Benefits of Stonecrops

Blindfolded, you would hardly know whether you had smelled dried rose petals or a rose root. But the intoxicatingly scented Queen of Siberia could easily put her more beautiful and much-vaunted rival in the flower world in at least one respect. Rose root has a unique gift for caressing the soul and lifting health.

The rose root (with the Latin name Rhodiola rosea) is a fat-leaved perennial plant. It prefers cool places with plenty of sunlight. It is widespread in the Arctic and subarctic parts of Siberia but it is not difficult to find in high altitudes in China, Mongolia and Europe. It was also previously found in our area but is now considered critically endangered. As massive harvesting of the rose root has occurred elsewhere in the world, targeted plantations in Canada and Finland have been established.

Demand for the benefits of the rose root is increasing worldwide. It is no longer just the arcane tales of the Vikings and the dusty medical writings of ancient Greece that have been debated in the scientific world in recent decades. The latter is fascinated mainly by two components of Rhodiola, namely rosavin and salidroside. In addition, rose root is considered an adaptogen.

The rhizome of the plant is used to obtain the greatest amount of health benefits, although the stem and young leaves are not to be discarded either and are considered a tasty vegetable. The rhizome is naturally dried and then chopped into small pieces. Further processing is then up to you. You can prepare a classic decoction or a long infusion, which requires up to six hours. A strawberry latte with oat milk is also worth a try. For the tincture, it is recommended to grind the rhizome in a coffee grinder and pour it into vodka, where it is left to rest for up to 6 days and then strained. Whichever option you choose, you will not regret it, and you will smell the day.

Approved health benefits:

• Antioxidant
• Physical performance and fitness
• Cognitive and mental performance
• Blood circulation
• Normal digestion
• Adaptogen - nervous system
• Fatigue - stress