Each day unfolds like a chapter in our never-ending saga, filled with highs, lows, and all the in-betweens. From challenging work situations to emotional turbulence, or the occasional curveball life loves to toss our way, stress seems to have a VIP pass into our daily narrative. Extended periods of such mental and physical stress can ripple into our overall well-being, stirring up a tempest in our once tranquil existence and can negatively impact the brain and body, contributing to stress-related concerns.*

But what if there was an ancient natural remedy, a time-tested ally in your arsenal, that could help weather the storms of life? We're thrilled to spotlight our superhero from nature's apothecary: Rhodiola.

A CLOSE-UP OF RHODIOLA
The Rhodiola rosea plant is a force of resilience. It thrives amidst the rugged landscapes of frigid regions and daunting altitudes, much like how you and countless other radiant women rise above adversity. This echoes what our Breakthrough product seeks to empower within you: a capability to transcend life's challenges and elevate your potential.

RHODIOLA: A TRUE ADAPTOGEN
The strongest evidence for Rhodiola is its capacity and efficiency as an adaptogen. Rhodiola is one of the 5 plants that’s considered a true adaptogen, and for that, it needs to have:

• Low to negligible toxicity*
• Multiple ways it performs in the body: A non-specific mode of action yielding a broad-spectrum resistance* 
• Body-balancing: A normalizing effect on various organs and systems* 
• The (potential) effect matches what you need rhodiola for: An intensity of effect that is commensurate with that of the need*
• It also provides multiple benefits as an adaptogen:
• Can help the body adapt to stress* 
• Possibly counteracts negative effects of physical and mental stress* 
• Supports an increase in the body’s resistance to stressful stimuli* 
• Non-stimulating* 
• Low or no toxicity

THE HISTORY OF RHODIOLA
For centuries, Rhodiola has been used in medicine to increase physical endurance, work productivity, longevity, resistance to high altitude sickness, and help to reduce fatigue and moodiness and promotes sexual health.* Let's look at just a small timeline of Rhodiola’s history (because do we have time to go through 2,000 years of use? No :)

• The Ancient Greeks used the true adaptogen for strength and endurance. 
• In 77 AD the first medicinal use of Rhodiola was recorded in the De materia medica, a manuscript by a physician in the Roman army, Pedanius Dioscorides, that outlined medicinal plants and the medicines that can be made from those plants.* 
• Time traveling (not literally) to the Middle Ages, explorations were funded by Chinese emperors to locate the “Golden Root.”
• In 1775, Rhodiola was included in the first edition of the Swedish pharmacopoeia. Check it out here.*[1]

traditionally and continuously used for:

• Endurance
• Work productivity
• High altitude sickness
• Fatigue
• Depression 

now recognized as an adaptogen:

• Low to negligible toxicity.
• Has a non-specific mechanism of action.
• Increases resistance to stressors.
• Has a normalizing effect. 

20th century: Hundreds of research studies were performed on Rhodiola with a vast array of hypotheses, but those were largely ignored because those studies were performed in Russia and published in Russian journals, behind the “iron curtain.”

Modern pharmacological research has been performed on:

• Stress-activated biomarkers
• Neurotransmitters
• Mood effects 
• Energy and ATP synthesis in mitochondria
• Human clinical trials

Specifically looking at scientific studies performed on hypotheses regarding the impact of Rhodiola on the central nervous system, here’s a not-comprehensive-but-still-impressive-overview as of 2011 (we know, a little outdated, but that tells us how much this adaptogen has been reviewed): 

 
SO, BASICALLY…
In our exploration of the natural ally Rhodiola, we've traced its storied history and diverse applications, truly underscoring its adaptogenic prowess. From its resilience in harsh climates to its enduring use throughout the ages, Rhodiola offers us an emblem of strength and adaptability. It has been traditionally used for increasing endurance, enhancing work productivity, managing high altitude sickness, reducing fatigue, and easing mood fluctuations. As a true adaptogen, it boasts low toxicity, non-specific action, an ability to increase resistance to stressors, and a normalizing effect on our bodies.

In modern times, Rhodiola's potential has been further illuminated through numerous studies, especially in relation to the central nervous system. Investigations have focused on its impacts on stress-activated biomarkers, neurotransmitters, mood effects, and energy synthesis in mitochondria, among others. Despite many of these studies historically being overlooked due to geopolitical barriers, there's no denying that Rhodiola, an ancient solution, is gaining renewed recognition in our contemporary world for its potential in assisting us to navigate life's ebb and flow.

Citation
[1] Jafari, Mahtab. “Impact of Rhodiola Rosea on Skin.” eScholarship, University of California, escholarship.org/. Accessed 29 Sept. 2023.