Goldenrod is one of my favorite fall herbs to harvest and use for fall-related ailments.
Below are two of my favorite ways to prepare and use goldenrod in the fall, as well as some harvesting tips you may not have heard of before!
Goldenrod Tincture for Autumn Allergies
One of my favorite ways to use goldenrod is to help ease fall allergies, especially with runny noses and stuffy sinuses. Herbalist Matthew Wood teaches that goldenrod is a particular remedy for allergic reactions with red conjunctiva, itchy or watery eyes, and an itchy nose.
My favorite way to treat goldenrod for allergies in the fall is to soak a new plant, using fully opened flowers and some leaves, in 40% ABV alcohol.
If autumn allergies are a problem, I use 20-30 drops 3-4 times a day when autumn allergies bother me.
If you want to see this process in action, I created a video tutorial on making goldenrod tincture here.
Goldenrod Infusions for Digestive and Urinary Complaints
My second favorite way to use goldenrod is to add it to an infusion mix for digestive and urinary complaints.
Goldenrod has cooling, drying, and toning properties as well as an affinity for the mucous membranes associated with the digestive and urinary tracts. This makes it very suitable for digestive complaints, intestinal permeability concerns, urinary tract infections, and other issues affecting the membranes of these body systems.
When harvesting goldenrod to dry and store for later use in infusion mixes, I like to harvest the flower tops that are growing but not fully open. This helps prevent the flowers from turning into fluff as they dry. I also harvest some of the top leaves of the plant as well. Put all this in a dark place with plenty of air and let it dry until it crunches like a cracker. You can then break down the plant material (called garbling) and transfer it to a labeled storage container for future use.
If you’d like to learn how to blend goldenrod into tea blends, check out my short and sweet online tea blending tutorial, Sunday Steep. Not only will it teach you how to make your own tea blend, but how to make tea a daily ritual – one you’ll crave – too!
That’s right, friends! Now it’s time to go outside, properly identify a goldenrod (several species can vary), and do what you’ve learned in this post.
Comment below if you have goldenrod questions or want to share how you like to use this herb.
Love and light,
Meagan
