Feeling Good About Rhodiola Rosea Extract
July 25, 2011 by Marion Brennan
Filed under Supplements
Rhodiola rosea extract, hereafter rosea, has a set of benefits that should be attractive just about everybody. It increases your energy and your mood. Not too many people would turn down an easy way to feel better and more energized.
It grows in cold, mountainous areas and sports rather pretty yellow flowers. It’s use dates back as far the ancient Chinese and Siberians and as recently as the KGB. It’s been used to maintain mental clarity and physical well being in the same difficult climates in which it grows.
Now, herbal extracts that claim to make you feel that little bit better that you’d like to feel are ten a penny, but the claims about rosea are not overly broad. They are also backed up by an increasing number of clinical studies. There is more here than the preponderance of tradition ascribing power to a plant.
The biological action of this plant is one that we’ve been duplicating with modern anti-depressants for years. It acts as a monoamine oxidase inhibitor as well as a cortisol moderator. Cortisol is one of the chemicals associated with stress in the body. This has all been proved in numerous clinical studies. The effect is guaranteed and both physically and chemically tangible.
In the body monoamine oxidase is an enzyme group that metabolizes endorphins and dopamine, among other things. By inhibiting MAO’s action the amount of endorphins and dopamine in the brain is increased, and therefore mood and energy.
MAOs metabolize caffeine and other drugs and food chemicals. If you take rosea on a regular basis it will be important to know the kinds of things that you should and should not eat when under the influence of an MAOI. Many drugs and food can become dangerous. Something like caffeine will last longer, but also becomes much stronger. This could make your morning cup of coffee uncomfortable or dangerous.
It’s also important to make sure that you are getting pure Rhodiola rosea. It should have at least 3% rosavins and 1% salidroside.
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