PlainPill

Goldenseal

The short answer. There isn't much data on Goldenseal yet — 4 mentions, 1 with a clear outcome — so treat these numbers as anecdotal. There is a moderate body of research — 2 meta-analyses and 4 trials.

What users report
100%helped1 reports · few reports
25% helped0% mixed0% didn't

Out of 4 mentions; the other 75% didn't say how it went and aren't counted.

Clinical research
BModerate research base
2
meta-analyses
4
RCTs
129
papers

What Goldenseal does, according to users

Of the people who reported each effect, the share who said it got better.

What the research says

Systematic reviews and meta-analyses from PubMed, with their published conclusions.

BModerate research base

At least one meta-analysis, or 5+ randomized controlled trials. The grade measures how much human research exists — read the conclusions below for what it found.

Planta Med · 2012 · Meta-analysis / systematic review
Clinical evidence of herbal drugs as perpetrators of pharmacokinetic drug interactions

Conclusion: Weak effects in terms of either induction or inhibition were found for GB (presystemic/hepatic CYP3A4 induction/inhibition, CYP2C19 induction at high doses), milk thistle/silymarin (CYP2C9 inhibition), GS/berberine (CYP3A4 and CYP2D6 inhibition), Echinacea (presystemic/hepatic CYP3A4 inhibition/induction, CYP1A2 and CYP2C9 inhibition at high doses). Information was found not always complete for the major drug metabolizing CYP enzymes in the less well-studied herbs and is largely limited to P-glycoprotein (ABCB1) when effects on drug transporters have been investigated.

PubMed 22855269 ↗
Int J STD AIDS · 2005 · Meta-analysis / systematic review
Natural health product-HIV drug interactions: a systematic review

Conclusion: This review finds that important drug level changes exist when NHPs are combined with HIV medications. Considering patient values and the implications of these studies, further research is urgently required to determine the extent of interactions with other commonly used NHPs.

PubMed 15829016 ↗

Dosage people report

As stated by users — not a recommendation. Follow the label or your doctor.

No doses stated in the reports so far.

Reported side effects

How often each side effect came up across all reports.

No side effects reported so far.

What users say

First-hand experiences, quoted verbatim. We show one positive and one negative where both exist.

Other options for energy

User data from public discussions; research from PubMed. Information only, not medical advice — talk to a doctor before starting, stopping or combining anything. Data updated October 3, 2026. How we rate