Goldenrod and ragweed

If you are one of the estimated 36 million Americans allergic to ragweed pollen, chances are good that lately you are sniffling, sneezing and suffering from watery eyes and an itchy sensation in the back of your throat. It is also likely that through the bleary haze of ragweed season, you have looked about at the gorgeous yellow blooms of goldenrod and mistakenly attributed your symptoms to this eye-catching beauty waving its brilliant floral flags from roadsides, meadows and yards.

Unfortunately, this is a mistake commonly made, partly because the offender whose pollen is prompting your trip to the drug store for allergy medication is a particularly plain and unremarkable plant whose toothy foliage blends into the lush green landscapes of late summer.

According to the authors of the Peterson Field Guide, Medicinal Plants and Herbs, American Indians used goldenrod roots for burns and made tea from its flowers to quell fevers and calm sore throats. They rubbed ragweed leaves on insect bites, skin eruptions and hives, and treated fevers, nausea and intestinal cramping with tea made from ragweed.

Goldenrod is a valuable source of food for some creatures, like monarch butterflies, which gather nectar for their southward journey from the blooms. Despite its aggravating role in causing allergies, ragweed has merit, too. Its seeds are numerous and rich in oil, making them a favorite of some birds.