Yellow Root

Loose, mucousy stool with an irritated gut lining that responds to an astringent bitter

Overview. Xanthorhiza simplicissima, commonly known as yellowroot, is a low, deciduous shrub native to wet woodlands and streambanks of the eastern United States. The bright yellow inner root and root bark, from which the plant takes its common and Latin names, is the part used medicinally. It entered eclectic and folk practice in North America as a bitter, astringent tonic, often used interchangeably with goldenseal and Oregon grape root for similar berberine-related indications, though it has always been a more regional and less studied remedy.

Clinical Notes. Native American (Cherokee, Catawba) traditional uses include blood tonic, appetite stimulant, dye plant Eclectic use for ulcers, stomach trouble Berberine content supports antimicrobial activity More astringent than goldenseal Currently wildcrafted, monitor sustainability

Clinical Notes. Yellowroot is reached for much as a practitioner would reach for goldenseal or barberry: as a bitter astringent for irritated, inflamed mucous membranes and for sluggish digestion with poor appetite. A strong decoction or diluted tincture makes a useful gargle for sore throat or a mouthwash for gingivitis and mouth ulcers, the bitter astringent taste itself doing much of the work by toning the tissue and discouraging microbial overgrowth.

Properties and Uses. The root and the inner bark of this plant are intense yet not unpleasant bitters, of the moderately stimulating class, and forms an admirable though little used tonic. It is closely allied to hydrastis in color, taste, and action; and is usable for the many purposes to which that admirable remedy is applicable. Though classed by Rafinesque and others as the equivalent of frasera, it is a far stronger agent than it. Medical Herbalism journal and medherb.com The Physiomedical Dispensatory by William Cook, M.D., 1869