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Rhodiola rosea and perceived stress: grade C

Limited evidence. Direction: Benefit.

C LimitedSubjective outcome only

Educational guidance, not medical advice

Why this grade

Rubric condition met: Open-label or non-placebo-controlled studies only; placebo-controlled data only in a clinical population

The only randomized trial of self-reported stress in non-clinical adults found (search 2026-11-11) compared rhodiola with no treatment rather than placebo (80 mildly anxious adults, 14 days) and was funded by Dr Willmar Schwabe GmbH & Co. KG. A 101-person single-arm open-label study reported improvements on stress questionnaires. The placebo-controlled trial in adults with fatigue syndrome is a clinical population and measured burnout, not perceived stress. EMA's herbal committee judged the stress studies small, with several shortcomings.

How we grade evidence

Studies this grade rests on

EffectMixedNo effectSize shows participants (n)2005201020152020RCTEdwards 2012, 2012: RCT, n = 101, result not recordedCropley 2015, 2015: RCT, n = 80, result not recordedOlsson 2009, 2009: RCT, n = 60, result not recorded
each study this grade rests on, by publication year and design. Solid: effect versus the comparator; half-filled: mixed; hollow: no effect; dashed: result not recorded yet. Larger marks had more participants.
Show the numbers
StudyYearDesignParticipantsResult
Olsson 20092009RCT60result not recorded
Edwards 20122012RCT101result not recorded
Cropley 20152015RCT80result not recorded

Therapeutic effects and safety of Rhodiola rosea extract WS® 1375 in subjects with life-stress symptoms--results of an open-label study.

Edwards D, Heufelder A, Zimmermann A. Therapeutic effects and safety of Rhodiola rosea extract WS® 1375 in subjects with life-stress symptoms--results of an open-label study Phytother Res, 2012. PMID 22228617

Result not recorded
Design
Multicentre, non-randomized, open-label, single-arm trial (4 weeks)
Sample
n = 101
Population
Adults with life-stress symptoms
Funding
not stated

The Effects of Rhodiola rosea L. Extract on Anxiety, Stress, Cognition and Other Mood Symptoms.

Cropley M, Banks AP, Boyle J. The Effects of Rhodiola rosea L. Extract on Anxiety, Stress, Cognition and Other Mood Symptoms Phytother Res, 2015. PMID 26502953

Result not recorded
Design
Randomized trial with a no-treatment control (not placebo-controlled), 14 days
Sample
n = 80
Population
Mildly anxious adults
Funding
Dr Willmar Schwabe GmbH & Co. KG (Crossref funder list)

A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study of the standardised extract shr-5 of the roots of Rhodiola rosea in the treatment of subjects with stress-related fatigue.

Olsson EM, von Schéele B, Panossian AG. A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study of the standardised extract shr-5 of the roots of Rhodiola rosea in the treatment of subjects with stress-related fatigue Planta Med, 2009. PMID 19016404

Result not recorded
Design
Phase III randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group trial (28 days)
Sample
n = 60
Population
Adults aged 20-55 meeting Swedish diagnostic criteria for fatigue syndrome (clinical population)
Funding
not stated

Search and history

Search (): rhodiola[ti] AND (stress[ti] OR burnout[tiab] OR "life-stress"[tiab]) AND (clinical trial[pt] OR open-label[tiab])

  • Graded C (proposed): Proposed in the monograph draft
  • C to C (approved): Editor sign-off November 13, 2026: grade matches the editor-approved final page