Alternatives to Big Pharma



As large drug corporations continue to display their blatant disregard for human life, health and safety in the name of profits while private health insurers are allowed to deny health care to all but the wealthy, increasing numbers of people are seeking natural and more accessible alternatives, such as the rhodiola rosea root.

Even natural herbs can have unpredictable effects when not used properly. However, those who are willing to educate themselves and proceed with caution can often treat their own ailments with dried herbs such as rhodiola rosea with far less expense and risk, and regain control over their own health care to a large degree.

About Roseroot

Rhodiola rosea root is also known as Golden Root and Roseroot, although it is not a rose, nor even a member of the rose family. Rhodiola rosea is actually a member of the botanical family that includes the jade plant and the popular succulent known as “hen and chicks."

As a succulent, you might guess that rhodiola rosea would thrive in dry climates – and you’d be right. Unlike desert succulents however, this particular plant prefers cold air at high altitudes. Rhodiola rosea is found in mountain ranges throughout the Northern Hemishphere, including the Rockies, Pyrenees, Swiss and Carpathian Alps, the Himalayas and the Arctic ranges of Scandinavia, Russia, Siberia and Alaska.

Historical Usage

Dried herbs such as rhodiola rosea root have long been valued for the properties that allowed people to cope with harsh environments. This plant has been used in far northern parts of the world where winters are long and cold and sunlight disappears for months at a time. Siberians, Finns and Scandinavians have used it for centuries in order to deal with what is now known as Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD – a specific kind of depression caused by the absence of sunlight.

Not surprisingly, rhodiola has been found by scientists to be effective in the treatment of depression. A recent study conducted in Russia demonstrated that the use of rhodiola rosea caused a marked improvement in subject’s physical and mental facilities, and significantly, resulted in the prevention of altitude sickness.

Choosing the Right Rhodiola

Bulk herbs can vary a great deal in terms of quality. Bulk organic herbs are by far the best choice, as these have been raised without pesticides or chemical fertilizers. When stocking your own personal apothecary with dried herbs, whether for cooking or – in the case of rhodiola rosea root – medicinal purposes, bulk herbs are the most cost-effective, while bulk organic herbs are of the highest quality.