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 Although not officially recognized as effective,
goldenseal has been used as a remedy for the symptoms of many
conditions including sore mouth, sore throat, canker sores,
gingivitis (infected gums); stomachache, diarrhea, indigestion,
constipation, and ulcers; colds and flu; vaginal irritation;
earaches; mild conjunctivitis ("pink eye") or other eye irritations.
Externally, goldenseal has been used to treat wounds and skin and
eye infections.
While goldenseal is native to the forest and
wooded regions of eastern United States, primarily around the Ohio
river basin, is cultivated in Canada and the Pacific Northwest. The
goldenseal plant resembles daisies and has a medium-sized, bright
red berry that is very similar in appearance to a
raspberry.
The medicinal benefits of goldenseal are derived
from a compound known as berberine, that exhibits strong
anti-bacterial effects and has been shown to kill a variety of
germs, such as those that cause yeast infections, as well as various
parasites such as tapeworms and giardia. Many researchers also
believe that berberine may also be capable of activating white blood
cells, whereby making them more capable of fighting of infection.
For these reasons, it is used as an all-around disinfectant, both
externally and internally.
Goldenseal is believed to exhibit
only a localized effect in the gastrointestinal track as its
alkaloids (especially berberine) are no well absorbed into the
bloodstream, limiting any reaching antibiotic effects. While its
usefulness as a treatment for sore throats and diarrhea have not yet
been proven the herbs astringent properties most likely explain its
historical use for these conditions.
Dosage and
Usage
When taken internally, the usual daily dose is
250 to 500 milligrams, or 1/4 to 1 teaspoonful of fluid extract.
Since potency of commercial preparations may vary, you should always
follow the manufacturer's directions.
Supporting
Literature
Foster S, Tyler VE. Tyler’s Honest
Herbal. New York: Haworth Herbal Press, 1999, 195–197.
Murray,
MT. The Healing Power of Herbs. Rocklin, CA: Prima Publishing, 1995,
162–172.
Rabbani GH, Butler T, Knight J, et al. Randomized
controlled trial of berberine sulfate therapy for diarrhea due to
enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli and Vibrio cholerae. J Infect Dis
1987; 155:979-984.
Scazzocchio F, Cometa MF, Tomassini L, Palmery
M. Antibacterial activity of Hydrastis canadensis extract and its
major isolated alkaloids. Planta Med.
2001;67(6):561-564.
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