Goldenrod infused oil

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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 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 a bread. I collected the flowers in August and September (location: Hungary).

Goldenrod infused oil

How to make goldenrod infused oil

Ingredients:

• oil, such as almond, olive or sunflower. I used a good bio quality line seed oil.
• dried goldenrod flowers

Instructions:

Fill a jar 1/4 to half of the way with dried goldenrod flowers. Pour an oil over the flowers until the jar is full. You can infuse the oil the slow way, the solar way or the speedy way.

• Slow way – cap the jar and tuck it into a dark cabinet for 4 to 6 weeks. Strain with a cheesecloth.
• Solar way – don’t cap the jar, but cover it with a piece of cheesecloth or scrap of cloth instead. Set the jar in a sunny window for several days (or a few weeks). The heat from the sun will help the oil infuse faster. Strain with a cheesecloth.
• Speedy way – don’t cover the jar, but instead set it down into a small pan containing a few centimeters of water. Set the pan over a low burner and heat for around 2 to 3 hours, watching the oil carefully. You can then strain the oil and use right away, or let the oil continue infusing for another few days before straining.

Label the jar and add the date.

Good for: this medicinal oil is a traditional remedy for aches, strains, and sprains.

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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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