Yellowroot has documented use in Herbal Medicine and it is native to my region.
The Cherokee used Yellow Root:
Used in medicine (a formula) for childbirth. Bathe the eyes with a bark ooze to relieve them of soreness. For sore eyes make a poultice by wrapping the bark in flannel and moistening until wet. For sore mouth, chew the root or use an infusion as a mouth wash. Yellow root is an ingredient wich is mixed into mutton tallow for a slave for sores. A root tea is drunk for cramps. The root is used as a dye material. A decoction of yellow root, Asarum canadense, Goodyera pubescens, Alnus serrulata and Prunus serotina is a blood tonic. “Take several swallows before a meal… builds appetite.” A tea for nerves.
King’s American Dispensatory of 1898 states:
This plant is found along river banks in the mountains of Pennsylvania to Florida, being chiefly confined to the mountains. It is also found in some of the western and southwestern states, flowering in March and April. The root is the medicinal part; it varies in length from 4 to 12 inches, is about 6 lines in diameter, is bright-yellow (light-brown when dried), and exceedingly bitter. Water extracts its virtues, and sulphate of iron is not incompatible with its infusion. The bark of the stem is equally as efficient as the root. The Indians were well acquainted with it as a dye; it dyes silk a bright-yellow, and wool a dark-brown or dun color. The plant is generally known in the South as yellow root, a name borne farther north by hydrastis.
Chemical Composition.—The root contains berberine, to which undoubtedly its tonic properties are due. The presence of this principle was suspected in the drug by Wm. S. Merrell, it was isolated by G. Dyson Perrins (Pharm. Jour. and Trans., May, 1862), who obtained but a very small amount of it. J. U. Lloyd obtained, on a large scale, 1.1 per cent of berberine monosulphate. Gum and bitter resin were early pointed out by Dr. Woodhouse (see Lloyd's Drugs and Med. of N. A., Vol. I, p. 297). Mr. Samuel S. Jones (Amer. Jour. Pharm., 1886, p. 161) made a complete quantitative analysis of the root. In addition to starch, dextrin, sugars, etc., be found several resins, and 0.28 per cent of total alkaloids. In the mother liquor from berberine sulphate, the author found an amorphous alkaloid not identical with berberine.
Action, Medical Uses, and Dosage.—Yellow root is a pure, bitter tonic, considered by the late Prof. Barton to be superior to calumba. It may be used for all purposes in which the other simple tonic bitters are applicable. Of xanthorrhiza, Prof. J. U. Lloyd (Drugs and Med. of N. A., Vol. I, p. 289) very justly remarks that "although we find xanthorrhiza most favorably introduced by the leaders of medicine of the early part of the century, and although it has been official in the Pharmacopoeia since its first issue (1820) until discarded in 1880, it has failed to obtain a foothold. It has never been a favorite with either botanic or Eclectic physicians, and it is hardly recognized by them. In this connection we must revert to the fact that, although known to the Eclectics, and possessing berberine in nearly as great proportion as hydrastis, they persistently refused to use it in place of that drug, asserting that its action was not at all similar. The investigations of Profs. Bartholow, Sattler, Shoemaker, and others (see Hydrastis, in Drugs and Med. of N. A.), now show that these conclusions were rational, as at least one of the very active principles of hydrastis is entirely absent from Xanthorrhiza." Dose of the powder, 20 to 40 grains, 3 times a day; of the decoction, 1 or 2 tablespoonfuls; of the tincture, which is its most eligible form, from 1 to 3 fluid drachms. It contains a bitter resin, which would probably form an excellent tonic.
Medicinal Plants of the Southern Appalachians tells us:
Yellowroot was used by the Cherokee to treat jaundice, hepatitis, chronic liver problems, and to heal persistent ulcers. It was also used as a dye for baskets.
In Southern folk medicine, yellowroot was considered a gentle tonic to improve overall health and a remedy for indigestion, ulcers and heartburn. The root was decocted to make a wash used to treat styes, thrush, gum disease, toothaches and skin rashes.
Plants for A Future states:
Medicinal use of Yellowroot: The root is astringent and a blood tonic. A tea made from the roots is used to treat mouth ulcers, stomach ulcers, colds, jaundice etc. An infusion of the roots has also been used to treat piles, though the report does not specify if it is used internally or externally. Some caution is advised in the use of this plant, see the notes above on toxicity. The root contains the alkaloid "berberine" which is used for its tonic properties and for digestive disorders. Berberine is anti-inflammatory, astringent, haemostatic, antispasmodic, immuno-stimulant, uterine tonic and antimicrobial. It stimulates the secretion of bile and bilirubin and may be helpful in correcting high tyramine levels in people with liver cirrhosis.
Peterson Field Guides Eastern and Central Medicinal Plants states:
American Indians used root tea for stomach ulcers, colds, jaundice, cramps, sore mouth or throat, menstrual disorders, blood tonic, astringent; externally for piles, cancer. A folk remedy used in the south for diabetes and hypertension. Contains berberines - anti inflammatory, astringent, hemostatic, antimicrobial, anticonvulsant, immunostimulant, uterotonic; also produces a transient drop in blood pressure. Berberine stimulates the secretion of bile and bilirubin and may be useful in correcting high tyramine levels in patients with liver cirrhosis. Yellowroot was formerly used as an adulterant or substitute for Goldenseal. Though 19th century physicians believed its medical action was quite different from Goldenseal. Warning: Yellowroot is potentially toxic, especially in large doses.
This article is an excerpt from
Medicinal Shrubs and Woody Vines of The American Southeast An Herbalist's Guide
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