Evidence supporting the use of: Goldenseal
For the health condition: Abdominal Pain

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 been traditionally used in North American herbal medicine for a variety of ailments, including digestive complaints such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, and indigestion. Native American tribes, notably the Cherokee and Iroquois, historically used goldenseal root preparations for gastrointestinal issues, attributing its benefits to its bitter taste and soothing properties. Early American herbalists adopted goldenseal as a remedy for “stomach catarrh,” ulcers, and other digestive disturbances, often combining it with other herbs like gentian and barberry.

The compounds primarily responsible for goldenseal’s effects are alkaloids such as berberine, hydrastine, and canadine. Berberine, in particular, has demonstrated antimicrobial activity in laboratory settings and may help counteract certain pathogens that cause gastrointestinal discomfort. However, while there are in vitro and animal studies suggesting berberine’s ability to modulate gut flora and reduce inflammation, robust clinical trials in humans specifically examining goldenseal for abdominal pain are lacking.

Therefore, while traditional use is well documented, modern scientific evidence supporting goldenseal for abdominal pain is limited and indirect. Most reputable sources caution that, despite its historical reputation, efficacy for this indication remains unproven, and safety concerns (especially with prolonged use) should be considered.

More about goldenseal
More about Abdominal Pain

Other ingredients used for Abdominal Pain

allspice
aloe vera
green chiretta
apple
artichoke
bacillus coagulans
bamboo
barberry
basil
myrobalan
berberine
beta caryophyllene
betel
bifidobacterium bifidum
bifidobacterium breve
bifidobacterium infantis
bifidobacterium lactis
bifidobacterium longum
black cumin
black pepper
radish
blackberry
bromelain
rice
bupleurum falcatum
bасора
cannabis sativa oil
celery
chamomile
chen pi
cinnamon
cissus quadrangularis
citrus oil
clove
cowage seed
cucumber
turmeric
dandelion
devil's claw
melon
fennel
fenugreek
fiber blend (proprietary)
fu ling
garlic bulb
gentian root
ginger
ginseng
goldenseal
greek mountain tea
green banana
green tea
hawthorn
hemp oil
horseradish
Indian gum arabic tree
Japanese sophora
l-glutamine
lactase
lactobacillus gasseri
lactiplantibacillus plantarum
licorice root
lipase
lovage
magnesium
marshmallow
mastic gum
milk thistle
mint
mustard seed
okra
olive
oregano
papain
parsley
peppermint oil
phytocannabinoids
plantain
plum fruit
pomegranate
prebiotic blend (proprietary)
butyric acid
psyllium
pumpkin
raspberry
rhizome
rhubarb root
rosemary
schizonepeta
slippery elm bark
sphaeranthus indicus
thyme
triphala
water
white willow
zhejiang fritillary
bentonite
yellow root
squawvine
chickweed
typhonium
xanthium (cockleburs)
hyssop
cardamom
atractylodes
papaya
shen-chu
capsicum
mugwort
Indian bael
nut grass
alpinia galangal
clerodendrum indicum
ferula assafoetida
hedychium spicatum
anise
pistacia integerrima gall
punarnava
commiphora
holarrhena antidysenterica
paederia foetida
tinospora cordifolia
blackboard tree
caesalpinia crista
fumaria parviflora
picrorhiza kurroa
swertia
chaff flower
peony
lingusticum wallichii
boxthorne
goldenrod
yarrow
buckthorn
prickly ash
lemongrass
myrrh
elecampane
root tuber
juniper berries
solomon's seal
siler root
amber
flowering quince
dogwood
dioscorea
fern
sweet flag
hyacinth bean
sweetgums
morinda
trichosanthes
zanthoxylum
queen of the meadow
caraway
purslane
assam indigo
wintergreen
camphor oil
menthol oil
aster root
wood betony
paw paw
white oak
herbal blend (proprietary)
Sichuan pepper
indigo leaves
cayenne pepper
soursop
Avens
akebia
Agastache
Alseodaphne andersonii
Angel's Trumpet
Aquilegia viridiflora
Anthraquinone
Ambergris
Ardisia
Angelica
acacia
Agrimony
Achyranthes
Anamu
Abrus
Alchornea
Amomum
Asarum heterotropoides
Alchemilla
Asafoetida
Ajuga
Anserina
Aerva lanata
Agarwood
American Liverleaf
Anemone
Aquilegia formosa
Asam gelugor
Angostura
Arrowroot
Areca
Alsonia scholaris
Actaea spicata
Agonandra
Agrimonia pilosa
Asteracea
allyl isothiocyanate
Alisma
Asarabacca
Abuta
Allium tuberosum
Alstonia macrophylla
Amor seco
Arani
Arisaema
Asarum sieboldii
Atractylone
Bee Propolis
Betony
Bifidobacterium
Bermuda Grass
Bryonia
Bifidobacterium adolescentis
Bai Ji
Baliospermum
Bidens pilosa
Blackthorn
Broussonetia
Balsam
Brassica
Bishop's Weed
Boswellic Acid
Bayleaf
Bistort
Bran
Butea monosperma
Black galingale
Barleria
Berberis (unspecified)
Big Quaking Grass
Bitter Grass
Bougainvillea
Bael
Butternut
boldo
berry
Boswellia
Baccharoides anthelmintica
Banyan
Black willow
Bur-Reed
Bifidobacterium animalis
Bee products
Black Nightshade
Bombax
Borassus Palm
Borassus aethiopum
Black root
banana
Bifidobacteria
Bupleurum
Bassia scoparia
Black Hellebore
Balloon Flower
Belamcanda
Bergenia
Boerhavia diffusa
Bottle gourd
Borneol
Cumin
Centaury
Camellia sinensis
Chinese Silkvine
Curry leaf
Caryophyllene
Casearia esculenta
Common Monkey Flower
Cinnamomum
Croton seeds
California Redbud
Calotropis gigantea
Carqueja
Chervil
Cucurbita
Combretum quadrangulare
Coriander
Clerodendrum phlomidis
Cactus
Cape Aloe
Capillary Artemisia
Cinquefoil
Cyathula
Citron
Curcuminoid
Carry Me Seed
Capsaicin
Cymbidium goeringii
Cajuput
Chinese Raisintree
Chuchuhuasi
Cowherb
Carvone
Curcumen
Catechu
Coca
Chanca Piedra
Celandine
Ceylon Leadwort
Cissus sicyoides
Cinidium
Campylandra fimbriata
Chenopodium
Colombo
Centipeda
Corktree
Cubeb
Curcuma
cypress
Cabbage
Chirata
Cranesbill
Cornus
Chaenomeles lagenaria
Carlina
Calamus
Carrapichinho
Clostridium butyricum
Corydalis
Cynodon dactylon
Chiococca alba
Costus
Chekiang Fritillary
Collinsonia
Castor Oil
Carthamus
Colocynth
cola nut
Cynanchum
Celosia
Clerodendrum indicum
Casearia sylvestris
Culvers Root
Cannabichromene
Cannabigerol
Dianthus
Didymocarpus
Dense Fruit Dittany
Dragonhead
Dill
Dianthrone
Dwarf Nettle
Davilla rugosa
Dichrostachys glomerata
Erythropalum scandens
Erigeron
Elephant Vine
Erodium cicutarium
English Horsemint
Eclipta
Echinodorus
Enzyme Blend
Essential Oil Blend
Elephant's Head
Eupatorium
Euphorbia
Embelia
Emodin
Eugenol
Fig
Goldthread
Galangal
Lotus
Little ironweed
Mustard
Mallow
Oak
Prickly Pear Cactus
Poppy
Quince
Rose
Rhubarb
Snakeroot (unspecified)
Squash
Wormseed
Zucchini