Hydrastis canadensis
(Goldenseal)

Therapeutic Actions:

• Adrenolytic
• Antimicrobia against:
  
  Amebiasis
  Bacteria
  Cholera
  Giardia
  Protozoa
  Visceral and cutaneous leishmaniasis
  Yeast
• Astringent
• Enhances splenic blood flow
• Bitter tonic
• Immune support
• Increases macrophage activity
• Laxative in small doses
• Stimulates the normal action of the liver and gall bladder
• Styptic
• Triples bile secretion for 1.5 hours
• In vitro was a potent macrophage activator for inducing cytostatic activity against tumor cells

Clinical Indications:

• AIDS
• Allergies
• Anorexia nervosa
• Aphthous stomatitis or erosion of mucous surfaces
• Crohn's disease
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Mastitis
• Otitis media
• Peptic ulcer
• Psoriasis
• Psoriatic arthritis
• Rosacea
• Ulcerative colitis
• Uterine fibroid
• Atonic gastric irritability
• Catarrhal states of mucous membranes
• Colds
• Conjunctivitis
• Flu
• Ice water dyspepsia
• Infections - Staph and Strep
• Lack of bowel coordination
• Muscular atony
• Passive hemorrhages from the pelvic organs
• Prolapse
• Vaginitis

Contraindications:

• Hypoglycemia
• Pregnancy due to uterine stimulation from berberine, hydrastine, canadine, hydrastinine in animal uteri studies

Drug/Nutrition Interaction:

• May deplete B vitamins

Chemical Constituents:

• Alkaloids:
  
  Berberine, a choleretic shown to triple bile secretion for 1.5 hours
  Canadine
  Hydrastine
  Hydrastinine
• Resin

Toxicity:

• Catarrhal inflammation of the mucous linings of the hepatic ducts and gall bladder, causing an icteric hue to skin
• Continued large doses may cause ulceration of mucous membranes with extreme dryness and fissure formation

Copyright 1998 - 2008 by L. Vicky Crouse, ND and James S. Reiley, ND. All rights reserved (ISSN 1527-0661).