The Truth about Goldenrod and How to Use It
Hear ye! Hear ye! In October I made my first real excursion into herbalism. I’ve been gleaning any information I can from a variety of reliable sources and growing my herbal knowledge base all while eyeing a particularly long, stalky-looking weed that sprouted this spring close to my compost pile. A few months ago, I used a plant-identifying app to confirm my suspicions; to my excitement, my limited knowledge of foraging served me well! Goldenrod! I spotted goldenrod growing right by my compost pile!
I implored my husband to let it grow and not mow it over because I had plans for that tall, gangly weed. Little did my husband know at the time that HE would be my guinea pig and would be ingesting said plant. You see, my husband struggles with season allergies, and this time of year, a lot of people blame their allergies on goldenrod.
Perhaps because it is so bright and draws your attention, perhaps because it looks like something that would make you sneeze. However, the real culprit this time of year is ragweed. Ragweed is the weed associated with hay fever. You will often see the two plants growing right by each other, but goldenrod stands out from a distance. In the image below, the plant on the left is goldenrod and the plant to the right is ragweed.
By now you probably think I’m nuts, telling you that goldenrod is a beneficial herb, not a sneeze-inducing weed. But, this plant truly is a marvel. It has so many beneficial properties and is easily accessible all over the country during the early Autumn months. If you drive through the countryside, I’m sure you’ve spotted fields of gold, or even patches of it in ditches along the roadside. That’s goldenrod! It typically blooms in August and September but this year the goldenrod didn’t start blooming until October in my area. I’m chalking that up to the lack of rain in the previous 2 months.
DISCLAIMER: The information provided should not be used for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease, and those seeking personal medical advice should consult with a licensed physician. Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified health provider regarding a medical condition.
How to Cultivate Goldenrod
Before we get to the specific benefits of goldenrod, let’s chat about how the plant grows. There are over 150 species of goldenrod, most of which are medicinal. The flowers are also used in dyeing fabric and in flower arrangements. This plant thrives in the wild, but it is possible to cultivate it with intention in your garden. While there are special hybridized varieties you can purchase, that’s not really what I’m about, especially when there’s an abundance of native wildflower varieties you can transplant.
Wild goldenrod grows either in clump forming crowns or through rhizomes. They transplant well which means you shouldn’t have an issue adding this to your perennial herb garden. It will spread, so keep that in mind when choosing a planting location. It thrives in full sun and will tolerate average to poor soil as long as it is well draining.
Goldenrod Facts
| Common Name | Goldenrod (Woundwort) |
| Botanical Name | Solidago canadensis |
| Plant Family | Asteraceae, aster family |
| Native Area | Primarily North America; It has been cultivated in Europe and Asia and now grows wild around the world. |
| Description | Rhizomatous, upright perennial of the sunflower family. The central stem grows from 3 to 7 feet tall with lance shaped leaves. The blooms appear as large horizontally branched terminal panicles of tiny yellow flowers. |
| Hardiness Zone | Zones 4-9 |
| Soil Conditions | Grows in average to poor, well drained soil; pH 5.5-7.0 |
| Sun Exposure | Full Sun |
| Growing Habit | Height 3-7 feet |
| Bloom Time | Late Summer (August, September) |
| Pest and Disease Prevention | While there are a few potential pest and disease issues with goldenrod such as powdery mildew, rust fungus, and beetles and aphids, the plants usually tolerate these issues fine and shouldn’t impact production. |
| Harvesting and Storage | Clip above the lowest usable leaves. Remove leaves and flowers and use fresh in tinctures. Alternatively, hang to dry before removing leaves and blooms from stems. Harvest before flowers go to seed. |
| Dosage | Tincture: 2-3ml taken 2-3 times per day |
| Contraindications | Avoid if you have a latex allergy or are allergic to anything in the Asteraceae family. |
| Parts Used | Leaves and flowers |
| Actions | Analgesic, anti-allergenic, anti-inflammatory, astringent, diaphoretic, diuretic, expectorant, renal trohporestorative |
Benefits of Goldenrod
Let’s get to some of those benefits! Goldenrod’s herbal actions include analgesic, anti-allergenic, anti-inflammatory, astringent, diaphoretic, diuretic, expectorant, renal trophorestorative.
Herbal medicine differs from pharmaceutical medicine in it’s application. While pharmaceutical medicine treats a symptom, while often causing numerous others to pop up, herbal medicine treats entire systems, seeking the root cause and aiming for holistic wellness. For example, Goldenrod is a known renal trophorestorative which means it helps bring the entire renal system (kidneys, ureters, bladder, urethra) into balance. According to John Hopkins Medicine, the renal system is responsible for the following actions in the body:
- Remove waste products and drugs from the body
- Balance the body’s fluids
- Release hormones to regulate blood pressure
- Control production of red blood cells1
These are pretty important functions! Along with supporting the function of this vital body system, goldenrod offers the following benefits.
- Strengthens the mucosa that lines the respiratory, digestive and urinary tracts, supporting the immune system’s first line of defense.
- Renal Trophorestorative (explained above)
- Supports healing with topical application to skin wounds
- Helps rid the body of excess fluid (used to help resolve UTI; another great option is cranberry juice)
- Uses as a mouthwash to relieve pain/inflammation in mouth and throat
- Soothes achy muscles and joints; muscle spasms (particularly associated with arthritis)
How to Use Goldenrod
This year, we are trying a few different preparations to see which works best for our family. I’m excited to share them with you as we learn all this in real-time. So far, we’ve use this in a tea to numb a sore throat and I’ve use it in a lotion bar I use on my wrists after a day of kneading bread dough.
Goldenrod Tincture
A tincture is made by “dissolving” an herb into alcohol. This form of concentrated herbal extract has many benefits and a goldenrod tincture is no exception. We know goldenrod is therapeutic for the entire renal system and is helpful during allergy season. Goldenrod tincture is a great application to deliver a concentrated dose of this powerful herb.
To make your own goldenrod tincture use a plain alcohol, such as vodka, in a jar with your fresh or dried flower tops. You will want at least 80 proof or 40% alcohol. If using fresh plant matter, fill the jar 1/2-3/4 way full and finish filling with the alcohol. When using dry plant matter, fill 1/4-1/2 with plant material and then top the jar with the alcohol.
If you are uncomfortable using alcohol, glycerin is also an option for making a tincture, but it is not something I’ve explored because it only has a shelf life of about a year. Alcohol has a history of use in herbal medicine and offers preservative properties that are appealing to long term storage.
DOSAGE: 0.5 to 2 mL, 2-3 times per day.
Infused Honey
My family doesn’t have our own bees, YET, but they are on the list for our homestead. We do have friends who have bees no far from us and we purchase local honey from them. This has been a very helpful tool during allergy season. If you struggle with seasonal allergies, consider finding someone close by (within 5-10 miles) to purchase honey from. Did you know bees can travel up to 50 miles to collect pollen?! This means they are gathering from all sorts of flowers and plants (both allergenic and not) and bringing it back to the hive.
Little bits of pollen are left in the honey and consuming a spoonful of this local honey each day can help combat seasonal allergies through immunotherapy. Honey also has a variety of other health benefits. Combined with herbs, honey offers an added layer of health benefits. Plus, honey is a natural preservative, so it’s a great way to make shelf stable, natural medicine!
Where to Find Goldenrod and How to Make Goldenrod Infused Honey
I made a jar of goldenrod honey to keep on the shelf for allergies. It is very simple and worth the few minutes it takes to put together. To start, you are going to need some goldenrod! It grows just about everywhere this time of year, but if you can’t find any on the roadside, you can purchase it through online herbs shops such as Mountain Rose or Starwest Botanicals.
Are you ready to make some Goldenrod Honey? For every 1/2 cup fresh goldenrod or 1/4 cup dried goldenrod, add 2 cups of raw honey. Allow the honey to infuse for at least 4 weeks and then strain off the goldenrod plant material an keep the infused honey in a jar in a dark cool place.
DOSAGE: Use just like you would regular honey in tea or just eat a spoonful!
Infused oil
An infused oil is a great way to prepare topical remedies! Fill you jar with plant matter and pour oil into jar to completely cover all of the plant matter. Put in a cool, dark storage space and allow to infuse for 3-6 weeks. **You can also force infuse the herbs into oil by filling the jar the same way and putting the jar in a pot with water to create a double boiler. Gently heat the oil and herbs for at least 30 minutes or up to 12 hours. Leave the lid off so moisture can evaporate. Use the oil to make salves and lotions.
Soothing Salve
Salves are easy to make and an effective way to store and apply herbal medicine. They can be made with simple ingredients and only take a few minutes to put together. I made goldenrod salve this year with beeswax and goldenrod infused oil. This is a great way to address skin issues and joint pain. I love to apply it after a day of bread baking.
Goldenrod Tea
A lot of the sources I’ve read claim an infusion (hot tea) is the most effective application for goldenrod. A hot tea is diaphoretic (makes you sweat), whereas a cold infusion is diuretic (makes you urinate).
FUN FACT: following the Boston Tea Party and the subsequent boycott of British tea in the colonies, patriots turned to a variety of local, herbal alternatives, including goldenrod and dubbed their substitutes Liberty Tea.2
To make a hot herbal infusion pour 1 cup of hot water over 1 TBSP of goldenrod flowers and leaves. Allow to steep for 10-15 minutes before consuming.
To make a cold infusion use the same ratios (1 cup water to 1 TBSP goldenrod) using cold water and allow the tea to infuse for 2-10 hours.
Conclusion
We have really enjoyed exploring all the benefits of this wonderful herb. I hope you enjoy exploring this powerful herb and finding the best way to use it for your family!
DISCLAIMER: The information provided should not be used for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease, and those seeking personal medical advice should consult with a licensed physician. Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified health provider regarding a medical condition.