Information On Golden Seal - Hydrastis Canadensis
Other Common Names: Eye Balm, Eye Root, Ground Raspberry,
Hidrastis, Hydrastis, Indian Dye, Indian Paint, Jaundice Root, Orange
Root, Turmeric Root, Warnera, Wild Curcuma, Yellow Puccoon, Yellow
Root, Hydrastis canadensis
Range: Eastern N. America - Connecticut to Minnesota, Missouri and Kansas
Habitat: Rich shady woods and moist areas on woodland edges.
The North American plant Golden Seal produces a drug which is
considered of great value in modern medicine. The generic name of the
plant, Hydrastis, is derived from two Greek words, signifying water and
to accomplish, probably given it from its effect on the mucous membrane.
It is official in most Pharmacopoeias, several of which refer to its yellowing the saliva when masticated.
Goldenseal is a traditional medicine of the North American Indians
and is still widely used in Western herbal medicine. In the Nineteenth
century it acquired a reputation as a heal-all and was grossly
over-collected from the wild and has become rare in the east of its
range. It is now being cultivated on a small scale. It is especially
valued in treating disorders of the digestive system and mucous
membranes and is also extremely useful in the treatment of habitual
constipation.
The root is the active part of the plant, it is harvested in the
autumn after the plant has died down and is dried for later use. It is
said to be antiperiodic, antiseptic, astringent, cholagogue, diuretic,
laxative, stomachic, tonic. It is used mainly in the treatment of
disorders affecting the ears, eyes, throat, nose, stomach, intestines
and vagina.
The root contains the alkaloids hydrastine, berberine and canadine.
Berberine is antibacterial (effective against broad-spectrum bacteria
and protozoa, it increases bile secretions, acts as an anticonvulsant,
a mild sedative and lowers blood pressure. Use of this plant destroys
beneficial intestinal organisms as well as pathogens, so it should only
be prescribed for limited periods (a maximum of three months). The
plant should be used with caution, and not at all during pregnancy or
by people with high blood pressure.
Goldenseal products are produced from the dried rhizome and root of
the plant. Berberine can be produced from cultures of Coptis japonica
and Thalictrum rugosum cells. Hydrastine can be produced from berberine.
Goldenseal tea is commercially available in health food stores.
Goldenseal is also an ingredient in some over-the-counter (OTC) herbal
dietary supplements, eardrops, feminine cleansing products, cold/flu
remedies, allergy relief products, laxative products, and digestive
support products. Berberine chloride and berberine sulfate are
ingredients in some commercial eyewash products. Hydrastine is an
ingredient in some decongestant nose sprays and feminine cleansing
products.
Goldenseal has been used to treat digestive and hemorrhagic
disorders, disorders of the genitourinary tract, upper respiratory
inflammation and congestion, mucous membrane inflammation, eczema,
pruritus, otorrhea, tinnitus, congestion/inflammation of the ear, and
conjunctivitis. It is claimed to be effective in treating cancers,
particularly of the ovary, uterus, and stomach. Goldenseal is stated
also to possess antiseptic, astringent, and hemostatic qualities when
applied topically. It has been used as a tonic, antiperiodic, diuretic,
and as a vaginal douche. OTC products containing goldenseal are sold
under the claim that they are effective in treating menstrual
disorders, minor sciatica, rheumatic and muscular pain, motion sickness
and nausea, and chronic diarrhea from protozoal, fungal, and bacterial
infections. Goldenseal is sometimes used to treat AIDS symptoms and
claims have been made that it is able to prevent the detection of
illicit drugs in urine.
Berberine has been used as a bitter tonic, diaphoretic, and
antipyretic, and for the treatment of skin diseases, eye infections,
liver diseases, and diarrhea. Studies have identified antiplatelet,
anticerebral ischemic, vasodilatory, and antirrhythmic pharmacologic
properties. It is believed to be the active ingredient in Coptis
rhizoma (used to treat amnesia). Berberine has been used to treat
bacterial and parasitical infections and may be effective in improving
cardiac performance in patients with heart failure. It is also used as
a fluorescent stain in medical research.
Hydrastine is claimed to be an abortifacient, antibiotic,
antitussive, antiuterotic, antivaginitic, bactericide, central nervous
system depressant, choleretic, convulsant, hemostat, hypertensive,
hypotensive, pesticide, sedative, uterotonic, and vasoconstrictor. In
the treatment of diarrhea, it has been found to have anti-microbial,
antimotility, and antisecretory properties.
Exposure to goldenseal occurs orally as a tea or capsule, or it can
be applied dermally as a skin lotion or to the eye as an eyewash. It is
also applied as a vaginal douche and as eardrops. Berberine and
hydrastine are also applied to the eyes as an eyewash. Hydrastine
exposure occurs also from the use of hydrastine-containing decongestant
nose sprays and feminine hygiene products.
Known Hazards: The whole plant is poisonous.
In humans, goldenseal may cause convulsions and irritation of the
mouth, throat, and stomach when taken orally in toxic doses.
Paresthesia, paralysis, respiratory failure, and death may follow.
Chronic use may inhibit vitamin B absorption, and sublethal doses may
induce labor if taken during pregnancy. While markedly improving
cardiac performance in patients with heart conditions, berberine also
induces ventricular tachycardia in some subjects. Berberine had an
anesthetic effect when injected subcutaneously (s.c.). Both berberine
and hydrastine produced parasympatholytic and anesthetic effects when
applied to the eyes. Hydrastine induced labor when taken orally by
pregnant women.
Other Common Names: Eye Balm, Eye Root, Ground Raspberry,
Hidrastis, Hydrastis, Indian Dye, Indian Paint, Jaundice Root, Orange
Root, Turmeric Root, Warnera, Wild Curcuma, Yellow Puccoon, Yellow
Root, Hydrastis canadensis
Range: Eastern N. America - Connecticut to Minnesota, Missouri and Kansas
Habitat: Rich shady woods and moist areas on woodland edges.
The North American plant Golden Seal produces a drug which is
considered of great value in modern medicine. The generic name of the
plant, Hydrastis, is derived from two Greek words, signifying water and
to accomplish, probably given it from its effect on the mucous membrane.
It is official in most Pharmacopoeias, several of which refer to its yellowing the saliva when masticated.
Goldenseal is a traditional medicine of the North American Indians
and is still widely used in Western herbal medicine. In the Nineteenth
century it acquired a reputation as a heal-all and was grossly
over-collected from the wild and has become rare in the east of its
range. It is now being cultivated on a small scale. It is especially
valued in treating disorders of the digestive system and mucous
membranes and is also extremely useful in the treatment of habitual
constipation.
The root is the active part of the plant, it is harvested in the
autumn after the plant has died down and is dried for later use. It is
said to be antiperiodic, antiseptic, astringent, cholagogue, diuretic,
laxative, stomachic, tonic. It is used mainly in the treatment of
disorders affecting the ears, eyes, throat, nose, stomach, intestines
and vagina.
The root contains the alkaloids hydrastine, berberine and canadine.
Berberine is antibacterial (effective against broad-spectrum bacteria
and protozoa, it increases bile secretions, acts as an anticonvulsant,
a mild sedative and lowers blood pressure. Use of this plant destroys
beneficial intestinal organisms as well as pathogens, so it should only
be prescribed for limited periods (a maximum of three months). The
plant should be used with caution, and not at all during pregnancy or
by people with high blood pressure.
Goldenseal products are produced from the dried rhizome and root of
the plant. Berberine can be produced from cultures of Coptis japonica
and Thalictrum rugosum cells. Hydrastine can be produced from berberine.
Goldenseal tea is commercially available in health food stores.
Goldenseal is also an ingredient in some over-the-counter (OTC) herbal
dietary supplements, eardrops, feminine cleansing products, cold/flu
remedies, allergy relief products, laxative products, and digestive
support products. Berberine chloride and berberine sulfate are
ingredients in some commercial eyewash products. Hydrastine is an
ingredient in some decongestant nose sprays and feminine cleansing
products.
Goldenseal has been used to treat digestive and hemorrhagic
disorders, disorders of the genitourinary tract, upper respiratory
inflammation and congestion, mucous membrane inflammation, eczema,
pruritus, otorrhea, tinnitus, congestion/inflammation of the ear, and
conjunctivitis. It is claimed to be effective in treating cancers,
particularly of the ovary, uterus, and stomach. Goldenseal is stated
also to possess antiseptic, astringent, and hemostatic qualities when
applied topically. It has been used as a tonic, antiperiodic, diuretic,
and as a vaginal douche. OTC products containing goldenseal are sold
under the claim that they are effective in treating menstrual
disorders, minor sciatica, rheumatic and muscular pain, motion sickness
and nausea, and chronic diarrhea from protozoal, fungal, and bacterial
infections. Goldenseal is sometimes used to treat AIDS symptoms and
claims have been made that it is able to prevent the detection of
illicit drugs in urine.
Berberine has been used as a bitter tonic, diaphoretic, and
antipyretic, and for the treatment of skin diseases, eye infections,
liver diseases, and diarrhea. Studies have identified antiplatelet,
anticerebral ischemic, vasodilatory, and antirrhythmic pharmacologic
properties. It is believed to be the active ingredient in Coptis
rhizoma (used to treat amnesia). Berberine has been used to treat
bacterial and parasitical infections and may be effective in improving
cardiac performance in patients with heart failure. It is also used as
a fluorescent stain in medical research.
Hydrastine is claimed to be an abortifacient, antibiotic,
antitussive, antiuterotic, antivaginitic, bactericide, central nervous
system depressant, choleretic, convulsant, hemostat, hypertensive,
hypotensive, pesticide, sedative, uterotonic, and vasoconstrictor. In
the treatment of diarrhea, it has been found to have anti-microbial,
antimotility, and antisecretory properties.
Exposure to goldenseal occurs orally as a tea or capsule, or it can
be applied dermally as a skin lotion or to the eye as an eyewash. It is
also applied as a vaginal douche and as eardrops. Berberine and
hydrastine are also applied to the eyes as an eyewash. Hydrastine
exposure occurs also from the use of hydrastine-containing decongestant
nose sprays and feminine hygiene products.
Known Hazards: The whole plant is poisonous.
In humans, goldenseal may cause convulsions and irritation of the
mouth, throat, and stomach when taken orally in toxic doses.
Paresthesia, paralysis, respiratory failure, and death may follow.
Chronic use may inhibit vitamin B absorption, and sublethal doses may
induce labor if taken during pregnancy. While markedly improving
cardiac performance in patients with heart conditions, berberine also
induces ventricular tachycardia in some subjects. Berberine had an
anesthetic effect when injected subcutaneously (s.c.). Both berberine
and hydrastine produced parasympatholytic and anesthetic effects when
applied to the eyes. Hydrastine induced labor when taken orally by
pregnant women.
- Errol Zeiger, Ph.D. National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
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