Many of us know the goldenrod of Canada. This is a perennial herb, the top of which is decorated with sunny golden inflorescences.
As a decorative, it is used by many gardeners. Its magnificent arched flower stalks adorn many flower beds until late autumn. These plants are pleasing to the eye both in cut and in a winter bouquet. However, such a cute flower is considered not only decorative. Alternative and traditional medicine uses it as an excellent antiseptic, anti-inflammatory and diuretic.
A bit of history
The name of this plant solidago consists of two Latin words. This is solidus, which means “strong”, and ago - “to do”. In the literal translation - "doing health."
And here it is already becoming clear that the goldenrod has medicinal properties.
The plant was brought to Europe from North America as an ornamental. After this, its run wild and spread over a significant territory.
In 1863, Canadian goldenrod was named the national plant of the Confederation due to the presence of gray and yellow flowers. Since 1895, it became one of the official symbols of the state of Nebraska. Since 1926, Canadian goldenrod is a symbol of Kentucky.
The people call this plant scrofula and life-giving grass, bunny fluff and yellowflower.
Classification
Canadian goldenrod plant is perennial. This is one of the many (about 120) species belonging to the genus Zolotarnik. The plant belongs to the Asteraceae family.
Botanical Description
What is canadian goldenrod? The photos and descriptions below introduce us to this perennial herb.
Canadian goldenrod is quite high. Its stems reach almost two meters in height. Moreover, they are branched, erect, with a large number of leaves along the entire length and lignified at the very base. Not surprisingly,
such stems are supported by powerful rhizomes.
The plant has alternately placed pointed lanceolate leaves on which three veins can be seen. The lowest green plates are serrated and serrated. These leaves depart from the stem with the help of short petioles. Above are sedentary whole-leaflets.
In the second year of life, starting in mid-summer, the plant begins to bloom. This condition lasts for one and a half to two months. What can be observed? Paniculate inflorescences-baskets, which consist of small yellow flowers, begin to form at the very top of the stems. 5-6 of them are reed, and 6-8 are tubular. They contain five stamens with a lower ovary. By the end of August, Canadian goldenrod begins to form cylindrical achenes. They contain small seeds with a small tuft that have a brown color.
The plant is an excellent honey plant. Its reproduction occurs with the help of wind, and in a vegetative way (by cuttings or part of the rhizome).
In Russia, you can find two varieties of goldenrod - Canadian and ordinary (gold rod). Cultivation of plants is carried out for decorative and medicinal purposes. At the same time, such a species as Canadian goldenrod, exhibits stronger medicinal properties, affecting the patient’s body much more effectively.
The root system of the plant has the ability to grow independently. At the same time, Canadian goldenrod (see photo below) gradually crowds out and drowns out a huge number of species of other plants.
For example, in China, this is considered a serious agricultural problem requiring a solution for the conservation of planted crops in the fields.
Spread
A native goldenrod of Canada from North America. To date, the territory of its distribution is quite extensive. You can meet the plant throughout Europe. Huge thickets of goldenrod are also found in America and Asia. At the same time, wild and cultivated species are distinguished.
The plant prefers light sandy soils located in well-lit areas. Canadian goldenrod is often found at forest edges. It grows along roads, as well as near houses in the countryside. Gardeners consider it an unpretentious flowering plant.
Harvesting raw materials
Canadian Goldenrod, whose medicinal properties are widely used in the treatment of many diseases, is pre-harvested for the production of various drugs.
In this case, the stems of the plant serve as medicinal raw materials. In the field of homeopathy, fresh flowers are used to produce the remedies. Only in its aerial part does the goldenrod show Canadian medicinal properties (photo below).
Harvesting healing herbs begins during its flowering period. In this case, only the inflorescences of the plant, as well as its leaves without hard stems, are considered suitable.
Baskets of flowers are collected only by opening. Already blooming after their cutting, they are fluffed and discard seeds.
The collected raw materials are placed under a canopy, where direct sunlight does not fall. The temperature should not exceed 40 degrees. It is worth noting that the hard tops of the stems are not subject to harvesting. They are simply thrown away.
The dried parts of the plant are packed in paper bags. The raw materials of goldenrod can be stored without losing their medicinal properties for no more than two years.
Chemical composition
What are the reasons for the medicinal properties of Canadian goldenrod? Its rich chemical composition, which contains a large number of flavanoids and tannins, alkaloids and essential oils, chlorogenic and caffeic acids, coumarins and saponins, chlorophyll and diterpenes, lipophilic substances and triterpene compounds, as well as resins.
The combination of these useful elements leads to the fact that the plant is able to produce a therapeutic effect to eliminate a large number of pathologies, in connection with which it is used not only by folk, but also by official medicine.
Pharmacological properties
What is the use of canadian goldenrod? Official medicine classifies it as a powerful diuretic. This action is possible thanks to its constituent saponins. In addition, the medicinal properties of Canadian goldenrod and contraindications are considered. So, the plant is able to increase the pH of urine, and therefore the drugs that make up this healing herb are not recommended for patients with phosphate stones. Canadian goldenrod is particularly effective in other cases. So, it is indicated for urate and oxalate stones, urolithiasis, as well as pathologies of the kidneys and bladder.
Flavonoids, which are part of the goldenrod of Canada, can reduce the permeability of capillaries - small vessels. In addition, the plant exhibits its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effect on the body. A positive effect was noted when using it to eliminate thrush (candidiasis), which is explained by the destructive effect of the active substances of the medicinal herb on candida yeast pathogenic fungi.
Application area
The useful properties of Canadian goldenrod allow it to be used to treat many diseases. After all, the plant has a pronounced anti-inflammatory and choleretic, diuretic and antibacterial, astringent and expectorant, analgesic and sugar-lowering, general strengthening and wound healing effect (below see photo of Canadian goldenrod).
The medicinal properties of the plant, namely its powerful antibacterial effect, make it an excellent complement to the medical treatment of a disease such as pulmonary tuberculosis. In addition, the healing herb has an expectorant and antitussive effect, helping to clear the lungs of the sputum contained in them, which provokes coughing attacks. Doctors note that after the inclusion of the plant in the course of therapy, the patient's condition improved significantly.
The plant provides invaluable assistance in the treatment of bronchitis, as well as bronchial asthma. This occurs not only due to the antitussive, but also in connection with the most powerful anti-inflammatory, antifungal and antibacterial action.
Preparations, which include Canadian goldenrod, help with inflammatory processes in the bile ducts and gall bladder, as well as with stagnation of bile. Pain syndromes in such cases are removed on the first day of treatment.
The plant is used to provide a diuretic effect when it is necessary to remove sand from the kidneys, as well as to relieve swelling. Moreover, preparations containing Canadian goldenrod, improve the patient’s condition even in those cases when he has edema of the internal organs or even the brain. Healing grass actively removes fluid from the body as soon as possible, eliminating its excess.
Canadian goldenrod is also used for liver pathologies. In this case, he is also able to show a pronounced therapeutic effect. At the same time, inflammation is removed, the liver is cleansed of toxins, the self-healing processes of the affected cells are started.
Canadian Goldenrod helps with diabetes. At the same time, it accelerates metabolic processes. In turn, this leads to the rapid burning of sugar. Medicinal plants are recommended to be taken regularly. This will significantly reduce the level of sugar in the body. This property of healing herbs is used not only for diabetes. Drugs with it are recommended for people with high sugar.
Canadian goldenrod is also good for diarrhea. He is able not only to stop the unpleasant phenomenon, but also to eliminate the very cause of the disease. This becomes possible due to the fact that pathogenic microorganisms, which, as a rule, cause diarrhea, die when interacting with substances that make up the healing grass.
Canadian goldenrod is also used as a wound healing agent. It prevents infection and accelerates the regeneration of the upper layers of the skin. In cases where it is required to heal ulcers or purulent wounds, do not forget about this amazing weed. She will quickly cleanse the wound from purulent-necrotic discharge and will soon tighten it.
Contraindications
When is Canadian Goldenrod not applicable? Contraindications prohibiting treatment with preparations containing this plant are as follows:
- period of pregnancy;
- age up to 12 years;
- period of breastfeeding;
- allergy;
- glomerulonephritis in acute form.
In addition, it is worth considering that the plant is poisonous. In this regard, Canadian Goldenrod can cause harm to the body. To prevent this from happening, exceeding the allowable dosage when using it is simply unacceptable.
Use in official medicine
The medicinal properties and contraindications of Canadian goldenrod are well known to pharmacologists of Russia and other countries. They use the plant to create some complex preparations that have a hypoazotemic and diuretic, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effect. This, for example, means such as "Marelin" and "Prostan", "Fitosilin" and others. Consider the scope of their application.
The composition of the drug "Prostanorm" is a liquid extract obtained from the terrestrial part of the plant. This pharmacological agent has been successfully used in the treatment of pathologies of the prostate gland (chronic and acute adenomas, prostatitis). The drug improves fluid circulation in the prostate, and also normalizes the process of diuresis. Its active substances affect staphylococci, enterococci and streptococci.
Doctors use the anti-inflammatory and lubricant drug Marelin in case of kidney stone disease. At the heart of the product is a dry goldenrod extract, due to which the kidney stones disappear, diuresis is enhanced and renal colic is eliminated.
The drug "Fitolizin" is used in the treatment of inflammatory and infectious processes that accompany urolithiasis (urolithiasis). The tool helps to create a bacteriostatic, bactericidal and antispasmodic effect.
On the basis of fresh Canadian goldenrod inflorescences, the homeopathic remedy Sjlidago virgaurea is introduced. It is recommended for chronic kidney inflammation, which is accompanied by catarrh, rheumatic cramping and edema.
The use of folk healers
Alternative medicine recommends using the goldenrod Canadian inside and out, using tinctures and decoctions. In the first case, the plant is indicated for rheumatism, gout, gallstone disease and indigestion. Regular ingestion of a decoction made from this healing herb allows stones to be removed from the kidneys and urinary tract. In this case, spasmodic renal pain ceases to torment a person. In addition, decoctions are recommended for the treatment of the throat, to get rid of catarrhal infections, and also to eliminate the unpleasant odor from the oral cavity.
The same drug is used externally. Canadian goldenrod leaves are boiled for lotions in the treatment of furunculosis, cuts, poorly healing and purulent wounds. There is another excellent external remedy that allows you to save a person from various skin diseases. These are shredded dry leaves of a plant mixed with cream.
Traditional medicine also uses the essential oil of a healing plant. Moreover, it can be used both as an independent tool, and in combination with other oils intended for aroma lamps, local applications, as well as for massage actions.
Honey plant
How else can goldenrod be used? The plant is distinguished by a high content in its flowers of nectar, which is produced throughout the daylight hours. Over the entire period of their flowering, and this is about two months, from one hectare, bees are able to collect up to 100-150 kg of honey. This product has a tart taste and a bitter aftertaste. Its color is dark brown. Honey in its liquid consistency is stored for no more than 1-2 months. After that, it crystallizes.
Canadian goldenrod honey also uses traditional medicine. After all, this beekeeping product has many medicinal qualities, which are due to the presence of useful substances in the plant itself. In addition, bee-processed nectar becomes even more valuable. Goldenrod honey has an antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effect. Its use helps fight kidney diseases and urinary tract ailments. In addition, this valuable beekeeping product helps with dermatitis and eczema. Its use allows you to strengthen the immune system, as well as have a positive effect on metabolic processes.
Folk medicine men recommend such honey not only orally. It can be used as part of ointments and compresses. Such its use can cure eczema, edema, dermatosis, long-healing wounds, as well as skin irritations.
Honey also has a beneficial effect on the digestive, cardiac and nervous systems. This product is also considered an excellent tool for the treatment of tonsillitis, meningitis, rhinitis and sinusitis.