Rhodiola - a Smart Botanical 红景天

One of the stellar Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) ingredients is a high-altitude growing plant - Rhodiola Rosea, or Golden Root. Native to Siberia and Northwestern China, this perennial flowering succulent can now be found in Central Asia, Europe, North America, and the Arctic. We call it "smart botanical" due to its unique photosynthesis method and healing properties affecting all vital TCM components - body, mind, and spirit.

Rhodiola Photosynthesis Method

In order for photosynthesis to occur, most plants take in carbon dioxide (CO2) during the day to create fuel. During this process and exchange, they also lose water. Rhodiola, on the other hand, holds its breath during the day to absorb and stores CO2 at night. When the sun comes up the next day, it then uses the stored compound to manufacture nutrients, with little or no loss of water! This smart trick enables the Rhodiola plant to remain plump and hydrated in dry climates and high altitudes.

Rhodiola Benefits for Physical & Mental Health

For hundreds of years, Rhodiola Rosea or "Hong Jing Tian" - 红景天 has been highly valued in Traditional Chinese Medicine for its wide range of medicinal properties. Rhodiola Rosea root belongs to 'herbs that invigorate the blood' and improves blood circulation. This plant has a sweet taste that in TCM is responsible for removing toxins from the body. Besides, this amazing botanic perfectly replenishes Qi energy, the life force that allows us to reconnect with ourselves and rejuvenate our spirit. But these are not all Rhodiola health benefits that we appreciate.

Stress Level Reducing  

Rhodiola extract is a super adaptogen that increases the body's resistance to stress and thus helps us to better cope with situations that used to unsettle us. This property of rhodiola has a beneficial effect not only on our mental but also on physical health. In particular, lowering stress hormones reduces the risk of heart disease.

Depression and Anxiety Fighting

A study in The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine showed a reduction in symptoms of anxiety disorder in people taking Rhodiola Rosea extract for two months. Another study compared the effectiveness of this plant with the action of sertraline in the fight against depression. And although the latter has a slight advantage in relieving symptoms, rhodiola is better tolerated and causes fewer side effects.

Fatigue Removal

All the same adaptogenic properties of rhodiola, as research proves, eliminate chronic fatigue while improving mood, quality of life, and concentration. Just after the first week of the research, the participants found significant positive changes in their mental and emotional states, and this progress continued until the end of the experiment.

Physical Endurance Increasing

Rhodiola Rosea is a popular herb among athletes. Fighting fatigue, the plant allows them to achieve better results. A clinical study among young and healthy people showed that the use of rhodiola increases endurance during physical exertion and enhances immune function during long training sessions such as marathon running.

Cognitive Functions Improving

The root of rhodiola contains unique energy-promoting constituents, rosavins and rhodiolosides. They increase the number of red blood cells, which in turn carry oxygen to the brain and thereby improve mental performance.

Rhodiola: Your Skin Care Herb

Although this versatile plant has long been used typically in Traditional Chinese Medicine to treat wounds and burns, this is far from all that Rhodiola can do for our skin. It is valuable for everyday care, as its beneficial elements prevent and eliminate those skin imperfections that are familiar and close to many of us.

Anti-aging Effect

Rhodiola Rosea effectiveness in the fight against premature aging is undoubted due to the high concentration of antioxidant polyphenols and proanthocyanidins. They promote cell renewal, support blood circulation, and stimulate the production of collagen and elastin. Cosmetics based on rhodiola extract help to cope with wrinkles, restore skin elasticity, and make the complexion youthful and vibrant.

Skin Anti-Stress

Yes, our skin, like us, can experience stress too. These stresses are aggressive environmental factors such as ultraviolet rays, harsh climates, or extreme temperature changes. As one of the best adaptogens among herbs, Rhodiola Rosea helps the skin to adapt to the environment, restore the disturbed microbiome and avoid repeated negative effects of external factors.

Sensitive Skin Protector

Sensitive skin can be a genetic predisposition or an acquired condition due to the same external factors or overuse of intensive skin care products. This type of skin is more prone to redness, cracking, itching, and inflammation. Rhodiola Rosea improves the barrier function of the skin. As a result, it becomes more resistant to external influences and does not react to them with imperfections.

The value of Rhodiola Rosea has been proven both by ancient Chinese medicine practitioners and modern scientific research. This means that we can safely find a place for this plant in our daily beauty and health care rituals. That is why we in YINA encourage you to take the best of what nature offers us and stay in harmony with it.