Goldenseal is an ancient eastern North American plant with a rich history of use in Native American and early European-American herbalism.
It’s also become a popular herbal supplement, partly due to its natural concentration of Berberines, which emerging research suggests may support some aspects of naturally-occurring GLP-1s. (1)
Unfortunately, wild Goldenseal is also an at-risk plant species, and has been for many years.
This raises significant ethical issues in the sourcing of Goldenseal by supplement companies, which are rarely discussed with consumers.
We want to change that! And invite you to come along as we share an in-depth discussion on the where, why, and how behind Gaia Herbs' sustainable Goldenseal sourcing and our cultivation partnership with Boring Roots & Herbs.
What Is Goldenseal?
Named for its rich golden color, Goldenseal roots/rhizomes, also known as Goldenseal Root, or Hydrastis canadensis, is a perennial plant native to eastern North America, including the Appalachian mountains. (2)
It has a rich history of traditional use in Native American Medicine for various health purposes, and was also popular among early European settlers.
Analytical research has revealed several active plant compounds in Goldenseal, including alkaloids like Berberine, believed to be responsible for its health benefits. (3)
Today, it is used for similar purposes and, as mentioned previously, sometimes recommended for metabolic function due to its potential effects on GLP-1 receptors, though more research is needed. (4)
According to The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, Goldenseal is also one of the best-selling herbs internationally. (5)
The rising popularity of Goldenseal is a boon to herbalism and supplement companies. However, it can come at a high price.
And, unfortunately, not all companies are sourcing Goldenseal ethically.
The Dark Side Of The Goldenseal Trade
As mentioned previously, sought-after wild Goldenseal has teetered on the brink of endangerment for decades.
As outlined in Issue 119 of the American Botanical Council’s peer-reviewed publication, HerbalGram, in 2017 The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) published the first global Red List assessment for goldenseal in 2018, categorizing the plant as vulnerable and considered to face a high risk of extinction in the wild. (6)
What makes Goldensesal so vulnerable to endangerment?
According to researchers, decades of overharvesting or incorrect harvesting are significant factors, as are land conservation, genetic factors, and scattered distribution.
That report came out nine years ago, and although considerable efforts have been made in the private and public sectors, Goldenseal is still considered a vulnerable plant species.
It also has a history of adulteration, with other Berberine-containing herbs used to adulterate Goldenseal products, creating inauthentic raw materials.
These issues affect consumers, supplement companies, conservationists, wild-crafters, and herbalists. Yet very few companies talk about it, especially when it comes to sourcing or what they’re doing to help preserve this plant and create a more sustainable supply chain.
The Where, How, & Why of Gaia Herbs Sustainable Goldenseal Sourcing & Cultivation Project
Gaia Herbs is deeply committed to the sustainable and ethical cultivation and sourcing of all our plant materials, including vulnerable species like Goldenseal, Ginseng, and Rhodiola.
As an Appalachian-based company and herb farm, Goldenseal sourcing holds a special place in our hearts.
This is why we sought out a local experienced Goldenseal wild-crafter and cultivator, Boring Roots & Herbs, over 15 years ago.
Says Chase Millhollen, Gaia Herbs Global Sourcing and Procurement Senior Manager, “We’ve been really well connected with the herbal trade in Appalachia because of our location. There are a lot of forest native medicinal plants that naturally grow here, and we’re connected to the people who have harvested and wildcrafted these plants for years."
“Boring Roots is a good example of that because they’ve been around since the 1980s, were part of the early sustainable Ginseng trade, and have multi-generational experience.”
In 2021, Gaia Herbs partnered with Boring Roots on a local, large-scale Goldenseal cultivation project.
The purpose of the project is to become more self-sustaining in our sourcing, reduce pressure on wild species, and develop a Goldenseal crop as potent and high-quality as wild-harvested varieties.
Says Millhollen, “We started planting on Michael Boring’s property in 2021. He has the perfect balance on a hillside; there’s a mixed canopy, and we even brought in a consultant to analyze the light, soil, and validate that this was a viable growing area.”
Millhollen and his team check on the crops quarterly and with a future goal to use 100% cultivated Goldenseal.
“Goldenseal takes at least four to five years to reach maturity, so it will take some time.”
In a recent visit to Boring Roots & Herbs, Millhollen and his team observed and helped with the first Goldenseal cultivation harvest. They were impressed by the experience of his team and the care they put into wild-harvesting and cultivation.
“One of the most impactful things was to see this one digger’s pickaxe, which was worn down several inches based on all the years he’d been digging roots!” Says Millhollen.
“We participated in the digging, and the diggers were showing us: here’s the root, don’t confuse it with Ginseng, here’s how much you can take, here’s how much to leave so as not to harm the plant. It was really cool, “ added Ashley Walgren, Gaia Herbs Sustainability and Impact Manager.
“I think this is unique to Gaia because we saw this plant as at-risk and in demand in herbal medicine. So we decided to be proactive and help reduce the pressure on the wild population. This is an example of how we go above and beyond in sustainable sourcing to ensure consumers receive the best-quality supplements. But that all depends on the health of the ecosystems they’re coming from.”
Millhollen said the biggest challenge in cultivating Goldenseal crops is finding enough of the right type of land, as the plant requires a very specific set of parameters for optimal growing conditions.
Regardless, Gaia Herbs is committed to expanding its operations, with the goal of sourcing 100% of the Goldenseal for our full-spectrum products from the Tennessee-based Boring Root collaboration.
In the meantime, we are sourcing a portion from our cultivation fields and the rest from Boring Root’s sustainably wild-crafted Goldenseal, grown in our hyper-local Appalachian mountains.
Wild-Crafted Versus Cultivated Goldenseal
Wild-crafted Goldenseal has been the gold standard for thousands of years and would likely remain sustainable if not for over 200 years of overharvesting, clear-cutting, and urban expansion.
With increasing pressure on the crop, we, along with other sustainably minded companies and organizations, believe cultivated Goldenseal should be the new gold standard.
But, is it as potent as wild-crafted?
In our case, yes! Testing results from our first batch of cultivated Goldenseal confirmed that our cultivated crop tested as high in active plant compounds as the wild-crafted version.
This is thanks to the work of Goldenseal cultivation pioneers, like our friends at Boring Roots and Appalachian Sustainable Development, in cooperation with Sleepy Hollow Farms, Goldenseal can now be cultivated with the same potent active plant compounds as wild-crafted, without the environmental impact.
So, is it possible to source sustainably wild-crafted Goldenseal?
Yes, provided it’s from reputable suppliers, but wild-simulated cultivation is essential to the future of this precious plant.
What does responsible, sustainable Goldenseal wild-crafting look like?
Per Millhollen, the diggers (aka harvesters) should ideally be certified by an organization such as Wild Stewards Alliance (formerly Point of Harvest).
During harvesting, the diggers harvest the root/rhizome only from mature fruiting plants, which are approximately 5 years old and typically account for no more than 30% of the population.
They harvest late in the season when the plant is entering dormancy, and then leave all juveniles and remaining mature plants untouched. They also re-plant rhizome pieces with viable buds and return to the site only after a multi-year interval to ensure they don’t disturb the crop.
How Can Consumers Know They’re Getting Sustainable Goldenseal Supplements?
It can be challenging for consumers to know if they’re getting sustainable Goldenseal or Berberine products, which is why trusting your supplement company is key.
Millhollen and Walgren offered these tips:
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Check the label for any mention of sustainability certifications.
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Labels like “organic” or “wild-crafted” aren’t enough. “This is an at-risk plant, so you want to know how it was harvested, where it came from, and if it’s been tested for identity.”
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Check the company’s website to see what they say about their sourcing practices. You want transparency, or you really don’t know what you’re getting.
Ultimately, you want to know your supplement company and how committed they are to ethical and sustainable sourcing.
If a company is invested in this, they’ll want to share it in depth across their website and social media platforms, so it shouldn’t be hard to find.
Get more tips in: A Consumer’s Guide to Adulterated, Fake Herbs + How to Avoid Them.
How Gaia Herbs Uses Goldenseal
Sustainably wild-crafted and now cultivated Goldenseal has been a staple ingredient in various Gaia Herbs products for decades.
Our products containing sustainably wild-crafted Appalachian Goldenseal and cultivated Goldenseal through our collaborative Tennessee-based growing project, include:
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Echinacea Goldenseal: A harmonious blend of Echinacea and Goldenseal traditionally used to support the immune system and healthy mucus membrane function.
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Echinacea Goldenseal Propolis Throat Spray: A soothing formula with Goldenseal, Bee Propolis, Licorice, and Peppermint for throat support.
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Echinacea Goldenseal Supreme: A convenient liquid extract blend of Echinacea and Goldenseal root traditionally used for short-term immune support.
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Turmeric Supreme Sinus Support: A blend of Turmeric, Ginger, Black Pepper, Quercetin, Feverfew, Nettle, and Goldenseal provides sinus and inflammatory support for healthy individuals.
Learn more about Gaia Herbs' commitment to holistic sustainability in farming and ethical sourcing in:
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Ethical Sourcing: What it Means for Gaia Herbs Gaia’s Approach to Ethical Sourcing
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We’re Getting A New Look! The Scoop On Gaia Herbs' Sustainable Packaging Update
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Beyond The Supplement Label: Get To Know Gaia Herbs’ “No List"
References:
1 -“Berberine-induced glucagon-like peptide-1 and its mechanism for controlling type 2 diabetes mellitus: a comprehensive pathway review”. Arch Physiol Biochem.
2 -“Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis L.) and its active constituents: A critical review of their efficacy and toxicological issues”. Pharmacol Res.
3 -“Berberine: Botanical Occurrence, Traditional Uses, Extraction Methods, and Relevance in Cardiovascular, Metabolic, Hepatic, and Renal Disorders”.a Frontiers in Pharmacology.
4 -“Berberine-induced glucagon-like peptide-1 and its mechanism for controlling type 2 diabetes mellitus: a comprehensive pathway review”. Arch Physiol Biochem.“
5 -“Goldenseal In World Trade: Pressures and Potentials”. ISSUE: 41 Page: 51. HerbalGram. American Botanical Council.
6 -“Protecting Goldenseal: How Status Assessments Inform Conservation”. ISSUE: 119 Page: 40-55. HerbalGram. American Botanical Council.
