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rhodiola was found to bind to estrogen receptors, it did not activate them, nor did it
increase serum estradiol levels in rat studies.^16
Evidence for the safety and appropriateness of rhodiola use during pregnancy and
lactation is not currently available, and rhodiola is therefore not recommended for
pregnant women or during breastfeeding. Likewise, safety and dosages for children
have not been demonstrated. Brown and Gerbarg note that rhodiola has been used in
small doses for children as young as 10 years of age without adverse effects but
emphasize that dosages for children (8-12 years old) must be small and carefully titrated
to avoid overstimulation. They recommend starting with a dose of about 6 mg per day.^17
- DOSAGE: It is important to find a Rhodiola rosea root extract that contains at least 1%
salidriside and 3% rosavins. The standardized Swedish Herbal Institute formula, SHR-5,
contains 4% rosavins. Brown et al. state that they have recommended doses of 50 - 600 mg
per day of rhodiola to help assuage the symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome and
fibromyalgia syndrome, 200-400 mg per day for adjunctive use for depression, up to 750
mg per day if rhodiola is used alone for depression, and up to 900 mg in some cases.
Brown and Gerbarg add that maximum effectiveness in adults generally occurs on dosages
of between 150 and 600 mg per day. The table in the Brown et al. text shows a larger range
of dosages for depression ranging from 150 to 900 mg per day, making titration with the
guidance of a physician essential, especially if other antidepressants have been or will be
used concurrently to treat the depression, as will often be the case. Brown and Gerbarg
state that here is no rationale for dosages in excess of 900 mg per day.
- RESEARCH: Long-term outcomes -- benefits and liabilities from continuing treatment with
rhodiola and comparative assessment with other drugs -- require further investigation, as
do the systematic tracking, reporting and quantification of adverse effects. Although
consumer use of rhodiola has become common, American academic studies and literature
have not kept pace.
