Goldenseal

This is a fascinating and useful, almost cure all, herb, much admired by the American Indians, pioneers through the West, and by early naturopaths. Small amounts can be ingested as a tea and will have a profound effect on many organs. Large amounts of this potent golden powder cleanse the system so fast that I consider large amounts to be toxic. Be very conservative in dealings with plants have great respect for their power. 1, myself, therefore, prefer to use goldenseal externally on the whole, except in the mouth, where I combine it with tincture of myrrh. It is a very strong antiseptic, disinfectant, and astringent. Internally, it is not indicated for pregnant women (or at least it can be used only in very tiny amounts), for hypoglycernics, or people with hypertension. When there is a doubt about certain uses of an herb, don't take chances there are plenty of other herbs.

External Use For sore gums, use your fingers or a toothbrush to paint the gums with goldenseal powder, or combine the powder and a few drops of tincture of myrrh an extremely effective combination for any mouth problem, even pyorrhea.

Mouth Sores Use a cotton tipped stick to place the powder directly on a cold sore or canker sore. It will help to relieve the pain and will usually control the situation overnight. If you prefer, you can gargle constantly with the powder or tincture of myrrh and water, but use a strong solution.

Tooth Extraction Apply the goldenseal root powder directly on the wound to heal it, and chomp on a comfrey root or comfrey leaf teabag to reduce any swelling. Alternate with ice applications.

Eye Wash This is a great eye wash. Combine with crushed fennel seed tea and boric acid. Strain. Bathe the eyes.

Wounds Make up a goldenseal ointment, or combine the dry powder of goldenseal with equal amounts of dry slippery elmbark powder; add a minute amount of water, or even spit, to make up into a damp paste. You can also combine goldenseal with plantain ointment or comfrey ointment, depending on the need. All will help in healing and reducing an infection. See the treatment mentioned under Garlic.

Eruptions Ringworm, poison ivy, and sudden eruptions respond to continuous washing with or soaking in goldenseal tea.

Herbal folk medicine also includes the internal use of goldenseal as a bitter tonic to aid internal infection, to cleanse the body after an infection, to aid digestion, to increase bile action, to possibly help clear the body of internal catarrh, and to heal rectal ulcers.