Hydrastis Canadensis. Goldenseal, also called orangeroot or yellow puccoon, is a perennial herb in the buttercup family Ranunculaceae, native to south-eastern Canada and the eastern United States. It may be distinguished by its thick, yellow knotted rootstock. Shiny green leaves rise from rhizomes to 15 - 50cm tall. Each produces a single small green/white flower followed by red berries in autumn. Goldenseal was used by the Native American Cherokee to treat indigestion, lack of appetite, infection and even cancer, whilst the Iroquois used it to prepare infusions to treat whooping cough, liver infections, intermittent fever and heart disease, or to bathe skin conditions and eye infections or badly healing wounds. They also used the sap of the deep yellow root to dye skin and clothing.