Flowering Golden Rod
If you step out your door and look around, particularly if your view isn’t of concrete or carefully manicured lawn, you’re apt to see Golden Rod. Whenever it blooms I know that the start of school isn’t far away, nor is the first frost.
These impressions of Golden Rod as being sign posts of autumn are what most people hold. But Golden Rod has a long history of human use as a medicinal herb. It’s a first choice for inflamed upper respiratory mucous membranes and mixed with other herbs (including Echinacea- I’ll discuss it next time), has been used to treat influenza. Knowledge of this useful herb is desirable in the event that modern medicine is unable to handle the demands of a pandemic influenza outbreak.
So, the big question is, How do you use it?
Gather the aerial parts, that means the entire plant above ground, just before the flowers open. You’ll recognize them because some of the plants will already have flowered while others are still in the bud stage. Give them a quick rinse and hang the plants in a dark place to dry.
An infusion is the most common preparation for use. Pour a cup of boiling water over two to three teaspoons of the dried herb in a cup. Allow to infuse for ten to fifteen minutes. Prepare and drink this tea three times a day.
Golden Rod is also useful for relief of gas and promotes wound healing. Gargling with the tea may be helpful in cases of laryngitis or sore throat.
Gather some Golden Rod today. If the H1N1 influenza hits in the fall, see your doctor first. If clinics are so busy they can’t see everyone, consider this as a second line of defense.
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