Rhodiola in pregnancy and breastfeeding

What NCCIH says about safety

Rhodiola is possibly safe for up to 12 weeks. Side effects may include dizziness, headache, insomnia, and either dry mouth or excessive saliva production. Interactions between rhodiola and losartan (a drug used for high blood pressure) have been reported. Little is known about whether it’s safe to use rhodiola during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.

Quoted in full from NCCIH so nothing is lost in summarising. Where they say “little is known”, that means the studies do not exist — not that the herb is known to be safe, and not that it is known to be harmful.

How much is actually known

There isn’t enough reliable evidence to determine whether rhodiola or its components are useful for any health-related purpose. Most of the research in people is of low-to-moderate quality.

What the research has found

We haven’t learned enough to say whether rhodiola is useful for any health-related purpose.

Before you take this

Dose and form change the answer completely. A culinary amount of a spice, a cup of tea, and a concentrated supplement extract are three different things, and most research is done on the last of them.

Supplements are also not regulated like medicines, so strength and purity vary between products. Bring the actual bottle to your midwife, doctor or pharmacist — that conversation is worth more than any page, including this one.