Goldenrod
Useful properties and uses of goldenrod
Botanical characteristics of goldenrod
Goldenrod is an unusual perennial plant that has an erect, rounded stem with longitudinal stripes. It can grow up to 1 m in height. The leaves of the goldenrod are alternate, and the branching is paniculate. Yellow flowers have a weak aroma. Inflorescences in the form of baskets are collected in racemose panicles or simple brushes. This plant blooms from August to October. Its fruit is a cylindrical pubescent achene, the length of which is about 3 mm.
Useful properties of goldenrod
Goldenrod has a beneficial effect on various human organs, which is why it is widely used in traditional medicine. With its help, all kinds of dermatoses and numerous skin diseases, involuntary urination and various renal abnormalities, bleeding gums and even dropsy are perfectly treated. In addition, goldenrod perfectly stimulates the metabolism, as well as purifies the blood and helps with gout. In addition, it is recommended to use this herb during inflammation of the urinary tract.
Goldenrod is a famous honey plant. Its bright flowers contain a large amount of nectar; bees visit them with pleasure. A careful study of the composition of the plant made it possible to speak of its healing qualities. The medicinal raw material is the aerial part of the plant, as well as its rhizomes and roots. In the herb of goldenrod, alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, essential oil, chlorogenic and caffeic acids, resins and tannins were found. The plant also contains bitterness and quercitrin.
Harvesting of medicinal raw materials is carried out during the flowering period of goldenrod, which occurs in early summer. The plant is harvested, thoroughly washed, tied in bunches and dried in places where direct sunlight does not penetrate (in the shade). For the production of homeopathic medicines from goldenrod, only the fresh flowers of the plant are used.
Goldenrod application
Goldenrod is harvested not entirely, but only inflorescences - because of the hard stem. If you harvest the grass completely, you have to thresh the stems after drying. It is advisable to collect inflorescences that have not fully blossomed, because they easily finish flowering and are seeded in a cut form.
Goldenrod has an analgesic, wound healing antispasmodic effect, is used to treat gallstone disease, cholecystitis, kidney and bladder diseases. Outwardly, it is used to treat purulent wounds, ulcers and boils. The herb liquid extract is a part of the Russian drug "Prostanorm", used in the treatment of diseases of the prostate gland, and the German drug "Cystium solidago" for the treatment and prevention of diseases of the urinary tract.
Reception of medicinal infusions and decoctions of this medicinal plant is indicated for diseases such as dropsy (edema), catarrhal inflammation of the pharynx, kidney and urinary tract diseases, skin diseases and intestinal disorders.
Goldenrod broth
Recipe No. 1. 1 tablespoon of crushed medicinal raw materials is poured with 200 ml of hot water, after which it is placed in a boiling water bath, where it is kept for five minutes. After that, the broth is infused for three hours and filtered into a clean container. Take a ready-made decoction of 30 ml 3 times a day for kidney stones.
Recipe No. 2. 2 tablespoons of crushed medicinal raw materials are poured with 500 ml of hot water and infused in a boiling water bath for 10 minutes, after which the resulting broth is filtered and taken 100 ml 4 times a day for chronic nephritis.
Goldenrod infusion
Recipe No. 1. 1 tablespoon of crushed medicinal raw material is poured with 500 ml of boiling water and infused for 6-7 hours, after which the resulting infusion is filtered into a clean container and taken 2/3 cup 3-4 times a day.
Recipe number 2. 1 tablespoon of herbs is poured into 200 ml of boiling water and infused for 60 minutes, then filtered into a clean dish. The resulting infusion is used as an external means for rinsing the oral cavity for inflammatory processes of various etiologies.
Goldenrod tea
Recipe No. 1. 2 teaspoons of goldenrod are poured into 400 ml of cold water, after which the mixture is brought to a boil and insisted for two minutes.
Recipe No. 2. 2 teaspoons of goldenrod are poured into 400 ml of hot water (boiling water) and infused for 10 minutes, after which the tea is filtered and taken up to three to four times a day.
Goldenrod honey
Bees collect goldenrod honey from common goldenrod. Goldenrod honey crystallizes quickly: as a rule, it remains liquid for 1-2 months. honey is colored in a dark yellow or light brown hue, may have a slightly bitter taste. But, despite its bitterness, goldenrod honey is famous for its beneficial properties.
This honey is rightfully considered one of the most effective natural preparations, which are used with great success in the treatment of various inflammatory diseases of the kidneys and urinary tract, liver diseases and impaired metabolism, in addition, goldenrod honey is used for skin diseases.
For liver diseases, goldenrod honey is mixed with black currant in equal quantities (1: 1). Take it 1 teaspoon 2 hours before meals.
For diseases of the bladder, 1 teaspoon of goldenrod honey is dissolved in 100 ml of warm water. Such a remedy is taken for 1/4 cup 2 times a day before meals.
In case of kidney diseases 80-120 g of goldenrod honey is mixed with lemon juice and rosehip infusion and taken before meals.
Goldenrod flowers
Small flowers of such a melliferous plant as goldenrod are located on the upper part of the stem and are collected in wide paniculate or racemose inflorescences. The marginal flowers are pseudo-ligate, the median ones are tubular. The petals are colored bright yellow. The flowers emit a faint scent that serves to attract the bees. Goldenrod blooms in July-September.
The chemical composition of the inflorescence contains carbohydrates and polysaccharides: arabinose, glucose, galactose, xylose and rhamnose. Goldenrod inflorescences are medicinal raw materials for drugs that are successfully used in folk medicine as an external remedy for diseases such as dermatitis, skin tuberculosis, wounds of various etiologies, burns and rheumatism. Inside, goldenrod flowers are used as a decoction for hepatitis and ulcerative cystitis.
Growing goldenrod
In the early years, the flowering time of the plant directly depends on the timing of the transplant. If the goldenrod is transplanted at the end of April, it will bloom 3 weeks later than the plants transplanted in May. With good care, this herb can grow in one place for more than 10 years in a row. Goldenrod is not afraid of dry weather, but requires the introduction of complex fertilizers in the spring. On fertile and moist soil, plants grow tall and delight with the beauty of inflorescences. In addition, weak shoots should be removed at the beginning of the growing season to promote the full development of the rest.
Common goldenrod
Common goldenrod is a perennial herb of the Asteraceae family. The plant is poisonous! The plant is slightly pubescent over the entire area; the height of this species of goldenrod is 80–100 cm. The roots of goldenrod are fleshy and superficial. The stem is single, erect, almost glabrous at the base and branched at the top, in some cases the stem may have a reddish tint. Leaves are oblong-elliptic, alternate, sharp, their edge is serrate.
On the upper part of the stem, paniculate or racemose inflorescences are formed, consisting of numerous baskets. Goldenrod flowers are very small in length, bright yellow in color. Fruits are cylindrical ribbed seeds with a tuft. Common goldenrod blooms in July-September, bears fruit from August to October.
The natural area of distribution is the European territory of Russia, the countries of Europe, the Caucasus, Central Asia, Western Siberia, the Mediterranean and Scandinavia. This species grows mainly on hilly slopes, on forest edges, glades, on river banks and in thickets of bushes. The medicinal raw material of common goldenrod is the aboveground part of the plant (grass together with inflorescences and leaves), less often the underground part (root). Like most medicinal raw materials, the aboveground part of goldenrod is harvested during the flowering period, the underground part - in the fall. Healing infusions and decoctions of this plant are used for diseases of the urinary and gall bladder, diseases of the liver, kidneys and respiratory organs.
Canadian goldenrod
Canadian goldenrod is a perennial herb of the Asteraceae family. The whole plant is slightly pubescent. The root is pivotal, short. The stem is erect, single, branched in the upper part, it can reach a height of 140 cm, the color of the stem can be from light green to dark green. The leaves of the plant are linear-lanceolate, alternate, long-pointed at the top; the lower leaves are serrate at the edges, short-petiolate, the upper leaves are entire, sessile.
The flowers are small, bright yellow, bisexual. The median flowers are tubular, the marginal flowers are pseudo-reed. The diameter of the flower baskets is only 3-5 mm. The inflorescences are rather large, it is a pyramidal or conical panicle 4 to 20 cm long. The fruit is a small ribbed achene of a narrow cylindrical shape, with a tuft of white hairs. The flowering time of the Canadian goldenrod is July-August, the plant bears fruit in August-September.
The natural area of distribution of this species is the eastern territory of Canada, the USA, the northern part of Mexico, it is also found throughout the European part of Russia, Ukraine, Moldova. The canadian goldenrod grows mainly on forest edges, clearings, along roads, on the banks of rivers and lakes, in swamps. The plant prefers moderately moist soils, but is also capable of growing in swampy areas and poorly moist soil.
The medicinal raw material of Canadian goldenrod is the aerial part of the plant - the herb with leaves and inflorescences. The collection of medicinal raw materials is carried out during the flowering period (at the initial stage).
In folk medicine, healing infusions and decoctions of Canadian goldenrod are used as a diuretic, anesthetic, wound healing and antiseptic agent. Taking medications is indicated for such diseases as gout, inflammatory diseases of the genitourinary system, enuresis, bronchial asthma, whooping cough, liver disease, rheumatism and skin diseases of various etiologies.
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Goldenrod Josephine. Goldenrod Josephine is a perennial herb of the Asteraceae family. The plant can reach a height of 70 cm. Unpretentious dense bushes of this type are decorated with small bright yellow flowers. As a therapeutic agent, none of the parts of the plant is used in either traditional or folk medicine. Due to their bright color, long flowering period and unpretentiousness to growing conditions, the bushes of Josephine goldenrod are very popular in the formation of flower beds and hedges.
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Hybrid goldenrod is a perennial herb of the Asteraceae family. The length of the whole plant is about 80 cm. Flowers - numerous, small, bright yellow hue, collected in small baskets. The baskets, in turn, form the brushes, and the brushes form lush and bright panicles. The flowering period of the goldenrod hybrid is July-September.
Being a frost- and drought-resistant plant, the hybrid goldenrod is unpretentious to the growing condition. Any soil is suitable for its distribution, but the hybrid goldenrod feels best on heavy and wet soils. From a medical point of view, the goldenrod hybrid is of no value. The plant is successfully used by florists when drawing up autumn flower arrangements.
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Daurian goldenrod. Herbaceous perennial dahurian goldenrod can grow up to 1 m tall. Straight stems are framed with wedge-shaped leaves. Beautiful baskets are collected in paniculate inflorescences. The flowers have a yellow tint, and the oblong achenes have a whitish crest. Daurian goldenrod often grows in fir-spruce forests or sedge bogs. The mass flowering phase of the plant begins at the end of August and ends in October.
Contraindications to the use of goldenrod
Goldenrod herb contains potent toxic substances in its chemical composition. Before you start taking medicinal infusions and decoctions based on goldenrod, you should consult with your doctor. The use of goldenrod is contraindicated in pregnant and lactating women, children, with glomerulonephritis and individual intolerance (allergic reactions).
The author of the article: Sokolova Nina Vladimirovna | Phytotherapist
Education: Diploma in "General Medicine" and "Therapy" received at the Pirogov University (2005 and 2006). Advanced training at the Department of Phytotherapy at the Peoples' Friendship University of Moscow (2008).
