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Full Spectrum Rhodiola Holy Basil Valerian Stress Complex

Swanson Premium Brand

4.6
(270 ratings)
Rhodiola
Valerian 225 mg
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Score 70.0

A cost-effective blend of Rhodiola, Holy Basil, and Valerian designed to support stress relief, mood, and sleep. Offers a comprehensive approach with a very low price per serving, though individual ingredient dosages are modest and not standardized.

Quantity: 180 Capsule(s)Servings size: 1 Capsule(s) (180 servings)
Selected goals:
Other goals:
Mental Focus
Mood Support
Energy
Stress Relief
Anti-Inflammatory Support

Score 70.0

A cost-effective blend of Rhodiola, Holy Basil, and Valerian designed to support stress relief, mood, and sleep. Offers a comprehensive approach with a very low price per serving, though individual ingredient dosages are modest and not standardized.

Analysis

The Swanson Full Spectrum Rhodiola Holy Basil Valerian Stress Complex combines three well-known botanicals, each with a history of traditional use for managing stress and promoting well-being. Rhodiola rosea is an adaptogen known for enhancing resilience to stress, improving mental performance under fatigue, and supporting mood. Holy Basil, an Ayurvedic herb, is also an adaptogen revered for its calming properties, anti-inflammatory effects, and ability to reduce stress. Valerian root is primarily recognized for its sedative qualities, aiding in relaxation and sleep. The product aims to provide comprehensive support for mental focus, mood, energy (by reducing stress-induced fatigue), stress relief, and sleep, leveraging the synergistic potential of these ingredients. However, a notable aspect is the uniform dosage of 225mg for each ingredient, which may be below the optimal therapeutic range for some individuals, particularly as the extracts are not specified as standardized for active compounds (e.g., rosavins/salidrosides for Rhodiola or valerenic acids for Valerian). Despite this, its exceptionally low price per serving makes it a highly attractive option for those looking for an affordable, broad-spectrum herbal complex.

Pros
  • Offers an excellent price per serving, making it highly affordable for long-term use.
  • Combines three well-regarded adaptogenic and calming herbs that work synergistically.
  • Aims to address multiple related goals including stress, mood, and sleep support in one formula.
  • Large quantity of servings (180 capsules) provides a substantial supply.
Cons
  • Individual ingredient dosages (225mg per capsule) are on the lower end compared to research-backed therapeutic amounts for some effects.
  • The ingredients are not specified as standardized extracts, potentially leading to variability in potency and consistency.
  • The 'Energy' goal may contradict the 'Sleep Support' goal due to Valerian's sedative nature, requiring careful timing of dosage.
  • The anti-inflammatory and metabolism boost claims might not be strongly supported at the given dosages for Holy Basil.
Warnings
  • Valerian can cause drowsiness, so caution is advised when operating machinery or driving after consumption.
  • Individuals taking sedatives, antidepressants, or other medications should consult a healthcare professional due to potential interactions.
  • Pregnant or nursing women should avoid this product without medical supervision.
  • May cause mild gastrointestinal upset in some sensitive individuals.
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$16.39($0.09 per serving)
Amazon
$ 0.00
iHerb
$ 16.39
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Effectiveness for goals

Dosage, timing & forms

Safety & interactions

Ingredients

IngredientAmount per serving
Holy Basil 225 mg
Rhodiola 225 mg
Valerian 225 mg
Adults 18–50
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Categories

The 225mg of Rhodiola is a decent amount for general adaptogenic support, but it's on the lower end of clinically studied doses (often 200-600mg). The lack of standardization for rosavins and salidrosides, the key active compounds, means its potency might vary compared to other products.
The 225mg of Valerian provides a mild dose for relaxation. For significant sleep support, doses typically range from 300-600mg, and often standardized extracts are preferred for consistent potency. This dose might be effective for subtle calming but less so for pronounced sleep onset.

Goals

This is a core strength of the product, as Rhodiola, Holy Basil, and Valerian are all well-regarded for their stress-reducing properties. They work synergistically to help the body adapt to stressors and promote overall relaxation and resilience.
All three ingredients contribute to mood balance by mitigating stress and promoting a sense of calm. Rhodiola is particularly noted for its antidepressant and anxiolytic effects, making this blend suitable for general mood support.
Valerian is widely used as a mild sedative and sleep aid, and Holy Basil can also promote relaxation conducive to sleep. While the 225mg of Valerian may offer some benefit, it might be insufficient for pronounced sleep induction for individuals with more significant sleep disturbances.
75 Value

Valerian Root 200 mg

Swanson Superior Herbs
4.4
(228 ratings)
With a price per serving similar to the original ($0.08), this product provides a higher overall Valerian content (700mg whole herb + 400mg extract), offering more potent relaxation and sleep benefits for essentially the same cost-effectiveness.
78 Value

Super Cortisol Support

NOW
4.5
(5006 ratings)
At $0.17 per serving, it's slightly more expensive but offers a targeted blend for cortisol management, including Holy Basil and Rhodiola (albeit in smaller amounts than the original) alongside Relora, providing a more specialized and potentially more effective solution for stress related to cortisol imbalance.
82 Value

Adrenal Serenity

Natural Factors Stress-Relax
4.7
(5276 ratings)
For $0.22 per serving, this blend includes Sensoril Ashwagandha and Lavender with Rhodiola, offering a synergistic approach to stress relief that is highly regarded by nutritionists and reviewers. It provides a more potent and well-rounded adaptogenic effect than the original product.
85 Performance

Adrenal Optimizer

Jarrow Formulas
4.6
(2117 ratings)
This product offers a much broader and more comprehensive blend of adaptogens, including a standardized Rhodiola extract, Ashwagandha, Eleuthero, and more, along with B vitamins. It provides superior adrenal and overall stress support compared to the simpler Swanson blend, justifying its higher price per serving.
88 Performance

Sleep

NOW
4.3
(4327 ratings)
This alternative provides a significantly higher and standardized Valerian root extract (600mg) along with other potent sleep-aids like Hops and GABA. It offers a more robust and effective solution for sleep support, which is one of the key goals of the original product.
90 Performance

StressMaster

Advanced Nutrition by Zahler
4.3
(153 ratings)
Combining both Valerian (450mg) and Rhodiola (400mg) with a comprehensive array of other anxiolytic herbs and amino acids like L-Theanine and GABA, this product offers a much more potent and multi-faceted approach to stress relief and mood support than the original.
70 Budget

Valerian Root 475 mg

Swanson
4.7
(1761 ratings)
At $0.04 per serving, this is significantly cheaper than the original and provides a much higher dose of Valerian (950mg per serving), making it a more potent and cost-effective option specifically for sleep and relaxation.
68 Budget

Sleep Essentials

Swanson
4.5
(718 ratings)
Priced at $0.07 per serving, this product offers a blend of Valerian (100mg), Melatonin, and other calming herbs like Chamomile and Hops for a very low cost, providing a more comprehensive sleep-focused solution while remaining cheaper than the original.
60 Budget

Relax & Sleep

Mason Natural
4.4
(3270 ratings)
At $0.06 per serving, this is another very affordable option, containing a mix of traditional calming herbs. While its Valerian dose is very low (16mg extract), its overall cost-effectiveness for general relaxation is notable for its price point.
75 Value

Valerian Root 200 mg

Swanson Superior Herbs
4.4
(228 ratings)
With a price per serving similar to the original ($0.08), this product provides a higher overall Valerian content (700mg whole herb + 400mg extract), offering more potent relaxation and sleep benefits for essentially the same cost-effectiveness.
78 Value

Super Cortisol Support

NOW
4.5
(5006 ratings)
At $0.17 per serving, it's slightly more expensive but offers a targeted blend for cortisol management, including Holy Basil and Rhodiola (albeit in smaller amounts than the original) alongside Relora, providing a more specialized and potentially more effective solution for stress related to cortisol imbalance.
82 Value

Adrenal Serenity

Natural Factors Stress-Relax
4.7
(5276 ratings)
For $0.22 per serving, this blend includes Sensoril Ashwagandha and Lavender with Rhodiola, offering a synergistic approach to stress relief that is highly regarded by nutritionists and reviewers. It provides a more potent and well-rounded adaptogenic effect than the original product.
85 Performance

Adrenal Optimizer

Jarrow Formulas
4.6
(2117 ratings)
This product offers a much broader and more comprehensive blend of adaptogens, including a standardized Rhodiola extract, Ashwagandha, Eleuthero, and more, along with B vitamins. It provides superior adrenal and overall stress support compared to the simpler Swanson blend, justifying its higher price per serving.
88 Performance

Sleep

NOW
4.3
(4327 ratings)
This alternative provides a significantly higher and standardized Valerian root extract (600mg) along with other potent sleep-aids like Hops and GABA. It offers a more robust and effective solution for sleep support, which is one of the key goals of the original product.
90 Performance

StressMaster

Advanced Nutrition by Zahler
4.3
(153 ratings)
Combining both Valerian (450mg) and Rhodiola (400mg) with a comprehensive array of other anxiolytic herbs and amino acids like L-Theanine and GABA, this product offers a much more potent and multi-faceted approach to stress relief and mood support than the original.
Report alternatives