Evidence supporting the use of: Goldenseal
For the health condition: Enteritis

Links: Go back one page, Tool main page, Ingredients list, Health conditions list, Body systems list

Synopsis

Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 2

Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis) has a long history of use in traditional herbal medicine, particularly among Native American tribes and later in North American herbalism, for a variety of gastrointestinal complaints, including enteritis (inflammation of the intestine). The traditional rationale for its use centers on its antimicrobial and astringent properties, believed to help manage infections and reduce inflammation in the digestive tract. Goldenseal contains alkaloids such as berberine, hydrastine, and canadine, with berberine being the most studied for its antimicrobial effects against bacteria that can cause gastrointestinal upset. However, while laboratory studies have confirmed berberine’s antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory actions, clinical evidence specifically supporting the use of goldenseal for enteritis in humans is lacking. Most of the support for goldenseal’s use in enteritis is therefore historical and anecdotal, passed down through generations of herbalists and traditional healers. Modern herbal references continue to mention goldenseal for digestive tract inflammation, but systematic reviews and rigorous clinical trials are absent. As a result, its use for enteritis is justified primarily by tradition rather than strong scientific validation, and the quality of evidence is low (rated 2 out of 5), relying mainly on historical use and basic pharmacological data rather than well-controlled human studies.

More about goldenseal
More about Enteritis