Wildcrafting and Growing Goldenseal
Having What You Need While Preserving Natural Sources
Reading Time: 5 minutes
What is wildcrafting? Discover the practice of wildcrafting and growing goldenseal and learn how to make a homemade tincture, salve, or tea from wildcrafted herbs.
by Jenny Underwood
Growing Goldenseal While Preserving Natural Sources
One of my favorite things to do is wildcraft my medicinal herbs. I use them in various ways, including tinctures, salves, teas, poultices, syrups, and gummies. Wildcrafting is the practice of gathering naturally growing plants, and it’s both fun and sustainable when practiced sensibly. However, sometimes, it’s necessary to start a patch of “cultivated” wildcrafting locations. This ensures you’re not harming the natural population and have plenty for your needs.
Goldenseal is one of my favorite roots to gather in the fall. I make a potent tincture, and we dry some for teas and salves. We have our favorite wild patches, but we’ve also started our forest garden for it. To do this, I gathered some small trees we had cut down and made a garden bed with them. The woods are nice and dark, which the plants like, and the ground is rich, though rocky.
Then, we transplanted rootlets from larger plants we had dug. You can chop the goldenseal roots into pieces, and each section will grow new plants, but it will take longer to grow. You must ensure each piece has a bud and small roots to do this. Another option is to dig up the young goldenseal and transplant it. This will save you one to two years.
You can also plant seeds. This will take the longest time until harvest, but it’s your only option if you don’t have a root source. The seeds should be spread on lightly worked dirt and gently covered (think shallow). Sometimes, these take a while to germinate, and many times, the germination rate isn’t good. From my research, the best results are obtained by planting the seeds as soon as you harvest them from the plants.
Goldenseal takes several years to mature: Seeds take 5 to 6 years, root cuttings 4 to 5, and transplanted seedlings 2 to 3. We’ve had our spot going for at least 18 years. We can harvest a small portion for our needs every year and leave the rest to propagate themselves. By doing this, we haven’t had to replant or “care” for this patch since planting.
Fall or early spring is the best time to plant goldenseal. If you’re buying starts or seeds, only buy from a reputable dealer you know has harvested the material sustainably. Keep the seeds moist and chilled at all times. Moist sand works great for this. We always dug our roots to be transplanted and planted them right away. But if you can’t plant them right away, keep them chilled and moist but not waterlogged. A crisper in the refrigerator works well.
When it’s time to harvest, carefully select only large, mature plants. Never dig more than one third of your patch, and alternate sections each year to allow them to regrow. Use a pronged digger to dig the roots and gently loosen the dirt around them to get as many roots as possible. Shake your roots free of dirt and wash them in a colander. They’ll have tiny pieces of other plant roots intertwined, so clean them as well as you can and immediately process them into a tincture, salves, etc., or dry them all for later processing.
If drying your roots, spread the clean goldenseal onto screens in a dark, breezy location or use a dehydrator on a low setting. Dry until very hard and no moisture remains. Store in a dark, sealed container in a dry place.
To Make a Tincture
- Fill a wide mouth, quart canning jar with fresh roots or 1/2 to 2/3 full of dried roots.
- Cover with vodka, rum, or other strong liquor (90 proof is the minimum I suggest, which means it’s 45 percent alcohol).
- Place a piece of wax paper on the jar, then a lid, and tighten.
- Shake gently, label, and place in a dark location. I keep mine under the sink. You can shake it daily or leave it alone for at least two weeks.
Strain off the roots, if desired, or leave them in the jar like I do. I decant small amounts into 2 to 4-ounce bottles with droppers as needed.
To Make a Salve
- 1 tablespoon of dried goldenseal powder (use a mortar and pestle or a blender)
- 1/4 cup coconut oil
- 1/4 cup cocoa butter
- 1 tablespoon bentonite clay
Melt the oils over low or melt setting on the stove, remove from heat, and add the goldenseal and clay. Mix well. Allow to cool, then spoon into containers. We use this for wounds that you’d normally use antibacterial cream on. In our experience, it works excellent as a healing salve!
To Make Goldenseal Tea
Take about 1 tablespoon fresh or dried roots and simmer in 1 cup of water for 10 to 15 minutes.
This is not a pleasurable tea and is quite bitter. I’ve always thought it tasted like dirt smells, but this is my go-to drink when I have congestion or a sore throat.
Goldenseal has been used for many years by Native Americans. They use it for everything from colds and sore throats to digestive issues.
One good reason to start a patch is that heavy digging in some areas has reduced the wild population drastically. This “cultivation” of your own wild patch provides the best of both worlds: Goldenseal grown in its natural, wild environment plus protecting a valuable and unique resource.
Remember, I’m not a doctor and am not recommending you use goldenseal as a “medicine.” Do your research and be wise when consuming medicinal herbs.
Editor’s note: Goldenseal is very at-risk in certain areas. According to United Plant Savers, in Tennessee, goldenseal is listed as of “Special Concern,” “Threatened” in Michigan and New York, and “Vulnerable” in Pennsylvania. Goldenseal is “Endangered” in many other areas of the U.S. and Canada. Please consider this when cultivating your own population to ensure you’re not getting roots from threatened or endangered areas, like when you order plants from Etsy, for example.
Jenny Underwood is a homeschooling mama to four lively blessings. She makes her home in the rural foothills of the Ozark Mountains with her husband of 20 years. You can find her reading a good book, drinking coffee, and gardening on their little fifth-generation homestead. Keep up on her blog here.
Originally published in the September/October 2024 issue of Countryside and Small Stock Journal and regularly vetted for accuracy.
