A perennial dioecious herbaceous plant with a thick rhizome and a taproot. Its outer surface is golden, white in fracture, and turns pinkish after drying. The plant develops several unbranched stems; its leaves are succulent, alternate, sessile, elliptical, entire-edged, with a few small teeth near the apex. The inflorescence is a dense terminal corymb. The flowers are small, with four greenish sepals and four reddish petals. The fruit is a follicle.
It grows in high-altitude and northern regions of the Primorsky Krai, Kuril Islands, Amur region, northern Sakhalin, the tundra, northern Urals, Siberia, Chukotka Peninsula, Altai Mountains, and Eastern Siberia. Industrial harvesting is conducted in the Altai region, where thickets exist. It is also found in the mountainous areas of Eastern Kazakhstan.
The root contains essential oil (15%), tannins (15%), vitamins C and PP, flavones, lactones, and organic acids (oxalic, malic, citric, gallic, etc.). The active compound is the glycoside salidroside, with phenol alcohol p-tyrosol as its aglycone.
The underground parts of the plant, known as «golden root,» have been used since ancient times as a remedy to enhance physical and mental performance. Studies confirm that golden root preparations significantly boost productivity and shorten recovery time after intense exertion. Regular use of golden root preparations for neuroses improves sleep and appetite, reduces irritability, and alleviates unpleasant sensations in the heart region.
Pharmacological research at the Tomsk Medical Institute revealed stimulating effects on the central nervous system. The preparation also has adaptogenic properties. A liquid extract of golden root is recommended at a dosage of 15–20 drops 2–3 times a day. Beneficial effects have also been observed in cases of hypotension and hearing loss. Recent studies equate the effects of golden root preparations to those of traditional stimulants and tonics like ginseng and eleutherococcus.
Golden root attracts attention with its lush, tender green stems and greenish-yellow inflorescences. The young rhizome is smooth, golden-green, with a metallic sheen, giving the plant its name. Mature rhizomes, several decades old, can weigh up to seven kilograms. The rhizome is highly sensitive to mechanical damage, often resulting in the plant’s death.
The extract of golden root has been shown to alleviate drowsiness, headaches, irritability, and unpleasant heart sensations. It has a positive effect on liver function, the thyroid gland, and adrenal glands. Treatment of hypertension typically leads to normalization of blood pressure.