Remember Goldenseal????

Do you remember goldenseal??? Well it's still around & the research on it has been quite astounding for all it's capabilities. Back in the day, it became very popular after rumors spread that taking it can help block a positive test for illegal drugs....as it were, there was no scientific evidence to prove this. Due to it's over harvesting, it almost became extinct & was the reason prices sky rocketed on it. But it is still one of the top selling herbal products in the U.S..

This amazing herb goes back to the NA times when they used it for many issues like respiratory, digestive, earaches, eye complaints, liver & even heart issues. 

Goldenseal's latin name...'Hydrastis Canadensis' . The root & rhizome are the most wanted as they have a rich chemical composition. The alkaloids that are most beneficial are berberine, canadine & hydrastine which are most responsible for the health benefits. It's also known as orange root, yellow root or yellow puccoon. It's a perennial herb that belongs to the buttercup family.

The taste & smell are unpleasant & even acrid, yet considered a super herb by many. It is considered a trophorestorative, whish is a nutritive restorer. It's loaded with essential minerals & vitamins like iron, calcium, maganese & vitamins A, C, E & B complex just to name a few. It also contains chlorogenic acid, which contain the same health benefits that are found in coffee & teas. It's also a bitter, so it's good for digestive issues.

So let's get on with how it can help the body. It can boost the immune system, help fight cancer, it's an anti-bacterial, anti-viral, appetite stimulant, a natural anti-biotic, an astringent & an anti-inflammatory. It soothes & loosens up mucous membranes. Has been known to be effective against MRSA, candida, pink eye, high blood pressure, a tonic for the heart, shingles & can even reduce bad cholesterol. It's an antioxidant & an anti-fungal. It can help with warts, cold sores, and is a diuretic. It can be made into a mouthwash to help with gum issues. Can be made into a douche to help with yeast infections too. It can help with parasite issues & some STD's. It's also a blood cleanser and an anti-tumor. Goldenseal can also inhibit the growth of H. pylori, which is a type of bacteria which can lead to ulcers & more. Only small amounts are needed for most treatments. 

Due to it's high cost, some products claiming to contain goldenseal may contain Chinese gold thread, oregon grape root, barberry, yellow root or Chinese goldenseal all which contain berberine, but not hydrastine or canadine. So make sure you read your labels carefully. 

The dosage recommendations are .5-10 grams of the powder daily. Liquid extract should be limited to 40 drops in 2 oz. of water or juice 3-5 times daily. So, yes, small amounts. 

Goldenseal should not be given to children or infants. There are no known drug interactions. Pregnant & nursing mothers should avoid it as well. 

Medicinal Mushrooms

Lately our fungus friends have been in the spotlight more than normal. Research has shown they are huge in the fight against cancer & other illnesses.

Touted as a super food they produce Vit. B & D that most plants lack. They are low in calories & sodium with good amounts of protein which include soluble & insoluble fiber. They are loaded with fungal polysaccharides & immunomodulating properties which affects the functioning of the immune system. Fungi are more related to animals than plants and are considered intelligent. Mushrooms can't product energy from sunlight as plants do. Instead, they use enzymes to break down organic matter into their natural environment. They turn dead organic into carbs, proteins & cellulose. 

Of course, for best results one should eat a variety of them daily....tea, dehydrate, tinctures, foods....anyway to get more of them in YOU!!! Oyster, shitake & maitake can be eaten fresh. Others such as reishi need to be made into a tea or soup because of it's bitterness. All mushrooms can be dried & crushed into a powder & can be taken in capsule form. It's recommended you take the mushrooms with Vit. C. It seems the Vit. C helps increase the body's absorption rate for polysaccharides.

Mushrooms are anti-fungal, anti-viral, anti-bacterial & high in anti-oxidants. They contain a lot of beta glucan which stimulates the immune system. They can contain 50 or more polysaccharides across different varieties. Shrooms can fight cancer, leukemia, tumors, boosts the immune system....from the common cold to HIV. They help regulate anti-body production, increase DNA/RNA in bone marrow. Promote heart health. Help to lower cholesterol & inflammation. Improve energy levels. Reduce lactic acid. They help to improve brain health: focusing, cognitive functions. Cause production of nerve growth factors. They can help to lower & regular blood sugar levels & increase sensitivity of insulin receptors.

The top 8 mushrooms I found in my research are: 

Reishi: Have the most medicinal uses & the longest history. The red reishi is thought to be the most potent & effective. This mushroom should be used in soups or teas or can be dried & turned into powder form or an extract.

Chaga: Grown exclusively on birch trees & can look like charcoal, inside this fungi is a bright orange color. 

Turkey Tail: A "shelf" mushroom that are colorful & fan shaped so they look like a spread out turkey's tail. Quite common, they can be found in almost any forest.

Maitake: Nicknamed hen of the woods. Unlike some others on this list, these taste great, have a good texture & a mild flavor.

Lion's Mane: These grow very large & the taste is similar to lobster. It tastes great & when cut open is similar to the texture of cauliflower. 

Cordyceps: If you can get past the fact that this grows from mummified bugs, it's got some fantastic health benefits.

Shitake: Now these you have probably seen in the supermarkets. Goes great in soups or stir frys. A major ingredient in them called lentinan is so potent, it's now the 3rd most prescribed anti-cancer drug in the world.

Oyster: Packed full of vitamins & minerals, they are more than just great food additives.

As always speak with your doctor before starting any type of a medicinal mushroom. They can interfere with existing meds you might be taking for cholesterol or blood pressure. Do NOT consume those you find in the woods, etc. unless you know what you are doing.