Some herbal remedies are so popular, the plant used to make them becomes endangered. Such is goldenseal, which the Natural Standard says ranks in the top five best-selling herbal supplements in the U.S. Goldenseal, which once grew uncultivated in the northern part of the country, is now grown commercially and its trade closely monitored, says the University of Maryland Medical Center, UMMC. Consumer purchase alone suggests that goldenseal should be good for something. Scientists and medical experts say differently.
Why It's Popular
The UMMC attributes goldenseal's popularity to the urband legend that taking it can mask the presence of illegal drugs in a urine analysis. However, the UMMC goes on to state there's no evidence to suggest that it works for this purpose. A dated 1988 study conducted by the University of Utah School of Medicine published in "Clinical Chemistry" looked at various adulterants used by illegal drug users to throw off urine testing, including goldenseal. Researchers concluded that goldenseal tea, which turned the urine dark, was an adulterant that could be detected.
What's in Goldenseal
Berberine is the active compound in goldenseal that otherwise generates interest among researchers. The UMMC states that test tube studies suggest berberine can kill many bacteria types, as well as parasites such as tapeworms and giardia and fungi that cause yeast infections, hence goldenseal's popularity as a way to address vaginal irritation. Other positive aspects of berberine are that it makes white blood cells better at fending off infections. Berberine may also be beneficial to treat heart failure and as an external and internal antiobiotic. But there's a catch: the amount of berberine in goldenseal is very small, says the UMMC. Researchers also don't know if the berberine in goldenseal can be absorbed into your body.
What Science Says
The Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center states that although small clinical trials--studies using people--have been conducted on the compound berberine, there have been none conducted on goldenseal itself. So, goldenseal may or may not be good for some of its suggested uses, such as the common cold, flu, canker sores, yeast infections, diarrhea, indigestion, urinary tract infections and parasites. The University of Michigan Health System states that goldenseal's effectiveness to these purposes is supported by how it was used historically or it is of minimal benefit to your health. Alternately, there may simply be scant scientific evidence to prove that it works.
Preparations
Goldenseal is considered a dietary supplement by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration and therefore cannot claim to treat or cure any disease or medical condition. Goldenseal is sold in various preparations, says the UMMC, including capsules and tablets and liquid extracts. It's frequently combined with another herb, echinacea, in cold treatments. The combination of these two herbs is often said to be more effective, but the UMMC states that there's no scientific evidence to support this.
Cautions And Concerns
Don't take goldenseal if you're pregnant or nursing, and don't use it in children without a pediatrician's consent, says the UMMC. Goldenseal may interfere with certain medications, such as blood thinners and tetracycline. Ask your doctor if you should use goldenseal if you have liver or heart disease or high blood pressure. Goldenseal may irritate your skin, mouth, throat and vagina when used as a topical wound treatment, mouth rinse or douche. Please talk to your doctor before using goldenseal to address your specific health concerns.
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