Goldenrod seems to be found all over the place every Autumn, with bright yellow, drooping tops billowing over it’s strong green stem. It is found abundantly in fields, neighborhoods, yards, highways, and more. Most people see this as a weed in their yard, but it’s beneficial properties make it worth collecting and keeping for the colder months.

The Name Says Everything

Goldenrod is otherwise known as Solidago. Solidago means to bring together, to solidify. It holds the Latin term “Sol” … meaning “Sun” with its bright yellow hue, which brings warmth and hope as the colder months ensue. There are nine known varieties of Solidaris, with S. Canadensis and S. Rugoso remaining the most commonly found throughout North America and parts of the United States.

Health Benefits of Goldenrod

Goldenrod boasts a distinct bitter and pungent flavor when infused as a tea. It has been used to treat Tuberculosis, Diabetes, Gout, Enlargement of the Liver, Hemorrhoids, Asthma and Arthritis. It acts as the following: antimicrobial, antiseptic, anti-lithic, astringent, anticatarrhal, diuretic, antiseptic, and immunomodular. This makes goldenrod a versatile herb for anyone’s natural medicine cabinet collection.

Energetic / Vibrational Properties

The goldenrod plant, despite it’s bitter flavor, holds energetic properties of warmth and life. The roots’ growth pattern reflects its energetic quality of confidence of self expression and self representation, a sense of individuality within a community, along with adaptability and transformation. Its roots grow vertically in the warm summer months, then shift to extend horizontally during the colder months. This reflects our need to reach high, root deep when we have the opportunity. With this rooted confidence, we can branch out to impact others with our light more effectively.

How to Use Goldenrod

• Tea: After thoroughly washing, steep the flowers, leaves, and stems in warm water. Strain after 15-20 minutes and sip!
• Oral Rinse: Brew into a tea, as mentioned above, and rinse / gargle to cleanse the mouth.
• Skin oil infusion: Infuse the flowers in a topical oil (sesame oil would be ideal, grapeseed, jojoba, or avocado). Allow to infuse for 2-3 weeks, strain and use to support inflammation in joints, sore muscles and injuries, and improve wound healing on the skin.
• Brew a large handful in a gallon of water. Soak a flannel cloth in the water, and use as a poultice on wounds, a common use by Native Americans.

Do you pull up Goldenrod from your garden, or do you put it to good use? What do you love to use Goldenrod for? Mention in the comments below, and be sure to subscribe for more posts about staying well with plants and herbs.