A low perennial herb with a knotty, yellow rhizome from which arises a single leaf and an erect, hairy stem. In early spring, it bears two 5-9 lobed, rounded leaves near the top, which are terminated by a single greenish-white flower. The rhizome is yellowish-brown, about 5 cm (2’’) long and 1 cm (½ ") thick, knotty and twisted, wrinkled longitudinally and encircled by leaf scars. Rootlets frequently present in abundance.

Promote production of saliva, bile and other digestive enzymes, alterative, antidiarrheal, antiperiodic, antiseptic, aperient, apertif, astringent (mucous membranes in gut), blood cleanser, cancer treatment, carminative, cicatrizant, detergent and diuretic.

Dominion Herbal College
Homeopathic Materia MedicaBotanical.com
Plants for a Future

Ascorbic acid, berberine, beta-carotene, niacin, riboflavin, thiamin (root); berberastine (rhizome); chlorogenic acid, hydrastine, hydrastinine, reticuline (plant); inositol (leaf, root).

Arteriosclerosis, athlete's foot, cancer, catarrh, common cold, ear ailments, eczema, enterorrhagia, gland infections, hemorrhoids, diarrhea, habitual constipation, influenza, kidney ailments, liver ailments, metrorrhagia, mouth sores and mucous ulcerations.

Goldenseal stimulates contraction of the uterus and thus should be avoided during pregnancy. It may also raise bloodpressure and should not be used by people with any kind of cardiac problems.

Grieve M. A Modern Herbal. 1931 (www.botanical.com).