Practical
Plants

Hydrastis canadensis

Goldenseal

a perennial member of the Hydrastis genus in the family Ranunculaceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Height
0.3 m
Spread
0.25 m
Flower type
hermaphrodite

Uses

Toxicity

Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The whole plant is poisonous[13][4].

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Goldenseal is a traditional medicine of the North American Indians and is still widely used in Western herbal medicine[13][11]. In the Nineteenth century it acquired a reputation as a heal-all and was grossly over-collected from the wild and has become rare in the east of its range[8][9]. It is now being cultivated on a small scale[13]. It is especially valued in treating disorders of the digestive system and mucous membranes and is also extremely useful in the treatment of habitual constipation[13][11]. See also the notes above on cultivation needs[K]. The root is the active part of the plant, it is harvested in the autumn after the plant has died down and is dried for later use[13][8]. It is said to be antiperiodic, antiseptic, astringent, cholagogue, diuretic, laxative, stomachic, tonic[13][7][15][2][9][10]. It is used mainly in the treatment of disorders affecting the ears, eyes, throat, nose, stomach, intestines and vagina[11]. The root contains the alkaloids hydrastine, berberine and canadine[8]. Berberine is antibacterial (effective against broad-spectrum bacteria and protozoa[6]), it increases bile secretions, acts as an anticonvulsant, a mild sedative and lowers blood pressure[9]. Use of this plant destroys beneficial intestinal organisms as well as pathogens, so it should only be prescribed for limited periods (a maximum of three months)[10]. The plant should be used with caution, and not at all during pregnancy or by people with high blood pressure[9][10]. An infusion of the root is used externally as a wash for skin diseases, vaginal infections, gum diseases etc[8][10].

Product or use
Antibacterial
Product or use
Antiperiodic
Product or use
Antiseptic
Product or use
Antispasmodic
Product or use
Astringent
Product or use
Cholagogue
Product or use
Diuretic
Product or use
Laxative
Product or use
Sedative
Product or use
Stomachic
Product or use
Tonic

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

A yellow dye is obtained from the whole plant[13][15][17]. It is obtained from the root[18]. The pounded root is smeared on the body to act as an insect repellent[8].

Product or use
Dye
Product or use
Repellent

Environment

Range
Eastern N. America - Connecticut to Minnesota, Missouri and Kansas.
Habitat
Rich shady woods[13][14] and moist areas on woodland edges[4][12].
Light
partial sun
Shade tolerance
permanent shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 3+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - sow autumn or early spring in a moist sandy loam in a shady part of the cold frame or greenhouse[1]. The seed is slow to germinate[10]. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in light shade in the greenhouse for the first year or two. Plant out into their permanent positions when the plants are dormant. Division of the roots in autumn[13]. The roots can be divided into quite small pieces and can also be transplanted at almost any time of the year[13]. Larger clumps can be replanted direct into their permanent positions, though it is best to pot up smaller clumps and grow them on in a cold frame until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the spring.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Goldenseal is somewhat difficult of cultivation, it prefers a good rich moist loamy leafy soil in shade or partial shade[13][12][3]. Prefers a sandy, acid to neutral humus-rich soil[5]. Grows best in a pH range from 6 to 7[10]. Plants are hardy to at least -15°c[3]. Goldenseal is grown commercially as a medicinal plant[16], but it is not easy to establish the plants[13][5]. Another report says that all goldenseal root that is used medicinally comes from wild plants[10]. Since the plant is becoming increasingly rare in many parts of its range, it is probably wise to try and find alternatives to this species for medicinal use unless you can be sure that your supply comes from cultivated plants[K].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

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  2. Mills. S. Y. The Dictionary of Modern Herbalism.

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  3. Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Perennials Volumes 1 and 2. Pan Books 1991-00-00 ISBN 0-330-30936-9

    ↩1↩2

  4. Stary. F. Poisonous Plants. Hamlyn 1983-00-00 ISBN 0-600-35666-3

    ↩1↩2

  5. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2

  6. Coffey. T. The History and Folklore of North American Wild Flowers. Facts on File. 1993-00-00 ISBN 0-8160-2624-6

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  7. Lust. J. The Herb Book. Bantam books 1983-00-00 ISBN 0-553-23827-2

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  8. Weiner. M. A. Earth Medicine, Earth Food. Ballantine Books 1980-00-00 ISBN 0-449-90589-6

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  9. Foster. S. & Duke. J. A. A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Eastern and Central N. America. Houghton Mifflin Co. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0395467225

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  10. Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0-7513-020-31

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7

  11. Chevallier. A. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants Dorling Kindersley. London 1996-00-00 ISBN 9-780751-303148

    ↩1↩2↩3

  12. Brown. Shade Plants for Garden and Woodland.

    ↩1↩2

  13. Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7↩8↩9↩10↩11↩12

  14. Fernald. M. L. Gray's Manual of Botany. American Book Co. 1950-00-00

    ↩

  15. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  16. Schery. R. W. Plants for Man.

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  17. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

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  18. Saunders. C. F. Edible and Useful Wild Plants of the United States and Canada. Dover Publications 1976-00-00 ISBN 0-486-23310-3

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