How to Make a Goldenrod Tincture to Beat Seasonal Allergies

If you look out your windows these days, you may just see the stately and beautiful yellow goldenrod (Solidago spp.) gracing your yards and meadows. Goldenrod is a bountiful late summer and fall herb that is just waiting to be harvested! We love using monographs from The Herbarium’s interactive plant database to inspire our herbal projects, and this weekend we’re digging deep into our goldenrod monograph, which includes a lot of helpful information about how to use this plant to help soothe the discomfort of seasonal allergies.

Goldenrod is often blamed for seasonal allergies, but did you know that goldenrod pollen is too big to be carried on the wind, and thus those autumnal allergies are more likely to be caused by wind-pollinated ragweed, which blooms at the same time? Goldenrod is quite the opposite of the allergy culprit– in fact, it’s an ally for seasonal allergies through its ability to tone and dry mucosal tissues and support elimination via the skin and urinary system, and reduce inflammation. If you find yourself suffering from fall allergies, goldenrod may be just the support you need to get through the season with fewer sniffles and watery eyes.

Goldenrod flowers often turn to fluff as they dry, which makes it harder to work with when tincturing the plant. That’s one reason why we prefer to use goldenrod fresh from the field! You can try drying the plant before the flowers are fully open to lessen the chance of it turning to fluff, but we prefer to just use the flowers fresh when making a tincture.

The process of making a goldenrod tincture is really quite easy. You simply harvest the tops of the plant and put them in a jar with a solvent of your choice. Keep in mind that the tincture needs to infuse for at least 4 weeks, so you’ll want to get it started as soon as you see those beautiful blooms growing outside so it’s potent and ready for allergy season. Here’s how to make a tincture with these fresh, late-summer blooms.

Dosage: 2-4 mL (1:5, 40%) 3x/day (Hoffmann, 2003)

Note: Avoid for those with an allergy to Asteraceae family plants. Always check with your doctor before adding a new herb to your routine, especially if you’re pregnant, breastfeeding, or on medication.

In Closing,

Goldenrod is a reminder that summer is coming to a close and cooler weather is on its way. It’s also gently reminding us that fall allergies are imminent for those who suffer, and is kindly offering its support as an herbal ally.

Further safety and dosage information, along with usage, scientific research, botanical description, and a goldenrod video can be found in The Herbarium’s goldenrod monograph, which is packed with herbal knowledge. If you’re not an Herbarium member, you can register here to read the complete goldenrod monograph, along with hundreds of other in-depth plant profiles to complement your herbal studies. 

REFERENCES

Hoffmann, D. (2003). Medical herbalism. Healing Arts Press.