Goldenseal

ENDANGERED in the wild due to centuries of overharvesting, listed on CITES Appendix II since 1997, protected in multiple US states.

used to treat eye infections, yeast infections, diarrhea, uti, canker sores, and vaginitis.

contains berberine (ts so good for you), that kills bacteria and fungus.
kills staph (including MRSA), strep, E. coli, pseudomonas, salmonella, shigella, vibrio cholerae, H. pylori, chlamydia, gonorrhea, candida, aspergillus, athlete's foot fungus, giardia (the diarrhea parasite), entamoeba, trichomonas, leishmania, malaria, herpes, and influenza.
i know, what a mouthful. lowkey, no wonder it's endangered. grow a bunch of this plant in your backyard.
good for acute bacterial infections, food poisoning, traveler's diarrhea, giardia infections (especially after hiking/camping), candida overgrowth, sinus infections, sore throats, and skin infections.

the bright yellow root contains berberine, which kills bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites.
advantage over isolated berberine supplements: the WHOLE goldenseal plant contains efflux pump inhibitors that prevent bacteria from pumping berberine back out, making it more effective than berberine alone.

works on inflamed mucous membranes throughout your body like your sinuses, throat, lungs, stomach, gut, urinary tract, vagina, eyes, ears.
it tightens up boggy/swollen mucous tissue, kills the pathogens causing the inflammation, and restores tissue tone.
use goldenseal when secretions are YELLOW or GREEN (sign of infection).
good for sinus infections with thick yellow discharge, bronchitis, post-nasal drip, gastritis, ulcerative colitis flares, urinary tract infections, vaginitis, conjunctivitis (eye infection), and ear infections.

at lower doses, goldenseal stimulates bile flow and digestive juices (helping with sluggish digestion and constipation).
at higher doses, it has anti-diarrhea activity, slowing gut transit, reducing fluid loss, killing the bacteria causing the diarrhea.
good for acute diarrhea (especially traveler's diarrhea and food poisoning), gastritis, peptic ulcers, duodenal ulcers, H. pylori infection, dyspepsia, gallbladder dysfunction, and sluggish digestion.

lowers blood sugar through the same mechanism as metformin (AMPK activation).
multiple clinical trials show berberine matches metformin for lowering blood sugar, HbA1c, and improving insulin sensitivity. also lowers cholesterol, LDL, and triglycerides through a statin-like mechanism.
reduces sugar absorption from the gut, lowers insulin resistance, and promotes insulin secretion.
oral (eaten) goldenseal is poorly absorbed in the gut.
for diabetes treatment, isolated berberine HCl supplements (500mg 2-3x daily) are MUCH more effective than whole goldenseal. but for gut infections, goldenseal works LOCALLY without needing absorption, which is why it's so effective for diarrhea and H. pylori.

berberine kills the bacteria and viruses that cause conjunctivitis, plus reduces eye inflammation.
eye drops need to be sterile, pH-balanced, and properly preserved. if you want to use goldenseal for an eye infection, buy commercial sterile goldenseal eye drops

has been used for heavy periods, abnormal vaginal discharge, and weakened uterine tissue. kills the bacteria, yeast, and parasites that cause vaginal infections, candida, trichomonas, gardnerella (bacterial vaginosis), and gonorrhea.
used as vaginal douche, sitz bath, or oral capsules.
do NOT use during pregnancy. both hydrastine and berberine stimulate the uterus and can cause miscarriage and jaundice in newborns.

berberine kills colon, breast, lung, prostate, leukemia, melanoma, liver, and gastric cancer cells. triggers cancer cell self-destruct, arrests cancer division, blocks tumor blood supply, prevents metastasis, and shuts down telomerase (the enzyme cancer cells use to be immortal).

strengthens heart contractions, slows fast heart rate, has anti-arrhythmic activity, and dilates blood vessels. also reduces inflammation throughout the body.
activates mitochondrial biogenesis through AMPK and SIRT1 (a unique anti-aging mechanism). good for irregular heartbeats, hypertension support, post-cardiac event recovery, chronic inflammation, and as adjunct longevity support.

this is a strong herb, do not take everyday or in large amounts. taken in large amounts can cause seizures, respiratory failure and can affect the heart. take it as you would medicine. do not try to overdose on this herb.

can be used as mouthwash to kill bacteria.