihongjingtian

8. Rhodiolae sachalinensis Hb; Hongjingtian ; Hongjingtian (Gaoshan) (); Gaoshanhongjingtian ; Kuyehongjingtian

9. Rhodiolae sacrae Hb Shengdihongjingtian ; Hongjingtian ; Quanbanhongjingtian ; Saoluoma'erbu ; Shenga ;Zangdihongjingtian

10. Rhodiola wallichianum leaves are used as a poultice for wounds and burns.

11. Rhodiolae yunnanensis Hb + Rx Douyeqi ; Hongjingtian (Yunnan) (); Yunnanhongjingtian