If you’ve ever known someone who suffered from high altitude sickness, or you yourself suffered from the condition, then you know it is not a pleasant thing to deal with. However, there may be a solution, and an all-natural one at that: Rhodiola.

Many people suffer from high altitude sickness. This condition can cause symptoms that range from a simple headache to death, and is common in people exposed to high altitudes, such as when mountain climbing and skiing.

What Causes Altitude Sickness?

Altitude sickness occurs when the human body cannot adjust to these high altitudes. There is less oxygen available at these altitudes, and if a person is unaccustomed to this change in oxygen levels, then he or she will experience the symptoms of altitude sickness. If you consistently live at a very high elevation, this is usually not a problem.

Altitude Sickness Signs and Symptoms

The signs and symptoms of altitude sickness vary depending on the elevation. They may include dizziness, headache and loss of appetite, lethargy, breathlessness, nausea and irritability. Difficulty sleeping is also very common and many travelers have a hard time adjusting their sleep habits.

As the altitude increases, the human body must breathe more frequently to properly oxygenate itself. The lower air pressure and the higher altitude can also cause fluid to leak from the capillaries. This can cause fluid buildup in the lungs and the brain. If the body does not become properly acclimated, this can lead to serious, life-threatening illnesses.

Prevention Methods

The main cause of altitude sickness is going too high too fast. The human body can adapt to the lower oxygen levels, but it generally takes from one to three days. The body has to acclimate to each significant change in altitude and a number of changes have to occur in the body for it to operate properly with these lower oxygen levels. Respirations are deeper and pressure in the pulmonary arteries increases. The body also produces significantly more red blood cells to carry oxygen.

Medications will also help prevent altitude sickness. While many of the prescription medications are available, an herbal remedy exists that offers terrific results.

Rhodiola and Altitude Sickness

Rhodiola is a plant found in the colder regions of the world. It has several shoots that grown out of a single root, and is often called Goldenroot. This plant has been used for many centuries as a treatment for a variety of health problems, ranging from depressions to cancer. While all of the benefits are still unknown, Rhodiola has been proven to reduce the occurrence of and the symptoms of altitude sickness.

In Tibet, this plant is known as hongjingtian, and has been used for generations to treat the symptoms of altitude sickness. Since Rhodiola is an adaptogen, it allows the bodily systems to operate more effectively and this includes the processing of oxygen in the blood and the lungs.

Side Effects of Rhodiola

One of the only reported side effects is of difficulty sleeping when taken directly at bedtime. However, when taken for sleep problems because of high altitude sickness, this does not seem to occur. There are also no known drugs that Rhodiola interacts with negatively.

In Closing

The full spectrum of benefits from this plant are still being researched. While numerous conditions exist that Rhodiola can treat, it is expected there are many more that it can treat. Research continues to determine other health problems that can be treated with Rhodiola.