Rhdiola -Herb for Stress

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THE GOLDEN ROOT

Health Sciences Institute e-Alert

February 3, 2003

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Dear Reader,

I'm not exactly accustomed to picking up useful information

about herbs from the mainstream press. So I was surprised to

open Newsweek magazine last week to find a botanical being

written up with - yes, it's true - a POSITIVE slant!

Within the Newsweek article there's a story of a Russian

soldier from the Cold War era who came to play a small part

in bringing rhodiola rosea to the West. Rhodiola is an arctic

root used for centuries in Siberia to relieve depression and

stress-related anxiety, while boosting physical energy.

Are there any drawbacks? Is it expensive, unsafe, not yet

tested?

None of the above. This " golden root " may be the real thing:

pure gold.

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West meets East

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" America needs rhodiola. "   So says Zakir Ramazanov, the

Russian soldier who went on to become a plant physiologist

and a rhodiola researcher. Observing the frenetic pace of

American life from his current home near New York City, Mr.

Ramazanov believes that rhodiola can benefit those of us in

the trenches of modern daily living in the same way it helped

him and his fellow soldiers when they drank rhodiola rosea

tea while fighting in Afghanistan more than 20 years ago.

Although relatively new to the West, rhodiola has been

studied in the Soviet Union since the 1960's. In initial

research on animals, rhodiola reduced levels of the hormone

cortisol (known to trigger stress), while also helping cells

synthesize a molecule called triphosphate, which aids in the

production of energy. Further studies have shown the extract

of the root increases levels of serotonin and beta-endorphin

(chemicals in the brain that regulate feelings of happiness

and well-being) by up to 30 percent, with well over half the

patients in one study reporting their depression completely

relieved.

Recent trials conducted in the West are beginning to

substantiate the early studies. Among those who have been won

over by rhodiola, Dr. Brown, a psychiatrist,

professor and research physician at Columbia University,

reports dramatic benefits (without side effects) for 300 of

his patients successfully treated with rhodiola extract.

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Putting rhodiola to work

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Last month I sent you some information about a new herbal

formulation that combines rhodiola rosea with another

botanical called rhododendron caucasicum, which has also been

used in Russia for many years to treat depression and

anxiety. This formula, called Weight Wellness, is designed to

address the primary culprit that sabotages most diets:

changes in brain chemistry.

It's safe to say that when the average person starts off on a

promising new diet, he's full of the necessary resolve to NOT

let this one fail. But inevitably, when his body stops

receiving the fuel it's accustomed to, something happens in

his brain. Deprived of its usual nutrients, levels of

serotonin and beta-endorphin quickly begin to drop. He gets

grumpy. Even worse, he feels tired, fatigued, and depressed.

This is his brain saying, " Feed me. "

It's no wonder he craves food at this point, because the

quick fix that will immediately lift serotonin and endorphin

levels back to normal is an increase in caloric intake. This

is where most diets go off the rails, of course. But when a

dieter has a potent and proven serotonin booster like

rhodiola rosea on his side, he has a fighting chance against

the natural tendency of the brain to weaken resolve and

demand calories.

In one major clinical study conducted at the Georgia State

Hospital (in the former Soviet Union), patients given

rhodiola rosea extract lost an average of 20 pounds in 90

days, compared to patients in the control group who lost an

average of only 8 pounds over the same period. And in another

study, when rhodiola was taken in combination with the

rhododendron extract, subjects showed an average weight loss

of 5-6 percent for the first six weeks, and after eight weeks

they had lost as much as 14 percent of their body weight.

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Further support 

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Among the various sources I found with information about

rhodiola rosea in the treatment of listlessness and

depression, the typical recommended daily dosage is 100-300

mg. Weight Wellness delivers 200 mg of rhodiola rosea root

extract per daily dose. And in addition to the extra support

of 100 mg of rhododendron caucasicum, Weight Wellness also

contains brown seaweed extract (a dietary fiber), as well as

blueberry leaf extract that helps balance blood sugar,

reducing that shaky feeling that often comes with dieting.

If you're preparing for a new diet - or if your new year's

resolution diet for 2003 is proving to be a big challenge -

you can find more information about how Weight Wellness helps

keep your much-needed resolve on track by clicking on this

link: www.agora-inc.com/reports/650SV01/W650D297/home.cfm

One more tip: when shopping for a rhodiola rosea supplement,

make sure you pick up rhodiola ROSEA. " Rhodiola sacra " is a

completely different herb, which is also sometimes called

Tibetan rhodiola, or simply rhodiola. In other words, if it

doesn't have the " rosea, " in this case it's not the right

rhodiola.

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**************************************************************

....and another thing

Last month I sent you three e-Alerts discussing different

methods of detoxification. One of them ( " Laugh Lines "

1/22/03) drew several responses with, basically the same

question. In that e-Alert I told you about an easy cleansing

bath developed by Dr. Hazel Parcells. Designed to help rid

the skin of toxins caused by radiation (from x-rays and

radioactive materials in our environment), Dr. Parcells

recommends placing 2 pounds of salt and 2 pounds of baking

soda in a hot bath. Soak for 20 minutes, until the water

cools, and you're done.

But as HSI members Lynne, Sandy and others pointed out, one

piece of information was missing. As Sandy put it, " Is the

salt in the bath Epsom salt, sea salt, or regular salt?

Very good question. According to Dr. Parcells instructions,

sea salt, or rock salt should be used.

In another e-Alert ( " From the bottom of Your Sole " 1/14/03) I

asked for information from readers who might have tried an

unusual detox method called Kinotakara that claims to draw

toxins from the body through sachets (containing a

resinous " wood vinegar " ) that are applied to the soles of the

feet.

Two reviews are in, and you could say they're less than

raves.

HSI member Fumie writes: I have tried two products of " sole

sheet " for a couple of months respectively. Every morning I

woke up and found the white sheets turned brown but did not

notice any kind of good or bad changes in my physical

condition. My shoulders were still stiff and the body fat

ratio remained unchanged. So I do not strongly feel like

recommending it, but it did not seem to work on me because I

did not suffer from any serious health problems and tried it

out of mere curiosity. "

Another member, named Vic, was even less impressed: " I and my

wife tried Kinotakara for couple of months. We were very

disappointed, because it absolutely did not work. My wife had

some unpleasant effects, I had nothing positive from it. "

Of course, not all methods work well for everyone, so there's

a chance that others might have better results. My thanks to

Vic and Fumie for taking a moment to share their candid

personal comments about this product.

To Your Good Health,

Health Sciences Institute