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GOLDENROD
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Solidago
virgaurea
Goldenrod, Miss Goldenrod,
How many fields you bloom in.
If only they’d come to love you,
And not condemn you of Ragweed’s sin.
I do know how it is, Miss Goldenrod,
To be accused of a dreadful thing,
To be condemned without any proof,
When in your heart- All you want to do
is sing.
Late
summer is a season for allergies which are often attributed to
Goldenrod. But, Goldenrod is wrongly accused! Goldenrod's heavy,
sticky pollen is suited for dispersal by bees and is not likely to
bother the casual passerby. It’s
Ragweed, Goldenrod's
summer companion that's the real culprit. Ragweed produces huge
amounts of pollen, designed to be carried by the wind. Ragweed is
a weed that springs up in late summer and sends many folks to the
medicine cabinet for relief from the allergenic effects of its
pollen.
Seeing
fields of Goldenrod in late summer, almost takes my breath away-
Golden fields of millions of flowers just waiting to be picked to
help us heal. And what is this wonderful weed good for?
Well,
it’s an antioxidant, a diuretic and an astringent. All of these
properties make it an excellent herb for the healing of urinary
tract disorders. It’s used both for serious ailments such as
nephritis and for more common problems like cystitis. Goldenrod
weed will also help flush out kidney and bladder stones.
Goldenrod's saponins act specifically
against Candida fungus, the cause of yeast infections and oral
thrush. It can also be taken for sore throats, chronic nasal
congestion, and diarrhea. Due to its very mild action, Goldenrod
is good as a mouth-wash or douche in the case of yeast infections.
In
traditional medical practices, Goldenrod has been used as a tea or
in tincture form to treat tuberculosis, diabetes, enlargement of
the liver, gout, hemorrhoids, internal bleeding, asthma, and
rheumatic illnesses (disorders of the muscles and joints).
Topical
preparations are used in folk medicine to treat inflammation of
the mouth and throat as well as slow-healing wounds. For this, you
would make a poultice, using the herb which has been soaked in hot
water and apply it topically.
As an
herbal tea, the flowery top is recommended for treating the
following:
For
treating seasonal allergies and chronic intestinal problems:
Use 1 tsp. herb in 1 cup water.
For an
effective parasiticide against yeasts:
1 average plant (aerial parts) to 2 cups boiled water.
As a
diuretic treatment for water retention:
4 tsp. flowers in 4 cups simmered water. Drink 4 cups
daily.
Laboratory studies have found that active compounds in Goldenrod
help reduce inflammation, relieve muscle spasms, and lower blood
pressure. Some studies also suggest it may be an antioxidant too.
An
interesting note- Goldenrod is used for ‘treating seasonal
allergies’- the exact thing it has been accused of causing- very
interesting, indeed, don’t you think?
Most
times, when out gathering, you don’t even have to ask farmers for
permission to harvest this weed. People still consider Goldenrod
to be the one that causes all the hay fever. They’re likely to
think that you’re crazy, but they’ll be happy see you picking it!
Hang it upside down in a shady, dry space to dry. Put into glass
containers until further use.
From pages
107 – 108:
Do It Yourself Weed Medicine
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