Stress – What stress? If you are like most of us juggling a busy life you will be dealing with a certain amount of stress on a daily basis. However if we are exposed to prolonged stress our health can suffer. Luckily there are lots of treatments available, including this fascinating herb that works on many levels to help the body cope with effects of stress.
Rhodiola is a herb that grows in the harsh conditions of of the Arctic areas of Europe and Asia. It has been used for centuries to help people adapt to stressful conditions and to enhance physical endurance.
This herb has been the subject of an amazing amount of research over the past years. It was studied extensively by Russian scientists during the Cold War who were looking for a treatment to enhance the energy, endurance and performance of their soldiers and astronauts. Their finding were kept secret until after the Cold War.
Rhodiola has been used in Western Herbal Medicine only relatively recently, after being rediscovered in the mountains of northern Mongolia by a plant biochemist, who shared his discovery with with practitioners in the West. Since its introduction to the West it has gained the attention of scientists and been the subject of numerous studies and clinical trials. Mark Blumenthal, the Executive Director of The American Botanical Council, a leading authority on Herbal Medicine, has gone so far as to label Rhodiola a “Super Herb”
So what does Rhodiola do? As mentioned the extensive scientific research has confirmed its ability to improve energy and stamina and help people adapt to stress – including physical, mental and environmental stressors. It also has a range of other actions including
Anti-ageing – helps with healthy ageing- Anti-arrhythmic – helps to regulate heart rhythms
- Antidepressant – has been shown to be effective in clinical studies
- Antioxidant – combats free radicals and prevents oxidative damage
- Anti-inflammatory – decreases inflammation
- Anti-tumour – has been shown to combat cancerous tumours in in vitro studies
- Cardioprotective – protects the heart
- Central Nervous System Stimulant – increases neurotransmitter levels
- Cognitive Enhancer – enhances memory and mental function
- Immunomodulator – helps regulate the immune system
- Neuroprotective – helps to protect the brain and nervous system
This is a particularly useful herb, not only does it have broad ranging actions, it is one of the only adaptogen herbs (helps the body adapt to stress) that has a direct effect on the heart, being both cardioprotective and anti-arrhythmic.
It helps to modify the stress response via its actions on the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis and has been shown to favorably affect levels of one of the major stress hormones – cortisol.
This makes it a particularly useful herb in the treatment of burnout, where stress and fatigue combine to significantly impact health and lifestyle. When people have been exposed to prolonged stress they become fatigued and various biological changes combine to lessen the persons ability to cope with stress. This can lead to social withdrawal, time off work and exhaustion.
There are many treatments available to help people overcome stress and burnout, diet and lifestyle can be very beneficial. However, herbal medicine, including Rhodiola can help the body to overcome the effects of stress and speed recovery from period of prolonged stress. It can also be used during times of extreme stress to lessen the impact on health.
Often, when people are under stress they find that they are more prone to infection and seem to come down with every seasonal cold and flu. Rhodiola helps to combat the effects of stress and strengthen the immune system via its immunomodulatory effects.
One of the most exciting breakthroughs in Rhodiola research is the discovery that it acts as an inhibitor of monoamine oxidase which regulates the metabolic degradation of serotonin, an important mood regulating neurotransmitter. This action is responsible for its antidepressant effects which have been demonstrated in clinical trials. Prolonged stress often leads to lowered mood and depression.
So if you need help coping with the impact of prolonged stress make an appointment to see us. Nutrition and Herbal Medicine, including Rhodiola, may be the key in turning your health around so you can regain your energy cope with stress and enjoy life.