Condition
Acute Mountain Sickness
Acute mountain sickness is the headache, nausea, fatigue and poor sleep that can follow climbing to high altitude faster than the body can adjust to thinner air. Ginkgo biloba has the most support, and across six trials with over 800 people, symptoms eased, with moderate evidence. Rhodiola's active compound has mostly been studied in the lab, and gradual ascent remains the best-established approach.
Sources: PMID 12006162; PMID 15070635
- Supplements studied
- 3
- Graded outcomes
- 2
- Trials
- 7
- People studied
- 817
Evidence by supplement
- Strong
- Moderate
- Limited
- Very limited
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acute Mountain Sickness Symptoms Moderate Improvement | Improves (the measure goes down) | Moderate effect | 6 studies | 818 people | ||
Studies that measured acute mountain sickness symptoms
| ||||||
| Blood Pressure | Improves (the measure goes down) | 3 studies | 36 people | |||
| Heart Rate | Improves (the measure goes down) | 36 people | ||||
| Oxygen Uptake | Improves (the measure goes up) | 36 people | ||||
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hypoxia Tolerance Bioinformatics and metabolomics research suggests salidroside exerts anti-hypoxic effects by regulating the PTEN-mediated PI3K/Akt/NF-κB signaling pathway. Traditional use of Rhodiola at high altitude is consistent with this mechanism, but direct clinical evidence for isolated salidroside is lacking. | Improves (the measure goes up) | Small effect | 5 studies | |||
Studies that measured hypoxia tolerance | ||||||
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Motion Sickness Symptoms | Changes; see studies | 1 study | 83 people | |||
Studies that measured motion sickness symptoms | ||||||
Key findings
- Acute Mountain Sickness SymptomsImproves (the measure goes down)
- Hypoxia ToleranceImproves (the measure goes up)
The Acute Mountain Sickness Prevention & Relief protocol
2 primary supplements · 6 supporting supplements
- Ginkgo Biloba80–120 mg standardized extract twice daily, starting 5 days before ascent
- Iron (if deficient)Check ferritin before trip; supplement if <50 ng/mL with 30–60 mg elemental iron daily
Shop the evidence-backed picks
Support alongside medical care. These supplements are not a treatment for Acute Mountain Sickness. If you are being treated for it, talk to your clinician before adding one: supplements can interact with medicines.
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Studies cited
100 studies from PubMed
- Salidroside directly activates HSC70, revealing a new role for HSC70 in BDNF signalling and neurogenesis after cerebral ischemia.
- Salidroside pretreatment alleviates PM2.5 caused lung injury via inhibition of apoptosis and pyroptosis through regulating NLRP3 Inflammasome.
- Network pharmacology analysis combined with experimental validation to explore the therapeutic mechanism of salidroside on intestine ischemia reperfusion.
- Salidroside Attenuates Airway Inflammation and Remodeling via the miR-323-3p/SOCS5 Axis in Asthmatic Mice.
- Salidroside Exerts Beneficial Effect on Testicular Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury in Rats.
- Safety of a Sustainably Produced, Bioengineered, Nature-Identical Salidroside Compound.
- Salidroside in the Treatment of NAFLD/NASH.
- Salidroside protects endothelial cells against LPS-induced inflammatory injury by inhibiting NLRP3 and enhancing autophagy.
- The bioinformatics and metabolomics research on anti-hypoxic molecular mechanisms of Salidroside via regulating the PTEN mediated PI3K/Akt/NF-κB signaling pathway.
- Effect of Ginkgo biloba Extract on Cognitive Function: A Systematic Review
- Efficacy and Safety of Ginkgo biloba in Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Meta-Analysis
- Contribution of salidroside to the relieve of symptom and sign in the early acute stage of osteoarthritis in rat model.
- Salidroside Alleviates Cartilage Degeneration Through NF-κB Pathway in Osteoarthritis Rats.
- Salidroside inhibits platelet function and thrombus formation through AKT/GSK3β signaling pathway.
- Salidroside as a potential neuroprotective agent for ischemic stroke: a review of sources, pharmacokinetics, mechanism and safety.
- Ginkgo biloba Extract (EGb 761): Pharmacological Activities and Clinical Outcomes
- Ginkgo biloba L. Historical Background and Current Applications in Medicine
- Ginkgo biloba and Brain Health: A Comprehensive Review
- Safety Profile of Ginkgo biloba Extract: Evidence from Clinical Trials
- Salidroside Inhibits Lipopolysaccharide-ethanol-induced Activation of Proinflammatory Macrophages via Notch Signaling Pathway.
- Pharmacokinetics and Bioavailability of Ginkgo biloba Extract
- Neuroprotective Effects of Ginkgo biloba Extract: A Review
- Efficacy of Ginkgo biloba on Peripheral Arterial Disease: Meta-Analysis
- Ginkgo biloba Extract for Age-Related Macular Degeneration: A Meta-Analysis
- Salidroside inhibits inflammatory factor release in BV-2 cells through p38 and JNK pathways.
- Ginkgo biloba Extract for Cognitive Decline and Dementia: A Cochrane Review Summary
- Ginkgo biloba for Tinnitus: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
- Ginkgo biloba Special Extract EGb 761 in Dementia: A Review
- Efficacy of Ginkgo biloba in Treating Acute Ischemic Stroke: A Meta-Analysis
- Salidroside protects against kainic acid-induced status epilepticus via suppressing oxidative stress.
- Salidroside, a Bioactive Compound of Rhodiola Rosea, Ameliorates Memory and Emotional Behavior in Adult Mice.
- Salidroside exhibits anti-dengue virus activity by upregulating host innate immune factors.
- Salidroside protects Caenorhabditis elegans neurons from polyglutamine-mediated toxicity by reducing oxidative stress.
- Antidepressant-like effects of salidroside on olfactory bulbectomy-induced pro-inflammatory cytokine production and hyperactivity of HPA axis in rats.
- Salidroside attenuates LPS-stimulated activation of THP-1 cell-derived macrophages through down-regulation of MAPK/NF-kB signaling pathways.
- Rhodiola rosea extracts and salidroside decrease the growth of bladder cancer cell lines via inhibition of the mTOR pathway and induction of autophagy.
- Salidroside and tyrosol from Rhodiola protect H9c2 cells from ischemia/reperfusion-induced apoptosis.
- Reduction of rise in blood pressure and cortisol release during stress by Ginkgo biloba extract (EGb 761) in healthy volunteers
- Effects of alpha-lipoic acid supplementation in peripheral arterial disease: a pilot study
- Down syndrome and dementia: a randomized, controlled trial of antioxidant supplementation
- Effects of antioxidant supplements intervention on the level of plasma inflammatory molecules and disease severity of rheumatoid arthritis patients
- Effect of α-lipoic acid and exercise training on cardiovascular disease risk in obesity with impaired glucose tolerance
- Alpha-lipoic acid supplementation: a tool for obesity therapy?
- Effects of alpha-lipoic Acid on body weight in obese subjects
- Oral antioxidant supplementation does not prevent acute mountain sickness: double blind, randomized placebo-controlled trial
- A preliminary evaluation of a novel method to monitor a triple antioxidant combination (vitamins E, C and α-lipoic acid) in diabetic volunteers using in vitro methaemoglobin formation
- Glycemic and oxidative status of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus following oral administration of alpha-lipoic acid: a randomized double-blinded placebo-controlled study
- Complementary therapy in diabetic patients with chronic complications: a pilot study
- The effects of lipoic acid and α-tocopherol supplementation on the lipid profile and insulin sensitivity of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial
- Alpha-lipoic acid does not acutely affect resistance and conduit artery function or oxidative stress in healthy men
- Effects of Alpha-Lipoic Acid Supplementation on Inflammation, Oxidative Stress, and Serum Lipid Profile Levels in Patients with End-Stage Renal Disease on Hemodialysis
- Alpha-lipoic acid improves endothelial dysfunction in patients with subclinical hypothyroidism
- Irbesartan and lipoic acid improve endothelial function and reduce markers of inflammation in the metabolic syndrome: results of the Irbesartan and Lipoic Acid in Endothelial Dysfunction (ISLAND) study
- Oral antioxidants and cardiovascular health in the exercise-trained and untrained elderly: a radically different outcome
- Effects of supplementation with alpha-lipoic acid on exercise-induced activation of coagulation
- Efficacy and safety of antioxidant treatment with α-lipoic acid over 4 years in diabetic polyneuropathy: the NATHAN 1 trial
- Alpha-lipoic acid improves vascular endothelial function in patients with type 2 diabetes: a placebo-controlled randomized trial
- Effect of alpha-lipoic acid combined with creatine monohydrate on human skeletal muscle creatine and phosphagen concentration
- Alpha-lipoic acid modifies oxidative stress parameters in sickle cell trait subjects and sickle cell patients
- The use of alpha-lipoic acid (ALA), gamma linolenic acid (GLA) and rehabilitation in the treatment of back pain: effect on health-related quality of life
- Assessment of the antioxidant effectiveness of alpha-lipoic acid in healthy men exposed to muscle-damaging exercise
- Restoration of blood total glutathione status and lymphocyte function following alpha-lipoic acid supplementation in patients with HIV infection
- Efficacy of Alpha Lipoic Acid Supplementation in Sperm Parameters: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Trials.
- Effect of Ginkgo biloba (EGb 761) on treadmill walking time among adults with peripheral artery disease: a randomized clinical trial
- Study of the antiischemic action of EGb 761 in the treatment of peripheral arterial occlusive disease by TcPo2 determination
- 6-Month double-blind randomised clinical trial of Ginkgo biloba extract versus placebo in two parallel groups in patients suffering from peripheral arterial insufficiency
- Reduction of atherosclerotic nanoplaque formation and size by Ginkgo biloba (EGb 761) in cardiovascular high-risk patients
- Does Ginkgo biloba reduce the risk of cardiovascular events
- A new ginkgo fresh plant extract increases microcirculation and radical scavenging activity in elderly patients
- Ginkgo biloba for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in children and adolescents: a double blind, randomized controlled trial
- Polysomnographic effects of adjuvant ginkgo biloba therapy in patients with major depression medicated with trimipramine
- Ginkgo biloba for antidepressant-induced sexual dysfunction
- A placebo-controlled study of extract of ginkgo biloba added to clozapine in patients with treatment-resistant schizophrenia
- The effect of extract of ginkgo biloba addition to olanzapine on therapeutic effect and antioxidant enzyme levels in patients with schizophrenia
- A double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of extract of Ginkgo biloba added to haloperidol in treatment-resistant patients with schizophrenia
- Brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels and its Val66Met gene polymorphism predict tardive dyskinesia treatment response to Ginkgo biloba
- Phase II study of Ginkgo biloba in irradiated brain tumor patients: effect on cognitive function, quality of life, and mood
- Triple-blind, placebo-controlled trial of Ginkgo biloba in sexual dysfunction due to antidepressant drugs
- Short- and long-term effects of Ginkgo biloba extract on sexual dysfunction in women
- An examination of the efficacy of Ginkgo biloba extract EGb761 on the neuropsychologic functioning of cognitively intact older adults
- Acute cognitive effects of standardised Ginkgo biloba extract complexed with phosphatidylserine
- A double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial of Ginkgo biloba extract EGb 761 in a sample of cognitively intact older adults: neuropsychological findings
- Cognitive performance, SPECT, and blood viscosity in elderly non-demented people using Ginkgo biloba
- Ginkgo biloba extract EGb 761(R), donepezil or both combined in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease with neuropsychiatric features: a randomised, double-blind, exploratory trial
- Efficacy and tolerability of a once daily formulation of Ginkgo biloba extract EGb 761® in Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia: results from a randomised controlled trial
- Effects of Ginkgo biloba on cerebral blood flow assessed by quantitative MR perfusion imaging: a pilot study
- Ginkgo biloba special extract in dementia with neuropsychiatric features. A randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical trial
- Proof of efficacy of the ginkgo biloba special extract EGb 761 in outpatients suffering from mild to moderate primary degenerative dementia of the Alzheimer type or multi-infarct dementia
- Ginkgo biloba extract EGb 761® in dementia with neuropsychiatric features: a randomised, placebo-controlled trial to confirm the efficacy and safety of a daily dose of 240 mg
- Effect of Western medicine therapy assisted by Ginkgo biloba tablet on vascular cognitive impairment of none dementia
- A placebo-controlled, double-blind, randomized trial of an extract of Ginkgo biloba for dementia. North American EGb Study Group.
- Ginkgo biloba for prevention of dementia: a randomized controlled trial
- Ginkgo biloba for the prevention of severe acute mountain sickness (AMS) starting one day before rapid ascent
- Randomised, double blind, placebo controlled comparison of ginkgo biloba and acetazolamide for prevention of acute mountain sickness among Himalayan trekkers: the prevention of high altitude illness trial (PHAIT)
- Ginkgo biloba does--and does not--prevent acute mountain sickness
- Ginkgo biloba decreases acute mountain sickness in people ascending to high altitude at Ollagüe (3696 m) in northern Chile
- Ginkgo biloba and acetazolamide prophylaxis for acute mountain sickness: a randomized, placebo-controlled trial
- EGb 761 in control of acute mountain sickness and vascular reactivity to cold exposure
- Clonazepam quiets tinnitus: a randomised crossover study with Ginkgo biloba
- Ginkgo biloba for tinnitus