History of Traditional Use of Goldenseal
Goldenseal is a member of the buttercup or Ranunculaceae family. It is native to rich, moist soils of the Ohio River Valley, West Virginia, the mountains of North and South Carolina, Kentucky, Tennessee, and north to New England and Upstate New York and parts of Quebec, Canada. It was harvested almost to extinction in the mid to late 1800’s in the Ohio River Valley where it was sold heavily in Cincinnati in amounts upwards of 200,000 pounds. Eclectic physicians learned about the plant from Native Americans who revered the plant for its medicinal, cultural, and practical uses. The deforestation of the North Eastern United states along with demand and over harvesting led to this plants status as endangered its natural range. The Eclectics used purified forms of the crude herb known in the commercial market as Hydrastine, Neutral Hydrastine, or Muriate of Hydrastin; preparations which were actually hydrochlorates of the alkaloid berberine. These preparations did not yield the same results as the concentrated whole plant extract and were soon abandoned.
Structure Function Claims
Maintains a healthy response to Environmental Stressors.
Maintains normal secretions of mucosal tissue. Supports the digestive process.
Helps maintain normal secretions from the nose and eyes.
Mechanism of Therapeutic Action
The root and rhizomes are highly concentrated in isoquinoline alkaloids or protoberberines namely Hydrastine (3.2- 4.%), Bereberine (2-4.5%), and Canadine (0.5-1%). The known actions of these constituents are vast affecting the immune system, digestive system, cardiovascular system, nervous system and mucosal membranes in general. There have been numerous studies validating the antimicrobial and antiparasitic activity of these chemicals. For more information regarding research on Goldenseal conduct a search using the PubMed feature on the search section of this website.
Principles and Practice of Phytotherapy. Simon Mills and Kerry Bone. p.286-96 Churchill Livingstone 2000.
Specific Differentiation of Gaia Herbs Product
Gaia Herbs uses ecologically cultivated Goldenseal. We offer a WholePlant standardized extract containing 10mg of total alkaloids per ml (30 drops). WholePlant standardization offers a regulated, scientifically validated therapeutic dosage of the plant without altering the original chemical profile of the original crude plant material. No solvents other than alcohol and water are used in the extraction process which is conducted in Gaia Herbs Certified Organic Processing Facility. Gaia Herbs captures the essence of Natures Vitality.
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