Natural Remedies - Healing with Medicinal Herbs

Woundwort

Woundwort (Solidago virgaurea Asteraceae/Compositae)


Other Names: Goldenrod, European Goldenrod

Woundwort, a perennial, is recognizable by its feathery yellow inflorescences, adding vibrancy to autumn gardens. Found across Europe, it’s traditionally used for wound healing.


Parts for Use

Aboveground Parts

  1. Harvested in autumn.
  2. Dried and broken into small pieces.
  3. Used for infusions, decoctions, tinctures, and syrups.

Ingredients

Contains essential oil, tannins with astringent properties, flavonoids (quercetin and rutin), triterpene saponins, and phenolic acids (including leiocarposide), offering antiseptic and anti-inflammatory effects.


Use in Treatment

Woundwort acts as a diuretic and expectorant, treating urinary tract inflammation, cystitis, urethritis, and urinary incontinence. Its tannins aid diarrhea by their astringent action, while flavonoids like quercetin and rutin strengthen blood vessels, improving circulation. The phenolic acid leiocarposide provides analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects, useful for gallstones and skin conditions like wounds, ulcers, and other diseases. Studies from Poland (1986, 1988) confirmed its diuretic and gallstone treatment efficacy. Woundwort also helps with hay fever, chronic rhinitis, cough, and sore throat via gargling, and treats vaginal and oral mucositis due to the antifungal properties of virgaureasaponin, as shown in a 1987 German study.


Cultivation

Grow from seeds in well-drained soil in a sunny location; the plant self-propagates via seeds.


Preparation and Dosage

For Internal Use (Cystitis, Urethritis, Gallstones, Urinary Incontinence, Rhinitis, Hay Fever, Cough, Sore Throat)

  1. Infusion: Steep 1–3 g dried plant in a cup of boiling water for 10–15 minutes, strain, drink 3–5 cups daily.
  2. Tincture (1:4 in 25% alcohol): Take 20 drops with water 3 times daily.
  3. Decoction: Boil 1–3 g dried plant in a cup of cold water, strain immediately, drink 3–5 cups daily.

For External Use (Wounds, Ulcers, Vaginal Mucositis, Oral Mucositis)

  1. Compress: Boil 50 g plant in 1 liter of water for 2 minutes, soak a cloth, apply to affected areas twice daily.
  2. Gargle for Sore Throat: Prepare infusion, cool, and use as a gargle 1–2 times daily.

Warnings

  1. Consult a healthcare professional before use.
  2. No adverse effects reported, but caution is advised.
  3. People with chronic kidney disease should consult a doctor before use.