Hydrastis Canadensis – Golden Seal

The mother tincture is prepared from the dried rootstock, with roots attached, of the plant, Hydrastis canadensis L., which occurs in shady mountain forests of at- lantic North America. N.O. Ranunculaceae.

Hydrastis, Canadian Golden Seal, is prepared from the dried rootstock and con- tains three alkaloids: hydrastine, berberine and meconin, apart from physosterin, volatile oil and resins. It is used principally in serious disorders of the autonomic nervous system, and also in cancer and septic states, in protracted catarrhs, influenza with great secretion of mucus, coughs, epistaxis, great weakness, and also in gastro- intestinal ulceration, liver conditions with jaundice and in cystitis. In roseola and eczematous skin eruptions, especially where there is a general physical weakness and exhaustion, and also in rheumatic muscular and nervous pains, whether fixed or changing location, and also particularly in illnesses of the uterus with vaginal dis- charge, in breast lumps, and in neuralgias of the spermatic cord and testicles.

Nash refers to special indications for Hydrastis, e.g. thick, tough, bloody discharges from the nose, a swollen, relaxed tongue showing imprints of the teeth and a sensation as if burnt or scalded, with tough, yellow mucus in the pharynx. Also a sunken feeling in the stomach with persistent palpitations and lumpy stools covered in mucus.

There is also a characteristic dull pain in the renal area and thick, tough, mucous sediment in the urine, often associated with palpitations and weakness, especially a high degree of muscular weakness; also a sensation of heat all over the body, alter- nating with shivering.

In the clinical picture we find cachexia with suspected neoplasm, especially where there is complete failure of the stomach; also there is uterine prolapse and cervical erosion with thick, tough, yellow discharge and general weakness. Hydrastis can also be used to good effect in stomatitis after abuse of mercury, in hearing which is impaired by catarrh, in ear-discharge and tinnitus, and in chronic constipation. How- ever it is especially effective in leucorrhoea and in any other acrid, raw, excoriating discharges when a general deterioration of energy is present, as e.g. in cancer and cancerous degeneration, tumours in various organs and parts of the body, including the female breast, and also in pruritus vulvae. According to information from Fel- lenberg-Ziegler it can also be used in general energy-deterioration during smallpox (one drop of the tincture internally every 2 hours and a teaspoonful of tincture to a glass of lukewarm water on compresses, which is said to prevent scarring).

By summarising we arrive at the following remedy-picture for Hydrastis:

1. Moist skin eruptions and ulcers with offensive discharges, itching and burning. Catarrhal conditions of the mucosa with heavy discharge. Chronic conjunctivitis. Stomatitis.
2. Catarrhal conditions of the gastric mucosa and the bronchi with a scratching, rough cough. Coryza with continual mucous discharges, burning and feeling of rawness.
3. Congestive coryza. Nasal ulcers. Cholesteatoma. Otorrhoea.
4. Atonic constipation. Chronic cystitis and urethritis. Vaginal discharge.
5. Suspected cancer. Tumours in the breasts and in other organs. Emaciation when eating well. General lack of energy.

The German Monograph-Preparation Commission for the Homoeopathic Field of Therapy has, under the Preparation Monograph for Hydrastis canadensis, published the following indication(s) in the German Bundesanzeiger (German Federal Gazette) for hydrastis: mucosal suppuration, also accompanied by ulceration, in- flammations and colic of the hepatobiliary system, and of the gastrointestinal tract; polyps.