(Martina Osmy / Shutterstock.com)
Travel to any meadow across the continents, and you’ll likely come across a tall flowering plant called goldenrod. Named for its bright blond blossoms, goldenrod doesn’t just look pretty. It also has many health benefits!
According to Verywell Health, people have used goldenrod in folk medicine as a healing herb. Brew it as a tea or create your own homemade skin treatment, and enjoy the amazing health benefits of goldenrod.
Helps reduce inflammation
Inflammation causes excess swelling in your body which can lead to all types of health conditions, including arthritis, asthma, heart disease, and diabetes, according to WebMD. When applied to the skin (like a goldenrod salve with beeswax) or consumed (as a tea), goldenrod may help reduce inflammation.
May ease achy muscles
When your muscles can’t relax, try a little goldenrod. E-Medicine Health points out that the herb may reduce muscle spasms. You can make a goldenrod oil rub in this recipe from Edible Wild Food, by combining the flower with olive oil. Get creative and add sweet-smelling essential oils for your own twist.
Could help fight infection
A 2016 study took a close look at the bioactive compounds in goldenrod. They discovered a variety of health benefits including the flower’s antibacterial and antimicrobial properties. No wonder people suggest using the herb to cure certain infections, particularly in the bladder and urinary tract.
May relieve bloating
Feeling bloated? Sip a little goldenrod tea. Historically, people used goldenrod to reduce bloating, and The Herbal Academy recommends the plant as a diuretic to remove excess fluid from the body.
Helps to sooth a sore throat
Nothing beats a nice warm cup of tea to soothe a sore throat. This winter, try keeping goldenrod on standby. Harvested flowers, buds, and leaves of the plant brewed as a tea are said to help an inflamed throat and break a fever caused by a cold or flu, according to the blog My Healthy Homemade Life. It may also relieve a stuffy nose, so you can breathe a little easier.
Helps to protect cells
A 2003 study published in the Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis found that drinking an herbal infusion of goldenrod could protect free radicals from damaging cells in the body. That’s all thanks to its flavonoid antioxidants quercetin and kaempferol.
Used to treat wounds
Back before Bandaids and Neosporin, people had to rely on mother nature to treat wounds. Goldenrod is traditionally one of the plants used to prevent infection in cuts and scrapes, according to Mount Sinai; which is why it’s sometimes called woundwort.
YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE:
10 Medicinal Plants and Herbs You Should Know
7 Edible Flowers That Help Promote Better Gut Health
5 DIY Essential Oil Recipes
