You see it popping up more and more in supplements: rhodiola rosea. A plant with a tough nickname, golden root, and a long history. But what is it really?
Below you will read what rhodiola rosea is, where it comes from, what substances are in it and what to look out for if you want to use it. No promises, just the facts.
Topics in this article
- What is rhodiola rosea?
- Where does rhodiola come from?
- The active substances: rosavins and salidroside
- Health claims
- How is rhodiola used?
- What to look out for when choosing?
- Frequently asked questions about rhodiola rosea
- In short
What is rhodiola rosea?
Rhodiola rosea is a perennial plant from the Crassulaceae family. You may also come across it under names such as rose root or golden root. It is the same plant, just called something else.
Not the leaf, but the root is used: the extract you find in capsules is made from it.
Where does rhodiola come from?
Rhodiola grows in harsh places where little else survives: the cold, high-altitude mountain regions of Scandinavia, Siberia, Greenland and the Alps.
The root has a long history in traditional Scandinavian and Russian herbal medicine. Want to see which rhodiola we carry? Check out the rhodiola collection.
The active substances: rosavins and salidroside
The root contains more than a hundred plant substances. Two names you will most often see on the label: rosavins and salidroside.
Extracts are often standardized to 3% rosavins and 1% salidroside. That is the ratio in which they occur naturally in the plant (approximately 3 parts rosavins to 1 part salidroside). Standardization means that each capsule contains a fixed, controlled amount of these substances.
Health claims
No health claims are allowed for rhodiola in the EU. Claims for herbs have been "on hold" with the European Commission for years. We therefore only describe what rhodiola is, where it comes from and how it is offered.
How is rhodiola used?
In supplements, you usually see rhodiola as a capsule with a standardized extract. You may also come across it as tea or tincture, and as part of combination formulas.
- Pure extract: for example the Rhodiola Rosea Extract by Vit4ever, with a fixed dosage per capsule.
- In combination products: rhodiola is also combined with other herbs, vitamins or amino acids. View the options in the rhodiola collection.
Stick to the dosage on the packaging.
What to look out for when choosing?
Standardization
Check if the extract is standardized to rosavins and salidroside (often 3% and 1%). This way you know what you get per capsule.
Amount of extract
Compare the amount of extract per capsule, not just the price. More milligrams of root powder is not the same as a standardized extract.
When to be careful
Are you pregnant, breastfeeding or taking medication? Then consult your GP or pharmacist first. A dietary supplement is not a substitute for a varied diet.
Frequently asked questions about rhodiola rosea
What part of the plant is rhodiola made from?
The root. It is dried and processed into an extract.
Is rhodiola rosea the same as rose root or golden root?
Yes. Rose root, rose root and golden root are all names for the same plant, Rhodiola rosea.
What does 3% rosavins and 1% salidroside mean?
That the extract is standardized to those two substance groups, in the ratio in which they occur naturally. It says something about the composition, not about a health effect.
When do you take rhodiola?
Follow the directions for use on the packaging.
Can you combine rhodiola with ashwagandha?
Those two are sometimes combined in a formula. When combining separate supplements, stick to the dosages on the packaging.
In short
Rhodiola rosea is a mountain plant, also known as golden root, whose root is processed into standardized extracts with rosavins and salidroside. Health claims are not allowed for it in the EU.
Pay attention to the standardization and the amount of extract, and view the range in the rhodiola collection.
