Rhodiola’s use as a medicinal plant can be traced back to 77 A.D. – when Greek Physician Dioscorides documented Rhodiola rosea (called rodia riza at the time) in his medical text – De Materia Medica. The Vikings used Rhodiola to increase endurance and stamina during their journeys; Chinese Emperors would commission expeditions to remote parts of the Siberian Mountains to bring back the prized ‘Golden Root’. In 1725, the herb was given its current name – Rhodiola rosea by Swedish botanist Carl Linnaeus.
From 77 A.D. to the mid 1900’s, Rhodiola was prized as a medicinal herb throughout almost all parts of Europe and Asia. Rhodiola grew primarily in Siberia and was so valued that it was illegal to trade it outside of Russian borders. Russians used Rhodiola to survive the harsh Siberian winters.
While there was tremendous traditional and anecdotal evidence, there was limited modern research on how and why Rhodiola worked. That changed when the Soviet Union began extensive and top secret research into herbs after World War II. At that time, Russia started a countrywide scientific program to find ways to increase the performance of its military, athletes, performers, politicians, and scientists. Rhodiola rosea was then identified as an adaptogen: an herb that can balance the body, reduce all stresses the body may face, and is not harmful.
Dr. Ramazanov, a Russian scientist, who earned his PhD in plant physiology and biochemistry from the Soviet Academy of Sciences, brought the Russian research on Rhodiola to the US. It is from Dr. Ramazanov’s original company that we source our Perfect Rhodiola.
