Rhodiola Rosea for Stress & Anxiety Reduction

Typical dose

Recommended dose

200-400mg standardised extract in the morning

Expected timeframe

2-4 weeks

Protocol

form

Rhodiola rosea root extract standardised to 3% rosavins and 1% salidroside

duration

Trials ran 2-14 weeks

co factor

Evidence is insufficient. Rhodiola has reasonable evidence for stress-related fatigue and modest evidence in mild depression, but anxiety specifically is weaker. Cropley and colleagues found reduced self-reported anxiety, stress and anger over 14 days in an uncontrolled study of 80 adults. Bystritsky ran a small open-label trial in generalised anxiety disorder at 340 mg/day showing improvement, but with no control group. Larger placebo-controlled trials in diagnosed anxiety disorders are absent. Rhodiola is also stimulating, and irritability and agitation are among the reported side effects, which is problematic in anxiety.

titration

Not applicable - no reliable dose-response for anxiety exists

starting dose

Not established for anxiety. Trials used 340-680 mg/day of standardised extract

What the studies say

Less likely to help if