Goldenseal and Bacterial Vaginosis

You can opt to take herbs that could help re-balance the flora. Goldenseal herb has a long history of being used for bacterial vaginosis and it’s definitely one you should know about. Its official botanical name is Hydrastis Canadensis and its common name is yellow root. The reason why it is called yellow root is because of its obvious yellow color. The herb can also be used as a yellow dye.

Goldenseal root is an endangered plant in 25 different states of the U.S. Some say that it is endangered because the herb has been found to hide THC levels from marijuana drug tests; it does this by increasing the metabolic breakdown of THC. This makes ambitious drug dealers and/or drug users motivated to find the natural herb, say some reports. Those reports don’t realize that if the drug users really wanted to find the goldenseal, they could easily find it online or at any health food store. Why go through all the trouble to search it down like Sean Connery in the movie Medicine Man traipsing through the Amazon jungles?

Here are some characteristics about Goldenseal that you will be impressed with:

• Goldenseal has been used for vaginal infections as serious as gonorrhea. The National Institutes of Health reported this in its report on the herb. Their report can be found here. However, remember that the government only hires scientists and not herbalists. The problem with this is that scientists only know the technical and not the practical aspects about herbs.
• As mentioned above, this Goldenseal can be used to treat vaginitis. This is a specific indication for its use, not some hypothetical one where it could work.
• Goldenseal can also be used as a mouthwash. When using it to gargle after intercourse, it can kill any harmful bacteria that may have migrated into your partner’s mouth and that he then passed along to you while kissing. Goldenseal has long been used in mouthwash formulas that are natural.
• Goldenseal’s antibacterial properties are due to two alkaloid medicinal constituents, berberine and hydrastine. Both also act as a mild sedative. They are also antiviral and antifungal.
• Goldenseal’s berberine helps reduce Candida and Chlamydia trachomatis infections in the vagina.

The typical dosage of goldenseal is 465 to 500 mg two to three times daily. Read the label to see how much each capsule contains. If you obtain an extract or tincture, the dosage varies based on how potent the company made the formula, so use it according to the label instructions.

Goldenseal can stimulate uterine contractions and is not an herb of choice for women that are pregnant.