Herb of the Season: Fall! Goldenrod (Solidago spp.)
Goldenrod is one of my all-time favorite plants, one reason being because it signals that fall is coming – my favorite season! So, of course it is this year’s “herb of the season.” The Solidago genus is one of the largest and most diverse in the herb world, often making these plants difficult to identify by species. Luckily, many contain similar medicinal benefits, and North Carolina is home to over 70, some are even endemic. It grows wild and free in fields and ditches, gently blows in the autumn breeze, and glows in the September sunset. When I see it, I always thinks of Fields of Gold by Sting.
Now, goldenrod often gets a very undeserved bad rap…that might even be one of the other many reasons I appreciate it so much :). Because it often blooms at the time and place as ragweed, people misidentify goldenrod for ragweed and think it’s goldenrod causing irritation and allergies – because goldenrod is visible and showy while ragweed hides unassuming, obscured in a sea of green. What’s of interest, and no surprise, to herbalists, is that goldenrod can actually support a healthy response to seasonal allergens, rather than cause them! The remedy coexisting right next to the cause of dis-ease…
Solidago is a revered and highly effective tonic for the kidneys and urinary system. It is a warming, drying, astringent and powerful diuretic with antiseptic properties and an affinity for the bladder and kidneys. When it comes to allergies, these tonifying actions help dry up mucous membranes, so, very helpful for things like watery eyes, runny noses, and phlegmy lungs. It can go beyond just allergy support and work as an aid for deeper respiratory imbalances, like bronchitis. Goldenrod’s anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic qualities make it a great topical application for sore and tense muscles as well – what a star!
But wait, that’s not all! Blooming from August until frost, this tall, hardy, and prolific bright, flowery friend is a pollinator magnet and helps provide energy at the of the growing season. Monarch butterflies is just one of the many wildlife species who depend on it.
Next time you sneeze near these yellow allies, don’t curse them – thank them! As we walk in fields of gold…