Is Burnout Real?

In May 2019, the World Health Organization officially included it in its International Classification of Diseases. This recognition confirmed that burnout was not a figment of imagination, or something suffered only by "weak" or "unmotivated" individuals.

Medical treatments for this condition are limited. The Mayo Clinic recommends sleep and relaxation.2 But now there is hope for 30% to 72% of people who work with burnout syndrome.3,4 In a recent human study, patients who took an extract of the Rhodiola herb experienced profound reductions in burnout symptoms in just one week. This included a decrease in feelings of overload, tension, fatigue, and general stress. At the same time, Rhodiola led to improvements in cognition and high-level decision-making.5

This recent clinical trial, in addition to previous studies, shows that this low-cost plant extract provides a much-needed approach to burnout syndrome, which can encompass many aspects of normal aging.

Workplace stress is increasing worldwide.6 The combination of work-related pressure, fatigue, and exhaustion has long been informally called wear and tear. But until 2019, it had no official definition. This changed with the recognition of occupational burnout, in the most recent version of the International Classification of Diseases, as "a syndrome ... resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed."1

Feelings of low energy or exhaustion, increased mental "distance" from one's job, or feelings of negativity or cynicism toward one's job, and reduced professional efficacy (ability to do a job well).

Virtually all working individuals are at risk of burnout. Rates range from 30% in teachers and medical students to up to 72% among some highly stressed professionals.3,4,6

But as burnout was not considered a real syndrome until recently, few treatments were available.

Rhodiola rosea is an herb that grows in cold, mountainous regions of Europe and Asia. Its roots are rich in beneficial compounds, including a group of substances with a wide variety of health benefits called phenylpropanoids. These include rosavin, resin, and rosarin, found only in Rhodiola.5 Rhodiola root is known as an adaptogen, a plant that helps the body adapt and resist physical, environmental, and oxidative stress.5,7 Dried Rhodiola extract has been used for centuries to relieve stress and reduce fatigue.5,8,9

Unlike drugs that stimulate the central nervous system, Rhodiola can improve performance without a subsequent "crash" or loss of work capacity.10-12 In fact, Rhodiola provides emotional stabilization and mental stimulation.

Burnout is characterized by feelings of workplace stress, frustration, and job dissatisfaction.

A new study shows that an extract of the Rhodiola rosea herb, long used to alleviate stress, safely and effectively reduces burnout symptoms.

Individuals with burnout who took 200 mg of Rhodiola extract twice daily felt less tense and tired and performed better on executive function tests.

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