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Common name Goldenrod
Plant family Asteraceae
Parts used Aerial parts
Qualities Bitter, astringent, dry, cold (Holmes, 2007).
Constituents
Saponins; clerodane deterpines including solidagolactones I-VII and elongatolides C and E; phenolic glycosides; flavonoids including ruin and quercetin; acetylenes; polysaccharides; tannins (Hoffman, 2003).
Actions
Anti-inflammatory, diaphoretic, diuretic, anti-catarrhal (Bone, 2003). Aromatic, astringent, stimulant, carminative, vulnerary (Grieve, 1971). Anti-microbial (Hoffman, 2003). Anti-fungal, anti-bacterial (Braun & Cohen, 2010).
Indications
Culpeper recommends the herb for kidney stones, internally as a treatment for bruising as well as topical application; he says it will stop bleeding from any would in the body and says that it is useful in mouthwashes for sores and ulcerations of the mouth. He says that it will keep loose teeth fixed in the gums (Culpeper, 1985).
Grieve recommends an infusion of the herb for bladder stones, and advises that it improves sickness due to weaken digestion (Grieve, 1971).
Bone and Mills advise that the Solidago spp. in general have a particular use as diuretics that help with skin and sinus conditions (Bone & Mills, 2013).
Hechtman emphasises the suitability of the herb in respiratory conditions where there is an inflammatory aspect, and to be used in the short-to-medium term; also for lower urinary tract infections (Hechtman, 2011).
Extract of the herb has been shown in vitro to inhibit Candida albicans and Crypotococcus spp. yeasts (Laurençon et al., 2013) and Staphylococcus aureus, Enterobacter fecalis, Escherichia coli and Bacillus cereus bacteria (Demir, Acik, Burcu Bali, Yasemin Koc & Gönül Kaynak, 2009).
Cautions/Contraindications
No adverse effects expected in pregnancy and lactation (Bone, 2003)
Dosage
Per day, 3-6 ml of 1:2 liquid extract. Per week, 20-40 ml of 1:2 liquid extract (Bone, 2003).
Infusion of dried herb: 0.5-2g in 150ml liquid steeped for a minimum of ten minutes, 2-4 times per day (Braun &Cohen, 2010).
Combinations
A commercial herbal preparation of Solidago virgaurea, Populus tremuta and Fraxinus excelsior has been shown to reduce pain and inflammation associated with arthritis (Sarris & Wardle, 2010).
References
Bone, K. (2003). A clinical guide to blending liquid herbs. Edinburgh [u.a.]: Churchill Livingstone.
Bone, K., & Mills, S. (2013). Principles and practice of phytotherapy. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone.
Braun, L., & Cohen, M. (2010). Herbs & natural supplements. Sydney: Elsevier Australia.
Culpeper, N. (1985). Culpeper's complete herbal. Omega.
Demir, H., Acik, L., Burcu Bali, E., Yasemin Koc, L., & Gönül Kaynak, G. (2009). Antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of Solidago virgaurea extracts. African Journal Of Biotechnology, 8(2), 274-279.
Grieve, M. (1971). A modern herbal. New York: Dover Publications.
Hechtman, L. (2011). Clinical naturopathic medicine. Sydney, Australia: Churchill Livingstone/Elsevier Australia.
Hoffmann, D. (2003). Medical herbalism. Rochester, Vt.: Healing Arts Press.
Holmes, P. (2007). The energetics of Western herbs. Cotati, Calif.: Snow Lotus Press.
Laurençon, L., Sarrazin, E., Chevalier, M., Prêcheur, I., Herbette, G., & Fernandez, X. (2013). Triterpenoid saponins from the aerial parts of Solidago virgaurea alpestris with inhibiting activity of Candida albicans yeast-hyphal conversion. Phytochemistry, 86, 103-111. doi:10.1016/j.phytochem.2012.10.004
Sarris, J., & Wardle, J. (2010). Clinical Naturopathy: An Evidence-based Guide to Practice. Churchill Livingstone.