Goldthread - Coptis trifolia

Other Names:
	Coptis groenlandica, Helleborus trifolius Linnaeus
	Coldthread, Gold Thread, Mamira, Mishamitita, Mamira, Yellow root, Mouth root, Canker root, Threeleaf goldthread. Yellow Snakeroot, Goldenroot
	Savoyane, Coptide du Groenland, coptide trifoliolée, Sabouillane, Siboulliane
	Cottide americana
	Goldfaden
	Gyldentråd
	Mitsubaoren (ミツバオウレン) C. japonica - Oren (オウレン)
	Lasawian, Sasawian ("gold thread - little yellow root" - Abenaki)
	Чистотел (which is also Chelidonium majus), Желтомолочник (poss)

Botany:

Taxonomy: Family - Ranunculaceae (Buttercups)

Habit: Small perennial evergreen, 10-15cm tall. Leaves very similar to those of wild strawberries. The plant has a long, slender creeping; bright gold-yellow Rhizome. Small yellowish-white solitary flowers in early summer. The plant likes some shade, and is often found at forest edges. Usually found creeping near wetlands & damp, sandy places.
Distribution: Native to Northern America: Canada - Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Saskatchewan; Greenland, Eastern Asia.

Associated Plants:   Black Spruce, Speckled Alder, Leatherleaf, Bunchberry, Creeping Snowberry, Labrador Tea, Twinflower, American Fly Honeysuckle, Partridge Berry, Red Raspberry, Willow, Late Low Blueberry, Velvetleaf Blueberry, Small Cranberry, Mountain Cranberry, Wild  Sarsaparilla, Large Leaf Aster, Moonwort, Sedges, Blue Bead Lily, Mocassin Flower, Hay Scented Fern, Woodferns, Fireweed, Glandular Willowherb, Woodland Horsetail, Wild Strawberry, Bedstraws, Oak Fern, Canada Mayflower, Bishop's Cap, One Flowered Pyrola, Interrupted Fern, Woodsorrel, Bracken Fern, One Sided Pyrola, Goldenrod,  Rose Twisted Stalk, Starflower, Violets.

Composition:  Berberia or berberine (alkaloid). Coptine, albumen, fixed oil, colouring matter, lignin, extractive, and sugar.
Propagation: Divide plant clumps in spring; though the plant does not take well to being disturbed and you may have mixed success. Difficult to raise from seed. (I would recommend wildcrafting)
Companions:
Harvesting:  

Uses:

Culinary: 

Spiritual

• (European traditions): Not native to Europe

Cosmetic/Aromatic:

None known

Medicinal

Other: 

Dye - The Chippewa and Potawatomi nations used the roots for yellow dye. 

Roots used as thread for beadwork by First Nations (Maritimes)

Ethnobotany

• (European traditions): Bitter tonic, antipyretic, alterative. Used by early colonists to treat mouth sores, likly learned from First nations. Boiled goldthread root was used as a tonic. From Cook's Dispensatory (1869):
  •  "Properties and Uses:   This plant is one of rather fine and prompt bitter tonics. It is a mistake to class it with quassia and gentian, for it is neither so intense nor permanent as these; but rather is of the grade of boneset and leonurus, though giving out its properties more speedily than these. There is a common impression that it is a distinct astringent, and this has probably kept many from using it; but it is not astringent at all. It is one of the most grateful of all appetizers in convalescence from febrile attacks, and in all feeble conditions with weakness of the stomach. It is a popular New England remedy for aphthous sores in the mouth. An infusion is made of half an ounce of the plant to a pint of hot water, of which from two to four drachms may be given three or four times a day. An ounce to a pint of thirty per cent. alcohol makes a good tincture, of which a fluid drachm is a dose." Again, note the heavy influence of First Nations knowledge.
• (American Aboriginal traditions): Although a large number of uses, including as an Analgesic, Anthelmintic, Antiemetic, Antidiarrheal, Blood Medicine, Cold Remedy, Cough Medicine, Ear Medicine, Emetic, Eye Medicine, Gastrointestinal Aid, Heart Medicine, Respiratory Aid, Throat Aid, and Venereal Aid, by far the most widespread use appears to have been as an Oral or Toothache aid, including for teething children, canker-sores, and trenchmouth. The Algonquin, Malecite, Mohegan,  Iroquois, Menominee, Micmac, Ojibwa,  Penobscot, and Potawatomi nations used the plant, usually as a root decoction, for this purpose. 
• (Eastern Traditions) Used in Ayurvedic medicine

Last edited 10 March 2002

Caveat: This page is posted for information purposes only. No medical recommendation is made or should be construed from the material on this page.  If you require medical assistance, seek professional and personal help.