Goldenseal (seeds)
Hydrastis canadensis
Family: Ranunculaceae
Woodland herbaceous perennial. Native to the central and eastern
hardwood forests of America, Goldenseal shoulders much responsibility for
such an unassuming little plant, with its unpretentious flowers and its
habit of avoiding humans. Tonic agent for treating any and all afflictions
of the mucous membranes, including sinusitis and conjunctivitis.
Goldenseal habitat is shrinking, and given the increasing demand from an
ever more needy population of herb users, the plant is fast disappearing
from our forests. Therefore, organic cultivation of this
plant is a high priority. Cultivation: Challenging. The seed was
picked at the peak of ripeness and washed out of the fruit, then stored
in cold, moist sand. This conditioned seed must be planted into shady
beds in the woods in the fall or very early spring. Space rows
12 inches apart. Sow seed at approximately 3 inch spacing in the
rows. Allow to grow close together for the first 2 years, then transplant
over-crowded plants to achieve a final spacing of 6 inches between plants.
The plants require 7 years to mature a full sized rhizome, but in the meantime
you can use the renewably harvested leaves, picked in the late summer and
dried, for the same indications as the root.
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