Goldenseal Root (5% Alkaloids)

History:

Goldenseal is a hardy, herbaceous, North American woodland perennial that grows under two feet in height with a thick, yellow root and a single, erect stem producing leaves and a flower. The flowers are small, white; and a patch of Hydrastis will not remain in blossom longer than a week or ten days. From the flower, a single, red, inedible fruit emerges, but it is the roots, dug from three-year-old plants, that are used in herbal therapy. Its botanical genus, Hydrastis, is said to be derived from two Greek words signifying "water" and "to accomplish," attributed because of its reputed influence on the body's mucous membranes' secretions. Western knowledge of Goldenseal begins about two hundred years ago, when Benjamin Smith Barton's Essays Towards a Materia Medica of the United States was published with information about the herb. In 1798, he observed that the Cherokees used it as a folk remedy, which is also one of the earliest observations of certain malignancies and management among American Indian groups. Few wildflowers were as important to the Native Americans as the versatile Goldenseal. The roots supplied the Cherokee and Iroquois with a brilliant yellow dye for their weapons and clothing, a paint for their faces (giving the plant one of its common names, Yellow Indian Paint) and herbal preparations for digestive, eye, gum and respiratory health. It may not have been effective in all those cases, but its antiseptic qualities were valued, and the herb was quickly adopted by the early Pioneers, becoming a mainstay of American folk medicine, frequently sold as an ingredient in patent medicines in travelling 'medicine shows.' The root is an ingredient in many herbal preparations, as it has a reputation for not only possessing  virtues of its own, but it also appears to enhance the potency of other herbs. Goldenseal has also found its way into modern preparations for eye health; and some pharmaceutical manufacturers include an alkaloid extracted from the root in their eye drops. Once common in eastern North America, Goldenseal has almost become extinct in many places by commercial harvesting, and the plant was cited on the CITES list for protection and conservation, making it a rare and expensive commodity. Some of Goldenseal's constituents include alkaloids (hydrastine, berberine, canadine and hydrastanine), tannins, beta-carotene, B-vitamins, vitamins A, C and E, plus fatty acids, resin, albumin, essential oil, calcium, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium selenium and zinc.

Recommended Dosage:
Take two (2) capsules, two (2) times each day with water at mealtimes.

Contraindications:
Pregnant or nursing women should not use Goldenseal nor any other herb containing berberine. Goldenseal Root Herbal Supplement may limit the efficacy of anticoagulants (aspirin, blood thinners, Coumadin, etc.), and may also interfere with tetracycline antibiotics. Excessive use (many times the recommended dosage) may cause vomiting, diarrhea, diarrhea, lethargy, skin, eye or kidney irritation, nosebleed, lowered blood pressure and lowered heart rate. Because Goldenseal may lower blood sugars, people with diabetes should use it only under the supervision of a physician. Do not use Goldenseal if you have a glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency without consulting a doctor. Those who suffer hyperthyroid conditions, glaucoma, high blood pressure, gallbladder or cardiovascular disease or epilepsy should only use this product when under a doctor's care. Goldenseal should not be taken for prolonged periods; it can be poisonous if used too much. Do not take Goldenseal on a daily basis for more than one week at a time.

Capsule Information:
Our Goldenseal Root (5% Alkaloids) supplements are encapsulated in 100% Gluten-free, Vegetable Cellulose, Certified Kosher, size "00" Capsules.(click here for size comparison) Each capsule contains approximately 600 mgs.

Special Note:
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Disclaimer:
The information presented herein by Herbal Extracts Plus is intended for educational purposes only. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, cure, treat or prevent disease. Individual results may vary, and before using any supplements, it is always advisable to consult with your own health care provider.