Wonderful Health Benefits Of Goldenseal, A Potent Herb

This perennial herb is a member of the buttercup family, which is a famous family of plants known for their multitude of healing benefits.

This is a vastly used herb that the Native Americans traditionally utilized for multiple healing purposes. It flowers in May or June and afterwards produces small fruits.

The part used for medicinal preparations is usually the plant’s rhizome, which is a small profusion of long yellow rootlets. There are great health benefits of goldenseal to help with various ailments.

Benefits of goldenseal to skin conditions

Goldenseal has great antiseptic qualities and can be good at treating skin rashes, wound infections, itching, acne, eczema and even dandruff and herpes blisters. According to an article by Jennifer Brett in 2011, it can also be beneficial as a wash for internal skin surfaces, for instance help against vaginal bacteria or ear infections.

A 2010 information package on goldenseal by Nutra Legacy says that these great antiseptic qualities also have antibiotic effects on the skin. It will increase your lymph circulation, which is great in enhancing the healing process of damaged skin.

Benefits on the immune system

Goldenseal is a great boost to your immune system. A lot of this health benefit of goldenseal is down to its rich vitamin and mineral quantities. For instance, goldenseal contains important minerals like calcium, iron and manganese. It also has high concentrations of vitamin A, vitamin B-complex, vitamin C and vitamin E. These are all essential in maintaining a healthy immune system.

The health benefits of goldenseal come also from the isoquinoline alkaloids that it contains – these give it great antibiotic, anti-infective and immune boosting properties. These alkaloids include, for example, hydrastine, berberine, canadine, canadaline and l-hydrastine. Goldenseal has smaller traces of essential fatty oils and resins that are also the building blocks of a strong immune system.

According to Nutra Legacy, goldenseal works great together with Echinacea, another excellent immune building herb – the combination soothes the body during colds but can also help with various allergies. According to WebMD, goldenseal can also be taken to treat infections and inflammation in the respiratory system.

Benefits to the gastrointestinal system

Consuming goldenseal can also help you cleanse your gastrointestinal system and other organs; because of its antibacterial properties, it can fight off infection effectively from the inside.

According to Herb Wisdom, goldenseal is useful in promoting healthy glandular functions because it increases bile flow and digestive enzymes. This can help against constipation because it promotes healthy liver function. Its antibacterial qualities can also treat infections in both the bladder and the intestines.

Another benefit of goldenseal was revealed in a study in 1987 published in the Journal of Infectious Diseases, which found that goldenseal was very effective against diarrhea. This is especially down to the alkaloid berberine found in goldenseal. Berberine is very effective against bacteria such as E. coli.

Goldenseal effectively soothes inflammation in your body. And it will reduce heartburn that can occur during indigestion.

Benefits of goldenseal to cardiovascular health

The alkaloids in goldenseal are great for your heart as well. Berberine was found in a 2009 study in the Journal of Cardiovascular Research to provide protection against damage to the endothial cells of the heart. This will strengthen your heart and prevent it from some damage.

Goldenseal will also improve circulation, and this will protect against cardiovascular problems related to, for example, constriction. According to Nutra Legacy, it can also lower your cholesterol levels and heart rate, which will help calm you down. The soothing effect on your nervous system can help you sleep better.