Hydrastis canadensis

Common Names: Goldenseal, Eye Balm, Eye Root, Indian Plant, Jaundice Root, Orangeroot, Yellow Puccoon, Yellow Root.

Clinical Names: Hydrastis canadensis

Summary

botanical name: Hydrastis canadensis

common names: Goldenseal.

overview of interactions:
• herbal constituent possibly affecting drug class performance: Tetracyclines

For other potential interactions of Hydrastis (Goldenseal Rhizome), see also Herb Groups:
Pharmacokinetic: GI Modifiers: Bitters
Pharmacokinetic: GI Modifiers: Irritants
Pharmacokinetic: Hepatic Metabolism Modifiers
Metabolic: Hyperglycemic/Hypoglycemic
Cardiovascular: Vasoconstrictor
Hematological: Platelet Interactors
Ob/Gyn: Pregnancy and Lactation

AHPA Botanical Safety Rating: 2b



Clinical

botanical name: Hydrastis canadensis

common names: Goldenseal, Eye Balm, Eye root, Indian plant, Jaundice root, Orangeroot, Yellow Puccoon, Yellow Root.
N.B. Yellow Root is also the common name of Xanthorhiza simplicissima.

parts used: Rhizome, root.

qualities: Bitter, cold, dry, astringent.

affinities: Mucous membranes.

actions: Antimicrobial, vulnerary, bitter tonic, mucous membrane trophorestorative, antihemorrhagic, choleretic, anti-inflammatory.

dosage:
• tincture (1:10) : 2-4 ml. three times daily.
• tincture (FE 1:1) : 0.3-1ml. three times daily.
• powdered root and rhizome: 500 - 1000 mg three times daily.

toxicity:
• There are no current toxicological studies on Goldenseal rhizome/root.
• Berberine, i.e., pure, isolated alkaloid, is well tolerated and considered non-toxic at therapeutic dose levels.
• Possible contact dermatitis has been reported. (see contraindications)

AHPA Botanical Safety Rating: 2b

contraindications:
• pregnancy: due to uterine stimulant action of its alkaloids (berberine, hydrastine canadine, hydrastinine) in certain animal uteri.
(Brinker F, 1995, 1996; Brooks S. Protocol J Bot. Med, 1995.1:147-58; Farnsworth NJ.I.J. Pharm. Sci. 1975, 64:535-598.)
• handling the herb may cause contact dermatitis
(Muenscher WC. 1951, 9.)
• topical douche (controversial): Suggestions by male writers, such as Tierra and Duke that Goldenseal is contraindicated as a douche or topical application for vaginal thrush or leucorrhea are not supported by women herbalists with extensive gynecological clinical experience.
(e.g., McQuade Crawford A, 1997, 1998.)
• hypertension: animal studies show berberine and hydrastine have hypotensive effects although very high doses may be hypertensive. Human reports are lacking.
(Preninger V, 1975)

therapy:
• internal: Dyspepsia, gastroenteritis, giardiasis, hypochlorhydria, infectious diarrhea, influenza, menorrhagia, mucous membrane infections and inflammations, peptic ulceration, upper respiratory catarrh, uterine hemorrhage.
• external: Conjunctivitis (eye wash), hemorrhoids, leucorrhea (douche), otorrhea, thrush, wounds.

specific indications: Warm and hot conditions; catarrhal state of mucous membrane with acute inflammation, yellowish, green-yellow mucus, digestive disorders with hepatic symptoms.

constituents:
• Isoquinoline alkaloids: up to 5% total, including hydrastine, berberine, canadine.
• Other: Resin, polysaccharides, sugars, chlorogenic acid, volatile oil.

pharmacology:
• There is no recent pharmacological data on Hydrastis. The pharmacology is dominated by the isoquinoline alkaloids, among which berberine has been extensively studied.

• Antimicrobial activity: Berberine has extensive activity against numerous bacteria, fungi, and parasitic microorganisms. However, absorption studies suggest that berberine is poorly absorbed in the small intestine and it is unlikely that serum concentrations from oral therapy attain effective in vitro antimicrobial levels. This leaves the mechanism of its anti-microbial action in humans unexplained.
(Bergner P.1997.)

• Other effects: Berberine exhibits some anti-cancer activity, reduces myocardial ischaemic injury, and mildly stimulates uterine smooth muscle in vitro.
(Snow J. Protocol J Bot Med. 1997.2,(2) 25-28. 1997; Brinker F. 1995.)

clinical trials:
There are no clinical trials on Hydrastis root extract, although several studies have used berberine or berberine sulfate. Berberine was as effective as pharmaceutical drugs in treating giardiasis in children, and more effective than placebo in treating infective diarrhea.
(Snow J. Protocol J Bot Med. 1997.2,(2) 25-28. 1997, Bergner P. 1997.)

commentary: endangered species
Wild Hydrastis populations have been eradicated by a long history of overharvesting in the US. Herbalists, herbal product manufacturers and conservationists consider wild crafting of the plant to be unethical. Effective alternatives such as Oregon Grape Root (Mahonia spp.) are advocated. Medium scale cultivation programs have been implemented, although the maturation cycle is long and horticultural difficulties considerable, this is the only way that Goldenseal will be preserved. Products that do not clearly state that they are of cultivated origin should be avoided.



Interactions

herbal constituent affecting drug class performance: Tetracyclines

• research: Several herbs commonly used for their anti-bacterial activity contain the alkaloid berberine. Berberis aquifolium (Oregon Grape), Berberis vulgaris (Barberry) and Hydrastis canadensis (Goldenseal) are the most well known of these plants.

• research: In their study involving individuals with cholera Khin-Maung-U, et al, found a reduction in the efficacy of tetracycline when 100 mg of berberine and 500 mg of tetracycline were administered simultaneously four times daily. This data has been interpreted to indicate that berberine may cause decreased absorption of tetracycline. However, after a double-blind trial, Rabbani et al concluded that berberine did not interfere with tetracycline in cholera patients.
(Khin-Maung-U, et al. Br Med J (Clin Res Ed) 1985 Dec 7;291(6509):1601-1605; Khin-Maung-U, et al. J Diarrhoeal Dis Res 1987 Sep;5(3):184-187; Rabbani GH, et al. J Infect Dis 1987 May;155(5):979-984.)

• herbal concerns: Many medical herbalists would question the extrapolation of data derived from high dose administration of isolated berberine to the use of berberine-containing medicinal herbs. Reviewing the studies on concurrent administration of berberine and tetracycline, Snow concludes that the studies demonstrate that berberine is an effective anti-secretory and anti-diarrheal agent in conjunction with tetracycline in enterotoxigenic diarrhea.
(Snow J. Protocol J Bot Med 1997.2,(2) 25-28.)

For other potential interactions of Hydrastis (Goldenseal Rhizome), see also Herb Groups:
Pharmacokinetic: GI Modifiers: Bitters
Pharmacokinetic: GI Modifiers: Irritants
Pharmacokinetic: Hepatic Metabolism Modifiers
Metabolic: Hyperglycemic/Hypoglycemic
Cardiovascular: Vasoconstrictor
Hematological: Platelet Interactors
Ob/Gyn: Pregnancy and Lactation

Please read the disclaimer concerning the intent and limitations of the information provided here.
Do not rely solely on the information in this article.

The information presented in Interactions is for informational and educational purposes only. It is based on scientific studies (human, animal, or in vitro), clinical experience, case reports, and/or traditional usage with sources as cited in each topic. The results reported may not necessarily occur in all individuals and different individuals with the same medical conditions with the same symptoms will often require differing treatments. For many of the conditions discussed, treatment with conventional medical therapies, including prescription drugs or over-the-counter medications, is also available. Consult your physician, an appropriately trained healthcare practitioner, and/or pharmacist for any health concern or medical problem before using any herbal products or nutritional supplements or before making any changes in prescribed medications and/or before attempting to independently treat a medical condition using supplements, herbs, remedies, or other forms of self-care.


References

Bergner P. The Healing Power of Echinacea and Goldenseal. Rocklin, CA. Prima Publishing 1997..

Bradley PR, ed. British Herbal Compendium, vol 1. Bournemouth, Dorset, UK: British Herbal Medicine Association, 1992.

Brinker F. Botanical Medicine Research Summaries. In: Eclectic Dispensatory of Botanical Therapeutics, vol.11, Sandy, Oregon: Eclectic Medical Publications, 1995.

Brinker F. The Toxicology of Botanical Medicines, Second edition. Sandy, Oregon: Eclectic Medical Publications.
1996.

Brooks S. (ed.) Botanical Toxicology. Protocol J Bot. Med, 1995.1:147-58.

Duke JA. C.R.C. Handbook of Medicinal Herbs. Boca Raton, FL: The C.R.C. Press, 1985.

Farnsworth NR, Bingel AS, Cordell GA, Crane FA, Fong HHS. Potential Value of Plants as Sources of New Antifertility Agents I.J. Pharm. Sci. 1975, 64:535-598.

Fuller TC, McClintock E. Poisonous Plants of California. Los Angeles: University of Southern California Press, 1986.

McQuade Crawford A. Herbal Remedies For Women. Rocklin, CA. Prima Publishing, 1997.

McQuade Crawford A. 1998. Personal communication..

Muenscher WC. Poisonous Plants of the United States. New York: The MacMillan Company.1951.

Preninger V. The Pharmacology and Toxicology of the Papaveraceae Alkaloids. In The Alkaloids Vol 15. Manske RHF, Holmes H (eds.) NY: Academic Press, 1975.

Snow J. Golden Seal Rhizome Monograph. Protocol Journal of Botanical Medicine 1997.2,(2) 25-28.

Tierra M. Planetary Herbology. Sante Fe, NM: Lotus Press. 1980.