Herbs Guide

Golden Seal

Family Name: Ranunculaceae

Botanical Name(s): Hydrastis canadensis

Popular Name(s): Goldenseal, Yellow Paint Root, Orange Root, Yellow Puccoon, Ground Raspberry, Eye Root, Yellow Indian Plant, Turmeric Root, Ohio Curcuma, Eye Balm, Yellow Eye, Jaundice Root.

Parts Used: Dried Root and Rhizome

Habitat: Native to the Northern and Eastern Forested regions of the Northern America.

Description: The plant, which is collected mainly from the wild, reaches a height of about 0.3 meters and is characterized by an erect, hairy stem, small, greenish-white flowers that bloom in early spring and subsequently become clusters of red berries and a thick yellow rhizome.

Uses: Goldenseal is often used as a multi-purpose remedy, having many different medicinal properties. In addition to working as a topical antibiotic, it can also be taken internally as a digestion aid.