Goldenrod corn bread

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Another not-to-miss road-side weed. Tall, shiny, abundant and wavy, goldenrod can not go unnoticed. A beginner at all herbal and natural, I try to unlock some of the benefits and nourishment of nature. I won’t go too deep into its benefits else it becomes too scientific.

I experimented with goldenrod infused honey, goldenrod infused oil, goldenrod syrup, goldenrod tincture (vodka), goldenrod dye, dried goldenrod for tea (tea can also be made from the root), and fresh goldenrod for recipes, such as this cornbread. I collected the flowers in August and September (location: Hungary).

Goldenrod cornbread

This slightly-sweet cornbread has a herbaceous flavor thanks to the addition of fresh goldenrod flowers and a deep yellow color from the turmeric, which has anti-inflammatory properties as well.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup/115 gram butter, at room temperature
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 cup/70 gram white rice flour (you can use almond flour as well, I used coconut flour)
• 1/2 cup/70 gram tapioca starch
• 1/4 teaspoon xantham gum (substitute for psyllium husk or chia seeds and water (when soaked, chia seeds form a gel much like xanthan gum), or you can use flax seed meal as well)

You could just substitute 1 cup/136 gram of unbleached wheat flour for the white rice flour, tapioca starch and xantham gum.

• I used 70 gram psyllium husk instead of tapioca, which I found too much
• 1 1/2 c.up/200 gram ground yellow cornmeal
• 2 teaspoons turmeric powder
• 1/4 cup/ 85 gram honey
• 1 1/4 cup/295 ml. milk
• 1 egg
• 1/2 cup/40 gram fresh goldenrod flowers
• 2 tablespoons chopped sunflower seeds (I pounded the seeds in the mortar)
• 1/4 cup/40 gram finely-chopped pecans, or other nuts available

To place on top of the bread you’ll need an assortment of seeds, nuts, and/or dried fruit, or nothing at all, as the bread is good on its own.

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 425 F./218 C. Use a couple of tablespoons of the butter to grease a cast iron skillet
2. Sift the salt, baking powder, baking soda, rice flour, tapioca flour, xantham gum/or 136 gram flour, cornmeal, and turmeric powder into a medium bowl
3. Cream the butter with the honey, then add the egg and mix until smooth. Add the dry mix and the milk and beat until smooth. Beat in the sunflower seeds, pecans, and goldenrod flowers.
4. Pour the batter into the skillet, then carefully decoratup with seeds, nuts, or dried fruit.
5. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until lightly golden on top and a clean toothpick can be removed from the middle.
6. Enjoy warm or at room temperature, with butter and honey. I fry the bread in a medium hot pan when it has become less fresh.

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Now, what is goldenrod good for? Why did I start to invest time to prepare all these mixtures? Fair question.

I made infused honey and syrup more for experiencing a remarkable taste of nature than to heal myself. Yet, I believe properties of nature are better than nothing. Even though quantities might need to be more to be it effective, the taste is important.

Among its many uses, goldenrod is a prime medicine, effectively relieving upper respiratory congestion coming from allergies, flu, the common cold and sinusitis (the sinuses are small, empty spaces behind your cheekbones and forehead that connect to the inside of the nose. Sinusitis causes the lining of the sinuses to swell up. This stops mucus draining into your nose and throat properly, making you feel blocked up). It can be taken as a tea, syrup, or tincture for this purpose.

It is very drying and a decongestant, and therefore isn’t the best remedy for the beginning stages of a cold when runny mucus can actually help expel pesky viruses. Instead, use during the latter stages of an infection when the mucus is thick and yellow-green in color.

The herbs can be taken in tea form, instead of tincture, but the tea will be unsavoury to some because of its astringency and bitter flavor.

• Goldenrod contains chemicals that increase urine flow and have anti-swelling (the flavonoid antioxidants and other plant compounds in goldenrod have anti-inflammatory benefits) effects.

• Goldenrod is used to reduce pain and swelling (inflammation), as a diuretic to increase urine flow, and to stop muscle spasms. It is also used for gout, joint pain (rheumatism), arthritis, as well as eczema and other skin conditions.

• Goldenrod is also used to treat tuberculosis infections that have become active again after a period of inactivity, diabetes, enlargement of the liver, hemorrhoids, internal bleeding, hay fever, asthma, and an enlarged prostate. Goldenrod is used as a mouth rinse for inflammation of the mouth and throat, and it is also applied directly to the skin to improve wound healing.

• Goldenrod is safe to use as a diuretic and for kidney treatments. It can be used for inflammatory diseases of the lower urinary tract. It is used to prevent and break down kidney gravel.

• Goldenrod settles the digestion.

• For anyone interested, in need and very much off the beaten track, it helps with bruises and bleeding (powdered root or flowers as a medicinal tea for treating haemorrhagic conditions), loose teeth and gum diseases, sores and ulcers, ruptures and wounds.

Rich source of plant compounds

Goldenrod supplies many beneficial plant compounds, including saponins and flavonoid antioxidants like quercetin and kaempferol.

Saponins are plant compounds linked to many health benefits. They may particularly be effective in inhibiting the growth of harmful bacteria and yeast like Candida albicans.

Candida albicans is a fungus that can cause vaginal yeast infections, as well as infections in other parts of the body.

Saponins have also been shown to possess anticancer and anti-inflammatory effects in test-tube and animal studies.

The flavonoid antioxidants quercetin and kaempferol in goldenrod help protect your cells from damage caused by unstable molecules called free radicals.

Free radical damage is a factor in many chronic conditions, including heart disease and cancer.

Notably, the antioxidant activity of goldenrod is more than that of green tea and vitamin C.

The flavonoid antioxidants and other plant compounds in goldenrod also have anti-inflammatory benefits.

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Sources: book ‘The herbalist’s bible’, online research at http://www.chestnutherbs.com, http://www.theherbalacademy.com, http://www.healthline.com, http://www.thewondersmith.com My natural dyed and hand embroidered pouches are to see in my online shop.

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