Post by Sam on May 20, 2018 6:47:23 GMT -5
A long time staple in the Appalachian Mountains (and other places) herbalists home remedy arsenal is Goldenseal. It is known by many names over its growing range. Most common locally are Yellow Puccoon or Yellow Root. Other common names include but are not limited too, Eye Balm, Goldenroot, Ground Raspberry (because the seed cluster resembles a raspberry), Indian Dye, Turmeric Root, Warnera, Wild Curcuma, Yellow Indian Paint, Yellow Paint. A lot of these names are, of course, from the yellow, staining, sap contained in the root.
Goldenseal is an herb. The dried root is used to make medicine.
Goldenseal is used for many conditions, but so far, there isn’t enough scientific evidence to determine whether or not it is effective for any of them.
It is generally accepted that goldenseal is NOT effective for its most famous use, masking illegal drugs in the urine. Despite rumors to the contrary, goldenseal won’t cause false-negative results for marijuana, cocaine, amphetamines or numerous other illegal drugs.
Goldenseal is also used for the common cold and other upper respiratory tract infections, as well as stuffy nose and hay fever. Some people use goldenseal for digestive disorders including stomach pain and swelling (gastritis), peptic ulcers, colitis, diarrhea, constipation, hemorrhoids, and intestinal gas. My father chewed a bit to relieve indigestion including acid reflux.
Goldenseal is used for urinary tract infections (UTIs), internal bleeding, bleeding after childbirth, liver disorders, cancer, chronic fatigue syndrome, jaundice, gonorrhea, fever, pneumonia, malaria, whooping cough, and an eating disorder called anorexia.
Women use goldenseal for vaginal pain and swelling and menstrual period problems.
Goldenseal is applied to the skin for rashes, ulcers, wound infections, itching, eczema, acne, dandruff, ringworm, herpes blisters, and cold sores. It is used as a mouthwash for sore gums and mouth.
Some people use goldenseal as an eyewash for eye inflammation and eye infections called conjunctivitis, or “pink eye.”
Goldenseal is used in the ears for ringing, earache, and deafness.
Goldenseal is commonly found in the deep woods from Vermont to Arkansas. It is particularly prolific in and around the Ohio Valley. Goldenseal received its name from the golden-yellow scars on the base of the stem. When the stem is broken, the scar resembles a gold wax letter seal.
How does it work?
Goldenseal contains the chemical berberine, which might have effects against bacteria and fungi. For example, it can prevent the bacteria Escherichia coli (E. coli) from binding to urinary tract walls. Berberine also has properties that can lower blood pressure and improve irregular heartbeats. In addition, early research suggests that berberine can lower blood sugar and “bad” low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol.
The most common element sought for its medicinal qualities in goldenseal is berberine. Most research fails to find evidence that the amount of berberine ingested through common home use is sufficient to make any great difference in ones overall health. Many, many herbalists disagree and rely heavily on goldenseal. Goldenseal is unquestionably more potent if the roots are gathered and a tincture (combined with alcohol) is made.
I've hesitated to include much about Goldenseal or Ginseng here as they have been over harvested in many areas to the point of extinction (in those areas).
If the gathering or use of berberine intrigues you there is a much more acceptable source. It is Japenese Barberry. This prickly shrub is VERY invasive and NEEDS harvested to the point of elimination but its roots too contain high concentrations of the yellow berberine.
Here is a couple of photos I snapped recently of Goldenseal in bloom. I hope to get back to photograph it once it seeds.
Goldenseal is an herb. The dried root is used to make medicine.
Goldenseal is used for many conditions, but so far, there isn’t enough scientific evidence to determine whether or not it is effective for any of them.
It is generally accepted that goldenseal is NOT effective for its most famous use, masking illegal drugs in the urine. Despite rumors to the contrary, goldenseal won’t cause false-negative results for marijuana, cocaine, amphetamines or numerous other illegal drugs.
Goldenseal is also used for the common cold and other upper respiratory tract infections, as well as stuffy nose and hay fever. Some people use goldenseal for digestive disorders including stomach pain and swelling (gastritis), peptic ulcers, colitis, diarrhea, constipation, hemorrhoids, and intestinal gas. My father chewed a bit to relieve indigestion including acid reflux.
Goldenseal is used for urinary tract infections (UTIs), internal bleeding, bleeding after childbirth, liver disorders, cancer, chronic fatigue syndrome, jaundice, gonorrhea, fever, pneumonia, malaria, whooping cough, and an eating disorder called anorexia.
Women use goldenseal for vaginal pain and swelling and menstrual period problems.
Goldenseal is applied to the skin for rashes, ulcers, wound infections, itching, eczema, acne, dandruff, ringworm, herpes blisters, and cold sores. It is used as a mouthwash for sore gums and mouth.
Some people use goldenseal as an eyewash for eye inflammation and eye infections called conjunctivitis, or “pink eye.”
Goldenseal is used in the ears for ringing, earache, and deafness.
Goldenseal is commonly found in the deep woods from Vermont to Arkansas. It is particularly prolific in and around the Ohio Valley. Goldenseal received its name from the golden-yellow scars on the base of the stem. When the stem is broken, the scar resembles a gold wax letter seal.
How does it work?
Goldenseal contains the chemical berberine, which might have effects against bacteria and fungi. For example, it can prevent the bacteria Escherichia coli (E. coli) from binding to urinary tract walls. Berberine also has properties that can lower blood pressure and improve irregular heartbeats. In addition, early research suggests that berberine can lower blood sugar and “bad” low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol.
The most common element sought for its medicinal qualities in goldenseal is berberine. Most research fails to find evidence that the amount of berberine ingested through common home use is sufficient to make any great difference in ones overall health. Many, many herbalists disagree and rely heavily on goldenseal. Goldenseal is unquestionably more potent if the roots are gathered and a tincture (combined with alcohol) is made.
I've hesitated to include much about Goldenseal or Ginseng here as they have been over harvested in many areas to the point of extinction (in those areas).
If the gathering or use of berberine intrigues you there is a much more acceptable source. It is Japenese Barberry. This prickly shrub is VERY invasive and NEEDS harvested to the point of elimination but its roots too contain high concentrations of the yellow berberine.
Here is a couple of photos I snapped recently of Goldenseal in bloom. I hope to get back to photograph it once it seeds.