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Rhodiola Rosea - 90 caps (200mg)

Code: 5053

The ultimate adaptogen
Rhodiola rosea is one of the original and best-studied herbal adaptogens. Adaptogens help the body adapt to internal and external stresses, without stimulants or sedatives, by supporting normal physiological functions throughout the body. Standardized higher than most, rhodiola rosea root extract provides 1 percent salidrosides and 5 percent rosavins. These important constituents ensure effectiveness and are only found in this tested species of rhodiola. Because adaptogens help reduce feelings of stress, many people feel increased energy and stamina.

Rhodiola rosea is a hardy plant that grows at high altitudes throughout northern Europe, Asia and the Arctic. Rhodiola rosea has been used in traditional medicine for centuries. Since 1969 it has been used in Russia as an official medicine to treat asthenia (chronic fatigue), infectious illnesses, psychiatric and neurological conditions, as well as to reduce fatigue and improve attention, memory and work capacity in healthy people.

Rhodiola Rosea: The Real Rhodiola
Rhodiola rosea is one of more than 50 species of the genus Rhodiola, and it is pharmacologically unique. According to Rhodiola expert Dr. Zakir Ramazanov, only Rhodiola rosea contains the unique rosavin compounds rosarin, rosin and rosavin. While early Rhodiola extracts were standardized only with reference to another compound, salidroside, since the 1990s the reference standard for true Rhodiola rosea extracts requires at least 0.8 percent salidroside and 3 percent rosavins. Products that are only standardized for salidroside content may be adulterated with other Rhodiola species, such as Tibetan or Indian Rhodiola. These products do not have the same beneficial effects as Rhodiola rosea.

Rhodiola Rosea: The ultimate adaptogen
In 1969 Soviet scientists I.I. Brekhman and I.V. Dardymov defined a new class of beneficial plant extracts: the adaptogens. After reviewing the literature on almost 200 medicinal plants, they identified five (including Rhodiola rosea) that met the definition of an adaptogen. An adaptogen should be harmless and not cause significant disturbance of normal physiological functions. The action of an adaptogen should be nonspecific, increasing resistance to a wide range of adverse influences of diverse chemical, physical or biological nature. An adaptogen must possess normalizing influence regardless of the direction of pathological changes —if a variable (e.g., blood pressure or heart rate) is too high it must lower it, and if it is too low, it must raise it. As Ramazanov notes: “Brekhman and Dardymov and all Russian researchers since consider [Rhodiola] rosea to be the model of an adaptogen that met all three criteria to the fullest extent.”

Ramazanov summarizes the adaptogenic benefits of Rhodiola rosea, verified in the human and animal trials (mostly Russian), noting that the extract:

1.	improves memory and mental performance, and has anti-fatigue, anti-stress and antidepressant properties;
2.	improves physical performance, reducing exhaustion and accelerating recovery after heavy training workloads, and increases muscle energy production, protein synthesis and anabolic activity;
3.	improves erectile dysfunction and/or premature ejaculation in men;
4.	activates lipolytic (fat breakdown) processes and mobilizes fat from adipose tissue;
5.	reduces or prevents stress-induced heart damage;
6.	reduces liver toxicity from various anticancer drugs while enhancing their anticancer action;
7.	enhances thyroid function without causing hyperthyroidism, protects the thymus gland from the shrinkage that comes with stress and aging, and increases adrenal gland reserve without causing adrenal hypertrophy;
8.	has antioxidant effects, reducing lipid peroxidation and preventing intestinal damage after acute x-ray exposure;
9.	is incredibly safe, with an estimated LD50 (lethal dose for 50 percent of test animals) for humans of 235 grams for a 154-pound person.

Rhodiola in sports
Soviet/Russian sports professionals have used Rhodiola rosea for decades with excellent results. Russian research shows that it increases muscle anabolic activity, stimulates production of ATP (adenosine triphosphate, the key energy source in the body) and creatine phosphate (energy reserve) and prolongs stamina during periods of intense physical stress. Rhodiola rosea also reduces cardiovascular recovery time, even after strenuous muscular/physical workouts.

Dosage:
Typical dosages used in human studies have ranged from 50 to 250 mg taken two or, occasionally, three times daily. It is best taken 30 minutes before breakfast and lunch, with a third dose before an afternoon workout if necessary. It is best not to take Rhodiola rosea after dinner or in the evening, as it can be stimulating and may cause insomnia.

Caution:
Those suffering from mania or bipolar disorder should not take it without medical supervision. Rhodiola rosea may potentiate the action of stimulants, so it should not be taken with them. Extremely sensitive individuals may need to reduce the dosage as low as 50 mg twice daily, and work up slowly to higher doses.

Product Specifications:
Serving Size: 1 capsule
Amount Per Serving
Rhodiola (Rhodiola rosea) extract	200mg	*
(root) (5% rosavins and 1% salidroside)
*Daily Value not established
Other Ingredients: Hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (vegetarian capsule). Contains no added sugar, starch, salt, wheat, gluten, corn, coloring, dairy products, flavoring and preservatives. Keep container tightly closed in a cool, dry and dark place. Keep out of reach of children.

Quantity:

Price: $26.95