Scientific/Latin Name: Hydrastis canadensis
Place of Origin: North America
Commonly thought of: A Native American heal all.
Past Uses: Used by Native Americans for various health concerns such as skin diseases, ulcers, and gonorrhea. It was at one time used as a heal-all for infections, everything from eye to respiratory infections, as well as infectious diarrhea, even occasionally for treatment of cancer.
Active Constituents: berberine (For infections)
Medicinal uses: Used to treat various infections and prevent colds, though there is no scientific evidence to say it prevents colds or treats illness of any kind, it is still used religiously as an anti-bacterial to help treat eye infections, urinary infection, diarrhea, canker sores, and vaginitis. Sometimes used to boost the immune system and believed to have antiseptic properties and is often used to clean cuts and scrapes.
Usually used as: Teas, liquid or solid extract, tablets, or capsules
Growing/Wildcrafting: Highly endangered due to being over harvested because of high demand. If found in the wild (Native to Eastern North America) DO NOT HARVEST. In certain states it can land you a hefty fine. While difficult to find locally, you can purchase it online in the form of rhizomes. They can be fairly expensive because of the rarity of the plant and the time it takes to grow the plant to produce enough rhizomes. However rhizomes can be a much better choice to seeds as they are pre-established making them easier to grow.
Cautions: Safe for short term use by adults with very rare side effects including nausea and vomiting. There is very little information on using goldenseal long term and in high dosages, so proceed with caution if taking goldenseal long term or at higher dosage. Goldenseal should not be taken by pregnant or breastfeeding women, berberine, the active constituent is known to cause or worsen jaundice in newborns and could lead to a life threatening problem called kernicterus, caused by high dosages of Bilirubin (yellow pigment created as the body gets rid of old red blood cells) the Bilirubin can collect in the brain tissue and cause permanent brain damage, hearing loss, or even death. Therefore goldenseal should not be given to infants or young children.
Drug Interactions: Goldenseal interacts with a variety of different pharmaceuticals including blood thinners, Cyclosporine, Digoxin, Tetracycline, and various drugs such as those used in chemotherapy, some drugs that treat HIV, Viagra, Prozac, Allegra, and more.
Extra Notes: Some people believe that goldenseal will stop a positive test result on a drug test, however there is no proof of this to be true, and many studies have reported it being completely false.
How to make Preparations: Typically it is the underground part of the plant (Underground stem or root) that is dried to make preparations.
Sources:
"Goldenseal." NCCIH. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, Apr. 2012. Web. 23 June 2015. -- Website Link
Ehrlich, Steven D., NMD. "Goldenseal." University of Maryland Medical Center. University of Maryland, 17 Mar. 2013. Web. 23 June 2015.-- Website Link
This is also a good source of information for those of you putting together your Materia Medica (← Find out how to make your own on the side bar page titled "Materia Medica").
~Lindsey Shemwell (The Budding Botanist)
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