Goldenrod is a perennial plant, native to Europe and Asia, but naturalized in North America. It is a hardy plant, growing in pastures and along mountainsides. The botanical name Solidago comes from the Latin term "solidare," which means "to make whole." The plant grows 2 to 3 feet (60 to 90 cm) high, with alternating leaves and panicles of golden flowers on top. In the Americas, after the Boston Tea Party, the colonists, having just gotten rid of their favorite beverage, made a tea of goldenrod and called it "Liberty Tea". It was also used as a dye amongst the colonists. Other legends tell that the stem could be used by some as a divining rod, and that when it grows near a house, the occupants will be granted good fortune.

Goldenrod has a history of traditional use in herbal first aid as well as in treating infections and inflammation of both the respiratory system and urinary tract.* It has also been used to support the healthy reduction or elimination of respiratory mucous (catarrh).

Constituents of Note: Flavonoids, including kaempferol, rhamnetin, quercetin, quercitrin, astragalin, and afzetin; also saponins, essential oil, germacrene, pinene, limonene, hydoxycinnamic acid, caffeic acid, and tannins.

Precautions: Caution is advised in use by those with kidney disorders. Persons with allergies to other members of the Asteraceae family should exercise caution.