Does goldenrod cause hay fever?

Almost certainly not. Ragweed flowers at the same time and is the usual culprit, and goldenrod's heavy, insect-carried pollen rarely becomes airborne.

Is the goldenrod growing in my garden the same herb?

Probably not. Tall garden and roadside goldenrods are often Canadian or giant goldenrod, whereas the traditional herb is Solidago virgaurea. I would not use wild-picked plants unless you can identify the species with confidence.

Is it safe to take with water tablets?

The EU monograph does not recommend combining it with synthetic diuretics, so check with your GP or pharmacist first.

Can children take it?

Use in children under 12 is not recommended because of a lack of experience.

What does goldenrod taste like?

The tea is mildly bitter and slightly astringent, with a grassy, floral edge. Many people soften it with a little honey.

Can I drink goldenrod tea every day?

The EU monograph describes courses of two to four weeks. I would stay within that range and speak to a practitioner before going longer.

Where does the name come from?

The Latin genus name Solidago is usually said to come from a word meaning "to make whole", a nod to the plant's long reputation in European folk tradition as a wound herb. The species name virgaurea means "golden rod".

Which part of the plant is used?

The flowering tops, harvested while the plant is in bloom.

Goldenrod: What It Is, How It Works, and When to Use It

Sarah Burt

Oct 14

6 min read

Goldenrod (Solidago virgaurea) is a yellow-flowered wayside plant traditionally used in European herbal medicine to increase urine flow and support the urinary tract. The EU herbal monograph recognises it for traditional use only, and human research is limited, though reviewers describe good tolerability. It is one of the herbs in the EarthWise Gentle Detox and MenoEase Night formulas, where it is listed as Golden Rod.

Close-up of Goldenrod wildflowers with a white lid on a dark table.

What it is

European goldenrod is a perennial in the daisy family (Asteraceae), growing 20 to 100 cm tall in woodland edges, heaths, hedgerows and grassland across Britain and Europe. In late summer it carries spikes of small, bright yellow flower heads. The part used in herbal medicine is the dried flowering tops, known as the aerial parts.

The botanical name is a clue to its history. Solidago comes from the Latin solidare, "to make whole", a reference to its old reputation in wound care, and virgaurea means "golden rod". Goldenrod has been used in European folk medicine for centuries, mainly for the urinary tract, and was a common ingredient in herbal teas.

There is a persistent myth that goldenrod causes hay fever. It flowers at the same time as ragweed, which does cause it, and goldenrod pollen is heavy and spread by insects, so it rarely becomes airborne. Goldenrod usually takes the blame for ragweed's pollen.

A buyer's note worth reading. Several goldenrod species grow in the UK, and the tall, dense garden plants that have escaped into the countryside are usually Canadian or giant goldenrod (Solidago canadensis and S. gigantea), which are invasive species. The EU monograph and most of the traditional record refer to Solidago virgaurea, so check the Latin name on any product.

The active compounds

According to the European herbal committee and ESCOP (the European scientific herbal cooperative), the main constituents are flavonoids (such as rutin and quercetin and kaempferol glycosides), triterpene saponins, phenol glycosides (including leiocarposide) and phenolic acids. As with most herbs, it is the combination that interests herbalists.

The proposed mechanism: a gentle diuretic. Goldenrod is traditionally classed as an aquaretic, a herb that increases the flow of urine, and its flavonoids and saponins are thought to contribute. Laboratory work has also found spasm-easing and anti-inflammatory activity, and animal studies have found diuretic, anti-inflammatory and pain-easing effects. These are preclinical findings, and the details of how it works in people are not well established.

How it is traditionally used

The EU herbal monograph (adopted by the European Medicines Agency's herbal committee, HMPC, in 2008) covers goldenrod for traditional use only. It describes a traditional herbal medicine used to increase the amount of urine as an aid in minor urinary complaints. The monograph provides no clinical data, and it notes that reproductive toxicity, genotoxicity and carcinogenicity tests have not been carried out. That is a fair description of where the evidence stands: a long tradition, and little modern testing.

The preparations it lists are herb for infusion, liquid extract, tincture and dry extract. Traditional courses are short, usually two to four weeks, and are taken with plenty of fluids.

What the research shows

Goldenrod is a herb with a clear traditional use and thin modern research. Here is how it grades.

Evidence: urine flow and the urinary tract. ESCOP's summary describes controlled clinical studies of goldenrod preparations in people with urinary tract infections, and describes good tolerability and diuretic activity in human studies.

Very early evidence: anti-inflammatory and other effects. Spasm-easing, anti-inflammatory and pain-easing effects have been shown in cells and animals.

Sarah's clinical perspective

I use goldenrod as one of the supporting herbs in formulas that look after the body's natural elimination pathways, which is why it sits in Gentle Detox with milk thistle, dandelion root and cleavers, and in MenoEase Night with cleavers, calendula, dandelion root and burdock. It adds a gentle urinary and fluid-moving element.

I am cautious with it in anyone on diuretic medication or with a heart or kidney condition, and I do not use it in pregnancy.

Practical guidance

Dose. There are no trial-tested doses for goldenrod on its own. The EU monograph's traditional-use ranges for adults and adolescents are 3 to 5 g of herb as an infusion two to four times daily, 0.5 to 2 ml of tincture (1:5) three times daily, or 350 to 450 mg of dry extract three times daily, for about two to four weeks. These are traditional amounts, not a dosing instruction for any particular product.

Format. An infusion of the dried flowering herb is the simplest. A tincture or standardised dry extract gives a more consistent dose.

Time to effect. Increased urine flow is expected within hours of a dose. Traditional courses run for two to four weeks.

Timing. Take it in the daytime, as it may increase the need to pass urine.

What it does not replace. Goldenrod does not replace medical assessment of urinary symptoms. See your GP if you have fever, pain on passing urine, spasms or blood in the urine.

For how to take the EarthWise tonics specifically, the dose and full safety information are on each product page.

Common questions

Does goldenrod cause hay fever? Almost certainly not. Ragweed flowers at the same time and is the usual culprit, and goldenrod's heavy, insect-carried pollen rarely becomes airborne.
Is the goldenrod growing in my garden the same herb? Probably not. Tall garden and roadside goldenrods are often Canadian or giant goldenrod, whereas the traditional herb is Solidago virgaurea. I would not use wild-picked plants unless you can identify the species with confidence.
Is it safe to take with water tablets? The EU monograph does not recommend combining it with synthetic diuretics, so check with your GP or pharmacist first.
Can children take it? Use in children under 12 is not recommended because of a lack of experience.
What does goldenrod taste like? The tea is mildly bitter and slightly astringent, with a grassy, floral edge. Many people soften it with a little honey.
Can I drink goldenrod tea every day? The EU monograph describes courses of two to four weeks. I would stay within that range and speak to a practitioner before going longer.
Where does the name come from? The Latin genus name Solidago is usually said to come from a word meaning "to make whole", a nod to the plant's long reputation in European folk tradition as a wound herb. The species name virgaurea means "golden rod".
Which part of the plant is used? The flowering tops, harvested while the plant is in bloom.

Where goldenrod appears in the EarthWise range

Golden Rod is one of the four herbs in Gentle Detox, Sarah's formula for liver support and the body's natural elimination pathways, where it sits with Milk Thistle, Dandelion Root and Cleavers.

It also appears in MenoEase Day and Night, in the Night formula alongside Cleavers, Calendula, Dandelion Root and Burdock.

If you are not sure which formula fits, the EarthWise health quiz is the best place to start. Full safety information is on each product page.

When to seek professional support

Goldenrod is generally well tolerated, with hypersensitivity reactions and mild digestive upset the main reported effects, though their frequency is unknown. Check with a practitioner first in these situations:

Allergy to daisy-family plants. The EU monograph contraindicates goldenrod in people who are hypersensitive to the daisy family (ragweed, marigold, chrysanthemum).
Heart or kidney disease, or any condition where you are told to limit fluids. It is contraindicated where reduced fluid intake is advised.
Diuretic medicines. The monograph does not recommend combining goldenrod with synthetic diuretics.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding. Not recommended, as safety data are insufficient.
Urinary symptoms. Fever, pain on passing urine, spasms or blood in the urine need a doctor's assessment.
Swollen ankles or fluid retention. This needs medical assessment before you try any herb.

Sarah Burt is a registered naturopath, medical herbalist and iridologist with 25+ years of clinical experience. All EarthWise tonics are formulated by Sarah based on her clinical protocols.

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This article is for informational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat or cure any health condition. Always consult a qualified health practitioner before making changes to your health regimen.