Made from the root of a small woodland plant of eastern North America, goldenseal root extract is often taken to ward off a cold or the flu. In addition, goldenseal extract is useful in fighting infections of the mouth, throat and sinus cavities.
Treating Gum Disease
Goldenseal is useful for gum disease, as it destroys bacteria that cause periodontal disease. As a mouth rinse, place one dropper-full of alcohol-free goldenseal root extract into the mouth; swish it around for three minutes, then swallow.
To heal inflamed gums or canker sores, place five drops of alcohol-free goldenseal root extract onto a piece of gauze or cotton, place over the inflamed area and leave until morning. In severe cases, this procedure may need to be repeated for three to five nights before healing occurs.
Combating Sinusitis
Flushing out the sinus cavities with cooled goldenseal tea is recommended for relieving sinusitis symptoms in the book, "Prescription for Nutritional Healing." In addition to using goldenseal as a nasal douche, taking it internally is also recommended, following the dosage recommendations on the bottle. The effects of goldenseal root extract may be enhanced by combining it with 250 to 500 milligrams of bromelain extract.
Sore Throat Gargle
According to Dr. Andrew Weil, to speed healing of a sore throat and open congested ear passages, make a gargle with goldenseal. Begin by adding ¼ teaspoon of salt to water which is as warm as you can stand, as this helps to increase blood flow to the inflamed tissues. Add one dropper-full of goldenseal root extract or ½ teaspoon of goldenseal powder to the salt water. Gargle this solution for a few minutes, at least four times a day, until symptoms are gone.
Interestingly enough, Dr. Weil also recommends using this same solution as a douche to remedy vaginal irritation.
Disinfecting Wounds
Dr. Weil also recommends using goldenseal to disinfect deep cuts and encourage a protective scab to form. Simply sprinkle goldenseal root powder into the wound each day to promote healing. After the wound has closed, rubbing vitamin E oil twice a day onto the area will reduce scar formation.
Caution
Goldenseal root extract should not be taken internally on a daily basis for more than one week at a time as it may cause an imbalance in intestinal flora. Women who are pregnant and those who are allergic to ragweed should not take goldenseal root extract.
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