Herb module

Hong Jing Tian

RhodiolaRhodiola rosea

A hardy mountain root, used in Resilience | Fós to support steady energy, cool the Lungs, and keep the Blood moving.

Hong Jing Tian is the root of rhodiola, a tough little plant that thrives in cold, rocky places. In Traditional Chinese Medicine it is used to tonify, to clear Heat from the Lungs, and to invigorate the Blood. In Resilience | Fós it works alongside other adaptogenic herbs to help the body stay steady under the strain of stress.

Best functions

Traditionally used to tonify and support Qi and Blood
Used to clear Lung Heat and nourish Lung Yin
Traditionally used to quiet a cough
Used to invigorate the Blood and keep it moving
Considered an adaptogen, used to help the body meet stress

Fascinating facts

One of its common English names is roseroot, because the freshly cut root gives off a scent like roses.
The plant is a small succulent with fleshy leaves and clusters of tiny yellow flowers. The root is the part used in medicine.
Hong Jing Tian is often pictured as the red root from high altitude. Its name begins with Hong, meaning red, and it brings to mind the climbers who live and work high in the mountains.
Researchers have looked at rhodiola as one of a small group of adaptogenic herbs, along with schisandra, Siberian ginseng, and ashwagandha, for its effects on the brain and nervous system. Studies suggest it may help calm stress-related inflammation in the nervous system.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine

Hong Jing Tian is a tonic herb with a sweet, bitter, and astringent flavor. It is cold in nature and enters the Heart, Kidney, Liver, Spleen, and Lung meridians.

Go deeperDownload the fact sheet on the Resilience · Fós page

Biomedical deep dive

Hong Jing Tian Rhodiola

From the Zoi Medicinals fact sheets’ Biomedical Details, with lines from Noa’s herb notes marked “Noa’s notes”.

On the fact sheet

Hong Jing Tian (Rhodiola, Rhodiola rosea) is cold, enters the HT, KI, LIV, SP and LU meridians; tonifies, clears Lung heat, nourishes Lung Yin and relieves cough, and invigorates the Blood. Resilience | Fós sheet

Key active constituents

The fact sheets don’t name constituents for this herb.

Pharmacology and mechanisms

Rhodiola is one of the adaptogens (herbs that help the body adapt to stress) in Resilience.
With schisandra, Siberian ginseng and ashwagandha, it has been shown to extend lifespan in stressed animals, support memory and learning, and lower stress sensitivity.
Rhodiola decreased stress-induced neuroinflammation (inflammation in the nervous system), measured by cortisone-related molecules.
Salidroside and rosavins (key compounds) inhibit MAO-A/B enzymes; antidepressant and anxiolytic (calming). · Noa’s notes
Adaptogenic: reduces cortisol and CRF (stress hormones) under stress via HPA axis (stress-response system) modulation. Noa’s notes
Anti-fatigue: improves VO2 max (oxygen use during exercise) and reduces lactic acid build-up. Noa’s notes

What the research says

A review of these four adaptogens summarized their effects on the brain and nervous system (Wróbel-Biedrawa and Podolak, Molecules 2024; Panossian, Ann N Y Acad Sci 2017).
Rhodiola lowered stress-induced neuroinflammation in studies (Wróbel-Biedrawa and Podolak, Molecules 2024).

Safety, interactions and cautions

Every Zoi fact sheet: do not use if pregnant or breastfeeding unless directed by your health care practitioner.
The Resilience | Fós fact sheet advises anyone with a medical condition or taking medication to consult their doctor before use, and to take it earlier in the day if it interferes with sleep.
Avoid in bipolar disorder (may trigger mania); caution with agitation. Noa’s notes
Use caution with stimulants and with high blood pressure. Noa’s notes
May interact with SSRIs and MAOIs (antidepressant medicines). Noa’s notes

In these Zoi formulas

Resilience | Fós (#6 on the fact sheet)

These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This product is not meant to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.