Page 83 - Lost Book Remedies

The Lost Book of Herbal Remedies

Edible Use: Goldenrod flowers are edible and can runny eyes and noses, and the sneezes that are trig-
be eaten lightly fried or in a salad. It is also used as a gered by summer and fall allergies.
flavoring for alcoholic beverages such as cordials and It is an antiseptic and an expectorant and contains
mead, and in fermented homemade soda. Leaves can quercetin and rutin, which are natural antihistamines.
be cooked and eaten like spinach. It also treats sore throats. Goldenrod can also be taken

as a tea when needed. For treating a sore throat, try
combining it with sage.

Once cooled a bit, the tea can be used as a gargle for
laryngitis and pharyngitis (sore throats). Goldenrod
helps the body get rid of respiratory congestion caused
by allergies, sinus infections, colds and the flu. It works
much like Yerba Santa to dry bronchial and respiratory
secretions and to expel existing mucous.

Diarrhea: Goldenrod stimulates the digestive sys-
tems while calming internal inflammation and irrita-
tion that causes diarrhea. It is anti-inflammatory and
Medicinal Use: I use the leaves and flowers in my anti-microbial, so it attacks the symptoms and causes.
medicinal preparations; however, the roots are also
used. I use goldenrod to made medicinal tea and tinc- Boosts the Cardiovascular System: Golden-
tures. For children, it can be infused into raw honey or rod is a good source of rutin, a powerful antioxidant
made into a syrup. that improves the cardiovascular and cerebrovascular
system. It supports circulation and increases capillary
Urinary Tract and Kidneys: Goldenrod has as- strength. Peoples with this need drink Goldenrod Tea
tringent and antiseptic properties, that are useful in daily, as long as they do not have problems with blood
treating urinary tract infections and bladder infec- pressure.
tions. It is also effective in restoring balance to the kid-
neys and in prevention of kidney stones. It is a good Yeast Infections and Anti-Fungal: Golden-
choice for chronic conditions and long-term use, rod’s antifungal properties make it effective against
though care should be taken as it is a diuretic. Other yeast infections such as Candida. Drink the tea or take
treatments might be more useful for acute UTI and the decoction daily and use powdered goldenrod, as
kidney infections. needed, for external infections. A gargle can be used for
oral thrush (Usnea also works well for thrush).
Skin, Wounds, and Stopping Bleeding:
Goldenrod is an herb of choice to treat and help heal Joint Pain: This herb is anti-inflammatory, and
skin wounds, burns, open sores, cuts, boils and other works well to reduce pain and swelling, especially in
skin irritations. The herb acts as an anti-inflammatory, the joints. It is useful to treat gout, arthritis, and other
antibacterial, and antifungal. It helps wounds heal
quickly and soothes the irritation. I use goldenrod de-
coction as a wash, make a poultice, or sometimes use
the powdered dried leaves directly on skin wounds. Its
common name of “woundwort” came from its ability to
stop bleeding when applied to a wound (its dried, pow-
dered form works best as a styptic). You can also use
goldenrod to make an ointment or salve. Roots were
traditionally used for burns.

Colds, Allergies, and Bronchial Conges-
tion: Goldenrod Tincture is a good choice for treating
the symptoms of seasonal allergies and colds. It calms

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