Goldenseal grows wild in the mountains of North America, but most goldenseal today is cultivated on farms. Goldenseal--also known as Indian paintbrush or ground raspberry--has become one of the most popular herbs in the United States, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center, because of its purported effectiveness at masking drug use, boosting immunity and healing infected mucus membranes that cause congestion and earaches.
Identification
Goldenseal has three major active ingredients that help it soothe the inflamed mucus membranes that can cause earaches, according to the Integrated Laboratory Systems report for the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. According to the report, goldenseal typically contains 1.5 to 4 percent hydrastine, about 0.5 percent berberine and 2 to 3 percent berberastine, as well as smaller concentrations of other alkaloids.
Use
Massachusetts-based alternative birthing center MoonDragon Birthing Services recommends swishing half a dropper of goldenseal extract around in your mouth before swallowing it every three hours for up to three days to relieve earaches. According to the Integrated Laboratory Systems report, ear drops containing goldenseal can also be squeezed into the ear canal to treat ear infections.
Benefits
There haven't been many studies confirming the benefits of goldenseal claimed by folk medicine tradition, but the University of Maryland Medical Center says that the berberine in goldenseal may fight the bacteria and germs that cause earaches. It activates the white blood cells that help your immune system fight infection so that you can recover from earaches more quickly. More research is needed to confirm that goldenseal has these effects.
Considerations
According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, goldenseal remedies for colds and earache often include echinacea, and MoonDragon Birthing Services suggests alternating goldenseal and echinacea when you are treating earaches and ear infections.
Warning
Always check with your health care provider before using goldenseal to treat an earache. Goldenseal may cause adverse reactions for women who are pregnant or nursing, people who have high blood pressure or heart disease and people who have liver problems, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Goldenseal may cause irritation in your mouth or throat when you take it orally and cause skin irritation if you apply it topically to your ear. The University of Maryland Medical Center also warns that goldenseal may interfere with certain prescription medications, including tetracycline antibiotics and blood thinners.
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