Goldenrod, those lovely yellow stalks we see alongside the road are in full bloom and I am drying as many stalks as I can. Though there are many uses for this wonderful herb, I use it primarily in salves, and one of my salves is an all-purpose healing salve that helps muscle aches and pains, and heals scraped knees, elbows and double as a lip balm for chapped lips. Nearly all my products serve multiple ailments since I like to cover the full spectrum of skin conditions. I infuse the Goldenrod using self-heal oil which just gives the salve a little reinforcement in the healing properties and speeds up the healing process.  

 Now the common replies to Goldenrod I get is one that is allergic to it. Goldenrod is always to blame but hay fever comes from ragweed which is a companion plant to the Goldenrod. Goldenrod being so tall, makes ragweed go unseen unless you dig down to the ground and find it like I do. I have grown accustomed to the pollen of the ragweed that it doesn't bother me. The pollen of ragweed is light and carries on the wind. The pollen of Goldenrod is heavy and is spread by insects. One would have to breathe the Goldenrod flowers deeply to get the pollen in your nose.  

 Other uses for this beautiful herb come in tincture, soap, lotion bars, and tea, and the medicinal uses cover lowering cholesterol. relieving upper respiratory inflammation, a decongestant for allergies, colds and flu. As a tea, it can help with urinary tract infections, and the flowers themselves can be used to dye linen.  

 We often see these weeds as what they are, weeds, but so many ditch filled weeds truly hold many unique medicinal uses. I'll be adding Goldenrod to my home apothecary this year in the form of tincture, teas to serve as a standby for the colds of winter.