The Gift of Goldenrod

It's nearing the end of goldenrod season so if you haven't yet gathered any of this abundant plant, this is a great time to do that!

Gather the flowering stalks of any species of goldenrod (Solidago species). Pick the sunniest yellow flowers you can find.

I gather the upper third or so of the stalk, and include the leaves, stalks and flowers in all my medicinal preparations, as well as for  my dried goldenrod. I like to dry some for winter teas that help in healing the flu. I steep this tea for about 20 minutes and it is helpful with fever and aches and pains. I also make goldenrod tincture, honey, vinegar and oil with it. In any of these forms goldenrod is down-right miraculous for helping the symptoms of  pollen allergies like ragweed in fall and oak flowers in spring. Used the season before your allergies, it can actually help heal them, used along with other wise woman ways such as spending  more time outdoors and tending to your food choices wisely.

Today's project is infused goldenrod oil...

...it's pain relieving for muscle strains and sprains and general aches and pains from overuse.

Fill a clean dry jar with fresh goldenrod, as described above, torn or cut into small pieces. Cover the plant material with olive oil, poking it down with a chop stick to remove air bubbles. When the jar is full to the rim, cap it, and label it with the name of the plant and the date and any other details you'd like to include. After about 6 weeks, pour the oil through a strainer or piece of cheesecloth, squeeze the herbs to get every bit of oil you can, and compost the herbs. Use the beautiful golden-colored goldenrod oil freely on your skin and sore muscles, or add a couple of tablespoons of oil to a bathtub. It is not only pain-relieving, but the radiance of this sunny flower will fill your being with golden light, too.