Goldenseal

Once an indigenous cure-all and later an enormously popular export to Europe, goldenseal may have vanished from widespread modern use, but thanks to the rise of herbal supplements and increasing knowledge of the plant's medicinal applications, it looks set to make a comeback. It is unknown exactly for how long goldenseal has been in human use, but records indicate that it was present in Native American cultures for thousands of years before the first documented European discovery. The plant hails from the temperate North American climates of southern Canada and the United States.

Health Benefits of Goldenseal

Goldenseal is considered as an anti-inflammatory, astringent, and a powerful bitter tonic. Some of goldenseal's key traditional uses include:

• Healing peptic ulcers. Goldenseal in taken for increasing stomach secretions, protecting mucus membranes and helping heal internal ulcers.

• Stopping diarrhea. Due to its astringent and antiseptic properties, goldenseal is highly effective treating diarrhea caused by bacterial infections.

• Treating gynecological complains. Goldenseal helps reduce heavy menstrual bleeding and has been used by herbalists for stopping postpartum hemorrhages. It is also useful for the topical treatment of vaginal infections.

The roots of goldenseal have been traditionally used for healing mucus membranes in eye, ear, nose, and throat infections.

THE PLANT CAN BE A HEMOSTATIC SUBSTANCE USEFUL FOR REDUCING HEAVY MENSTRUAL BLEEDING AND POSTPARTUM HEMORRHAGE.

How It Works

The roots of goldenseal are known to contain isoquinoline alkaloids, mainly hydrastine, canadine, and berberine.

Hydrastine promotes nervous system health and is thought to be responsible for much of the plant's medicinal value. Canadine, on the other hand, works stimulating the muscles of the uterus.

Berberine is a bitter, antibacterial, and amebicidal compound, which greatly contributes to the healing properties of the plant. Some research also suggests that its berberine content means that goldenseal is capable of lowering blood pressure and cholesterol levels, but evidence to support these claims remains insufficient.

While the exact mechanism behind many of goldenseal's medicinal actions remains uncertain, goldenseal can be used internally as a herbal stomachic to treat gastritis, peptic ulcers, diarrhea, and constipation.

Cabbage and marigold are also good for healing peptic ulcers and treating bacterial infections, whereas blackberry and meadowsweet are also used for relieving diarrhea and other stomach complaints.

Goldenseal Side Effects

Among the most prevalent side effects that goldenseal can lead to are digestive complaints, such as constipation or acid reflux, as well as vomiting, nausea, and occasional transient tachycardia.

In some cases, long term consumption of goldenseal has also been associated with central nervous system depression, but this is very rare. If any of these symptoms appear, it's best to discontinue goldenseal use.

Goldenseal Cautions

Pregnant or breastfeeding women should not consume goldenseal, as berberine can cause jaundice and lead to other problems in newborns. Likewise, babies and young children should not be given goldenseal.

In addition, those with high blood pressure, liver disease, or heart disease should avoid the herb.

Goldenseal may interact with other medications and herbs, so those wishing to take it in medicinal amounts should check with their doctor first.

Goldenseal roots are consumed medicinally and can be made into different preparations to suit personal preferences. Goldenseal is often combined with other herbs, such as echinacea and burdock.

Natural Forms

• Decoctions. The dried roots of goldenseal can be boiled with water to make a concentrated preparation. 50 mL of goldenseal decoction can be gargled three to four times a day for sore throat relief.

• Infusion. The roots can be steeped in hot water to obtain an infusion, which can be used as an eyewash and as a mouthwash for relieving gum disease, as well as for treating psoriasis. It can also be used as an effective douche for yeast infections and other vaginal complains.

Herbal Remedies & Supplements

• Tincture. According to traditional herbalism, 20 drops of goldenseal tincture can be mixed with a glass of water and taken to reduce excess mucus up to three times a day.

• Capsules. Capsules and other supplements provide a consistent, known dosage of goldenseal's active compounds.

A perennial plant, goldenseal grows best in cool temperatures.

Growing Guidelines

• Goldenseal requires temperatures that average 60°F (15°C) and 60 - 80% shade.

• It is generally propagated manually, from two-inch (5 cm) clippings of an existing rhizome, in well-drained, slightly acidic soil beds.

• New plants should be started in autumn and watered throughout the winter if rainfall is sparse. 

• Three years after planting, the roots can be harvested in the fall for medicinal use.

Plant Biology

Goldenseal is a small, herbaceous perennial plant, growing up to one foot (30 cm) tall. It is characterized in the herbal community by its thick, yellow rhizomes. Large, soft leaves are deeply grooved and divided into five segments. The small, white flowers turn into red berries, though these parts of the plant are inedible. The highest density of nutrients, and thus the most utilized part of the plant, all grows below ground.

• Classification

  Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis), also called orangeroot or yellow puccoon, is a member of the Ranunculaceae or buttercup family, which encompasses about 1,700 species of flowering plants across over 60 genera. Other medicinal herbs within this large family are black cohosh (Actaea racemosa) and hepatica (Hepatica americana.)

• Related Species

  A different species that also uses "goldenseal" as a common name, once known Hydrastis palmatum, hails from Japan and is commonly known as Japanese wood poppy. Further research, however, has led to it becoming reclassified to another genus within the buttercup family and referred to scientifically as Glaucidium palmatum. 

  No true subspecies of goldenseal exist, and in North America, only Hydrastis canadensis is widely recognized.

Historical Information

Indigenous American tribes, including the famous Cherokee of the American southeast, first used the herb as a general healing salve to treat respiratory and digestive conditions.

Colonial settlers were later introduced to its abilities in the 17^th and 18^th centuries, and by 1850 goldenseal was shipped by the ton to Europe. Within 50 years, European shipping had resulted in the decimation of a population that has never fully recovered.

Economic Data

At the height of its popularity around the turn of the 20^th century, an estimated 300,000 tons of goldenseal were shipped from the U.S. to various European countries each year. Though the U.S. still leads production of the plant today, demand has drastically decreased worldwide, as shown by a 2012 announcement from the American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) stating that less than 10% of all harvested root is now sold overseas. Commercial cultivation is, however, on the rise due to herbal supplement manufacturing.

Popular Beliefs

A rumor has grown that goldenseal's properties can mask illegal drugs in urine tests. However, research and trials have proven the myth false against marijuana, cocaine, and amphetamines