Goldenseal (Hydrastis Canadensis)

Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis) or orangeroot, is an herb in the Ranunculaceae (buttercup) family. It is native to Canada and North America.

It has been used for centuries by Native Americans to reduce inflammation of the mucous membranes in the respiratory, digestive, and urinary systems. The dried orange root is used to make medicine or dye. The root contains several alkaloids, including hydrastine, berberine, and canadine.

In traditional medicine, the plant extracts are used for the common cold and other upper respiratory infections, as well as a stuffy nose or hay fever. Some people use goldenseal for digestive disorders, such as stomach pain and swelling, peptic ulcers, colitis, diarrhea, constipation, intestinal gas, and bladder infections. It can also help to promote lymphatic drainage. 

Goldenseal has also been used for urinary tract infections, internal bleeding, bleeding after childbirth, liver disorders, chronic fatigue syndrome, jaundice, fever, pneumonia, whooping cough, or anorexia. Women use goldenseal for vaginal pain and problems with menstruation. Goldenseal is applied to the skin for rashes, ulcers, wound infections, itching, eczema, acne, dandruff, ringworm, herpes blisters, and cold sores. It is also used as a mouthwash for sore gums and mouth.

The alkaloids present in goldenseal may kill bacteria and fungi and prevent E. coli or other pathogenic bacteria from binding to the mucosa in respiratory and urinary tract walls, similar to the cranberry fruit. Berberine also has properties that can lower blood pressure and improve irregular heartbeats. It is unclear whether goldenseal has the same benefits as isolated berberine.