The rhizomes are twisted and knotted, covered with yellow-brown bark. The flesh of the rhizome is yellow. The berries look like raspberries. Goldenseal is native to North America and found in Vermont to Georgia, west to Alabama and Arkansas, north to eastern Iowa and Minnesota. This precious plant is over harvested in the wild and is becoming almost extinct.
Goldenseal is cultivated in Ontario, Oregon and Washington.
Goldenseal was widely used by Native Americans. It's primary use was for the inflammation of mucous membranes, as an eye wash, as a dye for clothing, for wound healing, skin cancer, eczema, acne, indigestion, jaundice, bronchitis, pharyngitis and gonorrhea. Goldenseal is currently being used for dyspepsia, gastritis, colitis, bronchitis, skin disorders, acid indigestion, for infectious diarrhea and infections of the mucous membranes. It has alterative, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, bitter tonic, hemostatic and astringent properties. Goldenseal is found in health food stores in many forms.