INDIVIDUAL HERBS
| Pharmaceutical Latin: | Radix Rhodiolae
Crenulate Radix Thodiolae Flos Thodiolae Herba Thodiolae |
| Common English: | All-Grass of Rhodiola Golden root Rose-root Aaron's rod Arctic root King's crown Lignum rhodium Orpin rose |
| Taste | Temperature | Entering Meridians | Dosage |
Sweet |
Cold |
Heart Kidney Liver Spleen Lung |
3–12g Powdered for tropical use |
| Actions | Indications/Syndromes |
Fortifies the Spleen and tonifies Qi |
Spleen Qi Deficiency |
Clears Lung Heat, nourishes Lung Yin and relieves cough |
Lung Heat cough: cough due to pneumonia, hematemesis, hemoptysis, Lung Yin Deficiency, tuberculosis,
bronchitis |
Invigorates the Blood and transforms Stasis |
Blood Stasis from traumatic injury topically Topically for burns and scalds |
Promotes contraction |
Abnormal vaginal discharge |
CONTRAINDICATIONS |
INCOMPATIBILITIES |
HERB/DRUG INTERACTIONS |
Fr. Schisandrae |
Rx. Salviae Miltiorrhizae |
Wild Rx. Ginseng |
For increased mental power, better memory and improved creativity |
Benefits the cardiovascular system |
Benefits the psyche and nourishes Shen |
Rx. Ginseng |
||
Tonifies Qi |
Vaginal discharge |
Yin Deficiency |
- One of the most popular new medicinals in Chinese medicine today is rhodiola Hong Jing Tian, which came from the arsenal of Tibetan medicine. It is most famous for its use in patients suffering from altitude sickness.
- This herb was regarded as a life-prolonging, wisdom enhancing "superior herb." However, the rarity of Tibetan Rhodiola has prevented it from becoming a well-known commodity outside of Asia until now. This incredible herb was used by the Tibetan monks to enhance their inner spiritual power, the power of concentration and physical endurance.
- Evidence has shown that Rhodiola is in many ways more powerful than Ginseng.
- Rhodiola has been shown to improve endurance and mental capacity, including memory enhancement.
- Consumption of a small amount of Rhodiola extract significantly improves a person’s capacity to absorb and utilize oxygen.
- It has been proven that Rhodiola reduces the body’s stress reactions, and thus relieves mental stress as well.
- It alms the Shen and brightens the eyes.
- Rhodiola has been found to be extremely beneficial to the cardiovascular system, and has been found to prevent heart disease.
- Rhodiola also is being used as a powerful and safe antidepressant. It is believed to be more powerful than St. Johns Wort.
- Anti-oxidant effect: it can protect the liver from damages caused by a lipid type of peroxide.
- Lower blood sugar: it inhibits the increase of glycogen caused by glucose and epinephrine.
- Improves memory that has been damaged by drug or alcohol.
- Adjusts the blood flow of the CNS.
- Increases the flow volume of oxygen-carrying blood to the heart muscle; thus protects the muscle from damage caused by lack of oxygen.
- Anti-hypoxia: It may prevent hypoxia-induced biological changes by either increasing intracellular oxygen diffusion and efficiency of oxygen utilization or reducing hypoxia-induced oxidative damage with its anti-oxidative ability; thus prevents high altitude sickness.
- Helps prevent strokes caused by hypertension.
- Improves exercise endurance3It has been used to improve or maintain endurance performance of athletes during training or competition by increasing biological factors associated with oxygen uptake. In-vivo experiments have shown that oral treatment with R. rosea extracts in rats can significantly prolong the duration of long-distance swimming and activate the synthesis or re-synthesis of ATP in mitochondria, which acts as the main energy source for most cellular functions and is essential for locomotion and respiration.
- Anti-inflammatory
- Anti-depression - Rhodiola rosea L. roots have potent anti-depressant activity by inhibiting MAO A and may also find application in the control of senile dementia by their inhibition of MAO B.
- Alleviates anxiety
- Prevents damaging effect of microwave radiation.
- Hepatoprotective effect
- The root, rhizome or the whole herb is used for medicinal proposes.
- Rhodiola can replenish Qi, clear the Lung system, nourish the Heart system, enhance mental functioning, stop bleeding, and dissipate swelling and bruises. Clinically, it is indicated for conditions like general weakness after major illness, chest pain or angina, paralysis caused by stroke, fatigue, shortness of breath, traumatic injuries, and neurosis in addition to high altitude sickness.