Goldenrod (Solidago canadensis)
It was a tough decision which Herb to start with. There are so many, and they all are so wonderful and valuable. However, I want to start with Goldenrod. To me, Goldenrod is one of the seasonal messengers. When you see the first few golden sprigs of Goldenrod flowers here and there, you know it is late summer, and fall is not far. This is regardless of the month, and regardless of soaring temperatures. You can now bet that soon days are getting a little shorter, and it is going to get a little cooler. As more and more Goldenrod is in flower, this is what is happening, until you notice large patches of these gorgeous golden flowers, and it is officially Fall. Harvest is in it’s prime, and you find yourself reaching for a light jacket in the early mornings.
Goldenrod makes me think of a traveler's staff. Larger stands, even fields of Goldenrod seem to be protective and inviting weary creatures to rest. It will provide a dense cover, not easily traveled, along with restorative scent, and medicine to heal wounds...all kinds of wounds, along with healing perfume to heal the mind and soul. She is a wonderful healer.
Year after year, when Goldenrod is in full bloom, I am pretty worn out from the demands of spring and summer. Even the sight of those golden staffs is uplifting and encouraging seemingly offering assistance to help you to keep going, with its help, to the finish line, which is not far now. And it does assist, make a tea, take a little tincture, stop to converse with it and smell its wonderful scent. And then you see it cheering you on wherever you go, even driving down the road, it waves to you from the sides. And then you find yourself smile. What a friend.
Goldenrod makes me think of a traveler's staff. Larger stands, even fields of Goldenrod seem to be protective and inviting weary creatures to rest. It will provide a dense cover, not easily traveled, along with restorative scent, and medicine to heal wounds...all kinds of wounds, along with healing perfume to heal the mind and soul. She is a wonderful healer.
Year after year, when Goldenrod is in full bloom, I am pretty worn out from the demands of spring and summer. Even the sight of those golden staffs is uplifting and encouraging seemingly offering assistance to help you to keep going, with its help, to the finish line, which is not far now. And it does assist, make a tea, take a little tincture, stop to converse with it and smell its wonderful scent. And then you see it cheering you on wherever you go, even driving down the road, it waves to you from the sides. And then you find yourself smile. What a friend.
Goldenrod’s scent is, to me, incredible. Sweet, yet herbaceous, with slightly bitter tones, even if this is usually used as taste description. Hard to describe, since it is complex. I can, however, describe that the scent of Goldenrod relaxes me immediately, makes me stop and just enjoy it for a few moments. It seems to touch the soul, an essence at the core of being, and heal that. It is strengthening, encouraging, restorative. No surprise to learn then, that Goldenrod has an affinity with Kidneys, which are considered the keepers of life force in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Kidneys are also associated with worry and fear. The Latin solidus, solida means solid, dense, unbroken. Sometimes I found Solidago translated as strengthening, which might not be a correct translation, but is still true for Goldenrod. And Goldenrod can help us be “unbroken” in so many ways.
Another definition is, that it is “solidus + agere, meaning causing to solidify, or bring together, the lips of a wound. Solidago was one of the main wound-remedies prominent during the Middle Ages” (Matthew Wood) I found this to be true. I use the leaves of Solidago extensively for wounds.
Another definition is, that it is “solidus + agere, meaning causing to solidify, or bring together, the lips of a wound. Solidago was one of the main wound-remedies prominent during the Middle Ages” (Matthew Wood) I found this to be true. I use the leaves of Solidago extensively for wounds.
Also, in my experience with this plant, it means more. It seems to me to also nod towards solitary, which is “alone” and the plant tells you that you are not. Goldenrod can be found by itself, but for the most part, it comes in larger patches. When you do feel alone, or lonely, or any variation of isolation or abandonment, in the midst of Goldenrod this just goes away. The medicine of Goldenrod helps a little with this, ingesting Godenrod when you need it, you feel a subtle, but powerful shift in mind and emotions, but it is one of the magical things plants do for us, that can not be bottled. The spirit of things stands alone, is alive within the beings which possess it.
There are various species of Goldenrod, all seem to be more or less interchangeable. Personally, I feel, use what is close to you, since it will have the special gift of local, meaning it is experiencing what you do, and it will provide medicine for that, specifically.
The medicine of Goldenrod is broad as well as specific. The slight bitterness points towards affecting digestion.
Solidago is bitter, warm, pungent. It contains flavonoids (including quercetin and rutin) tannins, triterpene saponins, bitters, and essential oils.
Goldenrod helps Kidneys, and interestingly enough, in TCM Kidneys are associated with emotions, and Solidago does help with that. And of course, anything helping out the Kidneys is a big deal, since when Kidneys have issues, it soon becomes a Domino Effect affecting other organ systems, since unprocessed waste gets returned, then affects the Liver (emotion of anger) then the blood and so on, everything getting worse as the cycle repeats itself.
Goldenrod affects the Stomach, Skin, is great for Allergies, esp when caused by Ragweed, which blooms at the same time. Like so often in nature, when something causes problems, the remedy is often found very close to it.
The symptoms pointing towards needing Goldenrod’s help are often in incorrect urine output..too much, too little, too dark or too light (it balances and restores, hence, like so often in Herbalism it addresses what are opposite imbalances). When there are scabs and sores. Tiny pimples, maybe itchy, swollen, tired legs and feet, sore back...that’s Kidneys, that is Goldenrod.
And of course, as already mentioned, wounds...similarly to Plantain, Goldenrod does not care how old and in which condition these wounds are, it will do what it can to heal them.
Another TCM concept is the Kidney-Lung relationship...so if it helps the Kidneys, it helps the Lungs..and of course, this goes both ways for better and worse. This is something demonstrated by Solidago as well.
Since a warm or hot infusion of Goldenrod opens the pores, which helps with elimination, especially important during colds and cases of flu, it can be used to great benefit when you have to deal with that.
Other labels for Goldenrod are Anti-inflammatory, astringent, anti-fungal, increases capillary strength and circulation, Anti-Oxidant and many more.
Solidago is bitter, warm, pungent. It contains flavonoids (including quercetin and rutin) tannins, triterpene saponins, bitters, and essential oils.
Goldenrod helps Kidneys, and interestingly enough, in TCM Kidneys are associated with emotions, and Solidago does help with that. And of course, anything helping out the Kidneys is a big deal, since when Kidneys have issues, it soon becomes a Domino Effect affecting other organ systems, since unprocessed waste gets returned, then affects the Liver (emotion of anger) then the blood and so on, everything getting worse as the cycle repeats itself.
Goldenrod affects the Stomach, Skin, is great for Allergies, esp when caused by Ragweed, which blooms at the same time. Like so often in nature, when something causes problems, the remedy is often found very close to it.
The symptoms pointing towards needing Goldenrod’s help are often in incorrect urine output..too much, too little, too dark or too light (it balances and restores, hence, like so often in Herbalism it addresses what are opposite imbalances). When there are scabs and sores. Tiny pimples, maybe itchy, swollen, tired legs and feet, sore back...that’s Kidneys, that is Goldenrod.
And of course, as already mentioned, wounds...similarly to Plantain, Goldenrod does not care how old and in which condition these wounds are, it will do what it can to heal them.
Another TCM concept is the Kidney-Lung relationship...so if it helps the Kidneys, it helps the Lungs..and of course, this goes both ways for better and worse. This is something demonstrated by Solidago as well.
Since a warm or hot infusion of Goldenrod opens the pores, which helps with elimination, especially important during colds and cases of flu, it can be used to great benefit when you have to deal with that.
Other labels for Goldenrod are Anti-inflammatory, astringent, anti-fungal, increases capillary strength and circulation, Anti-Oxidant and many more.
But as always, as far as I am concerned, it is more important to get to know the spirit of a being, then it’s physical constituents. That is how we make friends.
I will come back to this, but for now, this concludes Goldenrod. In the midst of Farm season, writing takes a back seat, but I do want to share with you the medicine of the season
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