Goldenseal - The Miraculous American Herb

Goldenseal or yellow root as the American Indians named it is commonly found in the wild throughout the United States and Canada. It was widely used by native Indians for a series of ailments over hundreds of years. Although some scientific authorities tend to caution on the herb's possibility to cause heart attacks and respiratory paralysis, it is generally agreed that when used properly it can be of great benefit.

Northeastern Indians created a yellow dye by pounding its yellow roots and using the resulting yellow juice it produced. This liquid was also used for skin wounds, eyewashes, sore throat, childbirth recovery and digestive ailments.

The founder of the Thomsonian Herbal Medicine, Samuel Thomson, first recommended the herb as an antiseptic. Thomson is associated with changing the herb's Indian name, yellow root to goldenseal. Other uses included external use in hemorrhoid relief, pinkeye, rectal fissures, boils, wounds as well as eczema. Taken internally this herb was also effective when used for treating colds, diphtheria, tonsillitis, digestive disorders, uterine troubles, postpartum hemorrhage and as a digestive stimulant. It was also considered a tonic and after any major illness, was used during convalescence.

Goldenseal is recommended by herbalists today for external use as an antiseptic in cleaning wounds and in treating eczema, athlete's foot, ringworm, conjunctivitis, itching and also as a douche in postpartum uterine bleeding and to cease excessive menstrual flow. Other external uses include its usage as an astringent, antiseptic to treat canker sores, chapped lips and other external problems. Goldenseal is often applied internally for digestive disorders and colds and has also become a common homeopathy remedy, being prescribed in micro-doses for asthma, alcoholism, cancer, indigestion, liver ailments and hemorrhoids, this continuing to be a popular folk medicine.

Goldenseal is also known for treating fungal conditions, protozoan and bacterial infections. It is thought that the berberine compound found in golden seal is responsible for its anti bacterial and antimycotic properties. Berberine is known to be effective against amoebic dysentry caused by protozoa such as amoeba and giardia. Reports have also claimed the efficiency of berberine against the cholera bacteria. All these reports confirm goldenseal's enduring history as an effective gastrointestinal herbal remedy, especially in infectious diarrhea. It has further been suggested that berberine, in addition to destroying germs might also be responsible for boosting the immune system through encouraging and boosting macrophages or white blood cells that can consume and destroy disease causing microorganisms.

Goldenseal is also known to help soothe the intestinal mucosa and is thought to be responsible for stimulating bile secretion within humans, thus being of assistance in the digestion of fats. Some more recent animal studies have demonstrated that this unique and potent herb helps to reduce the occurrence of tumors, and can even reduce their size. This in turn sustains goldenseal's traditional and time honored use for treating different kinds of cancer. There is some talk of this herb playing an important role in future chemotherapy treatment for curing cancer. If proved so, it would indeed become a miraclulous and very valuable herb.