- Region
- North America
- Origin
- Cool, damp coniferous forests and bogs of North America and northeastern Asia
- Traditions
- Haudenosaunee medicine
North America · Herb · № 948
Coptis trifolia
Herb · North America
Threeleaf goldthread
Coptis trifolia
A small evergreen herb with golden-yellow thread-like roots. These contain berberine, a bitter compound that inhibits bacteria in laboratory tests; related to Chinese goldthread (huang lian).
Safety notes
Berberine is not for pregnancy or breastfeeding, nor for newborns with jaundice. May interact with medicines. Traditional use is no proof of effect; consult a doctor or pharmacist if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, take medication or have a medical condition.
Cautions by tradition (1)
- Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) medicine: Not in pregnancy or while breastfeeding, and not for newborns with jaundice.
Preparation
Chew the roots or steep them in warm water as a mouth rinse.
Use in traditions
In English also canker-root. According to the notes in Herrick, the Haudenosaunee remedy for a sore mouth in children: the roots are chewed or used as a rinse. Also for jaundice and sore eyes.
Applications
Use by tradition
How different herbal traditions describe this herb. Amounts are traditional guidelines checked for obvious errors; they are not medical advice. For poisonous plants no dosage is given on purpose.
Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) medicine
Attributed effects
For a sore mouth and canker sores in children; also for jaundice and sore eyes.
Preparation and amount
Chew a few roots, or steep them in a spoonful of warm water and dab the mouth with it.
Caution: Not in pregnancy or while breastfeeding, and not for newborns with jaundice.