Let's talk about rhodiola again

[euphoria]

Rhodiola has been speculated to have the following mechanisms of action:

1. Prolyl endopeptidase inhibition (increasing various substances, including oxytocin)
2. MAO inhibition (increasing serotonin, noradrenaline, adrenaline, dopamine, and more)
3. COMT inhibition (increasing dopamine, noradrenaline, adrenaline, etc.)
4. Antioxidant
5. Beta-endorphin increase (presumably giving opioid effects centrally)
6. Increasing neurotransmitter precursor brain penetration (very vague, but could increase various NTs including serotonin)

Some of those have been experimentally confirmed, but I really can't be bothered to find all the pubmed links.

I know a lot of members here consider rhodiola to be one of the best (if not the best) supplements available, and I am very much inclined to agree. What is everyone's experience with rhodiola, and specifically for what purpose? Also, which brand is best, and what dose? Some drugs/supplements work well for general anxiety but not social anxiety, for example, so it'd be useful to know what rhodiola works for out of the myriad disorders visitors to SAS may have. Also, what other drugs or supplements have you combined it with? Final question, how long does it take to work / do effects change over time?

My own experience with rhodiola is that it effectively elevates mood and reduces anxiety of all kinds, unless you go too high with dosage and get the jittery effect. It generally makes me more relaxed and a bit more sociable. Interestingly, it darkens my vision and constricts my pupils -- not that much, but still reminiscent of opioids. This would agree with the idea that rhodiola increases beta-endorphin.

[JoJenny]

Originally Posted by euphoria

Rhodiola has been speculated to have the following mechanisms of action:

1. Prolyl endopeptidase inhibition (increasing various substances, including oxytocin)
2. MAO inhibition (increasing serotonin, noradrenaline, adrenaline, dopamine, and more)
3. COMT inhibition (increasing dopamine, noradrenaline, adrenaline, etc.)
4. Antioxidant
5. Beta-endorphin increase (presumably giving opioid effects centrally)
6. Increasing neurotransmitter precursor brain penetration (very vague, but could increase various NTs including serotonin)

Some of those have been experimentally confirmed, but I really can't be bothered to find all the pubmed links.

I know a lot of members here consider rhodiola to be one of the best (if not the best) supplements available, and I am very much inclined to agree. What is everyone's experience with rhodiola, and specifically for what purpose? Also, which brand is best, and what dose? Some drugs/supplements work well for general anxiety but not social anxiety, for example, so it'd be useful to know what rhodiola works for out of the myriad disorders visitors to SAS may have. Also, what other drugs or supplements have you combined it with? Final question, how long does it take to work / do effects change over time?

My own experience with rhodiola is that it effectively elevates mood and reduces anxiety of all kinds, unless you go too high with dosage and get the jittery effect. It generally makes me more relaxed and a bit more sociable. Interestingly, it darkens my vision and constricts my pupils -- not that much, but still reminiscent of opioids. This would agree with the idea that rhodiola increases beta-endorphin.

There was a new piece of research I read about in the website Sham vs. Wham, which talked about Rhodiola work going on at the University of California, in Irvine, California. The scientists put human tissue in the petri dish and cultivated it, exposing the cells to infrared light and to a terrible poison called Paraquat. The cells with Rhodiola in the dish were protected, but the others weren't and they died. Anyway, it was too technical for me, but it seemed to reinforce my view that this is one heck of a valuable plant.

The Canadians are starting to grow Rhodiola there, but the results are in and it appears that this is low-powered stuff. Right now, Siberian rhodiola appears to be the most powerful. I find that it definitely opens me up to meeting and socializing with new people, uplifts my mood, etc. But I don't get the tons of energy out of it that some people do (my partner gets a big blast of energy). So that might be person-to-person difference. We've tried so many of those Rhodiola brands, always trying to save some money. None of the stuff at the store did anything. We've been buying from proactivebio.com, which sells a couple of brands. I like the little tiny green capsules that come from Verde Botanica. They are great - I think its called Body Mind and Spirit. Very powerful, does the job, and I like the fact that each capsule is like its own little package, I can toss one or two in my bag and I don't have loose pills flopping around.

[Micliph]

Most herbs may work somehow, but they are all far too weak I think..

[millenniumman75]

Talk about roadie-what?

[n1kkuh]

I like rhodiola, mostly because it gives me a small stimulant type effect, without producing anxiety. I've taken a few different brands, but the most effective brand so far, has been GAIA herbs, only problem is its expensive.

I usually take mine in the morning and it lasts for about 4-5 hours i think, but its really hard to tell. I think its a great mixer, as in it mixes great with other drugs like pot, alcohol, ativan, etc. To me, it has the effect of bringing a brightness to my day, it has a pretty good effect on uplifting mood when my mood is neutral to begin with, not when I'm in the depth of depression, but it can help me get out of that too.

And I think the effects Do change over time, the more you take it, the more effective it is, there may be a tolerance issue, but I think it works like an ssri, you gotta let it build up in your system and then reap the benefits, but I think its also important to take a break from it everyonce in a while to keep your system guessing.

And not that this has anything to do with rhodiola, but ginseng is also a very effective herbal supplement. It energizes it a good libido booster, it even helps me concentrate sometimes, the only problem is is that it can cause me to be pretty anxious and jittery, which is why I like taking it with booze or ativan