With special thanks to Melina Gutierrez
Latin Name: Solidago Virgaurea
Family: Asteraceae
Part used: Flowers and leaves
Energetics: pungent, astringent, dry, warm and cool (depending on species).
Iris: All types
Interactions: Please check with your Healthcare Provider.
CONTRA-INDICATIONS
- Pregnancy
- Chronic kidney disorders
- Oedema from heart failure or kidney failure
- Nephritis
- Allergy to ragweed
- Hyper/hypotension.
ACTIONS
- Antioxidant
- Anti-inflammatory
- Antiseptic
- Analgesic
- Spasmolitic
- Antihypertensive
- Diuretic
- Antibacterial
- Antimicrobial
- Antifungal
- Antiparasite
- Cytotoxic
- Antitumor
- Antimutagenic
- Antiadipogenic
- Astrigent
- Antidiabetic
- Cardioprotective
- Antisenescence
- Stimulant
- Carminative
- Diaphoretic
- Aperient
- Tonic
- Expectorant
- Prostatic tonic
Main Constituents
- Flavonoids (mainly derived from quercetin and kaempferol)
- C6-C1 and C6-C3 compounds
- Terpenes (mostly from the essential oil)
- Large number of saponin molecules (mainly virgaurea saponins and solidago saponins).
Main Uses
Urinary System: Kidney disorders (stones), urinary tract infections, cystitis, urolithiasis. overactive bladder syndrome, and prostatic diseases.
Circulatory System: Diabetes, Venous Insufficiency
Immune System: Allergies, Fever
Mouth: Inflammation of the oral cavity and throat (mouth rinse)
Digestive System: Flatulent colic, Dysentery, Diarrhoea,
Bacterial, Viral and Fungal Infections: Cholera morbus, Fungal infections
Lymphatic System: Oedema
Respiratory System: Allergic Rhinitis
Musculo-Skeletal System: Arthritis
Reproductive System: Amenorrhoea
More About Goldenrod
Traditionally, Goldenrod has been used as an herb to cure different illnesses. Native Americans used it to cure respiratory problems. Solidago (the genus name) means “to make whole.” It has been used typically to apply to the skin to help heal wounds and prevent infections, and Native Americans chewed on the leaves to relieve sore throats or toothaches. Goldenrod has been used to treat tuberculosis, diabetes, asthma, arthritis, Now it is mostly used to help with water loss in the body.
The leaves are used for medicinal purposes. Also, Goldenrod have long been used for urinary tract conditions and as an anti-inflammatory agent in the traditional medicine of different peoples. Goldenrod have been known and used for centuries as anti-inflammatory, spasmolytic, and diuretic remedies in the traditional medicine for the treatment of numerous diseases, especially as a urological agent in kidney and bladder inflammation, urolithiasis, and cystitis.
Animal studies have shown that goldenrod can help reduce inflammation, relieve muscle spasms, fight infections and even lower blood pressure.
In recent times, goldenrod has gained popularity for relieving many different aches and pains from chronic arthritis to acute injuries. It can be infused into oil and rubbed into the painful areas for this purpose.
It also helps to break up excessive and stuck mucus in the lungs, which can then be expectorated and expelled out of the body with more ease. Or when there is too much leaky mucus in the nose, consider goldenrod to restore tone to the mucous membranes, thus stopping the excessive flow.
References
Fursenco C. et. al. (2020).Solidago virgaurea L.: A Review of Its Ethnomedicinal Uses, Phytochemistry, and Pharmacological Activities. Biomolecules. * Toiu A et al.(2019). Solidago graminifolia L. Salisb. (Asteraceae) as a Valuable Source of Bioactive Polyphenols: HPLC Profile, In Vitro Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Potential.
Budzianowski, J. et. al (2021). Solidago virgaurea L.—Chemical Composition, Traditional and Medicinal Use, Pharmaceutical Properties, Potential Applications, and Biotechnological Studies.
https://www.henriettes-herb.com
Antimicrobial activity of Solidago virgaurea L. from in vitro cultures
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12385877/
The crude ethanolic and methanolic extracts of S. virgaurea micropropagated plants showed a moderate bactericidal activity. The results are in accordance with the antibacterial potential of naturally growing plants against the same strains of bacteria [12], [14]. The extracts from callus tissue were found to be very slightly active or inactive against various strains of microorganism