Plant Spotlight: goldenrod

Ah! As the autumnal equinox approaches, we are so fortunate to be able to see how nature surrounds us with her unimaginable beauty everywhere we cast our eyes. Here, on an ordinary Thursday, I am blessed to find myself in a field bejeweled with Goldenrod.
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Goldenrod has been called on as medicine for centuries in Europe and for thousands of years by Indigenous Native Americans. Today she is still an asset in Herbal Medicine. The top one-third, or aerial parts are made into teas, tinctures, oils, and salves. Gldenrod can be employed for her diuretic, antibacterial, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory effects, which is beautiful medicine for urinary tract issues and supports the body in the prevention of kidney stones. Her medicinal properties are also great to ease sore throats as well as mouth and gum infections. Her antispasmodic and anti-inflammatory properties are helpful for those dealing with rheumatism, sore muscles and gout. Herbalists also call upon Goldenrod when looking for an herb to treat allergies, colds, and flus because she is also a decongestant and a diaphoretic ( sweat that fever out!) Her bright golden plumage is a great addition to salves used for eczema, skin conditions and wounds too. What a beautiful gift she is!!

Goldenrod has long been confused with Ragweed, although they don’t even look very alike. Ragweed blooms are dull and more green in color. It’s most likely because at the same time that Ragweed is dispersing her fine-grained pollen into the winds of the Autumnal air, the gorgeous. Goldenrod is dancing in her glory throughout fields, woodlands, and roadsides and basking in the sunshine where a great many pollinators, such as butterflies and the Western Honey Bee, come to collect her sticky, dense pollen. She is important as a major source of food for the endangered Monarch Butterfly and an invaluable component in the local honey we all love. Goldenrod couldn’t possibly be the cause of airborne allergies as her pollen doesn’t take flight on its own, but by way of the wings of our precious pollinator friends.

A part of the daisy, or Asteraceae family, Solidago(Goldenrod) stands tall and radiant. Topped with bright yellow flowers that come into bloom around September. She has long been associated with good fortune, abundance, wealth, and good cheer, especially if she was found to be growing around one’s home. The stalks of Goldenrod plants have even been used as divining rods for centuries to locate natural springs and precious metals...she is drawn to good fortune, and therefore it is drawn to her.

​I don’t quite remember when I first started the tradition in my home, or where I came to learn of it, but for years now around this time of year I honor Goldenrod by harvesting a few of her stalks and creating a broom to bless my home with her radiant sunshine and good fortune.

This blog post was written by Debra Roman, a herbal apprentice at Herbs Love And Yoga