Healthy and Herbal
Menu
RemediesIngredientsDIYSafetyLearnHow we rate evidence
Independent·Non-commercial·No products soldEducational only — not medical advice

Awaiting clinical review. This entry is sourced but has not yet been signed off by a pharmacist or clinician.

Rhodiola rosea (root and rhizome)

Rhodiola

Rhodiola may ease stress-related fatigue in some people, but the trials are small, mostly short and often at risk of bias, and two systematic reviews disagree on how much weight to give them. It is generally well tolerated for up to 12 weeks, with headache, dizziness, dry mouth and insomnia reported. The main caution is that safety in pregnancy and breastfeeding is unknown; if you take an antidepressant, ask a pharmacist or doctor first.

Updated
29 September 2026
Rhodiola plant with yellow flowers on rocks
At a glance
Last reviewed 29 September 2026
Evidence
Limited
Best for
Stress-related fatigue
Typical form & use
Ethanol extract, 144–400 mg daily
Onset
4+ weeks
Safety
Not for pregnancy; check with antidepressant use. 3 known interactions, most serious with blood pressure medication.
Check with your medications →

What it's used for

Evidence is rated per use. The same ingredient can be strong for one thing and traditional for another.

UseEvidenceWhat the research shows
Stress-related fatigue and burnoutLimitedA 2012 systematic review of 11 trials found three of five trials on mental fatigue reported a benefit, but every included study had a high or unclear risk of bias and it called the research contradictory. A 2011 systematic review was more positive, judging most trials of moderate or good quality and Rhodiola possibly beneficial for mental performance, with a lack of independent replication. The main trial in people diagnosed with stress-related fatigue (60 people, 28 days, 576 mg daily extract) found a small edge over placebo on the burnout scale (4.01 vs 4.26 at the end, p = 0.047). Placebo also improved on several measures.1,2,3
Stress and mild anxiety symptomsLimitedThe EU regulator recognises Rhodiola extract as a traditional remedy for relief of symptoms of stress, such as fatigue and exhaustion, based on long-standing use alone. Its assessment report describes an uncontrolled study of 80 mildly anxious people (400 mg daily) that reported less anxiety and stress, and a 10-person uncontrolled pilot in generalised anxiety disorder. Neither had a placebo group, so the effect cannot be separated from expectation.6,7
Mild to moderate depressionLimitedA 2007 six-week trial (89 people, 340 or 680 mg daily) reported better depression scores than placebo, but the EU regulator's assessment noted that the placebo group barely changed, which is unusual, and calls the significance questionable. A 2015 trial of 57 people over 12 weeks found no significant difference between Rhodiola, sertraline and placebo; HAM-D fell 5.1 points on Rhodiola, 8.2 on sertraline and 4.6 on placebo. It is not a substitute for treatment of depression.4,5,7

How much

Ranges below are what studies used and what supplements commonly contain. They are not a recommendation for you. Start at the low end.

EU monograph dose
144–200 mg, 1–2 times daily6
For a dry extract (drug-to-extract ratio 1.5–5:1) made with 67–70% ethanol, in solid oral form. That gives 144–400 mg a day.
Doses in trials
340–680 mg daily3,4,5,7
Trials in fatigue and depression used a standardised extract (SHR-5) at 576 mg daily for four weeks and 340 or 680 mg daily for six weeks. The 2015 depression trial allowed doses to rise to four times the starting 340 mg.
Duration
Up to 12 weeks6,8
NCCIH describes Rhodiola as possibly safe for up to 12 weeks. The EU monograph says to see a doctor or qualified practitioner if symptoms last longer than 2 weeks of use.
Not for children
Under 18 not recommended6
The EU monograph does not recommend use under 18 because there are too few data.
Timing · The EU monograph allows one or two doses a day and gives no time of day. NCCIH lists insomnia as a possible side effect, so taking it earlier in the day is a sensible precaution rather than a tested rule.With food? · No source we read gave food guidance. Nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhoea are listed as possible side effects in the EU monograph, so if it upsets your stomach, that is a reason to stop rather than to work around it.How long to trial · The main fatigue trial ran 28 days, and the EU monograph advises seeing a doctor if symptoms persist beyond 2 weeks or worsen. Judge it over about four weeks and stop if you notice no change or feel worse.

How people take it

Capsule or tablet (dry extract)144–200 mg, 1–2 times daily (EU monograph)The form the EU monograph covers: ethanol extract in a solid dosage form. Most trials used standardised extracts, so look for the extract ratio and solvent on the label.
Standardised extract (SHR-5)340–680 mg daily in trialsThe branded extract used in the fatigue and depression trials. Results from one extract may not carry over to other products.
Tincture or teaNo established doseThe EU monograph covers only dry ethanol extracts in solid forms, and none of the trials we read used tinctures or tea, so there is no evidence-based dose.

Safety

Who should avoid
  • Pregnancy and breastfeeding — safety not established, EU regulator advises against
  • Children and adolescents under 18 — too few data
  • Taking antidepressants — a few reports of agitation or serotonin syndrome; ask first
  • Taking losartan — Rhodiola reduced its breakdown in one study; ask first
  • Depression that is serious or worsening — NCCIH says to see a health professional
  • Known allergy to Rhodiola
Known interactions
MonitorBlood pressure medication — NCCIH says interactions with losartan have been reported; in 13 volunteers two weeks of Rhodiola reduced conversion of losartan to its active form by 21%, and the EU assessor considers the clinical relevance unclear.
MonitorSedatives & sleep medication — The EU assessment lists isolated reports of excess sedation when Rhodiola was taken with diazepam or antipsychotics, though it says reports involving several drugs cannot be attributed to Rhodiola.
MonitorAntidepressants (SSRIs) — The EU assessment lists individual reports of agitation, restlessness and possible serotonin syndrome when Rhodiola was taken with paroxetine or sertraline, but the regulator says no clinically relevant interactions have been observed.

Compare with

Head-to-head pages for the pairs people search most.

Rhodiola vs Ashwagandha

Questions people ask

Does rhodiola work for burnout and stress?

Possibly a little, but the evidence is thin. Two systematic reviews of small trials disagree on how reliable they are, and one 60-person trial in stress-related fatigue found a small advantage over placebo. NCCIH says there is not enough reliable evidence to say whether it is useful for any health purpose.

Can rhodiola treat depression?

It is not a proven treatment. A 2007 trial reported benefit in mild to moderate depression, but a 2015 trial found no significant difference from placebo, and sertraline reduced scores more than Rhodiola did. If you have low mood that persists, see a doctor rather than relying on a supplement.

Is rhodiola safe to take every day?

NCCIH describes it as possibly safe for up to 12 weeks, and long-term safety is not known. Reported side effects include headache, dizziness, insomnia, dry mouth or extra saliva, nausea and skin rash.

Should I take rhodiola with an antidepressant?

Ask your doctor or pharmacist first. The EU regulator found no clinically relevant interactions but lists a few case reports of agitation and possible serotonin syndrome when it was combined with SSRIs. Do not stop or change a prescribed medicine because of a supplement.

Sources

  1. Systematic review Ishaque S, Shamseer L, Bukutu C, Vohra S. Rhodiola rosea for physical and mental fatigue: a systematic review. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2012.
  2. Systematic review Hung SK, Perry R, Ernst E. The effectiveness and efficacy of Rhodiola rosea L.: a systematic review of randomized clinical trials. Phytomedicine. 2011.
  3. Randomised trial Olsson EM, von Schéele B, Panossian AG. A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study of the standardised extract SHR-5 of the roots of Rhodiola rosea in the treatment of subjects with stress-related fatigue. Planta Med. 2009.
  4. Randomised trial Darbinyan V, Aslanyan G, Amroyan E, et al. Clinical trial of Rhodiola rosea L. extract SHR-5 in the treatment of mild to moderate depression. Nord J Psychiatry. 2007.
  5. Randomised trial Mao JJ, Xie SX, Zee J, et al. Rhodiola rosea versus sertraline for major depressive disorder: A randomized placebo-controlled trial. Phytomedicine. 2015.
  6. Regulator monograph European Medicines Agency HMPC. European Union herbal monograph on Rhodiola rosea L., rhizoma et radix, Final – Revision 1 (EMA/HMPC/24177/2023). 2024.
  7. Regulator assessment European Medicines Agency HMPC. Assessment report on Rhodiola rosea L., rhizoma et radix (EMA/HMPC/24186/2023). 2024.
  8. Regulator/health agency NCCIH. Rhodiola: Usefulness and Safety. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.

Last reviewed 29 September 2026 · Next review March 2027 · How we rate evidence