Golden Rod

Botanical: Solidago virgaurea (LINN.)
Family: N.O. Compositae

---Synonyms---Verge d'Or. Solidago. Goldruthe. Woundwort. Aaron's Rod.
---Part Used---Leaves.
---Habitat---Europe, including Britain. Central Asia. North America.

---Description---The generic name comes from solidare, for the plant is known as a vulnerary, or one that 'makes whole.' It grows from 2 to 3 feet in height, with alternate leaves, of a clear green, and terminal panicles of golden flowers, both ray and disk. It is the only one (of over eighty species) native to Great Britain.

The leaves and flowers yield a yellow dye.

When bruised, the herb smells like Wild Carrot.

---Constituents---The plant contains tannin, with some bitter and astringent principles.

---Medicinal Action and Uses---Aromatic, stimulant, carminative. Golden Rod is an ingredient in the Swiss Vulnerary, faltrank. It is astringent and diuretic and efficacious for stone in the bladder. It is recorded that in 1788 a boy of ten, after taking the infusion for some months, passed quantities of gravel, fifteen large stones weighing up to 1 1/4 OZ., and fifty over the size of a pea. It allays sickness due to weak digestion.

In powder it is used for cicatrization of old ulcers. It has been recommended in many maladies, as it is a good diaphoretic in warm infusion, and is in this form also helpful in dysmenorrhoea and amenorrhoea. As a spray and given internally, it is of great value in diphtheria.

---Dosage---1/2 to 1 drachm of the fluid extract.

---Other Species---
S. Rigida, Hardleaf Goldenrod, and S.Gigantea, Smooth Three-Ribbed Golden Rod, have leaves and blossoms which are valuable for all forms of haemorrhage, being astringent and styptic. The oil is diuretic.

S. Odora or Sweet-scented, or Fragrantleaved Goldenrod, also of the United States, is used as an astringent in dysentery and ulceration of the intestines. The essence has been used as a diuretic for infants, as a local application in headache, and for flatulence and vomiting. The flowers are aperient, tonic, and astringent, and their infusion is beneficial in gravel, urinary obstructions, and simple dropsy.

S. Canadensis, or Gerbe d'Or, of Canada, and S. sempervirens of North America, are used as vulneraries.

RAYLESS GOLDEN ROD is an American name for Bigelovia.

GOLDEN ROD TREE is Bosea Yervamora.

GOLDEN ROD is also the common name of Leontice Chrysogonum.

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