Try adding 1 ounce of Panax ginseng to a pot of chicken soup. It is great during the winter when stress is high.
This information is not intended to be a substitute for qualified medical intervention, counseling, or testing. Talk with your health-care practitioner if you are taking or considering taking any herbal medicine, especially if you are already taking prescription medications. If you experience ANY side effects, stop the herb and report the side effects to your health-care practitioner immediately.
GOLDENSEAL
(Hydrastis canadensis)
Historical Uses
Sometimes called “poor man’s ginseng,” goldenseal was discovered by Cherokee Indians who used it for eyewashes, acne, and eczema. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations cites goldenseal as one of the best-selling herbs internationally (Bannerman,1997). It is very bitter.
Growth
Goldenseal is found in wooded areas in eastern North America, but it is endangered because of overharvesting. The plant prefers moist soil and shade.
Part Used
•
RootMajor Chemical Compounds
•
Alkaloids of berberine and hydrastineClinical Uses
Goldenseal is used for infections of the mucous membranes, digestive disorders, gas- tritis, peptic ulcers, colitis, and traveler’s diarrhea. It has been used to treat streptococ- cus, staphylococcus, and bacterial vaginosis. Werbach and Murray (1994) note that goldenseal’s major constituent (berberine) has also been effective in treating candidi- asis. Scientists have disproved the rumor that goldenseal masks morphine in urine testing (Foster & Duke, 1990).
Mechanism of Action
Berberine has antibacterial, antifungal, and antiprotozoal properties and is bacterio- static for streptococci (Werbach & Murray, 1994; Alternative Medicine Review, 2000). Berberine is responsible for the yellow color of goldenseal.
Dosage
Use standardized extract of 5 percent to 15 percent berberine.
Capsules: 250 to 500 mg three times a day. Combination products that contain
disrupts intestinal flora. A dose of Lactobacillus acidophilus should be given with goldenseal because it is a helpful bacteria for the intestine (Ottariano, 1999).
Side Effects
Goldenseal may interfere with vitamin B metabolism. The German Commission E has noted significant nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and respiratory and cardiac depression in dogs and cats given high doses (25 mg/kg) of goldenseal (Chichon, 2000). Golden- seal may lower blood glucose levels.
Contraindications
•
Goldenseal is contraindicated during pregnancy.Herb-Drug Interactions
None are known.
Pregnancy and Breast-Feeding
Goldenseal should not be used by pregnant women because it has uterine stimulant effects (Blumenthal et al., 1998; McGuffin et al., 1997). It also should not be used dur- ing breast-feeding.
SUMMARY OF STUDIES
Govindan & Govindan (2000). Ten samples of goldenseal were analyzed by thin-layer chro-
matography. Only five contained both hydrastine and berberine; four contained berberine; and one did not contain either of the alkaloids.
REFERENCES
Alternative Medicine Review (2000). Berberine. 5(2), 175–177.
Bannermann, J. (1997). Goldenseal in world trade: Pressures and potentials. HerbalGram, 41, 51–52. Blumenthal, M., Busse, W., Goldberg, A., Gruenwald, J., Hall, T., Riggins, C., & Rister, R. (Eds.). (1998). The
complete German Commission E monographs: Therapeutic guide to herbal medicines. (S. Klein & R. Rister,
Trans.). Austin, TX: American Botanical Council; Newton, MA: Integrative Medicine Communications. Chichon, P. (August 2000). Herbs and the common cold. Advance for Nurse Practitioners, 31–32. Foster, S., & Duke, J. (1990). Eastern/central medicinal plants. New York: Houghton Mifflin.
Govindan, M., & Govindan, G. (2000). A convenient method for the determination of the quality of golden- seal. Fitoterapia, 71(3), 232–235.
McGuffin, M., Hobbs, C., Upton, R., & Goldberg, A. (1997) Botanical Safety Handbook (p. 62). New York: CRC Press.
Ottariano, S. (1999). Medicinal herbal therapy: A pharmacist’s viewpoint (pp. 132–134). North Hampton, NH: Nicolin Fields Publishing.
Werbach, M., & Murray, M. (1994). Botanical influences on illness: A source book of clinical research (pp. 23–24, 110, 203–204). CA: Third Line Press.
NOTES
This information is not intended to be a substitute for qualified medical intervention, counseling, or testing. Talk with your health-care practitioner if you are taking or considering taking any herbal medicine, especially if you are already taking prescription medications. If you experience ANY side effects, stop the herb and report the side effects to your health-care practitioner immediately.
© Copyright 2002 F. A. Davis Publishing Company
PATIENT INFORMATION
GOLDENSEAL
(Hydrastis canadensis)
Historical Uses
Sometimes called “poor man’s ginseng,” goldenseal was discovered by Cherokee Indians, who used it for eyewashes, acne, and eczema. The Food and Agriculture organization of the United Nations cites goldenseal as one of the best-selling herbs internationally. It is very bitter.
Growth
Goldenseal is found in wooded areas in eastern North America, but it is endan- gered because of overharvesting. The plant prefers moist soil and shade.
Part Used
•
RootMedical Uses
Goldenseal is used for infections of the mucous membranes, digestive disorders, gastritis, peptic ulcers, colitis, and traveler’s diarrhea. It has been used to treat strepto- coccus, staphylococcus, and bacterial vaginosis. Goldenseal’s major constituent (berberine) has also been effective in treating candidiasis (yeast infections). Scientists have disproved the rumor that goldenseal masks morphine in urine testing.
Dosage
Use standardized extract of 5 to 15 percent berberine.
Capsules: 250 to 500 mg three times a day. Combination products that contain
goldenseal should be taken four times a day. Use goldenseal for only 1 week because it disrupts intestinal flora. A dose of Lactobacillus acidophilus should be given with gold- enseal because it is a helpful bacteria for the intestine.