Issue: 56 Page: 48
Clinical Case Studies R. rosea
HerbalGram. 2002; 56:48 American Botanical Council
Clinical Case Studies R. rosea
Clinical Case Studies
The following cases are representative examples of the many clinical situations in which Rhodiola rosea
may be beneficial. Although the
presentation of individual cases does not carry the weight of double-blind
placebo-controlled trials, the authors hope that these samples from their
larger case series may help to generate interest and funding for future
controlled clinical trials to explore the medical applications of this
multipotent medicinal herb. Note that in some cases the patients served as
their own controls by discontinuing R. rosea, relapsing, and then improving upon
resumption of treatment.
Ms. W., a 45-year-old writer, never quite
finished her doctoral thesis. A "block" prevented her from completing any
manuscripts for publication. Seven years of psychotherapy did not alleviate the
problem. After "drifting" for years and being terrified of taking any more
prescription antidepressants, she tried 100 mg extract of R. rosea (Rosavinª, a preparation
standardized to 1 percent salidroside and 3 percent rosavin, Ameriden
International, Fallbrook, CA) twice a day. Although she had not considered
herself to be depressed (and did not meet criteria for dysthymic disorder),
within 6 weeks she experienced a new sense of enthusiasm and increased
productivity. She became able to complete writing projects and to feel happy
with herself. She was well for over two years on R. rosea. However, feeling recovered and
happily married, she decided on her own to stop the herbal medicine and
gradually relapsed over 6 months. Upon resuming the R. rosea, she again improved with full
recovery.
Ms. P., a 50-year-old computer analyst,
complained of constant fatigue, dragging herself out of bed every morning, and dreading
encounters at work. Because she was highly sensitive to side effects of any
psychotropic medication, she began with one pinch (equivalent to about 50 mg)
of R. rosea
extract (Rosavinª) in her morning tea. Within a few days her fatigue
was gone. She had the energy and confidence to deal more effectively with the
inevitable conflicts at work.
Ms. B., a 45-year-old mental health
professional, had refractory depression and fibromyalgia for 5 years. Her
symptoms were completely unresponsive to multiple trials of psychotropic
medication. She had a partial response to the antidepressant sertraline (Zoloft¨,
a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, SSRI), but this was not adequate for
her to do more than carry out her daily job. The addition of 600 mg/day R.
rosea extract
(Rosavinª) enabled her to return to normal enjoyment and full
productivity in life. It took about 2 months to see these effects. After 6
months, the patient began to doubt that she needed the R. rosea and discontinued it on her own,
only to relapse over the next 3 weeks. Upon reinstitution of the R. rosea, she returned to full remission and
remains well 2 years later on sertraline and R. rosea.
Mr. S., a 74-year-old man, had suffered
from Parkinson's disease for 10 years. Despite conventional treatment with
pramipexole (Mirapex¨), levodopa/carbidopa (Sinemet¨),
donepezil (Aricept¨), and rivastigmine (Exelon¨) for
motoric and cognitive deficits, he was functioning poorly. He spent most of the
day sitting in a chair, rarely speaking or initiating any activities. His wife,
a practicing neurologist, carefully observed his clinical status and reported
that within one week of starting 300 mg R. rosea extract (Rosavinª) twice
daily he began to recover with marked progressive improvements in his abilities
to think, speak, read, and initiate independent activities. Because of some
residual cognitive impairment, galanthus (Galanthus spp., Amaryllidaceae) an herbal
extract (customized formula by Ameriden International containing 100 mg R.
rosea, 200 mg galanthus,
and 50 mg plant cell-derived vitamin C) was added with consequent additional
improvement.
Ms. A., an athletic 62-year-old Oriental
woman, was diagnosed with infiltrating ductal carcinoma of one breast. She
began chemotherapy but suffered extreme fatigue and suppression of her white
and red blood cell counts to the point where, despite conventional treatment
adjuvants, the chemotherapy regimen had to be repeatedly interrupted. A trial
of 150 mg R. rosea
extract (Rosavinª) twice daily restored her energy and completely
normalized her white and red blood cell counts, allowing completion of
chemotherapy. Four months after mastectomy and chemotherapy, Ms. A. resumed her
usual rigorous martial arts practice.
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