Synopsis

Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 1

Hydrastine is an isoquinoline alkaloid found in the plant Hydrastis canadensis (goldenseal). Historically, goldenseal has been used in North American herbal medicine, especially by Native American groups, as a remedy for wounds and to help stop external bleeding. The traditional application is based on the astringent properties of goldenseal, attributed in part to hydrastine and other alkaloids like berberine. These constituents were thought to constrict blood vessels and promote clotting when applied topically. However, evidence supporting hydrastine’s efficacy in this regard is extremely limited and primarily anecdotal or based on early ethnobotanical accounts rather than controlled studies.

There is a lack of modern clinical or pharmacological research directly evaluating hydrastine’s hemostatic effects for external bleeding. Reviews of the scientific literature do not provide substantive evidence supporting its topical use for this purpose, and its pharmacological actions are better described as vasoconstrictive and uterotonic rather than specifically hemostatic. Thus, while the historical use of hydrastine-containing preparations for bleeding is well-documented, contemporary medical or scientific validation is lacking. Current medical practice does not recommend hydrastine or goldenseal for the treatment of external bleeding.

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