General Description
Goldenseal is a small perennial plant that grows to a height of
6 to 20 inches. Native to eastern North America, goldenseal is found
in moist woodlands and meadows. The plant has a hairy, purple stem
that grows from a small, twisted rhizome, which is usually less
than 2 inches long. The top of the stem has three to five leaves,
which are up to 12 inches across and are deeply divided into five
or seven lobes. These pointed lobes have finely toothed edges and
are covered with soft down. Flowering in May, goldenseal has a single,
1/2 inch diameter blossom with no petals. It has numerous stamens
and three greenish-white sepals, which resemble petals. The sepals
fall off when the flower opens. Goldenseal bears an inedible, red
fruit which resembles a raspberry. The dried rhizome of the plant
is used for health purposes.
Health applications
- Immune system support
- Common cold
- Flu
- Diarrhea
- Infection
History and traditional use
Goldenseal was used extensively by Native Americans for a variety
of purposes. Eastern tribes such as the Cherokee used goldenseal
as a clothing dye and, mixed with beargrease, as an insect repellant.
Highly valued as a medicinal herb, goldenseal was used internally
to treat inflammatory conditions associated with allergy or infection,
especially in the respiratory, digestive, and urinary tracts. Externally,
the herb was used for eye and skin ailments.1
Chemical composition
The chief active components in goldenseal are the alkaloid compounds
berberine, hydrastine, canadine, and berberastine. Berberine is
the most extensively researched of the four compounds, and is
believed to be the most biologically active.
Immune system support
Goldenseal is a popular herbal supplement (often used in combination
with echinacea) for stimulating the immune system, particularly
to help fight colds and flu. Although little research has been
conducted on goldenseal itself, in vitro studies on berberine
indicate that the compound has direct activity against fungi,
bacteria, and viruses.2,3 One study on malaria
patients showed that, when combined with the antimalarial drug
pyrimethamine, berberine was more effective than standard antibiotics
in killing malaria-causing organisms.4 In
laboratory studies, berberine has demonstrated anti-inflammatory,5
anti-tumor,6-8 and anti-diarrheal
9 activity, but these effects have not been demonstrated
in human studies.
Dosage/toxicity
The recommended dosage for goldenseal supplements depends upon
their berberine content. The following doses can be taken three
times daily: dried root (as an infusion or tea), 2-4 grams; tincture
(1:5), 6-12 milliliters; fluid extract (1:1), 2-4 milliliters;
powdered dry extract (8-12 percent alkaloid content), 250-500
mg.1 Goldenseal has no known toxicity within
this dosage range. |
