Goldenseal
Hydrastis canadensis
Also called: Yellow Root, Indian Paint, Yellow Puccoon
Description: Goldenseal grows from 6 to 12 inches tall. Each plant has one stem which forks at the top and bears two leaves, one of which is generally larger than the other.
Leaves: The leaves have 5 to 7 pointed lobes and look similar to maple leaves. They grow to 8 inches wide and are covered with a fine down. The edges are finely toothed.
Flowers: A single greenish-white flower appears from April to May.
Fruit: The fruit forms from the flower in the late summer and fall. It is similar to a raspberry in color and shape.
Roots: Roots are small,seldom more than 2 inches long with many rootlets attached. Freshly dug roots are a bright yellow and dry to a brownish yellow gold.
Where: Goldenseal grows in rich moist woodlands and can often be found growing with Ginseng, Solomon's seal, and Bloodroot. Given the right growing conditions, Goldenseal will spread, forming large patches. Native to North America, the plant grows from Vermont south to Alabama and Georgia, west to Arkansas, and north to Minnesota.
What: Harvest the stems, leaves and roots.
When: Stems and leaves are collected just as the plant flowers, Goldenseal roots are harvested in the late summer and fall, after the berries have ripened and the seed has set. Dig the larger, more mature plants, and leave the smaller for future harvesting.
It is wise to find two or three patches and rotate your harvesting from year to year. Leave any hair rootlets and broken roots in the ground. These will take hold and produce new plants. If mature patches of Goldenseal are not harvested in a 5 to 10 year period, the plants will begin to degenerate.
How: The tops of goldenseal should be cut from the root at ground level. Tops should be dried out of the sun to retain their green color.
Clean roots thoroughly. Clumps of dirt, small stones, and organic matter become entwined in these roots. Rinse with lots of running water to loosen the dirt that clings to the root hairs. Rinse until water come away clean. Spread in a single layer to dry.
Cultivation: Although not an easy plant to cultivate, Goldenseal can be grown in conditions that mimic those where it is found in the wild. This plant needs lots of shade, so growing in a wooded area or using shaded beds is necessary to filter out direct sunlight. Be sure that any shading structure built is high enough to provide for good air circulation. If preparing beds in a wooded area, clear out undergrowth and small trees. Raised beds may be needed if the ground is compact.
Soil should be rich inorganic matter and toward the acid side of the pH scale. Goldenseal is a shallow-rooted plant that spreads by sending out root runners from the main rhizome. If the soil is not loose and light, the runners have difficulty spreading and establishing new plants.
Goldenseal is best propagated by root cuttings or root division. In the fall, dig the root and cut the rhizome into pieces at least 1/2 inch long. Some planters prefer that each piece has a bud or swelling, but plants will develop even from the small root hairs. Plant cut roots or root pieces in prepared soil about 1/2 to 1 inch deep. Mulch the beds with 3 or 4 inches of rotted leaves, bark, rotted saw dust, or straw. These materials will help the soil retain moisture and enrich it as they decompose.
Space root at least one foot apart. As the plants develop, the rhizome will send out runners which will develop new plants and fill the bed. Root hairs may take a full year to send up a shoot. Root cuttings should send up a shoot the following spring, and begin sending out runners the first summer. It takes 3 to 4 years from the planting of root cuttings or root pieces to develop a crop of marketable roots. Harvest the largest plants, leaving the small roots to regenerate the bed. Wise growers harvest every 2 to 3 years.
Uses: Used to treat all inflammations of the mucous membranes. Also used as an antibiotic and antiseptic on cuts and open wounds, as a mouthwash, an eyewash, and an immune system stimulant.
This article was taken from the "A Diggers Guide to Medicinal Plants". We have this book in stock for sale here at Deak's Fur Company. We are located between Terre Haute and Brazil Indiana. One mile south of US 40. In Staunton, we are one block south, 6 blocks west of the 4-way stop at the New Staunton Community Center.
The Current Price for Goldenseal is $15/lb dry. Early root is normally a little bit smaller than root collected in mid summer. Normally the price moves up as the root becomes larger. The green price is currently $3.75/lb
Store hours are M-F pm to pm. Saturday 12 noon to pm.