Goldenseal medical use

     

    
     
     The medicinal use of plants and the history of herbalism is undoubtedly as old as the history of humanity. The classical writers only recorded the use of four plants for magical and medicinal purposes: Mistletoe, Vervain, Selago and Samolus. By correlating archaeobotanical records of the plants that grew at the time of the ancient Druids in their source-lands of western Europe with the writings of contemporary herbalists such as Dioscorides, and the references to herbs in the old Celtic tales, we have been able to build a pretty good idea of the medicinal plants the ancients have used, such as Valerian—which is prized for its calming effect.Supposedly more potent than its Echinacea predecessor, Orangeroot, a perennial herb in the buttercup family has anti-inflammatory and (gulp) laxative properties. It’s also feted for slaying UTI’s and easing muscle-spasms, which is how I've recently come to be using it—for muscle spasms that is (wink, wink, nudge, nudge). But why? In part, due to its high concentration of the chemical berberine which effectively eradicates bacteria, fungi and prevents E. coli from binding to urinary tract walls. Fyi it’s sold as Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis) and manufactured as a tincture.