The weed that gets all the blame for late summer allergy symptoms is not only an innocent bystander, but also can be helpful in allaying the associated sneezing, congestion and drainage.
I've been making goldenrod honey every fall the last 2 years... Adding it chopped up, leaves and flowers to the honey, but then also adding some vodka, 100 proof... I let this sit for about 6-8 weeks, then strain it out, and use medicinally for sore throats, the start of upper respiratory etc.... My family gets this for Christmas! They come back every year wanting more!
I bet I can make this without the vodka. I just used honey infused with mint for mint/chocolate chip ice cream and honey and lavender in ice cream as well, both with raw goat milk. So much better than ice cream from the store, which is full of additives. Thanks for the tip on goldenrod! I bet w/ both the honey and the herb as allergy-fighters, this is powerful stuff.
Question for you, though about a different herb: Does our native shrubby St. John’s wort, Hypericum prolificum, have any of the same properties as the European variety? Can it be substituted for traditional uses?
It has antimicrobial activity. Don't know how much of the hyperforin it has. A lot of the Hypericum species share many of the same compounds, but fewer of them have the same amounts of antidepressant or pain relieving compounds. Will have to dig more to compare the amounts of secondary metabolites.
This is an issue for any species originating in North America, and less widely distributed in countries where the herbal research is done. There's no funding for herb research in the U.S., but other countries have much more interest. Researchers in the Middle East, China, Eastern Europe and Africa are much more likely to do this kind of work.
I've been making goldenrod honey every fall the last 2 years... Adding it chopped up, leaves and flowers to the honey, but then also adding some vodka, 100 proof... I let this sit for about 6-8 weeks, then strain it out, and use medicinally for sore throats, the start of upper respiratory etc.... My family gets this for Christmas! They come back every year wanting more!
Betcha they beg for more! Restacked 👍
I bet I can make this without the vodka. I just used honey infused with mint for mint/chocolate chip ice cream and honey and lavender in ice cream as well, both with raw goat milk. So much better than ice cream from the store, which is full of additives. Thanks for the tip on goldenrod! I bet w/ both the honey and the herb as allergy-fighters, this is powerful stuff.
Yep, the alcohol might extract some more polyphenols, and be fun, but your honey extract will be usable by people who can't do any alcohol.
People here are extracting lots of stuff into honey including habaneros :-D
Question for you, though about a different herb: Does our native shrubby St. John’s wort, Hypericum prolificum, have any of the same properties as the European variety? Can it be substituted for traditional uses?
It has antimicrobial activity. Don't know how much of the hyperforin it has. A lot of the Hypericum species share many of the same compounds, but fewer of them have the same amounts of antidepressant or pain relieving compounds. Will have to dig more to compare the amounts of secondary metabolites.
Thanks! It’s hard to find the answer in this one, so I appreciate your insights.
This is an issue for any species originating in North America, and less widely distributed in countries where the herbal research is done. There's no funding for herb research in the U.S., but other countries have much more interest. Researchers in the Middle East, China, Eastern Europe and Africa are much more likely to do this kind of work.
Yep, I’ve read of this problem elsewhere.