I use Goldenrod and SJW oil for my body aches and it is a blessing.

The hot tea is really a gem.

Sasha – I’d love to read about your encounter with Goldenrod! I’m totally smitten myself

Sarah – I make my oil from flowering tops, including leaves. I cold infuse it over about 6 weeks. The first week or two mine does tend to smell a bit pungent and the olive oil smell still comes through, but shortly after that, the full sweetness begins to infuse. I think the finished oil smells almost exactly like the fresh plant, except maybe a bit more concentrated and intense. I’ve not used the plant medicinally at all yet, except for the sore muscles and bath oil, and my first fledgling experiments reported here. I can see that it would be good for respiratory because of the diffusive, aromatic way it fills the nasal cavity and sinuses. I can totally imagine it similarly in the lungs. Also, I think the relaxing effect I experienced may have been due to the tonic effect on the stomach and digestive organs. I read recently that tension or pain there can often refer to the shoulders and upper back. Yes, please do let me know your findings as you play with this plant! I’m anxious to hear more!

You must be a mind reader! I made my first batch of goldenrod leaf and flower oil on Monday afternoon. I picked a whole bunch of flowering fronds and dried half and made the oil with the other half. I remembered you waxing lyrical about the oil and wanted to really try using it. I am so grateful to you putting together this post because I want to start exploring the plant and was about to ask who had used it. I’ll try making some fresh plant tea this weekend and report back on my findings. I could do with something to help me sleep at night…it’s been too hot here for the past week to sleep very much! The temperatures are getting back to normal now! I know the books say to use goldenrod for respiratory problems and that it’s especially good for children. Have you tried it for this condition at all?

Have you got some photos of the teas? Also, when you made your oil, did you make it just from the flowers or leaves and flowers? My oil is so thick, green and pungent from the smell of the leaves, I was going to try making another batch with just the flowers to see if I could get the delicate sweetness of their scent infused. I’ll let you know how I get on.