NOW Foods Echinacea & Goldenseal Glycerite 2 oz.

What it is

NOW Foods Echinacea & Goldenseal Glycerite is an alcohol-free liquid herbal supplement supplied in a 2 fl oz (59 mL) amber dropper bottle. The side panel is headed Botanicals/Herbs and carries the line "Family owned since 1968." The bottle is marked Vegetarian/Vegan and Non-GMO on the front, and it carries a kosher "K" mark. Because the extract is carried in vegetable glycerin and water rather than grain alcohol, it is a practical option for adults who would rather not take an alcohol-based tincture. A single bottle holds about 37 servings.

You can browse the wider range in Herbs & Botanicals, or see everything in Supplements.

What's inside

The formula is a single blended extract of four plants, listed on the panel as a "Unique Blend" rather than as separate weighed amounts. Each plant is identified on the label by both its common name and its botanical name, and the specific plant part used is named for every one of them.

• Echinacea (purpurea) Root — the purple coneflower, a daisy-family perennial native to the North American prairies. This formula uses the root specifically, rather than the aerial parts that echinacea is often sold as.
• Goldenseal Root (Hydrastis canadensis) — a low woodland plant native to the hardwood forests of eastern North America, recognizable by its single knotted yellow rhizome. Wild goldenseal has a long documented history of heavy harvesting, and it is now a widely cultivated botanical.
• St. John's Wort Root (Hypericum perforatum) — a yellow-flowered plant naturalized across North America. Note that this blend specifies the root; St. John's wort is more commonly sold as the flowering tops. This is also the ingredient behind the interaction caution printed on the bottle, which is covered below.
• Boneset Herb (Eupatorium perfoliatum) — a wetland plant of eastern North America with paired leaves that appear pierced by the stem. It was a staple of nineteenth-century North American herbal practice and appears far less often in modern formulas than the other three.

The only other ingredients are vegetable glycerin and water, which together make up the glycerite base. A glycerite is simply a botanical extract made with glycerin instead of alcohol. For general background on how botanical supplements are made and labeled, the NIH Office of Dietary Supplements consumer sheet on botanical dietary supplements is a neutral starting point, and the NCCIH maintains an Herbs at a Glance index covering individual plants.

Supplement Facts

** Daily Value not established. The panel lists the four extracts as one blend and does not break out an individual amount for each plant, so none is stated here.

How to use it

The label's suggested usage is 2 droppersful daily as needed for adults, and 1 dropperful daily as needed for children aged 2 to 12 years. One adult serving of 2 droppersful measures 1.6 mL. The liquid can be taken straight from the dropper or stirred into water or juice. Replace the dropper cap firmly after each use and store the bottle away from heat and direct sunlight.

The bottle also notes that natural color variation may occur in this product. That is expected with whole-plant extracts, where growing season and harvest batch both affect the finished shade, and it is not a sign that anything is wrong with the liquid.

Who it's for

This is a botanical supplement for adults who specifically want an alcohol-free liquid format. Liquid extracts suit people who dislike swallowing capsules, and the dropper makes it straightforward to measure the labeled amount. Glycerin also tastes mildly sweet, which some people find easier to take directly from the dropper.

It will not suit everyone. Anyone taking prescription or over-the-counter medication should read the caution below before buying, because St. John's wort interacts with a wide range of drugs. People with a known allergy to daisy-family plants should do the same. You can compare formats across the rest of the Health & Wellness range if a liquid is not the right fit.

Good to know

The full caution printed on the bottle reads as follows. Do not exceed the recommended dose. Not for use by pregnant or nursing women. Consult a physician if taking medications, as St. John's Wort is known to interact with many prescription and over-the-counter medications. Consult a physician if you have a medical condition, including an allergy to plants from the Asteraceae family or a condition affecting the immune system. Continuous high level consumption of this product for more than 2 weeks of each month is not recommended. Larger amounts may contribute to photosensitizing reactions (skin reddening) in the presence of strong sunlight or tanning beds. Keep out of reach of children.

That interaction warning is worth reading closely rather than skimming: it is printed on the package itself, not added here. The NCCIH page on dietary and herbal supplements discusses why herb-drug interactions matter in general terms.

Allergen information, as printed: not manufactured with yeast, wheat, gluten, soy, milk, egg, fish or shellfish ingredients. Produced in a GMP facility that processes other ingredients containing these allergens. The bottle carries a GMP Quality Assured seal.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this echinacea and goldenseal supplement really alcohol-free?

Yes — the extract is carried in vegetable glycerin and water, with no alcohol in the base. "Alcohol-Free" is printed on the front of the bottle, and vegetable glycerin and water are the only ingredients listed under Other Ingredients. That is the defining difference between a glycerite and a conventional alcohol tincture.

How many servings does the 2 oz bottle hold?

The bottle holds about 37 servings. A serving is 2 droppersful, which the panel measures as 1.6 mL, drawn from a total volume of 2 fl oz (59 mL). At the adult suggested usage of one serving daily, that works out to roughly five weeks of daily use.

Which plant parts are actually used in the blend?

Three roots and one herb: echinacea (purpurea) root, goldenseal root, St. John's wort root, and boneset herb, all as extracts. The label names the plant part for each one, which is useful because the same species is often sold as a different part. You can look up how other products list the same botanicals in the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database.

Is it suitable for vegans, and is it gluten-free?

Yes to vegan — the front of the bottle is marked Vegetarian/Vegan, and the glycerin base is plant-derived. On gluten, the label states the product is not manufactured with wheat or gluten ingredients, but it also states that it is produced in a facility that processes those allergens, so it is not described as certified gluten-free. The bottle is additionally marked Non-GMO and carries a kosher "K" mark.

How will my order be packaged?

Your order ships in plain, unmarked outer packaging. It will not show the Gear Isle name.

Product information compiled and reviewed by the Gear Isle product team. We transcribe supplement facts directly from manufacturer packaging. Found an error? Tell us.

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Dietary supplement for adults 18 and over. Consult a licensed healthcare professional before use, especially if you have a medical condition, heart concerns, or take prescription medication (including nitrates). Keep out of reach of children.