Rhodiola or Alpine rose, or even Pink Stonecrop, Rhodiola Rosea, from the Crassulaceae family, is a plant that is particularly resistant to extremely cold environments and has a rhizome with a rose scent.

Rhodiola is found in the wild in polar regions such as the Arctic, the Canadian Far North or Siberia, the high mountain areas of Europe - Switzerland, Austria, Scandinavia, but also in Central Asia (Siberia, Mongolia, etc.). This plant is adaptogenic, meaning that it has the ability to generally increase the body's resistance to the various stresses that affect it.

Widely used in traditional Russian and Scandinavian medicines to combat stress, increase physical and mental faculties, among other properties. The Chinese Emperor Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty sent expeditions to the Altai Mountains and Siberia to bring back this plant that he venerated and called "herb given by the gods", and which was used in medicinal preparations. Rhodiola is cited by Dioscorides in 77 AD, in his reference work De Materia Medica, under the name Rodia riza. In 1753, the naturalist Linnaeus gave the plant its scientific name in his work Species plantarum.
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Apothecaries used Alpine rhodiola in their preparations.

Its adaptogenic and antioxidant properties, among others, have been the subject of numerous scientific publications.
The study of the morphological and phytochemical variability of natural populations in the Swiss Alps has highlighted the high content of active ingredients in native rhodiola, in particular salidroside and rosavins, the two sought-after active ingredients.

In cosmetics too, rhodiola is recognized for its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, radioprotective properties, limiting the harmful effects of the external environment and the damage caused by free radicals. Its extract from the roots of the plant is an ingredient of choice to fight against skin aging.

Research has indeed shown that free radicals increase considerably when the body is exposed to environmental chemicals and harmful sun rays. Free radicals also alter metabolic processes and create defective proteins and other components. In the case of the skin, premature aging, fine lines and wrinkles begin to appear. Antioxidants neutralize free radicals and destructive oxygen species, reverse the damage caused to skin cells and help the skin regain its firmness, tone and radiance.

This precious active ingredient with powerful antioxidant properties is suitable for mature skin of women and men as well as sensitive skin. It will also suit younger skins that want to stay that way.
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In order to preserve wild populations of rhodiola, protected plants, the extracts are made from flowers grown in Valais.
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WARNING: the properties of the plants are communicated for information purposes based on information from reference books and websites and cannot be considered as therapeutic prescriptions.
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Sources: Agroscope, Switzerland: https://www.admin.ch/gov/fr/start/documentation/communiques.msg-id-26282.html
PhytoArk: https://www.phytoark.ch/fr/news/mediplant--de-nombreuses-possibilites-de-valorisation-des-plantes-seches-10920
https://www.evoleina-rhodiola.ch/downloads/DossiercompletRacinedORV1.pdf
Researgate:
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/363868476_Rapid_determination_of_22_functional_components_in_cosmetics_using_ultra-high_performance_liquid_chromatography-linear_ion_traporbitrap_high_resolution_mass_spectrometry​
Plants and Health Review https://www.plantes-et-sante.fr/articles/phytotherapie/2867-augmentez-votre-resistance-grace-a-la-rhodiole
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