Herb Of The Week - Goldenseal - Monograph

[Guest guest]

Happy reading

 

*Smile*

Chris (list mom)

 

http://www.alittleolfactory.com

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

http://www.naturalmedicinesofnc.org/goldenseal/Goldenseal-hp.html

 

Goldenseal

 

(Hydrastis canadensis)

 

 

Family: Ranunculaceae,

Synonyms: Puccoon root, yellowroot (1) eye balm, eye root, goldsiegel,

ground raspberry, indian plant, indian tumeric, jaundice root, orange

root, sceau d'or,turmeric root, warnera, wild curcuma, yellow indian

paint, yellow paint (2,3) kanadische gelbwurzel, guldsegl.(4)

 

 

 

Key Clinical Points

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*

Goldenseal is a popular component of herbal remedies for upper

respiratory, eye, and skin infections.

 

*

Although multiple organisms are sensitive to goldenseal constituents in

vitro, few published clinical studies support its use.

 

*

Avoid goldenseal during pregnancy and lactation, with gastrointestinal

inflammation, and with proinflammatory disorders.

 

 

 

 

Indications supported by clinical trials

 

All of the clinical studies of goldenseal have focused on the

constituent berberine. Goldenseal is very popular in the US, but is

little known in Europe, which may contribute to the lack of clinical

research on the whole herb.(8)

 

Effectiveness for interfering with urine drug tests: not effective.

 

Despite its use for this indication, studies have demonstrated no effect

of oral goldenseal on urine drug assays over water alone.(2)

 

Effectiveness for treating infectious diarrhea: uncertain.

 

At least 3 studies have examined the efficacy of berberine sulfate as

adjunctive therapy in the treatment of cholera and E.coli diarrhea, as

compared to treatment with tetracycline alone. Berberine significantly

reduced stool volume when given with tetracycline in the E.coli group,

but did not have any significant effects in patients with cholera.(2,8)

 

In a study of children with giardiasis, 90% of the children who took

berberine at 10 mg/kg/day for 10 days had negative stool specimens after

10 days and 83 % had negative stools after one month. In the group

treated with metronidazole, 95% had negative stools at 10 days and 90%

had negative stools at 1 month. Lower doses of berberine or shorter

durations of therapy resulted in marked reductions in efficacy.(19)

 

Effectiveness for treating colds and other respiratory infections:

unknown. Researchers have not studied goldenseal for use in upper

respiratory infections.

 

Effectiveness for treating eye infections: uncertain. Indian researchers

have conducted 2 studies using berberine for treatment of trachoma. In

one study, they compared 0.2% berberine chloride drops to sulfacetamide

eye drops over 8 weeks of treatment or a combination of the two. The

berberine groups tested negative for C. trachomatis at 3 weeks and had

no relapse at one year(.)8

 

In a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial involving children with

trachoma, researchers compared 0.2% berberine eye drops to berberine

plus neomycin, sulfacetamide, and placebo. They saw an 84% clinical cure

and a 50% microbiological cure with berberine alone. The cure rates were

higher with the addition of neomycin but were lower for the

sulfacetamide group.(4)

 

 

 

Preparation and dosage:

 

* For a tea, simmer 1tsp of dried root in 1 cup of water for 10-20

minutes and drink three times daily.(1)

 

* Alternatively, take 2-4 ml (about half a teaspoon of the

tincture (1:10 strength in 60% alcohol)

or 0.3-1ml of the stronger fluid extract (1:1, 60% alcohol) mixed with

water.(8,18)

 

* British sources recommend 0.7-2g of the dried root per day.(4)

 

* As an eyewash, use a commercially-prepared 0.2% solution in

sterile water: two drops in each eye, 3 times daily.(8)