So, this oil completely snuck up on me. I’ve never used nor even smelt it in it’s single oil form, but it’s been hiding in an EO blend I ordered from Young Living a few months ago, called Common Sense. Yes, there is an oil for those of us that are challenged in that area. What can I say, it’s been a rough year. LOL! Okay, enough snickering at my expense. 😉

Our fun fact about Goldenrod EO is where I got the title for our post today! We all learned in school about the Boston Tea Party in 1773, when the colonists revolted and threw all the British tea in harbor. This was one of the defining moments that led to the American Revolution. Well, after the colonists dumped all the tea, they had to drink something. And no, they hadn’t been introduced to coffee addiction like myself, yet. Enter Goldenrod. It was a plentiful plant around the colonies and thus used as the main ingredient in the colonists’ tea along with chamomile and other herbs. The colonists started calling it “Liberty Tea.” And that is your history lesson for the day. You’re welcome!

Now, on that note, there are dozens of varieties of Goldenrod that grow in the wild. The species we’re talking about today is Solidago Canadesis. Which is safe for internal use, but the FDA hasn’t jumped on the Goldenrod bandwagon, yet. It’s only a matter of time. AND if you happen upon some Goldenrod plants when you’re out hiking, please don’t just grab some random leaves and brew tea at your campfire. There is a toxic fungus that occasionally grows on Goldenrod leaves that will make you sick. Just stick to the essential oil or pre-made tea bags.

So, the first use for Goldenrod EO we’re going to talk about today is how wonderfully supportive it is when you have a bladder infection or urinary tract infection because of its antibacterial properties. Doctors over in Germany already recognize and recommend Goldenrod as a viable treatment for both conditions. Check out the PubMed article here. The German medical society is on the forefront of  Lyme disease detection and treatment. as well.  It should also be noted that Goldenrod EO also helps support health Kidney and Liver function. It helps to prevent kidney stones and it helps the liver to detox fatty deposits that inhibit it’s proper function. I would recommend if you’re dealing with any of these health issues, you take Goldenrod EO in a gelcap, 2 to 3 drops for around a week. You could also add some Oregano EO in there, as well, maybe 1 to 2 drops. But, be careful if you are on blood pressure medication, because Goldenrod will lower your blood pressure. More on that later.

Next, Goldenrod EO is fabulous for supporting inflammation relief related to symptoms of Gout and Arthritis. This EO is such an amazing help with swelling, joint inflammation and pain, because it’s considered an anti-inflammatory. You can use this EO topically, either alone or combine with Copaiba, because we already know what an anti-inflammatory powerhouse it is. Combine a dime size amount of the carrier oil of your choice, my fav is Sweet Almond oil, and 1 to 2 drops each of Goldenrod and Copaiba and massage into the area where you’re having an issue. You could even add a drop of peppermint to that mix if there’s any burning pain and it will help cool it down.

Now, Goldenrod EO is excellent for circulation support. When used topically, it is a circulation powerhouse. It helps the blood vessels dilate to allow blood to flow easier throughout the body. This would be an excellent EO to add with Cypress, which is another EO we talk about regularly for it’s great circulatory system support. One use for Goldenrod EO that I found in my research is support for Raynaud’s Syndrome, which I’ve briefly touched on in the past. This is a condition that I myself deal with in the colder months of the year, in relation to my Lyme disease diagnosis. The Mayo Clinic describes it as this:

“Raynaud’s (ray-NOHZ) disease causes some areas of your body — such as your fingers and toes — to feel numb and cold in response to cold temperatures or stress. In Raynaud’s disease, smaller arteries that supply blood to your skin narrow, limiting blood circulation to affected areas (vasospasm).”

Yes, it’s a pain in the butt when winter comes, especially when I was living in Colorado. That’s where it manifested the most. You can bet, when winter rolls around again, I’ll be rubbing this EO all over my feet. So, back to the application. I would combine 1 to 2 drops each of Goldenrod EO and Cypress EO, then rub across your heart to support healthy heart function and all over on the bottoms of your feet to support proper circulation throughout your body. I would keep the use of Goldenrod EO for circulation to just a topical use, though. When researching this EO, circulation support was only recommended topically. And remember, be careful when using this EO, if you take blood pressure medication.

Lastly, Goldenrod plants have gotten a bad rep over the years as a contributing allergen to Hay Fever flare-ups. This is absolutely not true. The pollen that comes from the Goldenrod plant is actually pretty heavy and sticking, so it’s not airborne like most other plant pollen. It’s only usually spread by contact or by bees.

Goldenrod EO is actually very helpful with allergies and should be added into any blends you use during allergy season to help support relief from congestion, and itchy watery eyes. It’s astringent properties help the body to calm the watering of the eyes and running of the nose. One of the most popular anti-allergy blends is 4 drops each Lavender, Lemon, and Peppermint. Well, add 4 drops of Goldenrod in there, as well. Plus it’s an expectorant so you can use it along with any respiratory, immune boosting EO blends to help support the lungs in expelling all of the built up mucus. Just add it to your diffuser blend.

Well, that’s it for Goldenrod Essential Oil! We love to hear from you, so send us any questions or comments you may have! Happy Oiling!