Goldenrod

Solidago canadensis

Yang --- Heart --- Fire/Water/Air --- Sun/Venus

Cooling, Drying, Relaxant

Bitter, Aromatic, Floral

With showy plumes of bright yellow, Goldenrod nurtures the northern hemisphere as a late summer ally of digestion and purification. Goldenrod is a popular pollinator found in forest clearings, boasting a relaxing aroma and beautiful bundles of small daisy-like flowers. Part of her doctrine of signatures for appetite support involve the diverse set of insects regularly consuming her rich nectar and finding relaxation atop her leaves. Simply sitting with the live flower can root the nervous system in rest and digest and provides an orexigenic action, setting the human body into feast mode as well. Internally, the bitter quality of the leaves and flowers promote digestion and inflammation modulation, while the volatile oils relax the nervous system and support blood flow to the brain. Traditionally, Goldenrod teas and tinctures were often used to clear out stagnated kidneys and bladder, while simultaneously draining congestion - ultimately providing a purifying effect.

Type: perennial flower

Harvest: Late summer-early Fall - while flowers are in full bloom

Sun - Full, Soil - Well drained, sandy, loamy, clay - Damp but not soggy, Hardiness - 4-9, Roots - Spreading mix of thick roots and rhizomes, Size - 2-3’ Ecology - Fall Pollinator, insect control, insect habitat

Actions: Bitter, carminative, diuretic, diaphoretic, nervine sedative, orexigenic, expectorant, kidney tonic, astringent, dispels wind, clears heat, resolves swelling and obstructions

Organs: Lungs/Sinuses, Nervous System, Bladder, Kidneys, Liver, Gallbladder

Uses: Allergies, appetite, UTI, Kidney stones, headaches, fevers, sinus infections, urinary infections, colds, flus, clearing up internal ecosystem, antifungal, antibacterial, immunomodulation, candida, jaundice, carbuncles, inflammation modulation, sleep, draining excess fluid from tissues, clearing sinus congestion, whooping cough, lower gut nervousness, vulnerary, binding tissue, antipyretic, highly antioxidant, cleaning and astringing skin

Movement: Draining, downwards

Spiritual Indication: Settling, Purifying

Constituents: Pinene, germicrene D, limonene, elemen, bornyol acetate, caprinic acid, plagonic acid, oenantahylic acid, rutin, glycosides, tannins, absorbic acid, skimmianine