Rhodiola

Rhodiola has long been known as a potent adaptogen.  Adaptogens are natural plant substances that increase resistance to physical and emotional stress.  Rhodiola contains substances that are shown to therapeutically effect the central nervous system. They increase the ability to concentrate, and they improve the general resistance of the cells and organisms  against harmful physical and emotional stress.   Rhodiola prevents the heart system from stress and arrhythmias and possess some antioxidant activity.  

Resources

Kucinskaite A, Briedis V Savickas A., Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Pharmacy Organization, Kaunas University of Medicine, A. Mickeviciaus 9, 44307 Kaunas, Lithuania. agnute.ku@delfi.lt. Experimental analysis of therapeutic properties of Rhodiola rosea L. and its possible application in medicine,  PMID: 15252224 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Brekhman II, Dardymov IV. New substances of plant origin which increase nonspecific resistance. Ann Rev Pharmacol 1969;9:419-430.
Ohsugi M, Fan W, Hase K, et al. Active-oxygen scavenging activity of traditional nourishing-tonic herbal medicines and active constituents of Rhodiola sacra. J Ethnopharmacol 1999;67:111-119.
Lishmanov IB, Trifonova ZV, Tsibin AN, et al. Plasma beta-endorphin and stress hormones in stress and adaptation. Biull Eksp Biol Med 1987;103:422-424.
Petkov VD, Yonkov D, Mosharoff A, et al. Effects of alcohol aqueous extract from Rhodiola rosea L. roots on learning and memory. Acta Physiol Pharmacol Bulg 1986;12:3-16.