Also known as Golden Root, Arctic Root
Adaptogenic root native to arctic Scandinavia and Siberia; its rosavins and salidroside are thought to modulate cortisol and monoamine activity, with trials showing reduced fatigue and improved stress resilience.
Reported side effects:Mild adverse events (a systematic review of 11 randomised trials reports only few mild adverse events, none named at a frequency)Total adverse events did not differ from placebo in a 42-day randomised trial at 364 mg/day (n=48)
Be careful if: pregnant, breastfeeding
Suspect a side effect? Report it to the MHRA Yellow Card scheme ↗
We link to relevant studies and leave interpretation to you and your healthcare professional.
The large figures are what the studies reported for each thing they measured. Open a card for every result.
Colour keyReported a benefitNo clear benefitUnclearPossible harmAmber is for highlights, such as where the most research is. It never means a result was good.
No figure given: Overall antidepressant effect (reported a benefit); Clinician-rated overall change (no clear benefit).
Every resultNo figure given: Burnout symptoms (reported a benefit); Mental performance when tired (reported a benefit).
Also measured alongside: Attention test scores (reported a benefit); Mental health and depression (no clear benefit); Morning cortisol (stress hormone) response (reported a benefit).
Every resultWhat sources report about side effects, who should be careful, and medicines to ask about first.
| Reported effect | How often | Basis | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mild adverse events (a systematic review of 11 randomised trials reports only few mild adverse events, none named at a frequency) | unknown | Listed by PubMed corpus rows (PubMed 21036578) | Hung SK, Perry R, Ernst E. The effectiveness and efficacy of Rhodiola rosea L.: a systematic review of randomized clinical trials. Phytomedicine 2011;18(4):235-44 (PMID 21036578) |
| Total adverse events did not differ from placebo in a 42-day randomised trial at 364 mg/day (n=48) | unknown | Listed by PubMed corpus rows (PubMed 25268730) | Punja S et al. Rhodiola rosea for mental and physical fatigue in nursing students: a randomized controlled trial. PLoS One 2014;9(9):e108416 (PMID 25268730) |
| Applies to | What sources say | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| pregnant | No pregnancy safety data for Rhodiola rosea in the sources checked (systematic review of randomised trials, PMID 21036578); ask a doctor before use in pregnancy. | Hung SK, Perry R, Ernst E. The effectiveness and efficacy of Rhodiola rosea L.: a systematic review of randomized clinical trials. Phytomedicine 2011;18(4):235-44 (PMID 21036578) |
| breastfeeding | No breastfeeding safety data for Rhodiola rosea in the sources checked (systematic review of randomised trials, PMID 21036578); ask a doctor before use while breastfeeding. | Hung SK, Perry R, Ernst E. The effectiveness and efficacy of Rhodiola rosea L.: a systematic review of randomized clinical trials. Phytomedicine 2011;18(4):235-44 (PMID 21036578) |
Hung SK, Perry R, Ernst E. The effectiveness and efficacy of Rhodiola rosea L.: a systematic review of randomized clinical trials. Phytomedicine 2011;18(4):235-44 (PMID 21036578)Olsson EM et al. A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of SHR-5 Rhodiola rosea extract in stress-related fatigue. Planta Med 2009;75(2):105-12 (PMID 19016404)Cropley M, Banks AP, Boyle J. The Effects of Rhodiola rosea L. Extract on Anxiety, Stress, Cognition and Other Mood Symptoms. Phytother Res 2015;29(12):1934-9 (PMID 26502953)Punja S et al. Rhodiola rosea for mental and physical fatigue in nursing students: a randomized controlled trial. PLoS One 2014;9(9):e108416 (PMID 25268730)
Audited published research for Rhodiola Rosea by condition. Drill into a pair page for the full breakdown.
What this means: Bars count reported findings, not treatment effectiveness or certainty.
One study may report several findings or appear in more than one pairing. Counts do not show the size of an effect. Comparable numerical estimates are not established for this summary.
| Compound and condition | Findings (count) | Studies (count) | Reported results (finding counts) | How sure? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Depression | 6 | 2 | Benefit: 1; no benefit: 3; harm: 1; unclear: 1; not recorded / unrecognised: 0 | Not formally graded |
| Fatigue | 8 | 3 | Benefit: 4; no benefit: 2; harm: 2; unclear: 0; not recorded / unrecognised: 0 | Not formally graded |
Where people report using it and what trials suggest
Common claims the trials do not support
Adaptogen with small European trials on fatigue and stress; standardised extracts (SHR-5) dominate a thin evidence base.
Evidence grades reflect study quality and consistency, not marketing claims.
Ordered by strength of evidence, then result direction.
01Efficacy of Pharmacological Interventions in Milder Depression: A Systematic Review and Meta-AnalysisUrata M, et al. · Neuropsychopharmacology reports · 2025PMID 40014460 ↗02Transcriptome-based meta-analysis of drought stress regulatory genes in tomatoMurtaza M, et al. · BMC plant biology · 2025PMID 41068586 ↗03Adaptogens on Depression-Related Outcomes: A Systematic Integrative Review and Rationale of Synergism with Physical ActivitySánchez IA, et al. · International journal of environmental research and public health · 2023PMID 37047914 ↗04Clinician guidelines for the treatment of psychiatric disorders with nutraceuticals and phytoceuticals: The World Federation of Societies of Biological Psychiatry (WFSBP) and Canadian Network for Mood and Anxiety Treatments (CANMAT) TaskforceSarris J, et al. · The world journal of biological psychiatry : the official journal of the World Federation of Societies of Biological Psychiatry · 2022PMID 35311615 ↗05Effects of Rhodiola Rosea Supplementation on Exercise and Sport: A Systematic ReviewLu Y, et al. · Frontiers in nutrition · 2022PMID 35464040 ↗06Plant Adaptogens-History and Future PerspectivesTodorova V, et al. · Nutrients · 2021PMID 34445021 ↗Reported results grouped by condition. Values and units are preserved as recorded; missing information is not estimated.
How to read this table
Reported direction, numerical results and study design are separate. Certainty has not been formally graded in this table.
| What was measured | Reported findings | Result and units | Reported sample and duration | Study / source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Antidepressant effect | Controlled clinical trials found preliminary positive evidence of antidepressant effects for Rhodiola rosea compared with control.Benefit seen | Not reported Recorded unit: Not reported | Sample (as reported): Not reported Follow-up: Not reported | Systematic review · 2011 Study detailsHerbal medicine for depression, anxiety and insomnia: a review of psychopharmacology and clinical evidence. Systematic Review |
| Adverse events | Adverse events occurred in 30.0% of Rhodiola rosea patients versus 16.7% with placebo (group p=0.012). (p = 0.012)Possible harm | 30.0% Recorded unit: Not reported | Sample (as reported): 57 Follow-up: 12 weeks | Randomised trial · 2015 Study detailsRhodiola rosea versus sertraline for major depressive disorder: A randomized placebo-controlled trial. Randomized Controlled Trial |
| BDI depression score | BDI depression scores did not differ significantly between Rhodiola rosea and placebo groups (p=0.28). (p = 0.28)No clear benefit | Not reported Recorded unit: Not reported | Sample (as reported): 57 Follow-up: 12 weeks | Randomised trial · 2015 Study detailsRhodiola rosea versus sertraline for major depressive disorder: A randomized placebo-controlled trial. Randomized Controlled Trial |
| Clinical Global Impression Change (CGI/C) | Clinical Global Impression scores did not differ significantly between Rhodiola rosea and placebo groups (p=0.17). (p = 0.17)No clear benefit | Not reported Recorded unit: Not reported | Sample (as reported): 57 Follow-up: 12 weeks | Randomised trial · 2015 Study detailsRhodiola rosea versus sertraline for major depressive disorder: A randomized placebo-controlled trial. Randomized Controlled Trial |
| HAM-D depression score | Rhodiola rosea reduced HAM-D scores by -5.1 versus -4.6 with placebo, not statistically significant (p=0.79). (95% CI -8.8 to -1.3; p = 0.79)No clear benefit | -5.1 Recorded unit: Not reported | Sample (as reported): 57 Follow-up: 12 weeks | Randomised trial · 2015 Study detailsRhodiola rosea versus sertraline for major depressive disorder: A randomized placebo-controlled trial. Randomized Controlled Trial |
| Odds of improving | Odds of improving with Rhodiola rosea were 1.39 versus placebo, a non-significant and uncertain effect. (95% CI 0.38-5.04)Unclear | 1.39 Recorded unit: Not reported | Sample (as reported): 57 Follow-up: 12 weeks | Randomised trial · 2015 Study detailsRhodiola rosea versus sertraline for major depressive disorder: A randomized placebo-controlled trial. Randomized Controlled Trial |
| What was measured | Reported findings | Result and units | Reported sample and duration | Study / source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adverse events | Total adverse events did not differ significantly between Rhodiola rosea and placebo groups by day 42.No clear benefit | Not reported Recorded unit: Not reported | Sample (as reported): 48 Follow-up: day 42 | Randomised trial · 2014 Study detailsRhodiola rosea for mental and physical fatigue in nursing students: a randomized controlled trial. Randomized Controlled Trial |
| Fatigue (VAS-F) at day 42 | Rhodiola rosea worsened VAS-F fatigue scores by 1.9 versus placebo at day 42 (p=0.015). (95% CI 0.4, 3.5; p = 0.015)Possible harm | 1.9 Recorded unit: Not reported | Sample (as reported): 48 Follow-up: day 42 | Randomised trial · 2014 Study detailsRhodiola rosea for mental and physical fatigue in nursing students: a randomized controlled trial. Randomized Controlled Trial |
| Vitality subscale (RAND-36) at day 42 | Rhodiola rosea worsened vitality scores by -17.3 versus placebo at day 42 (p=0.011). (95% CI -30.6, -3.9; p = 0.011)Possible harm | -17.3 Recorded unit: Not reported | Sample (as reported): 48 Follow-up: day 42 | Randomised trial · 2014 Study detailsRhodiola rosea for mental and physical fatigue in nursing students: a randomized controlled trial. Randomized Controlled Trial |
| attention (CCPT II indices: omissions, Hit RT SE, variability) | Rhodiola rosea (SHR-5) significantly improved attention test indices compared with placebo over 28 days (n=60).Benefit seen | Not reported Recorded unit: Not reported | Sample (as reported): 60 Follow-up: 28 days | Randomised trial · 2009 Study detailsA 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. Randomized Controlled Trial |
| burnout symptoms (Pines' burnout scale) | Rhodiola rosea (SHR-5) significantly improved burnout symptoms compared with placebo over 28 days in fatigue syndrome patients (n=60).Benefit seen | Not reported Recorded unit: Not reported | Sample (as reported): 60 Follow-up: 28 days | Randomised trial · 2009 Study detailsA 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. Randomized Controlled Trial |
| cortisol response to awakening stress | Rhodiola rosea (SHR-5) significantly decreased cortisol response to awakening stress compared with the placebo (control) group over 28 days (n=60).Benefit seen | Not reported Recorded unit: Not reported | Sample (as reported): 60 Follow-up: 28 days | Randomised trial · 2009 Study detailsA 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. Randomized Controlled Trial |
| mental health (SF-36) and depression (MADRS) | Mental health (SF-36) and depression (MADRS) scores improved similarly in both Rhodiola and placebo groups, a placebo effect (n=60).No clear benefit | Not reported Recorded unit: Not reported | Sample (as reported): 60 Follow-up: 28 days | Randomised trial · 2009 Study detailsA 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. Randomized Controlled Trial |
| Mental performance / Fatigue Index tests after night duty | RRE significantly improved mental performance test scores compared with placebo during two-week treatment periods.Benefit seen | Not reported Recorded unit: Not reported | Sample (as reported): 56 Follow-up: two weeks | Randomised trial · 2000 Study detailsRhodiola rosea in stress induced fatigue--a double blind cross-over study of a standardized extract SHR-5 with a repeated low-dose regimen on the mental performance of healthy physicians during night duty. Randomized Controlled Trial |
Associated conditions and community-reported outcomes, wrapped together on one page. Aggregates appear only once enough reports arrive.
How this compound is sold in the UK, and where our readers typically find it.
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