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Rooted

Other / General · also Nervous / Mental

Altitude illness (adjunct)

3 plants

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Headache, nausea, and poor sleep above ~2500 m is AMS until the exam says otherwise. Descent is the treatment. Acetazolamide still exists. Ginkgo has mixed, mostly unconvincing AMS-prevention trials and a bleeding file — relevant if they later need dexamethasone IM or a rescue. Rhodiola is marketed for altitude in some regions; evidence is thin. Ataxia or dyspnea at rest is an emergency, not a leaf.

Primary plants

  1. Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba)
    1
    GinkgoHuman data

    Ginkgo biloba

    Mixed AMS-prevention trials, often unimpressive. Bleeding.

    Typical. EGb 761-type products in some protocols — do not skip acetazolamide for this. Not roasted seed.

    Safety. Bleed. Not HACE/HAPE treatment.

Supportive plants2
  • Ginger (Zingiber officinale)
    GingerHuman data
    Zingiber officinale

    Nausea of AMS. Does not treat the altitude.

    Typical. 1–2 g dried rhizome/day divided.

    Safety. Extracts: bleeding.

  • Rhodiola (Rhodiola rosea)
    RhodiolaStrong traditional
    Rhodiola rosea

    Traditional/modern marketing for altitude fatigue. File thinner than acetazolamide by a long way.

    Typical. Root extract as labeled if they already take it for fatigue.

    Safety. Insomnia, irritability.

Clinical notes

  • Ataxia, confusion, or dyspnea at rest: descend and use the emergency protocol. Ginkgo does not treat HACE.

When this is not enough

  • HACE, HAPE, ataxia, dyspnea at rest, someone skipping descent for a tincture

Rooted is a private clinical reference for licensed practitioners. It is educational, not a treatment protocol, and not a substitute for the chart, the exam, or pharmacy review. Plant medicines interact with drugs and can harm liver, kidney, heart, pregnancy, and children.

All other / general diagnoses