The part of the plant most often used as a remedy is the underground rhizome. This root has a deep yellow color, which probably leads to the names �yellow root� and �orange root�. It is high in berberine- a bright yellow very bitter alkaloid, which, along with other alkaloids, including canadine and hydrastine, gives goldenseal its distinctive color, along with many of its helpful properties. Native people used goldenseal for centuries for a variety of health challenges. It supports the health and resistance of mucous membranes that line the digestive, respiratory and urinary tracts.

Due to its popularity as a remedy, and the fact that it takes so long to grow, it has been severely over-harvested in the wild. Goldenseal is often cultivated by herb growers, which has been able to re-establish its availability in the herbal marketplace.