Goldenseal

Goldenseal is a Vulnerable forest plant that grows throughout the Appalachian region in the US and Canada. It is used for medicinal purposes, to treat infected mucosal membranes including the mouth, respiratory, and gastrointestinal tract.

 

Names

Goldenseal, Hydrastis canadensis

Found in ingredients as

Goldenseal, hydraste du Canada, sceau d’or, eyebalm, ground raspberry, yellow root, orange root, yellow puccoon

Used in

Top producers

USA, Canada

Conservation status

CITES:

IUCN Red List:

Appendix II

 

Opportunities

Goldenseal. Photo: Melissa McMasters

 
 

It is essential to understand whether the goldenseal you are purchasing is wild-harvested or cultivated. 

Cultivated should be preferred, whether you are a domestic or international buyer, considering the high biological risk of wild-harvested goldenseal. International buyers must be purchasing artificially propagated goldenseal to be legally compliant with CITES.   

If you are a domestic buyer, and wild-harvested must be purchased, the following opportunities can make the purchase more responsible. 

 Conservation & Restoration

Sulfuric acid is a key component in the processing of candelilla wax and poses a significant health & safety risk. Ensure that adequate safety equipment is provided to, and being used by, workers.

 Partnerships & Associations

Engage with local groups and NGOs, such as United Plant Savers and the American Herbal Products Association, to ensure that responsible and/or monitored sourcing of wild goldenseal occurs on a broader scale, as well as to support cultivation trials.

Biological Risk

 
 
 

Classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. 

Harvested for its roots and can therefore be destroyed through collection. 

Slow-growing: seed production is low, natural germination of seeds is slow, and it can take two years for goldenseal to grow from seed to producing its first true leaf. 

The species is facing multiple threats: 

  • Habitat loss and degradation  

  • Unsustainable wild harvesting  

  • Deer browsing  

  • Pressure from invasive species  

Social Risk

 
 
 

  • USA and Canada experience relatively low rates of modern slavery and corruption at the country level compared to other nations.  

  • Goldenseal collection tends to be a supplementary form of income rather than the main earning activity for households.  

  • There are potential use conflicts with Indigenous people: in Canada, goldenseal is a culturally important species to the Algonquin People, while Indigenous uses of the plant have also been documented in the USA. 

*Note: Little social data are available on goldenseal harvesters, so this risk rating should be taken with caution and due diligence should nevertheless be undertaken.

Header image: Goldenseal © Tom Potterfield / Flickr