The benefits of goldenseal are numerous! Medicinal uses of goldenseal go back to the days of the Native Americans. The Cherokee used goldenseal for everything from treating mouth sores and rashes to curing cancer.
In more recent years, herbalists have discovered how goldenseal benefits the digestive, urinary and reproductive systems. It has been used to treat everything from ringworm to goiter.
The most common usage of goldenseal is in combination with echinacea to treat the common cold and influenza. Goldenseal helps moderate mucous flow in the mucous membranes…sometimes increasing flow and sometimes decreasing it, as the need arises. Combine that with goldenseal’s anti-fungal and anti-microbial properties and you have a winning herb for the treatment of the common cold and flu. Since goldenseal moderates mucous flow, it will both dry up a runny nose and help clear a stuffed up one.
Note: Do not take large doses of goldenseal, nor take it long-term. Extremely large doses of goldenseal may cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, miscarriage, respiratory failure or even death. Do not take goldenseal if pregnant nor give it to children under age 3. Goldenseal is related to the ragweed plant so avoid this herb if a ragweed allergy is present.
However, despite that scary warning, there are many benefits of goldenseal This herb is well worth keeping in your herbal remedies cabinet.