What is Rhodiola rosea and why should you care? On this edition of Ag Matters Radio Amy and her guest Dr. Petra Illig talk about this new crop in Alaska.
AUTHOR | Kerry Nelson
In 2008 Dr. Petra Illig of Alaska Rhodiola Enterprises stumbled across an article in Science News that would set her on a life-changing adventure. It was about an herbal medicinal plant called Rhodiola rosea – roseroot, golden root – used for centuries as folk medicine. Research conducted on Rhodiola had turned up a lot of actual scientific evidence of its various health benefits. As a doctor, Petra’s interest was peaked. A few years later she would cross paths with host Amy Pettit while applying for a grant. Amy recalls thinking, “who is this doctor trying to grow this plant?” The two sit down to answer just that.
The Doctor Of Rhodiola Rosea Is In
Petra attended med school at the University of Washington Seattle. She enrolled in what today is known as WWAMI, a regional medical education program serving the states of Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana and Idaho. Alaska became the selected state she would spend time training in. Always knowing she would eventually come back after completing her studies, she opened her practice in Alaska sixteen years ago.
She was amidst establishing her medical career and enjoying life as an Alaskan when she read the article on Rhodiola. A casual conversation with a state auditor revealed to her how hard it is for farmers to grow in the state. The common crops our society has grown accustomed to typically aren’t well suited for the environment here, requiring a lot of added infrastructure. Petra couldn’t help but wonder if Alaska could successfully cultivate the Rhodiola rosea she had been reading about. It’s sister species – Rhodiola integrifolia – grows wild on the northern side of Hatcher’s Pass.
Her research of the plant had her convinced it was very useful for human health. She wasn’t alone – demand for Rhodiola rosea has increased in recent years. Most supplies of it come from wild harvest in the mountains of Siberia and northern China. Because Rhodiola takes so long to grow in the wild, the increased demand has caused an over-harvested, decreased supply. Petra thought of how Alaska could take advantage of this as an opportunity to make an economically feasible plant for farmers to grow in the state.
Russians, Rhodiola Rosea And Rosavins
A succulent, Rhodiola rosea grows as a small bushy plant reaching eighteen inches tall. It’s fragrant yellow flowers sit atop a long stalk of thick fleshy leaves. The name ‘rosea’ is inspired by the strong rose-like odor that emits from its root when sliced into. The root, or rhizome, is where all of the magic lies.
Rhodiola rosea contains rosavin – a specifically unique chemical not found in any of the plant’s 200 other species. It has the ability to act like caffeine without the side effects of a racing heart or increased blood pressure. Historically, the plant has been used by circumpolar peoples for the last 1,000 years for its stimulating effects, giving athletes and warriors more stamina and focus.
During post WWII, the Russians began looking at Rhodiola rosea for its ability to enhance mental and physical activity in their athletes and military. They found that the plant contained what they labeled ‘adaptogens’. Adaptogens help support the normal biochemical functions in our body. They have the ability to fortify normal pathways that may be suffering from stress or illness.
Today, known beneficial effects include enhanced physical endurance and performance, anti-fatigue, anti-depressant, anti-oxidant, anti-carcinogenic, anti-aging, decreased stress, countered high altitude sickness, and restorative female & male reproductive functions. There is also no known toxicity, meaning you need not worry about overdose.
Front Yard Crusade Spreads To Farmers Fields
Armed with the laundry list of reasons to grow Rhodiola rosea, Petra was ready to begin her experiment. She had discovered scientists in Alberta, Canada were researching ways to use Rhodiola rosea to diversify their crops. She reached out to one, he sent her some seeds, and two years later she had over two hundred Rhodiola seedlings in her front yard – worrying her neighbors a bit.
With her yard covered in successful seedlings, the next step was to put them to the test in a field. To start, she needed a bit of money to pull together the resources needed to research the plant as a crop. To her luck, Rhodiola rosea qualified for Alaska’s USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant. She applied, and got the funding she needed.
Up until then, Petra had not been part of the ag community. She needed to find farmers who were willing to put a plant that had never been cultivated in Alaska into their fields. This is where that grant money came in handy. She convinced Mark Rempel of Rempel Family Farm in Palmer, and Shelly Rainwater of Glacier Peonies to take the first plunge. They needed to take care of them for at least five years, after all, since that’s how long it takes for the root to reach harvestable maturity.
She also used the grant money to bring up the researcher from Alberta for a few talks on the project’s start and what exactly this Rhodiola rosea was all about. The direct line to Alberta’s research on cultivating Rhodiola was much appreciated, but Petra knew something more was needed to support Alaskan farmers. Not only did Alberta have different growing conditions than Alaska, they also had a fully funded government program in place for their farmers to learn from.
So, a farmer’s coop was formed to bring Alaska Rhodiola growers together and learn from each other. A handful of growers are pretty serious – some for personal use and others for economic opportunity. Together, they figure out how to navigate best growing practices for a successful crop.
The Experiment Takes Root
With the Rhodiola rosea plants now scattered into the fields of farmers, the experiment had really just begun. In 2013, the first harvest was pulled out from a farm in Point MacKenzie. They now had to determine if the rosavin productivity in the root mass would be high enough as a cultivated plant. This would require lab support and testing to determine when to literally pull the plant out by its root.
Of course, it meant more funding was needed. Petra secured a little grant from University of Alaska Fairbanks. She was granted a field at the UAF Experiment Farm in Palmer to grow in. A few summers of sample collection taught her the best time to harvest seems to be four years into the plant’s maturity for optimal rosavin levels.
She’s still trying to work out the details for each individual farmer, since Alaska has such different growing environments. What works in Delta is different than what works in Kenai. With yet another grant secured to help harvest plots, pay farmers, and do more marketing research, the project continues to grow – with four successful harvests under its belt.
Rhodiola Rosea Is An Excuse To Try Local Vodka
So, how exactly does one reap all of those great health benefits from Rhodiola rosea? Once harvested, it’s processed quickly to maintain its adaptogenic ingredients. Traditionally the root was taken out of the ground as needed and made into a tea. The Russians – perhaps unsurprisingly – chipped up the root and threw it into a bottle of vodka for use as an extract.
Processing the root for later use is a rather methodical process. The dirt is carefully washed by hand out of its gnarly nooks and crannies. Banging them around can deactivate that precious rosavin production. They are then dehydrated at 125 degrees F for 24 hours, resulting in a dried bulk chipped root material that stores well in cool dry conditions.
Once preserved, you need to extract it. Hot water is a good extraction method. Petra explains that you get even more out of it if you add a little ethanol to the process. For Alaska Rhodiola Enterprises to offer it as a commercial supplement, she plans to dry it into a powder. This way, she can determine what the rosavin concentration is and ensure that each capsule contains the industry standard of 3% by weight. Her goal in the coming years is to create a standardized capsule and dosage of Rhodiola rosea so that health providers and homeopaths can prescribe it.
For now, she offers it as a tincture or dried root chips. You can make a tea or try your hand at making your own extract with some vodka. Might we suggest vodka from a local distillery to make it a truly Alaska Grown experience?
Come Take A Ride On The Rhodiola Express
Her products can be found on the Alaska Rhodiola Enterprises website or Amazon. It sits on the shelves of Natural Pantry in Anchorage, NonEssentials in Palmer, All About Herbs in Wasilla, Sunshine Foods in Fairbanks, A Rogue’s Garden in Valdez, and Rainbow Foods in Juneau. You can also email Petra at akroseroot@gmail.com or give her a ring at 907-301-7276.
She especially wants to hear from you if you’re interested in growing Rhodiola. Currently, Alaska’s raw production of the plant sits just above a hundred pounds per year. Botanical companies interested in buying it are looking for thousands of pounds per year. Based on that, it’s pretty safe to say without a doubt that Alaska could seriously benefit from hopping on the Rhodiola train.
Petra believes that if the state can get just 100 acres per year in production, it has the potential to bring in more money to farmers in Alaska than all other crops combined. Let that sink in for a minute. So, who’s ready to grow Rhodiola rosea?