Rhodiola Rosea
Adaptogenic herb whose primary bioactive, salidroside, inhibits monoamine oxidase (MAO-A and MAO-B), increasing synaptic availability of serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine. Modulates the HPA axis by reducing cortisol release via AMPK activation and heat shock protein expression. Additional neuroprotective effects through upregulation of Nrf2-mediated antioxidant response elements and inhibition of COMT at high concentrations.
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- cortisol
- thyroid-panel
- bipolar-disorder
- concurrent-maoi-use
- hypomania-history
- PMID:22228617Rhodiola rosea L.: an herb with anti-stress, anti-aging, and immunostimulating properties for cancer chemoprevention — Curr Pharm Des, 2012
- PMID:23443221A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study of the standardised extract SHR-5 of the roots of Rhodiola rosea in the treatment of subjects with stress-related fatigue — Planta Med, 2012
- PMID:22039930Multicenter, open-label, exploratory clinical trial with Rhodiola rosea extract in patients suffering from burnout symptoms — Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat, 2012
Rhodiola is the adaptogen with the clearest anti-fatigue signal in RCT data. The MAO inhibition is mild enough to avoid tyramine interaction concerns at standard doses but potent enough to shift monoamine tone measurably. Standardize to 3% rosavins and 1% salidroside minimum. SHR-5 is the extract with the most clinical validation. Morning dosing only. Rhodiola at night will disrupt sleep architecture in most users. The inverted U dose-response curve is real. More is not better. 200-400mg is the sweet spot for most people. 600mg starts producing overstimulation artifacts.
This is not medical advice
Discuss with a licensed clinician before starting, stopping, or changing any compound. This page documents what the research literature describes — it is not a prescription.
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