Rhodiola Rosea: Health Claims That Still Lack Enough Evidence

Medical note: This article discusses foods and researched botanicals. It does not claim to prevent, treat, or cure disease. Supplements are not a substitute for food, and studied amounts are not personal prescriptions.

Common Names

arctic root, golden root, rose root, rosenroot, king's crown

Latin Names

Rhodiola rosea

Background

Rhodiola grows in cold regions and at high altitudes in Europe, Asia, and North America.

Rhodiola has a long history of use in Russia, Scandinavia, and other parts of Europe. Traditionally, rhodiola was used for work performance, endurance, fatigue, depression, and altitude sickness.

Today, rhodiola is promoted for improving athletic performance, mood, and cognition; increasing energy; and reducing stress.

How Much Do We Know?

There isn’t enough reliable evidence to determine whether rhodiola or its components are useful for any health-related purpose. Most of the research in people is of low-to-moderate quality.

What Have We Learned?

We haven’t learned enough to say whether rhodiola is useful for any health-related purpose.

What Do We Know About Safety?

Rhodiola is possibly safe for up to 12 weeks. Side effects may include dizziness, headache, insomnia, and either dry mouth or excessive saliva production.

Interactions between rhodiola and losartan (a drug used for high blood pressure) have been reported.

Little is known about whether it’s safe to use rhodiola during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.

Keep in Mind

Depression can be a serious illness. If you or someone in your family may have depression, consult a health care provider.

Take charge of your health—talk with your health care providers about any complementary health approaches you use. Together, you can make shared, well-informed decisions.

If you take any type of medicine, talk with your health care provider before using any herbal product; some herbs and medicines interact in harmful ways.

Source: Rhodiola — NCCIH. This publication is in the public domain. Source last updated: April 2025.