Research

Rhodiola for Menopause: Evidence, Interactions and Cautions

By Andreea · Last reviewed September 2026 · 2 min read

Rhodiola is an ingredient used in menopause supplements marketed to women. Below is what it has actually been studied for, how strong that evidence is, the drug interactions and cautions on record, and the primary source our grade rests on — all drawn from the HerWellReport ingredient dataset.

HerWellReport Evidence Gradeearly for menopausal symptoms in combination with black cohosh; none alone; none for stress incontinence

Studied forstress, fatigue and low mood; menopausal symptom scores when combined with black cohosh

Used inMenopause supplements

Helps stress leaks?No

Helps hot flushes?Unclear

Also sold as: Rhodiola rosea; golden root; arctic root; roseroot

What the evidence says about Rhodiola

The only menopause trial of any size is a 12-week randomised double-blind placebo-controlled study in 220 women, in which Rhodiola combined with black cohosh cut Kupperman Menopausal Index scores by 71.2% from baseline against 26.3% on placebo, beating black cohosh alone. Because Rhodiola was only ever given alongside black cohosh, that trial cannot show what Rhodiola does on its own, and no trial has tested Rhodiola alone for hot flushes. Memorial Sloan Kettering lists its studied uses as stress, fatigue, endurance and depression — menopause is not among them. Rhodiola is not mentioned anywhere in the Menopause Society's 2023 nonhormone therapy position statement, so it was not assessed.

The grade "early for menopausal symptoms in combination with black cohosh; none alone; none for stress incontinence" means: early — Pilot or preliminary human data only; not enough to rely on. none — No human trial evidence we could find for this use. Grades are explained in full on our methodology page.

Read the primary source this grade rests on (opens in a new tab).

Rhodiola drug interactions

warfarin
phenytoin
drugs metabolised by CYP3A4
drugs transported by P-glycoprotein
antidepressants

Who should be careful with Rhodiola

Reported side effects include dizziness and dry mouth
a case of fast heart rhythm was reported in a patient taking Rhodiola together with antidepressants

Products we have researched that contain Rhodiola

MenoRescue — marketed for hot flushes, night sweats and broken sleep. 180-day money-back guarantee.

We have read the label and the research behind every ingredient. We have not tested the product and we publish no ratings. Full ingredient breakdown

Read our MenoRescue review →

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