There’s nothing prettier than a field full of goldenrod. It grows everywhere here in Maine, although it seems to be flowering quite a bit earlier this year, which makes me wonder just what kind of a winter we will have. In any event, it is always welcome, as far as I’m concerned. However, many other people feel differently about that. Some say it’s a weed (isn’t everything?) and ruins the garden. Others say it is highly allergic and causes terrible symptoms. Ah, poor goldenrod. If only people knew that it doesn’t produce much pollen, and the pollen it does produce is very sticky and not airborne. No. That sneezing and those itchy eyes are caused by sneaky ragweed, which flowers at about the same time and is only too happy to make goldenrod take the rap for it.
Did you know that the flowers are edible? They make a beautiful garnish for your salad,
although check to make sure no insects have hitched a ride since they all love
goldenrod so much. The young spring
leaves are edible and can be boiled like spinach or dropped into soups. The older leaves get somewhat bitter, but
fortunately, there’s another use for them.
They contain about 7% rubber.
That’s right. A field of
goldenrod can be used to make rubber.
Thomas Edison did this very thing before synthetic rubber was invented,
and Henry Ford used Edison’s rubber for some tires on a Model T he gave to Edison as a gift.
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| A field of goldenrod. |
You’ve heard of Liberty Tea, of course. No?
Oh, well after the Boston Tea Party, the colonists used goldenrod as a
tea, which they appropriately called “Liberty Tea.” It became so popular that even the Chinese
imported it from America--and
that’s saying something.
There are medicinal uses for goldenrod, and you knew I was
getting to that. You can make goldenrod
vinegar by filling a jar with the chopped up top one-third of a goldenrod
plant. Then fill the jar with apple
cider vinegar, cap tightly, and shake daily.
Strain after six weeks and use in salads. It can help improve mineral balance, help
with flatulence, and is very good for those who suffer from kidney stones. Two to four dropperfuls of tincture of goldenrod is a specific used by
herbalists to treat all kinds of kidney problems, including stones. It can also be used for prostate problems
where frequent urination is an issue.
The powdered dry roots can be used on hard-to-heal wounds and made into
a paste to apply to sore joints.
Goldenrod, the much hated plant--and wrongly so!--is a good
friend to us. Don’t be afraid to walk
through a field of it. In addition to
collecting it for all of its medicinal uses, the sheer sight of it can bring
joy to the heart! Also, it means that
Fall is on the way!
(To learn how to make a tincture, see my article on St. John's Wort
for instructions. Yes, I have to put a
disclaimer in. This article is for informational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or cure any ailment. If you need medical
advice, seek a physician.)
