Rhodiola
What’s New This Month
- Products listed: Ten rhodiola products now appear in our buying table. Two hold NSF/ANSI 173 certification, and one of those also holds NSF Certified for Sport. None holds USP certification. 1
- Canadian recalls: Health Canada recalled a capsule in June 2025 that held undeclared tadalafil, a prescription drug; rhodiola was a labelled ingredient, not the cause. In February 2026 it recalled one lot of an 11-ingredient powder because ingredient amounts differed from the label. 2 3
- No rhodiola in drinks: In February 2026 FDA listed a rhodiola energy-drink concentrate for detention at the border as an unsafe food additive. This is not a recall and does not cover supplements. 4 5
- Lead notice: California received one notice in the past two years alleging lead in a product that includes rhodiola; a notice is an allegation, not a test result. 6
- Eye strain: A 4-day trial in 18 adults found only one of several eye-strain symptoms improved. 7
Overview
Rhodiola is the root of Rhodiola rosea, a plant of cold, high places also called golden root, arctic root or roseroot. It is sold as capsules, extracts and tinctures. 8
Europe’s medicines agency lists it as a traditional herbal medicine for temporary relief of stress symptoms such as fatigue and weakness, a label based on 30 years of use, not trials. 9
Labels claim it fights fatigue and stress and helps endurance, strength, focus, mood and sleep. Good extracts state two marker compounds, rosavins and salidroside. 10
How We Researched It
We rate each marketing claim with a modified version of GRADE, the system medical researchers use to say how sure we can be (i.e., high, moderate, low or very low), and check each trial with the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool, which asks whether a study’s design could skew its results. For rhodiola we used 30 evidence rows, mostly published from October 2022 through October 2026. We also checked 10 regulators and safety databases. We found no Cochrane review of rhodiola.
Research NotesTop three benefits
Endurance GRADE: Low
A 2025 review of 26 trials (668 young, healthy people) found small gains: VO2max effect size 0.32 and time to exhaustion 0.38, below our 0.5 bar. Gains were larger above 600 mg a day. 11
Bias check: A second review of 13 trials found unclear or high risk of bias in most studies and said more high-quality studies are needed to firmly establish the clinical efficacy of Rhodiola rosea. 12
Fatigue and Stress GRADE: Very Low
In 60 adults with stress-related fatigue, 576 mg a day for 28 days beat placebo on burnout and attention. A trial in 56 night-shift doctors also found less fatigue. 13 14
Bias check: Both trials are small and old, funding is not stated in the records we read, and a 2012 review rated every study at high risk of bias. 15
Strength and Recovery GRADE: Very Low
In a 7-day crossover of 27 trained adults, leg-press strength rose 24 to 36 kg more than on placebo. A 4-day trial found trivial-to-small strength gains. 16 17
Bias check: The trials were short and registered after the fact; muscle-damage blood tests are markers, not outcomes. 16
Benefit Evaluation
| Claim | Claim Verdict | Research Confidence | Supporting Evidence | Safety Risk | Product Quality | FactStack™ Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Endurance | Promising | Low | Promising | Caution | Inconsistent | Caution |
| Fatigue and Stress | Promising | Very Low | Promising | Caution | Inconsistent | Caution |
| Strength and Recovery | TBD | Very Low | TBD | Caution | Inconsistent | Warning |
| Mental Stamina and Cognition | TBD | Very Low | TBD | Caution | Inconsistent | Warning |
| Mood | TBD | Very Low | TBD | Caution | Inconsistent | Warning |
| Neurotransmitters and Sleep | TBD | Very Low | TBD | Caution | Inconsistent | Warning |
| Digital Eye Strain | TBD | Very Low | TBD | Caution | Inconsistent | Warning |
| Disease Treatment | TBD | Very Low | TBD | Caution | Inconsistent | Warning |
| Blood Sugar and Diabetes | TBD | Very Low | TBD | Caution | Inconsistent | Warning |
| Cancer | TBD | Very Low | TBD | Caution | Inconsistent | Warning |
| Altitude Sickness | Doubtful | Low | Doubtful | Caution | Inconsistent | Warning |
What Sellers Say vs. What Studies Show
| “Clinically proven.” | Studied, not proven. The main fatigue trials are small, date from 2000 and 2009, and have not been repeated. 13 14 |
| “Boosts endurance.” | Pooled trials found small gains, mostly in young athletes. The VO2max effect size was 0.32, below our 0.5 bar. 11 |
| “Eases depression.” | In a 12-week trial of 57 adults with depression, rhodiola did no better than placebo. 18 |
| “Safe in energy drinks.” | FDA lists a rhodiola energy-drink concentrate as an unsafe food additive at the border, and Health Canada did not permit rhodiola root extract in supplemented foods. 4 19 |
| “Stops altitude sickness.” | In the one prevention trial, 61% got sick on rhodiola and on placebo alike. 20 |
| “Standardized and pure.” | Nearly 60% of 13 products lacked the stated amount, some held other species, and US capsules held trace metals. 21 22 |
Trial ParametersIf you try it
| Who | Healthy adults only. Not for pregnancy, breastfeeding, under 18, plant allergy or bipolar disorder. Not for depression or any disease. |
| Dose | EMA: 144 to 200 mg per dose, once or twice a day. Health Canada: 200 mg per dose at most. |
| Ceiling | EMA: 400 mg a day. Health Canada: 680 mg a day. |
| Duration | EMA: no more than two weeks without medical advice. Review at 2 weeks and stop by 12 weeks. |
| Form | A product stating rosavin and salidroside content, with a batch test. Take it early in the day, not at bedtime. |
| Ask First | A pharmacist, if you take warfarin, phenytoin, losartan or other CYP2C9 drugs, antidepressants or blood-pressure drugs. |
How to Take It
| Pick a plan | The best fatigue trial used 576 mg a day for 28 days. Health Canada limits each dose to 200 mg. 13 10 |
| Time of day | Early in the day, not before bedtime. 10 |
| With food | Not reported. |
| What to expect | Judge it at 2 weeks and stop by 12 weeks; NIH calls use up to 12 weeks possibly safe, with no longer-term data. Reported side effects include dizziness, headache, insomnia and dry mouth. 8 |
| How to take | Capsules of a named root extract with rosavin and salidroside amounts on the label. In one US test, three of seven capsules held less rosavin than salidroside. 10 22 |
Works With / Don’t Mix With
✓ Works with
Not reported. We found no supplement shown to add to rhodiola’s effect.
Exercise. The endurance gains come from young, healthy people (average age 22). 11
⚠ Ask first / don’t mix
Warfarin, phenytoin, losartan and other CYP2C9 drugs. In a 13-person study rhodiola slowed CYP2C9, a liver enzyme that clears these drugs; NIH reports a losartan interaction. 23 8
Antidepressants. Health Canada says ask first, and its food review named serotonin syndrome (too much serotonin) as a concern. 10 19
Bipolar disorder. Health Canada says do not use. One man had a manic episode on about three times the usual amount plus other supplements. 10 24
Blood-pressure drugs. NIH reports an interaction with losartan, a blood-pressure drug. Ask a pharmacist first. 8
Manufacturer Recalls & WarningsLast 36 months, newest first
| Date | Maker / Brand | Product | Action | Src |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 2026 | MJ Nutra (Canada) | Champignons et Adaptogènes powder (11 ingredients, including 410 mg rhodiola), lot 225107 | Health Canada Type III recall RA-81650: ingredient amounts differ from the label. The notice does not say which ingredient. | 3 |
| Sep 2025 | Onward Partners and VZ Nutrition (Zeal Naturals) | Ashwagandha + Rhodiola + Turmeric formula and one other product | California Prop 65 notice 2025-03883 alleges lead; an allegation, not a test result. | 6 |
| Jun 2025 | Yexin Likang International Health (Canada) | Yi Li Xiao Capsule (50 mg Rhodiola crenulata labelled) | Health Canada Type I recall RA-77662: sold without market authorization and contains undeclared tadalafil. Rhodiola is a labelled ingredient, not the cause. | 2 |
| Nov 2023 | Lone Star Botanicals Inc. (Tyler, TX) | Rhodiola Rosea powder and other products | FDA warning letter 659735: disease claims and manufacturing-practice failures. | 25 |
Where to Buy
We compare products side-by-side not just on price, but on whether NSF lists the product as NSF/ANSI 173 Contents Certified (an independent lab confirms the label matches the contents), whether it is NSF Certified for Sport, whether USP lists it as USP Verified, and whether the seller says it is manufactured in the USA. We leave out a brand’s products for this supplement when, in the last 36 months, the FDA took action against that brand over this supplement (a Class I or II recall, a warning letter, an import alert or an advisory letter). We also leave out any brand with an FDA Class II recall or warning letter on any product. We also leave out any product named in a California Prop 65 notice or a non-US recall, along with that brand’s products of the same ingredient and form. Brands with other actions stay listed and are marked in the Recall Screen column. Our goal remains to provide you, the Consumer, with the information and data necessary to make an informed purchasing decision. Prices reflected below are static and subject to change.
Ratings above describe the ingredient’s research, not any product listed below.
| # | Retailer | Product | Price | NSF 173 | NSF Sport | USP | Mfg. in USA (per seller) | Recall Screen | Affiliate link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Amazon | Momentous Rhodiola Rosea 100 mg, 60 Capsules | Check Price | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | View on Amazon ↗ | |
| 2 | iHerb | Thorne, Rhodiola, 60 Capsules (100 mg per Capsule) | $24.00 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓* | View on iHerb ↗ | ||
| 3 | HerbsPro | Life Extension, Rhodiola Extract, 250 mg, 60 vcaps | $13.50 | ✓ | ✓ | View on HerbsPro ↗ | |||
| 4 | HerbsPro | Nature's Answer, Rhodiola, 100 Mg, 60 Veg Caps | $14.24 | ✓ | ✓ | View on HerbsPro ↗ | |||
| 5 | iHerb | Nutricost, Rhodiola Rosea, 500 mg, 60 Capsules | $17.95 | ✓ | ✓* | View on iHerb ↗ | |||
| 6 | Green's Nutrition | LifeSeasons Therapeutics Rhodiola Root 60 Veg Caps | $20.00 | ✓ | ✓* | View on Green's Nutrition ↗ | |||
| 7 | iHerb | Toniiq, Rhodiola 5%, 120 Capsules (300 mg per Capsule) | $24.97 | ✓ | ✓ | View on iHerb ↗ | |||
| 8 | HerbsPro | New Chapter, Rhodiola Force, 1000 Mg, 30 Caps | $25.61 | ✓ | ✓ | View on HerbsPro ↗ | |||
| 9 | Green's Nutrition | Solaray Vital Extracts Super Rhodiola 60 Veg Caps | $36.39 | ✓ | ✓* | View on Green's Nutrition ↗ | |||
| 10 | Green's Nutrition | Pure Encapsulations Rhodiola Rosea 180 Caps | $42.50 | ✓ | ✓* | View on Green's Nutrition ↗ |
Sources
1. NSF/ANSI 173 certified dietary supplement listings, search for rhodiola. NSF, 8 Oct 2026. info.nsf.org/Certified/Dietary/
2. Health product recall RA-77662: Yi Li Xiao Capsule, undeclared tadalafil (Type I). Health Canada, 30 Jun 2025. recalls-rappels.canada.ca/en
3. Health product recall RA-81650: Champignons et Adaptogènes (MJ Nutra), ingredient concentrations differ from the label (Type III). Health Canada, 26 Feb 2026. recalls-rappels.canada.ca/en/alert-recall/champignons-et-adaptogenes-affected-lot-contains-concentrations-certain-ingredients
4. Import Alert 99-45: detention without physical examination of food containing an unsafe food additive (red-list entry for 610881 British Columbia Ltd., Red Tiki Energy Concentrate, added 12 Feb 2026). US Food and Drug Administration, Revised 4 Sep 2026. www.accessdata.fda.gov/cms_ia/importalert_1173.html
5. Import Alert 99-39: detention without physical examination of misbranded imported food (entry for 610881 British Columbia Ltd., Red Tiki Energy Concentrate Liquid, 13 Feb 2026). US Food and Drug Administration, Page posted 7 Oct 2026. www.accessdata.fda.gov/cms_ia/importalert_1144.html
6. California Proposition 65 60-day notice 2025-03883 (Onward Partners and VZ Nutrition; lead). California Office of the Attorney General, 29 Sep 2025. oag.ca.gov/prop65/60-day-notice-list
7. Lara et al. Rhodiola rosea and digital eye strain: triple-blind placebo-controlled crossover trial. Ophthalmic and Physiological Optics, 2025. doi.org/10.1111/opo.70005
8. Rhodiola: usefulness and safety. NIH National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, Apr 2025. www.nccih.nih.gov/health/rhodiola
9. Rhodiolae roseae rhizoma et radix (arctic root): EU herbal monograph, EMA/HMPC/24177/2023 (adopted 2 Aug 2023, updated 21 May 2024). European Medicines Agency, 2023; updated 2024. www.ema.europa.eu/en/medicines/herbal/rhodiolae-roseae-rhizoma-et-radix
10. Rhodiola – Rhodiola rosea: natural health product monograph. Health Canada, 31 Oct 2025. webprod.hc-sc.gc.ca/nhpid-bdipsn/dbImages/mono_rhodiola--rhodiola-rosea_english.pdf
11. Wang et al. Rhodiola rosea and exercise performance: meta-analysis of 26 randomized trials. Frontiers in Nutrition, 2025. doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2025.1645346
12. Sanz-Barrio PM et al. Rhodiola rosea supplementation on sports performance: systematic review of randomized controlled trials. Phytotherapy Research, 2023. doi.org/10.1002/ptr.7950
13. Olsson EMG et al. SHR-5 Rhodiola rosea extract in stress-related fatigue: randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Planta Medica, 2009. doi.org/10.1055/s-0028-1088346
14. Darbinyan V et al. Rhodiola rosea (SHR-5) in stress-induced fatigue: crossover study in physicians on night duty. Phytomedicine, 2000. doi.org/10.1016/S0944-7113(00)80055-0
15. Ishaque S et al. Rhodiola rosea for physical and mental fatigue: systematic review. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2012. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22643043/
16. Koozehchian et al. Rhodiola rosea at 200 and 1,500 mg a day for 7 days, strength and cognition: randomized double-blind crossover trial. Nutrients, 2025. doi.org/10.3390/nu17233736
17. Rhodiola rosea 1,200 mg a day for 4 days, bench press and mental fatigue: triple-blind crossover trial. Nutrients, 2025. doi.org/10.3390/nu17060940
18. Mao JJ et al. Rhodiola rosea versus sertraline for major depressive disorder: randomized placebo-controlled trial. Phytomedicine, 2015. doi.org/10.1016/j.phymed.2015.01.010
19. Decision on Rhodiola rosea root extract as a supplemental ingredient in foods. Health Canada, 15 Aug 2024. www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/food-nutrition/supplemented-foods/list-permitted-food-ingredients/information-ingredients-foods/decision-rhodiola-rosea-root-extract.html
20. Cochrane systematic review of medicines and herbs for high altitude illness (includes a Rhodiola crenulata trial). Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2019. doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD013315
21. Koltun-Jasion et al. Identity and marker content of 13 commercial Rhodiola rosea preparations. Frontiers in Pharmacology, 2025. doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2025.1608767
22. Porwollik et al. Quality and safety of Rhodiola rosea supplements on the US market. PLOS One, 16 Jan 2026. doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0341070
23. Thu OK et al. Effect of Rhodiola rosea on drug-metabolizing enzymes (CYP2C9 and others) in healthy volunteers: randomized crossover study. European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, 2016. doi.org/10.1007/s00228-015-1988-7
24. Leo et al. Manic episode with rhabdomyolysis after high-dose rhodiola: case report. Primary Care Companion for CNS Disorders, 2022. doi.org/10.4088/PCC.21cr02980
25. Warning letter to Lone Star Botanicals Inc., MARCS-CMS 659735. US Food and Drug Administration, 6 Nov 2023. www.fda.gov/inspections-compliance-enforcement-and-criminal-investigations/warning-letters/lone-star-botanicals-inc-659735-11062023
26. openFDA food enforcement (recall) records, search for rhodiola. US Food and Drug Administration (openFDA), Queried 8 Oct 2026. api.fda.gov/food/enforcement.json
27. Recall F-0398-2015, Good Herbs Inc. Rhodiola, 1 oz bottle (Class II; terminated). US Food and Drug Administration (openFDA food enforcement), 5 May 2014. api.fda.gov/food/enforcement.json?search=recall_number.exact:%22F-0398-2015%22
28. Recall F-1216-2016, Iowa Select Herbs Rhodiola Root, 1 gallon (Class III; consent decree; terminated). US Food and Drug Administration (openFDA food enforcement), 11 Sep 2015. api.fda.gov/food/enforcement.json?search=recall_number.exact:%22F-1216-2016%22
29. FDA warning letters table, text filter “rhodiola”. US Food and Drug Administration, Queried 8 Oct 2026. www.fda.gov/inspections-compliance-enforcement-and-criminal-investigations/compliance-actions-and-activities/warning-letters
30. CAERS adverse-event report 2025-CFS-002732 naming a rhodiola product (openFDA food event records). US Food and Drug Administration (openFDA), Data refreshed 7 Jul 2026. api.fda.gov/food/event.json
31. FDA response letter to New Dietary Ingredient notification 1459, “Rhodiola Rosea” (docket FDA-2025-S-0023-0175). US Food and Drug Administration, 1 Apr 2026. www.regulations.gov/document/FDA-2025-S-0023-0175
32. Notice on the 2026 re-evaluation plan for functional health-food ingredients (read in translation). Korea Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, 23 Jan 2026. www.mfds.go.kr/
