GOLDENSEAL HYDRASTIS CANADENSIS

GOLDENSEAL (Hydrastis canadensis L.) +

Activities (Goldenseal) :
- Alterative (1; CRC; PNC); Amebicide (1; FNF; PH2); Analgesic (f; BRU; CRC); Antiacetylcholinesterase (1; MAB); Antibacterial (1; FAD; MAB); Antialzheimeran (1; COX; FNF); Antiarthritic (1; COX; FNF); Anticancer (1; COX; FNF); Anticariogenic (1; MAB); Anticonvulsant (1; CRC; FAD; FNF); Antihelicobacter (1; X9781854); Antiinflammatory (1; PHR; PNC); Antimitotic (1; MAB); Antiperiodic (f; CRC); Antiperistaltic (1; FNF); Antipyretic (f; MAD); Antisecretory (1; PH2); Antiseptic (1; APA; FNF; PED; PH2; SKY); Antitrypanosomic (1; X9121161); Antitussive (1; X3350041); Antiulcer (1; X9781854); Aperient (f; CRC); Aperitif (1; DEM; FNF; PED); Astringent (1; APA; PED); Bilirubinolytic (1; PH2); Bitter (1; APA; PED); Cardiotonic (1; HHB); Choleretic (1; APA; FAD; PED; PH2); Collyrium (f; CRC); Deliriant (1; PH2); Depurative (f; MAB); Detergent (f; CRC); Digestive (1; APA; FNF); Diuretic (1; CRC; FNF;
PED); Emetic (1; FNF); Emmenagogue (1; FNF; PED); Fungicide (1; MAB); Hallucinogen (1; PH2); Hemostat (1; BRU; CRC; FNF; PNC); Hepatotonic (1; FNF; PED); Hypertensive (1; PHR); Hypoglycemic (1; APA; MAB); Hypotensive (f; PNC); Immunostimulant (1; FNF; PH2); Insectifuge (f; CRC); Laxative (1; CAN; MAD; PHR); Leukocytosis (1; PH2); Mycosis (1; MAB); Myostimulant (1; CAN; FNF); Oxytocic (1; CAN; MAB; PHR); Protisticide (1; MAD; PH2); Panacea (f; CRC); Secretagogue (f; FEL); Sedative (1; FNF; PNC); Sialagogue (f; FEL); Stomachic (1; CAN; FNF; MAD); Tonic (1; APA; FNF; PNC); Trophorestorative (1; MAB); Uterotonic (f; APA; HHB); Vasoconstrictor (1; APA; BRU; MAD; PED; PHR); Vibriocide (1; PH2); Vulnerary (1; BRU; MAB).

Indications (Goldenseal) :
- Acne (f; APA; FEL; WAF); Adenopathy (f; HHB; JLH); Alcoholism (f; APA; CRC; FEL); Alzheimers (1; COX; FNF); Ameba (1; FNF; MAB; PH2); Anorexia (1; DEM; MAB; PED); Aphtha (f; FEL); Arrhythmia (1; FNF; MAB); Arthrosis (1; COX; FNF); Asthma (f; APA; CRC); Bacteria (1; BRU; FAD; MAB); Biliousness (f; CRC); Bleeding (1; APA; BRU; CRC; FEL; FNF; HHB; MAB; PNC); Blepharosis (f; FEL); Boil (f; CRC; FEL); Bronchosis (1; FAD; FNF); Cancer (1; APA; COX; FEL; FNF); Cancer, breast (1; COX; FNF; JLH); Cancer, lip (f; CRC); Cancer, ovary (1; COX; FNF; JLH); Cancer, pancreas (f; COX; FNF; JLH); Cancer,
skin (1; PH2); Cancer, stomach (1; COX; FNF; JLH); Cancer, uterus (1; COX; FNF; JLH); Candida (1; MAB); Canker (1; APA); Cardiopathy (1; MAB); Catarrh (1; CRC; FEL; MAB; MAD); Cervicosis (f; MAD); Chafing (f; APA; DEM); Chancre (f; CRC); Childbirth (f; CRC); Chlamydia (1; PH2); Cholecystosis (1; FNF; MAD; PH2); Cholera (1; APA; BRU; MAB; PH2); Cold (1; APA; FNF; SKY); Colitis (1; CAN; FNF); Congestion (f; APA); Conjunctivosis (1; APA; BRU; CAN; FEL; FNF; MAD; PH2); Constipation (1; APA; CAN; CRC; MAD; PHR); Convulsion (1; CRC; FAD; FNF); Corn (f; CRC); Cornea (f; FEL); Cough (1; APA; X3350041); Cramp (1; MAB); Crohns Disease (1; FNF; SKY); CVI (1; BRU); Cystosis (f; CRC; MAD); Dandruff (f; APA); Deafness (f; CRC); Debility (f; DEM; FEL); Dermatosis (1; APA; CRC; FNF; MAB); Diabetes (1; APA; MAB); Diarrhea (1; APA; FNF); Diphtheria (f; FEL; MAD); Dropsy (f; CRC); Duodenosis
(f; FEL; MAD); Dusgeusia (f; CRC); Dysentery (1; APA; FNF); Dysmenorrhea (1; APA; CAN; FNF; PH2); Dyspepsia (1; APA; CAN; FNF; MAD; PH2); Earache (1; CRC; DEM; FNF); Eczema (1; APA; FEL; FNF; PED); Endometriosis (f; MAD); Enterosis (f; MAD); Epistaxis (f; MAD); Epithelioma (f; MAD); Exanthema (f; MAD); Fever (f; CRC; MAD); Fibroid (f; JLH); Fistula (f; CRC; MAD); Flu (f; APA); Fungus (1; BRU; MAB); Gas (f; DEM); Gastrosis (1; APA; FEL; FNF; PH2; PNC); Giardia (1; FNF; MAB; PH2); Gingivosis (1; APA; FNF; PED); Glossosis (f; CRC); Gonorrhea (1; FAD; FNF); Halitosis (f; CRC); Heart (f; DEM); Helicobacter (1; X9781854); Hemoptysis (f; MAD); Hemorrhoid (f; APA; CRC; FEL); Hepatosis (1; CRC; FEL); Herpes (1; PHR; PH2); High Blood Pressure (1; PH2; PNC); Hypertyraminemia (1; MAB); Immunodepression (1; FNF; PH2); Impetigo (f; CRC); Infection (1; BRU; CRC; MAB); Inflammation (1; COX; DEM; FNF; PHR; PNC); Insomnia (1; FNF; PNC); Jaundice (1; CRC; FAD; FEL; MAD); Laryngosis
(1; FNF); Leishmaniasis (1; BRU; FNF; MAB); Leukorrhea (f; CRC; MAB; MAD); Lip (f; DEM); Low Blood Pressure (1; PHR); Lumbago (f; CRC); Lupus (f; CRC; FEL; MAD); Malaria (1; CRC; FEL; FNF); Marasmus (f; MAD); Mastosis (f; CRC); Menorrhagia (1; CAN; FNF; HHB); Migraine (f; MAD); Mucososis (1; FAD; JAD; MAB); Myalgia (f; APA; FEL); Mycosis (1; APA; BRU; MAB); Myoma (f; MAD); Nephrosis (1; FNF); Nervousness (1; FNF; PNC); Neutropenia (1; PH2); NIDDM (1; MAB); Night Sweats (f; FEL); Ophthalmia (f; FEL; JLH); Otosis (1; FEL; FNF; MAB; MAD; SKY); Otorrhea (1; FNF; CAN); Ozoena (f; CRC; MAD); Pain (f; BRU; CRC; MAD); Pancreatosis (f; JLH); Pharyngosis (1; FEL; FNF; MAD); Pneumonia (1; FNF; DEM; WAF); Polymenorrhea (f; HHB); Polyp (f; JLH; MAD); Prolapse (f; MAD); Prostatosis (f; MAD); Psoriasis (f; CRC); Rhinosis (f; CRC; FEL; MAD); Ringworm (1; APA; CRC; FNF); Salmonella (1; BRU;
FNF; PH2); Sciatica (f; APA; CRC); Scrofula (f; DEM; FEL); Seborrhea (f; CRC; FEL); Shigella (1; MAB; PH2); Smallpox (1; CRC; FNF; PED); Sore (1; APA); Sore Throat (f; CRC; SKY); Sporotrichosis (f; MAB); Stomatosis (1; BRU; CRC; FEL; MAB; MAD); Staphylococcus (1; BRU); Streptococcus (f; PH2); Syncope (f; CRC); Syphilis (f; MAD); Tapeworm (1; MAB); Tinnitus (f; CAN); Tonsilosis (f; FEL; MAD); Trachoma (1; FEL; MAB; PH2); Trichomoniasis (1; MAB); Thrombocytopenia (1; MAB); Tuberculosis (1; DEM; FAD; MAB; PH2); Typhoid (1; MAD); Typhus (f; CRC); Ulcer (1; CAN; CRC; FEL; JLH; PH2; X9781854); Uterosis (f; APA; CRC; JLH); UTI (1; FNF; SKY); Vaginosis (1; FNF; PED); VD (f; MAD); Wart (f; JLH); Water Retention (1; CRC; FNF; PED); Wound (f; PH2); Yeast (1; MAD). (Not reported in Commission E; KOM.)

Dosages (Goldenseal) :
- 0.5 - 1.2 g root (AHP; PNC); 0.5 - 1 g root, or in tea, 3 ×/day (CAN); 1 g root, maximum 4.9 g/day (HHB); 4 - 6 g root/day (SKY); 150 - 350 mg root 3 ×/day; 1 - 2 tbsp fresh root (PED); 1.5 - 3 g dry root (PED); 2 g dry root:10 ml alcohol/10 ml water (PED); 500 mg dry root/day (APA); 0.5 - 1 tsp powdered root/cup water (APA); 0.3 - 1 ml liquid root extract (AHP; CAN; PNC); 2 - 4 ml root tincture (CAN; PNC); 2 - 4 ml root tincture (1:3)/day (MAB); 2 - 4 ml (20 - 40 drops) tincture (AHP); 1 dropper tincture 3 ×/day (APA); 15 - 40 drops fluid extract several ×/day (MAD); 1 - 4 g fluid extract/day (MAD); 4 - 6 ml liquid extract (SKY); 50 - 150 mg hydrastinechlorate (MAD); 1 - 2 (535 mg) capsules 3 ×/day; 1 (465 mg) StX 2 - 3 ×/day (NH).

Contraindications, Interactions, and Side Effects (Goldenseal) :
- Class 2b. Fresh plant may irritate the mucosa (AHP). Not approved (KOM; PH2). Goldenseal should not be taken for long periods of time (Barney, 1996). The LRNP (June 1987) is a bit stronger, saying large doses of the plant may irritate the mouth and throat, and cause diarrhea, nausea, parasthesia, and vomiting. CNS stimulation and respiratory failure induced by the plant can be fatal. In higher doses
hydrastine can cause convulsions, exaggerated reflexes, high blood pressure, and death from respiratory failure (LRNP, but quoting an old, old book). No recent reports of toxicity in the literature (SF). May alter intestinal flora. Canadian regulations do not allow it as an ingredient in oral products (Michols, 1995). Contraindicated in glucose-6-phosphate-dehydrogenase deficiency. Berberine may antagonize heparins anticoagulant activity (PH2). The PDR last couplet in the PDR general warning may stimulate more sales, If taken over an extended period, the drug can bring about digestive disorders, mucous membrane irritation, constipation, excitatory states, hallucinations, and occasional deliria (PH2). The potentially poisonous berberine may cause gastric upset (CAN). Because of alkaloids with uterine stimulant activity, in vitro, its use in pregnancy and lactation is to be avoided (CAN). Berberine is reportedly mutagenic in yeast cells and Ames test (intercalation into the DNA). PH2 assigns the toxicity more to hydrastine than to berberine, perhaps making barberry and oregon grape look like safer alternatives, with the benefit of the MDR-inhibitor methoxyhydnocarpine. The hydrastine component appears to be the toxic component in goldenseal (PH2). Overdoses may induce bradycardia, central paralysis, and dyspnea (PH2). Death from berberine has been reported (MAB).

Extracts (Goldenseal) :
- LD50 goldenseal extract 1620 mg/kg orl mouse (MAB). A good source of the COX-2 inhibitor, berberine (COX; FNF). See FNF for individual alkaloids activities, berberine alone having close to fifty. Berberine from Hydrastis active against MDR strains of tuberculosis; also inhibits Helicobacter (PH2). Berberine more effective than sulfacetamide with Chlamydia trachomatis from the eye (PH2). Berberine has platelet alpha-2-adrenoreceptor agonist activity comparable to clonidine, perhaps rationalizing its antisecretory, hypotensive, and sedative effects(PH2).