What Is Goldenseal Root Good For?

Goldenseal root, an herb used in American Indian folk medicine, is touted as a natural antiviral and antiseptic. Goldenseal is farmed and wild-harvested and is used to treat digestive disorders, eye infections and bacterial illnesses. Other common names for goldenseal are eye root, Indian plant, orange root and ground raspberry.

Physical Description

• Goldenseal, or Hydrastis canadensis, belongs to the buttercup family and is a perennial herb native to the northeastern United States and parts of Canada. It is a small plant with tiny flowers and a single fruit that resembles a large raspberry that it produces in the summertime. The stem is purple and hairy above ground and has a yellow knotted rootstock below.

Traditional Use

• The Cherokee used goldenseal as an appetite stimulant and for skin inflammations, while the Iroquois used it for liver diseases, pneumonia, stomach upset, fever and whooping cough. Goldenseal gained popularity in the late 1700s as a treatment for stomach disorders and eye and skin inflammations.

Modern Usage

• Marketing for goldenseal touts it as a digestive tonic, a disinfectant for cuts and scrapes, an astringent and an antibacterial for infectious conditions of the sinuses and urinary tract. Goldenseal is used to treat eye conditions and severe inflammation of mucous membranes and is available in mouthwash for canker sores and throat disturbances.

Medical Studies

• No thorough medical studies have tested the efficacy of goldenseal root, but one of the active ingredients in goldenseal, berberine, has undergone numerous clinical studies. Berberine, used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat dysentery and infectious diarrhea, may contain antibacterial properties and the ability to stimulate immune system responses. It has also been found to have cardiovascular benefits because it dilates blood vessels. Goldenseal has only trace amounts of berberine, so the benefits will not be as pronounced, and it is unlikely to have the same benefits as berberine alone.

  Herbalist Paul Bergner suggested in the article "Goldenseal and the Antibiotic Myth" that goldenseal's antimicrobial effectsare related to its natural ability to stimulate mucous flow, which in itself has innate antibiotic factors. He recommends goldenseal for chronic conditions such as bronchitis but cautions that overuse of the herb at the beginning of an illness may actually impede healing.

Side Effects

• Goldenseal may trigger side effects or interact poorly with medications, supplements or other herbs and should be taken under the supervision of a medical professional. Those suffering from hypertension and pregnant or nursing women should avoid goldenseal.

  Possible side effects include irritation of sensitive mucous membranes such as the throat, mouth and vagina, as well as stomach upset, constipation and nervousness. Excessive doses can cause respiratory failure. Long-term use may cause absorption problems with B vitamins.

Drug Interactions

• Goldenseal may intensify the effect of some drugs and is especially dangerous when taken in conjunction with prescription drugs that heighten sleepiness. Do not mix goldenseal with anticonvulsants, antidepressants, barbiturates or drugs used for insomnia.