Well, since it is February and my goldenrod looks like this:
I will have to work with the limited supply of leaves that I saved last year. I would love to do some long term infusion tasting, especially since I feel it will be very beneficial for me this time of year, but I know I don’t have enough plant material saved up right now.
I am really looking forward to working with her more deeply when she wakes up this Spring. 
For now, though, here is what I have to chart for a week:
Each day as you drink this infusion (you don’t have to drink it all at once, you can drink it over the course of the day), pay attention and write in your journal about the following:
1. how you feel before you drink it
2. how you feel while you are drinking it
3. how you feel 30 minutes after drinking it
4. what your herbal ally tastes like
5. any after tastes
6. what it feels like going down, if you can feel any part of you opening, such as your chest, lungs, heart, or more peripheral
7. notice if it is drying (think banana peels) or moistening to your mouth…does it make you pucker or make you drool?
8. does it warm you up (think ginger, cinnamon, cayennes) or cool you down (think cucumbers, avocados)
Continue doing this every day for a week and record your experience every day. At the end of the week, review your past 7 days’ experiences and write a summary of your experience with your ally.
Did anything change for you over the course of the week?
Did you find a bad tasting herb start to taste better?
Did you find your senses sharpened over the course of the week to your reactions?
Did you notice any changes in your body such as energy changes, appetite changes, digestion changes, etc? *Read entire instructional post from Kristina* *Note to reader: I am posting these instruction segments for your benefit; if you would like to follow our experiences more closely, please go to Kristina’s Herbal Ally Challenge page and keep up with all of us there. *
Day 1: okay, what did I just do? <–Just kidding
I steeped about a dozen dried leaves for a tea. Before I drank it I was achy and crampy because of Wummin Bizness. I made some chocolate (unsweetened chocolate, rose infused honey, and a little bit o’ cayenne) hoping I would feel a little better, but I still feel like chit. I steeped the goldenrod leaves for about 20 minutes. I didn’t use enough to make a strong tea; it was very mild; I’ll use more leaves next time. It did taste slightly astringent and was warming. It was pleasant, and I think a stronger tea will taste better. I didn’t use any sweetener so I could get a true taste. I felt a slight tingling in my sinus area and my tummy eased after 15 minutes or so. Still crampy/heavy feeling in my stomach, but I feel better.
Observations from the rest of the week: <–I can’t imagine you would want to read every day’s notes. LOL
I made my teas significantly stronger and they had a fragrance that was reminiscent of uncooked fish. Yeah, I know, I really don’t know how else to describe it. Not NASTY uncooked fish… I guess you just have to handle dead fish to know the smell I am talking about. LOL
And the taste was a combination of aromatic/bitter. It’s like a bitter perfume is hanging out on one’s taste buds. After a while, though, it tastes pretty good! hahahaha *Reminds me of the joke about Jerry Clower’s story about the dog who ate turnip greens.*
The stronger teas made a huge impression on my sinuses; I don’t know how to explain it except it felt “clearing”. I also found myself having to go to the bathroom more often throughout the day. I have felt a bit of a mood shift as well this week. Most February days you would find me a bit melancholy and wishing desperately for the sunshine (I don’t mind shivering me timbers to get some sun on my skin). I never get really down, but I do get a little bit of cabin fever and start hunting for a tanning bed *I know, I know… and you thought I was perfect. Sigh*
Journal Update:
As I was doing a little reading up on Goldenrod for my research blog post, I found that the name Solidago actually means “to make whole”.
That sounds like a fabulous theme for 2011.
Next week I will work on weeks 4 and 5: Impressions and Vinegars.
~May you walk in peace and beauty.
Dana
A perfect theme for 2011! Loved reading this.
dana once spring is here and plants are up we’ll start dabbling with using fresh herbs. right now, everyone is focusing on using dried. sounds like you’ve had a great week with using goldenrod! in case you’re interested, you can buy a # of goldenrod for 7.50 at mountain rose herbs…just in case you need more.
i look forward to seeing your impressions!
Great, thanks for letting me know!
Everyone except me…shhhhhhh..just kidding. I have been blessed with having my herb handy in all stages due to being down under and living in a warmer area. Even in winter I shall have a fresh supply of Tansy. It really helps that she likes to take over profusely. I am actually opting to drink my tea with fresh herb due to the potency of the dried one and it did not like the way it made me feel. However, I am still drying lots every few days just to keep up my supply for these “winter” tasks that I am trying to do in summer!
I really enjoyed reading this post. I found myself comparing your herb to mine and how it worked etc. They are quite similar in some ways, except Im guessing Tansy is far more potent and she does not smell fishy at all. She smells quite lovely! hehe!
A woman after my own heart! Wommin Buziness and chocolate and roses! lmao
Hope you don’t mind me leaving a lot of questions:) I might have missed it, but what species of goldenrod are you working with? We have several different types indigenous or naturalized. Interesting about the fish smells impression. I went and made a cup to see if I could catch that in mine. I got a stuffy nose, so not a good time to compare anyway:)
Gorgeous theme for the year. Have you had goldenrod honey? It can be too strong of taste for me when the bees laying it on, and I will leave it for them to use. Although, I always buy local honey from places I travel too, and I have had some might fine goldenrod honey in other locals. I have to put it down to different types of goldenrod. I will really enjoy following your thoughts, discoveries and impressions this year xx
LOL
I am happy to answer your questions: I don’t know exactly what species I am working with, but they are all very similar in their uses; one, however, may be more astringent, one more pungent, etc, so they vary that way. I was really surprised with the fish smell (fresh fish, mind you… not nasty smelling fish). I have never had goldenrod honey created from our bee siblings. I have always just infused honey with the flowering tops of fresh goldenrod and it was awesome. Yeah, it was a little strong, though, but I use it a lot when my sinuses are giving me fits and wanting to swell and get stuffy.
Thank you for spending so much time on my site! (((hug)))