Best Rhodiola Supplements

Selecting the perfect Rhodiola Rosea supplement can be a daunting task given the slew of options on the market. It is especially hard when trying to find one that is third-party tested and safe for reducing stress and fatigue.

But with my rigorous personal testing and data-driven comparisons, you'll get a list of the 8 best rhodiola supplements to alleviate stress and fatigue and improve your overall wellbeing.

First a quick note: this website is reader-supported. I spend a lot of time personally evaluating, testing and reviewing each product on this list. When you buy through links on our site, I may earn an affiliate commission.

8 Best Rhodiola Supplements

Best Overall: Thorne Rhodiola

Thorne's Rhodiola Rosea really hits the mark. I've used Thorne supplements for years from their D3 to their B12 and lots in between. It is a brand I've come to know and trust because of their trusted sourcing and strict manufacturing standards.

They use purely sourced Rhodiola in a small but mighty 100 mg dose.

I find taking 200 mg (2 pills) gives me the boost that other brands give in much higher doses.

Other brands I tried did not work as well. I typically take 200 mg with my morning coffee and feel a smooth, relaxed energy for the work day.

There are no crashed when it wears off. In my experience, it lasts around 8 hours and gradually coasts you to a controlled stop.

I think it is because of the way that purely sourced Rhodiola can harmonize serotonin and dopamine, enhancing both body and brain functions.

The best part is that Thorne uses strict 3rd party testing with NSF Certified for Sport. While many brands don't list which type of 3rd party testing they use (because they're lying), Thorne does.

This means that there is actually the dose they claim in the product without any additives or fillers.

 

Best Value: NOW Foods Rhodiola 500 mg

NOW Foods Rhodiola is a trustworthy brand that delivers the good with this product. They use the highest grade pure Rhodiola Rosea in a convenient capsule form.

This makes it easy for me to take with other vitamins and fits your busy lifestyle if you are travelling. I love that Now Foods is a trusted brand in the space that has been around since the 1960s.

They carry the highest level of GMP (NPA A-rated) in their manufacturing facility and do 3rd party testing to verify potency. This means you can trust there is nothing shady going on.

I was new to Rhodiola when I first started and to be honest, not sure what to expect. I'm endurance athlete and was looking for something to help me recover better and reduce fatigue. It seems to help boost my energy and mood while in heavy training.

I take one pill (500 mg) in the morning and find it really helps me get through long days with work and training.

Try some today and see how it works for you!

This is a USA based brand with a solid reputation.

Best Liquid: Rejuvica Active Rhodiola Tincture

I first saw Rejuvica Active Rhodiola in my TikTok feed. There was a girl using it and before I knew it, I was down a rabbit hole for 30 minutes.

Ok back to what you came here for. Liquid extracts are a nice alternative to taking pills. My wife much prefers liquid because she has a hard time swallowing pills.

I ordered some for her and decided to try it for myself. The taste is easily bearable with a touch of sweetness and no weird flavors or aftertaste.

This tincture comes with a safety seal, so you know it hasn't been tampered with.

Now when it comes to potency, Rejuvica does not disclose the rosavins vs salidrosides percentages, so it is difficult to assess.

Overall, I found this to be a pleasant surprise in terms of convenience and taste. Try some today if you can't hack pills.

Best Sourcing: Gaia Herbs Rhodiola Rosea

The Gaia Herbs Rhodiola Rosea came recommended by my wife because she saw Gisele Bündchen talking about it. Anyways, I got some for us to try and I have to say, it made both of us feel calm.

The potency is difficult to compare to other brands because of the sourcing. They do not use the standardized 3% Rosavins because the way they extract it is different.

You get 120 mg of Rhodiola in one pill and 6 mg of that is Rosavins. The best part is that you can track the origin of your specific batch by entering it on their website.

Gaia Herbs has a strict 3rd party testing program to verify sourcing and quality.

On days that I am feeling overwhelmed or anxious, taking these pills seems to level me out.

In terms of specific sourcing, they harvest it in the pristine landscapes of Siberia, then package it in their facility in the USA.

The last thing to note is that this product is both vegan and gluten free!

Bronson Rhodiola Rosea 1000mg Supplement

The Bronson Rhodiola Rosea is another popular option with a higher dosage and high potency. The pills themselves are packed in the USA (New York) in a GMP facility.

I could not find specific info on 3rd party tested, other than the fact that the brand says 'LAB TESTED' on the bottle.

And there is limited info on where the Rhodiola herb itself is sourced from. But you'll be happy to hear that Bronson is gluten free and made from non-gmo ingredients, making it a good option if you are celiac or sensitive to gluten.

I could tell a significant difference in my motivation and mood when I took this. I usually take one in the morning.

Best of all, Bronson gives you a one-year satisfaction guarantee. So if you are not happy with it, simply email them and they will take care of you.

 

NutraChamps Rhodiola Rosea Capsules

NutraChamps is another trusted brand with tons of quality products, including this Rhodiola. You get 300 mg per capsule that is made with the standard 3% Rosavins and 1% Salidrosides.

One of the great things is its third-party certification, ensuring it has been examined and validated by impartial experts.

When I first got into adaptogenic herbs, my friend recommended NutraChamps because of their quality sourcing.

I tried some and really noticed that it changed how I handle stress and anger. You see, I have a newborn at home to go along with a stressful job. Things are not exactly easy at the moment.

I find that I can handle stress and don't get irritated by my crying baby as much anymore.

 

Double Wood Rhodiola Rosea

Let's dive into the Double Wood Rhodiola Rosea supplement. To start, it is a fairly standard option with 500 mg of rhodiola root extract per serving (1 capsule).

Double Wood uses a 3% salidrosides to 1% rosavins extract ratio, which is a bit stronger than some products, which come in at 1% salidroisdes.

Salidrosides are the active ingredients that boost make you feel better and think more clearly.

I first heard about this brand while reading a book by Dr. Andrew Weil, who mentioned that is was a good way to boost your energy and mood as you get older.

Double Wood has 3rd party testing available for everyone to see. This shows that they are not hiding anything or using sketchy sourcing.

Finally, vegans will appreciate that the pills are 100% vegan friendly.

Life Extension Rhodiola Extract 250 mg

Life Extension Rhodiola Extract is a cost effective option to get this adaptogen when you need it most. The product uses a standardized 3% Rosavins and 1% Salidrosides extract.

This is the same concentration used in clinical trials that use Rhodiola for stress.

The product itself is pretty standard. It is NON-GMO and sourced from Siberia (much like most Rhodiola).

When it comes to the brand, I have used Life Extension for other products the past and found that they are high quality.

I couldn't find any mention of third party testing or verification on the product. But it is worth trying if you want a more cost effective option.

 

What to Look for in a Rhodiola Rosea Supplement

The most important factors in choosing a Rhodiola Rosea supplement are purity, form, 3rd party testing, sourcing, ingredients and reviews. Let's walk through each of these in more detail.

Purity and Potency

Purity and potency are crucial and for Rhodiola, this comes down to a few things on the label or on their website.

1. Rosavins vs Salidrosides: Look for products that mention the percentage of active compounds Rosavins (3%) and Salidrosides (1%). This is the standard dose that is used in clinical studies.
2. Serving Size: Check the serving size to see how much Rhodiola is in each pill, capsule or serving (tinctures). Most have around 250 mg, but some have more or less. So make sure you check to see how much you are taking.

Form (Capsules vs Tinctures)

Choose a Rhodiola supplement that has only Rhodiola in it. You don't want any other fillers, allergens or contaminants that mess with your gut health.

As for the form, Rhodiola comes in several styles: capsules, tablets, powders and liquid tinctures. The form you choose mostly depends on your personal preference. I prefer pills because they are convenient and easy to use.

That being said, my wife prefers the tincture with dropper because she finds it easier to take than capsules.

Where it is Sourced From

When selecting a product, check that the brand tells you where the Rhodiola is sourced from. Rhodiola Rosea from Siberia is considered the best. The chilly weather conditions and high altitude stress the plant, forcing it to produce more beneficial compounds.

Look for trusted companies that you have heard of before. Or if you're in doubt, just look at the products I recommend above.

Ingredients

Ingredients can make or break any supplement. When it comes to Rhodiola, look for supplements that include the root extract. The root is where most of the beneficial compounds are found.

But almost as important are the extra ingredients. Some supplements could include extra additives, fillers, artificial colors or flavors. I recommend to steer clear from these.

Instead, opt for natural, non-GMO and allergen-free alternatives. You also want to look at what the capsule is made of. Sometimes there are things that may not work well with your digestion.

Brand and Reviews

Brand value is essential. While it's tempting to go for a low-cost supplement from an unknown brand, trust me when I tell you that it is not worth the risk.

Reputable brands usually have stringent quality control processes in place and are more transparent about their ingredients. But the secret is in reading recent customer reviews.

Check for personal stories of how people use the supplement and what specific things they helped with. You want to avoid all one sentence reviews as they are not helpful.

Third Party Testing

Third-party testing is an extra layer of protection for you as a consumer. These independent organizations test and verify that supplements have exactly what they say is int them.

Brands that prioritize third-party testing aren't afraid to put their products under a microscope. They are more likely to be trustworthy if they pay to have this done.

So, what do you look for? Look for seals from groups like NSF (NSF Certified), Informed Choice, Certified for Sport and Informed Sport. This means the product is also free from banned performance enhancing drugs, amphetamines or steroids that can trick you into thinking something is working.

While not all the products on the list above have the level of testing I prefer, some do!

Health Benefits of Rhodiola Supplements

There's three main benefits of Rhodiola: stress relief, energy to fight fatigue, heart health, athletic performance, reproductive health and brain health / mood. Let's go through each of these in more detail.

Stress Relief

Rhodiola Rosea is most used for its stress-relieving benefits. The herb itself is considered an 'adaptogen,' which is a plant that helps your body adapt to stress and exert a normalizing effect upon bodily processes.

Rhodiola works on your cellular level, targeting the root of the stress instead of just masking symptoms. It works to balance your stress hormones. Apart from its regular stress relieving function, it also helps manage unavoidable stress and depression.

A 2022 study (meta analysis) proved Rhodiola's role in regulating our body's response to stress, showing how it helps our body cope with the negative effects of long-term stressors (1).

Chronic Fatigue Fighting Properties

Rhodiola has a remarkable effect on reducing fatigue. It seems to help fight off feelings of mental and physical exhaustion. For example, a 2017 study showed that 2 x 200 mg daily doses of Rhodiola improved subjects who were suffering from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome after 8 weeks (2).

Some of the positive effects were shown after just one week!

The study was a landmark effort for those suffering from fatigue. It used 100 people with chronic fatigue symptoms showed improvements in fatigue, mood and concentration.

So, if you're struggling with constant tiredness, Rhodiola is worth a shot.

Brain Function (Learning and Memory)

One of the more interesting benefits of Rhodiola is the positive effects on learning and memory. It seems to help strengthen working memory and mental performance under regular and stressful situations.

The researchers seem to think that it has something to do with antioxidant activity and increasing blood flow throughout the brain.

A 2018 study reviewed all of the studies using Rhodiola for brain health, which backed up these results. They reviewed the 36 studies across 836 participants and concluded that Rhodiola does have beneficial effects for both learning and memory (3).

Physical Performance and Athletics

The most surprising benefit of Rhodiola is on physical performance and athletics. Studies have shown mixed results for things like reducing muscle damage, increasing fitness and VO2 max and reducing oxidative stress.

But a 2022 systematic review, which reviewed 11 studies (4), concluded that people who took Rhodiola showed the following:

1. Reduction in pain and muscle damage after exercise training
2. Improved skeletal muscle damage
3. Enhanced antioxidant capacity thereby reducing oxidative stress
4. Improved athletic explosive power

Heart Health

While the research is new in this area, there are a few studies that show that it is potentially beneficial for heart health. According to research, the herb shows promise in treating conditions like hypertension, thrombosis and atherosclerosis, contributing to overall heart health and function (5).

Reproductive Health

One study mentions that Rhodiola could help reproductive health because of how it can reverse non-specific stress damage and heal the disrupted pathologies (6). That being said, more research is needed in this area.

Risks of Rhodiola Supplements

The possible downsides of using Rhodiola are related to the possible side effects (dizziness, dry mouth and allergies).

Rhodiola Side Effects

The common side effects linked with Rhodiola use include:

• Dizziness
• Dry mouth
• Excess saliva production

Less common, but still possible side effects include:

• Allergic reactions
• Anxiety
• Chest pain
• High blood pressure
• Insomnia

These side effects are generally mild and subside as your body adjusts to the supplement. Still, it's crucial to always start with a lower dose, follow the recommended intake instructions and discontinue use if these side effects persist or worsen.

Always consult your healthcare provider if you have any concerns.

What is the recommended dosage for rhodiola supplements?

Most studies suggest that a daily dose of 200 mg taken in one to two divided doses will give you the best results. That being said, the best dose of Rhodiola supplements can vary based on your needs, goals and the preparation and potency of the product you are using.

Keep in mind that the effects of Rhodiola can change based on the dosage. Smaller to medium doses are mentally stimulating, while larger ones are more sedative. So, always ensure to stick to the recommended dosage and consult a healthcare professional before starting with Rhodiola supplements.

This will help minimize the risk of any side effects and ensure a positive experience.

Which brand of rhodiola supplement is the most effective?

The most trusted brand of Rhodiola is Thorne. They have a long track record of quality supplements, provide independent 3rd party testing and are a trusted source.

Ultimately, you will need to try some for yourself to see which brand works best. But gets started with Thorne and see how it goes before moving to another product.

What is the best form to take rhodiola?

Whether you should take Rhodiola in capsule, powder or as a liquid extract depends on your personal preference and convenience.

Capsules are popular because they're easy to swallow, portable, and give you a precise dosage. On the other hand, powders are more versatile as they can be mixed with food or drink.

Liquid extract is considered to have the highest absorptivity, meaning it can get to work faster in your body. However, the taste might not be the most pleasant for some.

Is it OK to take rhodiola everyday?

Yes, it is generally safe to take Rhodiola every day for short-term periods of 6 to 12 weeks at a time. After that, it is best to cycle off it - especially when you are not in periods of acute stress for flare ups.

It's worth mentioning that your response to Rhodiola will vary and long-term use safety data is limited. Also, those who are pregnant, nursing, children, or those taking prescription medication (especially for conditions like depression, anxiety, and high blood pressure) should consult with their healthcare provider before use.

How long does it take for rhodiola rosea to work?

While individual responses can vary, some studies have shown the effects of Rhodiola beginning within one week of taking the supplement. But for most people, noticeable changes in energy, mood and stress levels come after taking the supplement consistently for 2-6 weeks.

Bear in mind that benefits like improved cognition and decreased fatigue may take longer -- maybe even up to a month of consistent use.

Closing Thoughts

When it comes to Rhodiola, there is solid research to show that it can help reduce anxiety and chronic fatigue while increasing mood, memory and learning. The jury is still out on heart health and athletic performance.

If you are looking to get started, I recommend the Thorne Rhodiola. It is a reputable company (I have no affiliation) that I've used in the past with great results.

Have you tried Rhodiola? How did it work for you? Leave a comment and let me know. Or if you have questions about a different brand, leave a comment and I will get back to you asap.

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Sources

1. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35745023
2. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28219059/
3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6288277
4. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35464040/
5. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35265260/
6. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35745023

Disclaimer: this information is for educational purposes only and has not been evaluated by the FDA or CFIA. It is not medical advise. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or healthcare issue. Please consult your primary care physician for advise on any of this.