BT-115 · Ranunculaceae

Goldenseal

Hydrastis canadensis
Evidence: TraditionalCautionOverharvested

So much was dug from the wild that it was listed under CITES in 1997; today it is grown in forest farming.

Other names
Orangeroot, yellow root
Part used
Root and rhizome
Region
North America
Use
Healing
Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis): lobed leaves and red fruit
Photo: Cephas · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
In short

What is Goldenseal?

Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis) is a plant of the Ranunculaceae family. Traditions that use it: North America. Part used: root and rhizome.

What is Goldenseal used for?

Traditional use: The Cherokee and Iroquois used its yellow root for eye and skin inflammation, wounds and mouth sores; it also gives a yellow dye. Scientific evidence: traditional. Its active compound is berberine.

Is Goldenseal safe?

Safety label: caution. It slows the liver breakdown of many medicines (CYP2D6 and CYP3A4). Not for use in pregnancy, breastfeeding or newborns; berberine can worsen jaundice in babies.

Traditional use

North America

The Cherokee and Iroquois used its yellow root for eye and skin inflammation, wounds and mouth sores; it also gives a yellow dye.

Today

Sold mixed with echinacea in cold products.

In nature

Where it grows
Moist, shady deciduous forests of the eastern US and southern Canada.
Harvest season
Roots are dug in autumn, after the seeds fall.
Local names
No established Turkish name; goldenseal, altınmühür

Mix-up risk

Commercial products may be cut with cheap berberine sources (Berberis, Coptis).

Preparation

Root powder is used as capsules or tincture, or as a mouth rinse.

What science says

Its active compound is berberine. Human studies with goldenseal itself are very few; the NCCIH says there is no reliable evidence for any use, including colds. The claim that it “cleans” drug tests is false.

Safety

Caution

It slows the liver breakdown of many medicines (CYP2D6 and CYP3A4). Not for use in pregnancy, breastfeeding or newborns; berberine can worsen jaundice in babies.

Drug interactions

Medicine or substanceWhy it matters
Drugs broken down by CYP2D6 and CYP3A4 (some antidepressants, heart drugs, statins, midazolam)May raise drug levels.
MetforminReported to change its effect.

This list is not complete. If you take regular medication, ask your pharmacist or doctor before trying Goldenseal.

Conservation

CITES
Appendix II (since 1997)
Note
Digging the root from the wild has severely reduced wild populations; it is protected in many US states.
Alternative
Products from forest-farmed root.

Similar plants

Echinacea (Echinacea purpurea): purple flowers with spiny cone
BT-097

Echinacea

Echinacea purpurea, E. angustifolia
Asteraceae
Evidence: LimitedGenerally safe
Black cohosh (Actaea racemosa): white flower spikes
BT-099

Black cohosh

Actaea racemosa
Ranunculaceae
Wild-harvested
Evidence: LimitedCaution
Black seed (Nigella sativa): white flower
BT-015

Black seed

Nigella sativa
Ranunculaceae
Evidence: LimitedGenerally safe

Sources

  1. NCCIHUS National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: use and safety summary
  2. ResearchAltınmühür, kava, karayılan ve kediotunun insan CYP enzimlerine etkisi
  3. Botanical recordKew Plants of the World Online: Hydrastis canadensis
  4. Titles of research sources are summarised in Turkish on the Turkish page; links open the original English publications.

Written by Edanaz Tınmazlar · Last reviewed: · Türkçe

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