Dr. O'Mathúna is Professor of Bioethics and Chemistry, Mount Carmel College of Nursing, Columbus, OH.
Goldenseal Popular Despite Lack of Evidence for Effectiveness
Despite goldenseal's position as one of the five top-selling herbs in the United States, the popular media have taken a cautious approach to the claims of immune boosting that the herb's advocates espouse.
Prevention plainly said in July 1997 that goldenseal "doesn't quite live up to its reputation" despite potentially offering some relief for scratchy throats. Editors note that the herb does have antiseptic qualities, but they caution that the claims of the herb fighting off colds may be similar to the claims made for it in the 1970s as a way to mask drug usage in urine tests. In sum, the editors said: "Goldenseal thus remains an interesting example of a little-researched, relatively unimportant herb that through hearsay and hype has acquired an undeserved reputation."
In April 1998, Good Housekeeping warned readers away from the popular echinacea-goldenseal combination products made by many herbal product manufacturers. Experts interviewed by the magazine called the combination an "irrational product" and warned readers to avoid echinacea-goldenseal products since the effects of the herbs in combination are unknown. The researchers interviewed were no more complementary of goldenseal by itself. One, Norman R. Farnsworth, PhD, a professor of pharmacognosy at the University of Illinois, said: "I know of nothing in the scientific literature that suggests that this plant is useful for anything. I wouldn't take it." A naturopath interviewed for the article didn't support goldenseal either, commenting that patients with bacterial infections such as strep throat would be better served by antibiotics because they work faster.
Better Nutrition, in January 1998, was more charitable. Author Jamison Starbuck noted goldenseal had natural antibiotic properties; yet, he also issued cautions that it should be used only for specific conditions and discontinued when the illness is healed. He also raised the issue of overuse of goldenseal leading to possible endangerment of the plant species.
Goldenseal and its common partner, echinacea, are also the subjects of books. One, The Healing Power of Echinacea and Goldenseal, and Other Immune System Herbs by Paul Bergner (Prima Publications, 1997; $15) was listed as the 8244th best selling book available on Amazon.com in mid-July.
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