History of Goldenrod

It sure doesn’t feel like fall but many plants in the aster family, considered fall bloomers, are making an appearance. The most prominent is goldenrod, and I’m passing drifts of it on my drive from St. Matthews to Sumter. The genus is Solidago and I thought that referred to Sol, s o l in reference to the sun, but it seems that the name refers to words about making stronger or healing – this plant was used for many medicinal purposes by indigenous people for a variety of ailments from jaundice, kidney problems and skin ailments including burns, and they collected and ate the seeds. Mt. Sinai hospital’s website indicates it does act as a diuretic and in parts of Europe preparations from it are used to treat urinary tract infections and to help pass or prevent kidney stones.