Nicotine Withdrawal Improved by Rhodiola Herbal Treatment

A study of mice showed that an extract of the herb Rhodiola rosea decreased signs of withdrawal in a dose-dependent manner. While this is not a human study, it does give a basis for considering trying Rhodiola when trying to quit smoking.

The higher the dosage the mice were given, the less they showed signs of withdrawal.
Several natural product companies sell rhodiola rosea extracts. My suggestion is to take two to three times as much as the directions on the label say for optimal effects.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Mattioli L, Perfumi M. Evaluation of Rhodiola rosea L. extract on affective and physical signs of nicotine withdrawal in mice. Journal of Psychopharmacology. 2009 November 25.

Abstract: The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of a Rhodiola rosea L. extract on the prevention of the development of nicotine dependence and for the reduction of abstinence suffering following nicotine cessation in mice. Dependence was induced in mice by subcutaneous injections of nicotine (2 mg/kg, 4 times/day) for eight days. Spontaneous abstinence syndrome was evaluated 20 h after the last nicotine administration, by analysis of withdrawal signs, as affective (anxiety-like behaviour) and physical (somatic signs and locomotor activity). Rhodiola rosea L. extract was administered orally during nicotine treatment (10, 15 and 20 mg/kg) or during nicotine withdrawal (20 mg/kg). Results show that both affective and somatic signs (head shaking, paw tremors, body tremors, ptosis, jumping, piloerection and chewing) induced by nicotine withdrawal are abolished by administration of Rhodiola rosea L. extract in a dose-dependent fashion, during both nicotine exposure and nicotine cessation. In conclusion, our data encourage additional studies to define the use of R. rosea L. as a therapeutic approach in the treatment of smoking cessation.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Michael Mooney
www.michaelmooney.net