Goldenseal is a perennial, flowering herb in the buttercup family
that is native to North America, where it is also grown in quantity on
commercial herb farms. It has a long history of use by Native Americans
and remains one of the most popular herbs in the United States, although
the plant has become endangered in the wild due to over-harvesting and
lost habitat.
The knotted yellow tuberous root of the plant contains three key
alkaloids that are responsible for the herbs antimicrobial actions—
hydrastine, canadine and berberine. Consult with your doctor before
using this herb, however, if you take pharmaceutical medications because
these agents collectively increase the effects of certain drugs and
inhibit others.
