Hydrastis, Golden Seal

Koehler’s Medicinal Plants, 1887

Hydrastis canadensis
(Photo by James Steakley) (Wikimedia)

Botanical name:

Hydrastis canadensis

Parts used:

Root and Rhizome

Temperature & Taste:

Cold, dry. Bitter

Uses:

1. Clears Heat and Damp:
-Gastritis, Gastroenteritis, Diarrhea
-Catarrh, Sinusitis from Heat and Damp
-Jaundice

2. Clears Liver Heat:
-Eczema, skin diseases from heat in the Blood and Liver
-red, sore, swollen eyes; headache, irritability
-pain over the Liver and Gall Bladder; Cholecystitis, Gall Stones
-adjunct for Diabetes with Heat
-adjunct in Cancer treatment
-Fever, related to excess Bile or Liver Heat

3. Clears Heat, Stops Bleeding:
-heavy menstrual or postpartum bleeding
-this effect also helps stop Nightsweats

4. Digestive Stimulant:
-as with other bitters, small doses stimulate digestion and appetite

5. Topically:
-Eczema, Ringworm, itchy skin diseases
-earache, otitis media
-red, sore eyes, conjunctivitis
-indolent Ulcers
-applied to Hemorrhoids with ‘excellent results’ (Grieves)

Dose:

Powdered Root: 500mg–2 grams
Tincture (1:5 in 60% alcohol): 1–2 mls., to 5mls.
Tincture (1:10 in 60% alcohol): 4–10mls (BHC)
Fluid Extract (1:1 in 60%): 0.3–1 ml.
Solid Extract: 5–10 grains
Infusion: half–1 teaspoonful per cup of boiling water

Substitute:

1. Coptis Huang Lian
2. Picrorrhiza
3. Barberry bark or Scutellaria Huang Qin (both weaker)

Main Combinations:

1. Acute Infections, Influenza, Laryngitis, acute Sore Throat etc.
i. Golden Seal with Echinacea as a tincture (equal parts), small doses taken frequently
ii. acute Sore Throat, Golden Seal with Myrrh (tinctures, equal parts)
2. Sinusitis, Allergic Rhinitis:
i. Golden Seal, Eyebright, Nettle
ii. Golden Seal, Ephedra
iii. Chronic Sinusitis, Golden Seal, Eyebright, Hyssop
3. Acute Bronchitis:
i. Golden Seal, Echinacea, Licorice
ii. Golden Seal with Elecampane, Coltsfoot, Horehound
iii. Golden Seal, Hyssop, Licorice
4. Chronic Bronchitis, Golden Seal, Thuja
5. Gastritis, Gastroenteritis, Golden Seal, Marshmallow
6. Gastric Ulcer, Golden Seal, Calendula, Licorice
7. Urinary Tract Infections:
i. Golden Seal, Bearberry
ii. Golden Seal, Agrimony
8. Prostatitis, Golden Seal, Thuja
9. Malaria:
i. Golden Seal, Cinchona
ii. Golden Seal with Celandine, Dandelion, Blue Flag root, Ginger (Wonders in Weeds, Smith)
10. Female Weakness, Golden Seal (1 oz.), Tansy (½ oz.), Motherwort seed (½ oz.), Gold Thread (Coptis) (‘not quite ½ oz.’), Beth root (1 oz.), White Cohosh (1 oz.); add to 4 quarts water and boil 6 minutes, keep warm 7 hours, strain, cool, add 1 quart of Madeira Wine. Take a wine-glassful daily. (Madame Young’s Guide to Health, 1858)
11. Dysmenorrhea from Heat, Golden Seal with Yarrow and Calendula
12. Uterine Bleeding from excess Heat:
i. Golden Seal, Ladies Mantle
ii. Golden Seal, Periwinkle
iii. Golden Seal, Shepherd’s Purse, Burnet
13. Postpartum Bleeding:
i. Golden Seal with Shepherd’s Purse. This was used instead of Ergot.
ii. Golden Seal, Comfrey
14. Diabetes, Golden Seal with Hart’s Tongue (Grieves)
15. Night Sweats, Golden Seal with Sage
16. Cancer:
i. Golden Seal with Red Clover, Violet, Burdock, Yellow Dock, Dandelion. This was claimed to have cured 15 cases of Cancer (Golden Remedies: Knowledge is Power, 19th Century)
ii. topically: White Arsenic (1 dram), Gum Kino, Cinnabar (1 oz. each), Golden Seal (2 drams). Make a paste with Olive oil and Wax.
17. Tinnitus, Golden Seal with Black Cohosh
18. Impetigo, tincture of Golden Seal and Myrrh (equal parts, applied)
19. Thrush:
i. Golden Seal, Pau d.arco, Yarrow
ii. Golden Seal, Oak bark, Myrrh
20. Vaginitis, Yeast Infections, Golden Seal with Comfrey, Sage and Cider Vinegar, diluted with water and used as a douche.
21. Eye weakness, failing eyesight, ophthalmia, used as an eyewash with Eyebright. (Grieves)