Rhodiola rosea and Depression: Update I

Herbalgram report on Rhodiola rosea: read and download from Scribd.com

I've been taking Rhodiola rosea extract for the past few days and I have definitely noticed a positive effect in terms of mood and energy. I actually noticed an effect after the first dose, but couldn't be sure if it was solely due to the rhodiola. I took one day off, then decided to that I should take it every day in order to form a fair opinion of its effects. The second time I took it I again noticed greater energy and a brightening effect in my visual field. I made sure to take it apart from my usual morning cocktail of vitamins and herbs. There was no mistaking the effects this time.

I purchased bulk Rhodiola rosea extract powder and made my own capsules. Pictured above is 500mg of extract in a "OO" sized capsule.

I had ordered Rhodiola rosea extract powder from Beyond a Century a few months ago, but was hesitant to try it because I knew it could affect neurotransmitters. My experiences with niacin and folic acid have taught me that supplements and herbs that affect neurotransmitter production and reuptake could potentially interact with my meds in a negative way. In the case of niacin and folic acid, I tend to feel tired and sluggish. I attribute this to an overproduction or lessening of the reuptake of serotonin. I do not get this effect with rhodiola. In fact, I feel more alert and my mind moves faster.

The Rhodiola rosea I purchased is standardized to 3% Rosavins. I do not know the concentration of Salidrosides. I have heard that the ideal ratio of Rosavins to Salidrosides is 3:1. The extract powder is very resinous and is quite bitter. It also seems to be somewhat hydrophobic and coats your tongue and the inside of your mouth. I have a pretty good tolerance for the taste of bitter herbs, but rhodiola is a bit too much for my liking. I decided it'd be easier to make my own capsules using OO-sized gelatin capsules and my Cap-M-Quik capsule machine that I purchased from the guys at Purebulk.com. If you do decide to take the powder raw, have a sweet drink or candy ready as a chaser.

My curiosity piqued, I went to the library and read through a copy of The Rhodiola Revolution by Richard P. Brown M.D., Patricia L. Gerbarg M.D. and Barbara Graham. Both Brown and Gerbarg are practicing psychiatrists and take rhodiola for certain health conditions and as an energy booster. They also recommend rhodiola to some of their psychiatric patients and report little to no adverse reactions with any medications including antidepressants and mood stabilizers (see Important below). The book also contains a good summary of the physiology of stress and how rhodiola might help to build a tolerance to its deleterious effects.

As doctors with a healthy dose of scientific skepticism, Brown and Gerbarg went straight to the source, literally, by contacting Dr. Zakir Ramazanov, a Russian plant biochemist and molecular biologist that participated in formerly classified research on adaptogens. He discovered the power of Rhodiola rosea after taking it while serving in the military and later used the herb to cure his Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Dr. Ramazanov shared his extensive findings with the authors and even took them to one of remote mountainous regions in Siberia where Rhodiola rosea grows naturally. It is believed that the difficult conditions in which the plant grows may be the stimulus for the plant to produce its adaptogenic substances.

I plan to continue taking Rhodiola rosea for the time being as part of my daily blend of herbs and supplements. I have heard that rhodiola can lose its effect over time and is best cycled. If I find this to be the case, I will report back with my experience. If anything, my positive results from taking rhodiola remind me to keep an open mind and to be continually humbled by the healing nature of herbs. I urge you to cultivate your belief in the possibility of healing from depression and anxiety and to remain steadfast for as long as it takes to find relief. I know what it's like to suffer deeply and I also know that there is always hope.

For more information on Rhodiola rosea, the author's of the book The Rhodiola Revolution along with Dr. Zakir Ramazanov have published a nice report in the publication Herbalgram. Click here to read and download from Scribd.com.


Important: The authors are clear to highlight a slight risk when taking rhodiola for activating mania in bipolar individuals who are not currently on mood stabilizers or in a stable condition. If you are prone to manic or hypomanic states, take a small dose of rhodiola to see if it affects you in a negative way. Do not mix rhodiola with other stimulants and take your dose in the morning if you are prone to insomnia.



*As you should know, the purpose of this blog is not to make recommendations for treatment. I am not a doctor nor do I pretend to be. You are responsible for your own health and you should always consult with your doctor before trying any medications, supplements or herbs. I tell my doctor about any supplements that I take and I have her approval as long as they are helping and not hurting my recovery.*

If The Meds Are Working, Don't Rock The Boat

A recent experiment with herbs (not Rhodiola) has led back to a lesson that I've had to learn several times over: if the meds are working and you are feeling good, don't change them.

It should simple enough, right? But for several reasons that I'll touch upon, once we start to get out of the deep pit of depression and anxiety we think we 'd like to reduce our medications or get off them completely.

Here are the reasons why I've gotten off meds that were working or thought about trying to reduce their dosage:

• I don't like the idea of needing to be on medication in order to be "normal".
• Medications are expensive, and it's always better to save money. Right?
• Taking medications is a hassle. Every morning and every evening I have to take a large amount of pills and capsules. Most of them are vitamins, minerals and herb extracts. Three of them are psyche meds.

I'd say those are probably the main reasons why I've gotten off meds or thought about getting off of them. Here's why I think these reasons are not in my best interest:

I don't like the idea of needing to be on medication in order to be "normal".

This is simply pride and vanity. I know that I need to take certain medications right now in order to minimize or eliminate the symptoms of depression, anxiety, insomnia, obsessive worrying, fatigue, and an overall negative world view. But there is a still a part of me that thinks I should be perfect. I shouldn't have to take medications in order to function like most other people can without taking drugs, right? Well...no. This is not congruent with reality. The reality is that, for reasons that are still unclear to science and to mankind in general, some people develop mood disorders or mental illness and cannot function without pharmacological intervention.

The good news is that there are a lot of different medications out there and new medications are being developed as we speak. Without going into the debate about whether or not meds work or whether Big Pharma is only interested in profits, the fact is that there is probably a medication or combination of medications out there that can help a person suffering from mental illness to function better and to regain a sense of purpose for being alive.

I am well aware that there is a small percentage of people that are resistant to most treatments and require some pretty creative combinations of medications in order to control their symptoms. My official diagnosis is probably considered to be treatment-resistant depression because I tried several different medications before I found a combination that turned things around. It took a deep faith that I would find a successful treatment in order for me to hang on for so long after initiating treatment. Nothing is more disheartening than getting your hopes up about a new medication only to have your hopes dashed because you are not improving or your symptoms seem to be getting worse.

Ask someone who has been through this hell if they'd be content living the rest of their lives taking medication if it meant they could get back to the business of living. I think you'd get a pretty unanimous, "hell yes!". We need to remember that humble attitude once we start to feel better.

Medications are expensive, and it's always better to save money. Right?

It's hard to argue against the money argument. But here's why it is another false argument in my opinion: you won't be able to make much money if you are crippled by depression and anxiety. You won't have the clarity of mind to spend your money wisely and you won't have the capacity to enjoy your money in the first place. 

The cost of medication has threatened my very survival and nearly broke up my relationship with B. She has been a real saint as my savings slowly disappeared towards the cost of doctor's visits and medications bought at the pharmacy. It was only when my medication regime was stable that I was able to start ordering them (legally) from Canada with my doctor's blessing (well, I would have ordered them from Canada anyway).

Now that I am able to order generic versions of all of my medications, I am paying less than a quarter of the full retail price I was paying at the hospital pharmacy. The total cost comes to about $70 a month. That's a little over $2 a day. That's less than the price of a creamy espresso drink. I think most people could afford to pay that. There are other ways to save money on medication, such as prescription assistance programs and of course insurance, but we'll talk about that another time. The point is that the cost of medication can be reasonable for most of us, and the fear of money is not a reason to avoid a treatment that could breathe new life into the battered and bruised heart of someone suffering from depression.

Taking medications is a hassle; every morning and every evening I have to take a large amount of pills and capsules...

In the end, I only have to take three psychiatric medications a day. However, I choose to take several supplements and herbal extracts because I know they also help in the fight for sanity. I can go a few days without the vitamins and the herbs, but I end up feeling it in the form of lower energy and a flat mood. Again, I am thankful that I have found a working solution to my problems and for the most part I have no trouble obtaining and taking all the pills.

Going back to my response to reason #1, it's only some form of fear that would make this into a real problem. Fear of what others think. Fear of not being perfect. Fear of feeling like I am dependent on something outside myself in order to be happy. But that's bullshit. My medication doesn't make me happy nor do I think it will. They only put me in a position where my daily efforts and attitude may lead to happiness, just like it is for everyone else.

And that's all we really want, isn't it? Instead of spending every waking moment fighting for our sanity and dignity amid a torrent of negative thoughts and the slow suffocation of fatigue and anxiety, we want our effort to go towards building our lives and our relationships with those we love. So Amen! meds, I say. Amen! 

Rhodiola Rosea and Depression

September 18, 2010

I'm taking a number of herbs for depression, energy and anxiety. But I won't go into those right now. I going to try taking Rhodiola rosea extract for a few days to see if it affects my mood and energy.

[Rhodiola appears to have noticeable effect! See Update I on Rhodiola Rosea and Depression]

I am going through a difficult time right now in my recovery. I am in a new living space, I'm able to cook, and overall the environment is much better than it was before. Nonetheless, my relationship with B is not doing so well. I know I have to find positive strategies to deal with this frustration. Until now, my go-to stress relief has been smoking. This is pretty much the worst thing I could be doing since it steals my energy and brings my mood down. I also tend to procrastinate horribly when smoking. I'd rather smoke than take positive action.

I won't say I've been perfect in terms of quitting smoking*, but I have made some changes:

• I'm making nutritious food and making sure to eat enough
• I'm going to the library in the afternoon and reading/taking notes
• I've polished a basic version of my resume and I am ready to send it out to some jobs that I think I am more than qualified for
• I'm trying to remember the importance of meditation and calming in the overall picture of regulating my mind and energy
• I'm trying to invest in my own future outside of the relationship; what I mean is that I am trying to not let my relationship problems make me feel like my future is hopeless. It is not.

I just took about ~500ml of Beyond a Century's Rhodiola extract. It tasted a little bitter and sweet and coated my tongue with an astringent powder. It is not unpalatable like, say, eurycoma longifolia.

We'll see how it goes.

Addendum: I felt frustrated last night when B came home. She had an extremely long day, and her habit is to pretty much ignore me and act pretty ungracious. Earlier in the day, I'd made a large quantity of Indian food (dahl, potatoes) so we'd have some good food to eat. When she came home, I asked B is she was hungry. She said she didn't want to eat. Without any further conversation she changed clothes and went straight to bed. After half an hour, I wrapped up what I was doing and got ready for bed. After about ten minutes she got up and said she was hungry. I was going to warm up the food, but she didn't show any signs of getting up, like she wanted me to bring the food to her in bed. I wasn't in the mood to do that, and plus I don't think we want to eat food in the bedroom and have it smell like oil and curry. She finally got up and I heard her heating up some food. I thought I'd go out and hang out with her while she ate. I heard the TV come on and knew that she didn't want to interact with me at all. I peeked out and saw a bowl of lentils sitting untouched on the dining room table. She was eating a bowl of rice and some preserved mushrooms we received from her relatives. 


This morning was more of the same. Today (Saturday) was unusual in that B needed to go to work for the morning. Before we got up, I asked B if she wanted to eat breakfast. She said yes, but rolled over in bed. I got up and made scrambled eggs, toast and coffee. When it was ready, I told her it was time to eat. I hate it when I make food for her and she waits a long time to sit down to eat - when the food is already cold. After a few minutes she came over to me and said in her fake-cheerful voice, "Thank you, Billy!". I was feeling a bit pissed off because she hadn't said anything else to me otherwise. No 'good morning', nothing about her previous day. Nothing. I also asked her, "Did you even try the beans last night or did you just throw them away?" She said she tried them and put them back in with the rest of the leftovers. I wasn't really feeling too cheerful by this point and she finally noticed after eating a few bites of egg and toast. She asked me why I was upset, but I didn't say anything. "Try the cinnamon-sugar--it's good," was all I could say. She got up, took out a Ziploc bag and put the rest of her breakfast inside to take to work. Now she was going to punish me for being upset, and rightly so in my opinion, by not talking to me. As she locked the gate to leave for work I asked her what time she'd be coming back. That's something I'd like to know, especially since she expected me to make her lunch or dinner. "After lunch," she said with some contempt and just left.


I finished off that smoke and had one more. I walked back to the apartment wondering what I was going to do. I don't want to go back to sitting around the apartment not doing anything. I will still go to the library this afternoon. I do feel very depressed, however, not only because I broke my self-imposed smoking ban, but because I felt weak, ineffectual, hopeless, and above all else, sad. Sad about my condition, sad about my relationship, and sad that there seems to be very little joy these days no matter what I do or how hard I try to maintain a positive attitude.