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Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis), whose common names also may be yellow puccoon or orange root, is a medicinal herb that has been used traditionally by Native Americans. There have been many studies, as you will see, conducted on this herb’s efficacy as a Candida fighter. There are many individuals who recommend this herb for the treatment of yeast infections; and, you can use it as well safely from home. The power of goldenseal as an herbal Candida remedy likely comes primarily from berberine and hydrastine. These two chemicals are both antifungal and occur naturally in goldenseal. Plants that contain berberine have long been used traditionally to treat yeast infections and other fungal infections.
Goldenseal is a perennial herb in the buttercup (Ranunculaceae) family. It is native to the eastern United States and southeastern Canada. If you are fortunate to live in a similar climate, you may well be able to start growing your own goldenseal! If you do not have any goldenseal on hand, you can purchase it as a bulk powder, tincture, pill, or salve. You may want to get some type of goldenseal for internal use, along with using it externally. Eliminating Candida from the digestive tract is important for halting recurrent yeast infections.
How to use Goldenseal for a Yeast Infection
You may not have goldenseal on hand and you will have to buy it. Fortunately, there are many ways to procure this medicinal herbal remedy. You can buy a tincture of goldenseal and add it to juice and drink it 3 times a day. This should give the yeast living in your digestive system a blow and help to control recurrent yeast infections. Dr. James Duke, in his book The Green Pharmacy, recommended using it topically. Dr. Duke suggested taking 5 to 7 teaspoons of dried goldenseal and adding it to a cup of water. Bring the cup of water to a boil and then let the herb steep for 20 minutes. Finally, strain the goldenseal out of the water and apply the tea topically to the infected area 3 times a day.
Another approach you could investigate is using diluted apple cider vinegar (ACV) instead of water for the decoction. You will need to dilute the ACV as pure ACV can cause skin irritation and chemical burns when it is used on the skin. You will not require more than a 1% concentration of ACV to effectively start combating yeast; so it does not take much (you can find out more information about ACV here: Apple Cider Vinegar for Yeast Infection)!
To infuse the ACV in water mixture, Just place 10 to 14 teaspoons of dried goldenseal into about two cups of water with a small amount of ACV. Bring the mixture to a boil and then let steep for 20 minutes. When the liquid has cooled, strain out the herb. You can use this liquid as a vaginal douche or you can simply apply it topically to the area on your body that is infected. Drinking it may be unpleasant! Just use it intra-vaginally or topically.
Also, if you can procure some dried goldenseal, you can grind the herb up thoroughly and add it to honey. Honey is itself an inhibitor of Candida, and adding goldenseal to it should increase the rate at which you are healed. There are other herbs you can add along with goldenseal for a natural remedy. You can even put a few drops of essential oil into the honey as well. For more information on using honey and herbs to fight a yeast infection, check out our homemade yeast infection cure article.
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Visit Official Site!Goldenseal and Candida Research
One study, published in Planta Medica [67.6 (2001): 561-564], found that the crude extract of goldenseal worked better against Candida than single alkaloid chemicals present in goldenseal. The crude extract killed Candida albicans in 15 seconds versus 1 to 2 hours for the alkaloids (canadine, canadaline, hydrastine, and berberine). There may very well be some degree of Candicidal synergy when all the chemicals in goldenseal are used together; this could explain the power of the crude goldenseal extract. Thus, you would probably be better off using an herbal preparation or essential oil of goldenseal than you would be using just berberine alone.
Another study, that shows goldenseal is a powerful herbal remedy for yeast infections, was published in Mycoses [Vol. 54]. The study used strains of C. albicans, C. glabrata, and C. krusei to evaluate the effectiveness of goldenseal as a natural treatment. Goldenseal effectively inhibited the development of all the various strains of Candida used in the study. This suggest that goldenseal will make an excellent herbal remedy for the treatment of yeast infections—no matter what species of Candida is attacking your body.
Goldenseal Berberine Synergy with Antifungals
One study, published in Archives of Oral Biology [56.6 (2011): 565-572], examined the possible synergy of berberine with two other prescription antifungal drugs: miconazole and fluconazole. The study found that berberine inhibited the growth of Candida species of yeast at 0.98–31.25 mg / L. The order of susceptibility for these Candida species to berberine is, from greatest susceptibility to least: C. krusei > C. kefyr > C. glabrata > C. tropicalis > C. parapsilosis > C. albicans. As you may have noticed, this dilution of berberine in the study is measured in liters, not milliliters. Berberine was seen to work synergistically with fluconazole and miconazole against Candida species. Also, of importance, is the result of using miconazole with berberine against Candida biofilm. The combination of miconazole and berberine reduced biofilm formation by 91% after 24 hours.
Candida biofilm is significant as its presence can increase the resistance of Candida to some antifungal drugs by over 1000 times (Kahn, Ahmad. 2012). Candida can protect itself by forming a layer of slime to cover itself. This layer of slime makes it difficult for drugs to penetrate to the yeast cells and destroy the pathogen. If you have seen no results from prescription drugs, you may very well have a strong biofilm formed in your body which makes it very difficult to see success. Fortunately, many natural compounds found in herbs and essential oils can obliterate Candida biofilm.
Goldenseal has also been shown to work very well when used concurrently with fluconazole. A study that demonstrated this was published in Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy [50.3 (2006): 1096-1099]. In this study, forty clinical isolates of fluconazole-resistant C. albicans were used to determine the efficacy of berberine and how it would work in tandem with fluconazole. The study found that using fluconazole and berberine together resulted in much greater inhibition of C. albicans development. The study showed that there is indeed a synergistic Candicidal action created when berberine and fluconazole are used together. The researchers in the study stated the following:
Our findings suggested that the combination of fluconazole and BBR [BBR stands for berberine] produced potently synergistic action against fluconazole-resistant C. albicans in vitro… In conclusion, when used in combination with fluconazole, BBR is a promising and safe agent against fluconazole-resistant C. albicans in vitro but further study is needed to determine the underlying mechanism of the synergistic action. The potentiality of using this combination therapy in vivo warrants investigation.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1128/AAC.50.3.1096-1099.2006
Goldenseal Hydrastine Fights Candida
Aside from containing berberine, goldenseal also contains the chemical hydrastine. According to Dr. James Duke’s phytochemical database, goldenseal contains approximately 15,000 - 40,000 ppm of hydrastine. The average amount, 27,500 ppm, equates to about 27 mg / mL of goldenseal. You may well get more hydrastine then this since this is merely an approximation of the average level present in this herb.
Hydrastine is present in goldenseal almost as much as berberine is, and it is a proven inhibitor of Candida albicans. A study that reports such findings, was published in the German journal Zeitschrift für Naturforschung C [62.1-2 (2007): 19-26]. The study found that both berberine and hydrastine inhibited Candida albicans at a concentration of 4 mcg / mL. There is, of course, about 27,000 mcg in each milliliter of goldenseal; more than enough to deal with a yeast infection.
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Visit Official Site!Side Effects of Goldenseal for Yeast Infections
In general, goldenseal is considered very safe for short term use by adults at reasonable dosages. However, rare side effects of using this herb include vomiting and nausea. Goldenseal, as mentioned, does contain berberine. Berberine could possibly react with some medications. The following medications may be effected by taking goldenseal:
- Cyclosporine: Goldenseal may elevate cyclosporine levels in the blood.
- Digoxin: Goldenseal might elevate levels of digoxin in the blood. This could increase the risk for side effects of digoxin.
- Tetracycline: Berberine in goldenseal may stymie the antibiotic ability of tetracyclines.
- Blood Thinners: Goldenseal may possibly increase the thinning of the blood if you are taking anticoagulant (blood thinning) medications.
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Visit Official Site!A Natural, 12 Hour Yeast Infection Cure
According to a research paper published in Clinical Microbiology Reviews [12.1 (1999): 80-96], Candida species are quite ubiquitous organisms. Candida are most frequently present in the mouth; and, live in 31% to 55% of healthy people. The species that causes approximately 70% to 80% of all Candida infections is C. albicans.
The Chinese Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology [2011 Jul;46(7):496] reports there appears to be a correlation between intestinal Candida infections and vaginal yeast infections. And, this provides a clue, as to why yeast infections in general, can reoccur.
This study states, in 148 cases of vaginal candida infections, 33.1% of the women were infected in both the intestines and vaginal area. The recurrence rate of yeast infections, in women with simultaneous intestinal infection, was significantly higher than for women who did not have an intestinal infection. This study concluded that vaginal yeast infections are highly associated with simultaneous intestinal Candida infection.
As research appears to indicate, systemic Candida infections can and do happen. A more systemic Candida infection may primarily get a foothold in the intestines; and cause a wide array of problems. If your yeast infections keep happening, a systemic Candida problem may be why.
One woman who suffered from a systemic Candida infection, for about 12 years, was Linda Allen. The systemic Candida infection that attacked Linda caused a wide range of health problems in addition to yeast infections. Some of these problems, Linda describes in her own words in the following quote:
To be honest, it was hard to pinpoint exactly what was wrong: I wasn’t really sick, but I wasn’t really well either. I had listlessness, fatigue, brain fog, stomach ailments, unexplained rashes, skin infections, and so on. It seemed like every day brought a new challenge.
My energy was sapped and I felt exhausted, which affected my grades and put a big dent in my social life.
Linda Allen’s symptoms included an embarrassing vaginal discharge, severe itching, and burning sensations. Her infections were difficult to deal with, and Linda’s health problems cost her financially as well. Linda states these infections of Candida can become excruciating when they happen as frequently as a menstrual period.
Yet, Linda spent a great deal of time in research; and even questioned health professionals who were kind enough to share some time with her. Linda even tried an array of purported "cures." Although it took a while, eventually, Linda put together a natural treatment plan she hoped would solve her Candida situation.
After spending about a year refining her new approach, Linda tried her system on herself. It worked amazingly well. Linda even returned to a few medical doctors to get tested for the presence of infections. These tests revealed all indicators of infection had vanished! Linda was indeed well again, after such a long, difficult journey.
Linda has since published a book detailing how to copy her success. She also includes a 12 hour yeast infection cure that can get rid of a superficial (such as a genital yeast infection or oral thrush) yeast infection in about 12 hours.
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If you would like to learn more about Linda’s journey to freedom from Candida, see reviews of others who tried her natural system, or find out more about her efficacious book; you can find more information at Linda Allen’s website.
Author: Mr. Nicholas Gross
Nick Gross is a natural medicine enthusiast who has been researching and writing about natural medicine since 2008. Nick is primarily a web developer but also researches and authors written and video content about natural health. Nick has a bachelor’s degree in Management Information Systems from the University of Northern Iowa.
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SOURCES:
- Google Books — Duke, J. A. (1997). The green pharmacy: New discoveries in herbal remedies for common diseases and conditions from the world's foremost authority on healing herbs. Emmaus, Pa: Rodale Press.
- http://dx.doi.org/10.1081/E-EDS-120022109 — McKenna, Dennis J., and Gregory A. Plotnikoff. "Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis)." Encyclopedia of Dietary Supplements. New York, NY: Marcel Dekker (2005): 297-308.
- http://dx.doi.org/10.1055/s-2001-16493 — Scazzocchio, F., et al. "Antibacterial activity of Hydrastis canadensis extract and its major isolated alkaloids." Planta medica 67.6 (2001): 561-564.
- http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1439-0507.2011.02092.x — Almeida, M. T. G., et al. "Herb-derived natural products: a therapeutic alternative against candidiasis?." Mycoses. Vol. 54. COMMERCE PLACE, 350 MAIN ST, MALDEN 02148, MA USA: WILEY-BLACKWELL, 2011.
- http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.archoralbio.2010.11.021 — Wei, Guo-Xian, Xin Xu, and Christine D. Wu. "In vitro synergism between berberine and miconazole against planktonic and biofilm Candida cultures."archives of oral biology 56.6 (2011): 565-572.
- http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2012.01.045 — Khan, Mohd Sajjad Ahmad, and Iqbal Ahmad. "Biofilm inhibition by Cymbopogon citratus and Syzygium aromaticum essential oils in the strains of Candida albicans." Journal of ethnopharmacology 140.2 (2012): 416-423.
- http://dx.doi.org/10.1128/AAC.50.3.1096-1099.2006 — Quan, Hua, et al. "Potent in vitro synergism of fluconazole and berberine chloride against clinical isolates of Candida albicans resistant to fluconazole." Antimicrobial agents and chemotherapy 50.3 (2006): 1096-1099. Full Text Here
- http://dx.doi.org/10.1515/znc-2007-1-204 — Orhan, Ilkay, et al. "Antiviral and antimicrobial profiles of selected isoquinoline alkaloids from Fumaria and Corydalis species." Zeitschrift für Naturforschung C 62.1-2 (2007): 19-26.
- https://nccih.nih.gov/health/goldenseal — Goldenseal side effects
- https://doi.org/10.1128/CMR.12.1.80 -- Fidel, Paul L., Jose A. Vazquez, and Jack D. Sobel. "Candida glabrata: review of epidemiology, pathogenesis, and clinical disease with comparison to C. albicans." Clinical Microbiology Reviews [12.1 (1999): 80-96].
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22041440/ -- Lin XL, Li Z, Zuo XL. "Study on the relationship between vaginal and intestinal candida in patients with vulvovaginal candidiasis." Chinese Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology (Zhonghua fu chan ke za zhi). [2011 Jul;46(7):496].
