Calendula officinalis AKA: Calendula, Marigold,
Calendula, also known as pot marigold is a miracle. The petals, crushed a little with the back end of a kitchen knife, (using a cup as a mortar) and applied to a wound, will instantly banish pain and bleeding. This "Doctor Flower" has been used all over the world. Not only for its valuable medicinal qualities, but also for its culinary uses and its unique ability to control insects in the garden.
Calendula is an easy to grow annual as it's not particular to soil conditions and can easily be grown from seed. When harvesting be sure to leave a few blossoms on the plant and let them form seed heads. Then scatter the dried seeds wherever you would like Calendula to be growing next spring.
History shows that Calendula was most often used in soups and stews to ward off illness. Hence the name "pot Marigold". But don't confuse this plant with the shorter version of the African Marigold species. Calendula grows from 1 to 2 ft tall and has hairy texture on its leaves.
Today, many studies have proven Calendula to be a highly beneficial herb worth taking a look at.
* It has a high concentration
of natural iodine, which is believed to be
what gives it many
valuable wound healing properties.
* Its antimicrobial
compounds inhibit certain strains of Staphylococcus
and Candida, as well
as E. coli.
* It contains lycopene,
which has recently been shown to be beneficial
to prostate health.
* Its high levels
of carotene and maganese along with iodine promote
skin cell regeneration.
In Aromatherapy, Calendula
is mainly used for its skin healing
properties. It contains
an essential oil in the flower heads and leaves
that have an antibiotic
effect. It can be used internally as well as
externally. Calendula
heals all kinds of wounds, especially internal and
external ulcers of
all kinds.
Externally, Calendula
improves blood flow to the affected area and is
useful for eczema,
gastritis, minor burns, including sunburn, healing
pulled muscles, bruises,
sprains, boils, insect bites, rashes, wounds,
and other sores.
Not only that, it is nourishing and regenerative to the
skin. So crush petals
and apply directly to the face.
Calendula's anti-fungal
properties are great for athlete's foot,
ringworm, and candida.
There are many methods
of using dried Calendula. It can be made into
tea, which can be
drank, or used as a hot or cold compress. Salves,
creams, lotions and
infused oils are a convenient way to apply
Calendula.
Internally, Calendula
can be used for such gastrointestinal problems as
ulcers, stomach cramps,
menstrual difficulties, colitis, diarrhea and to
prevent recurrent
vomiting.
The high amounts flavonoids
account for its anti-inflammatory
properties. Calendula
is safe and recommended for use for children's
ailments. It is great
for diaper rash, juvenile acne, and all kinds of
childhood skin rashes.
Medicinal Properties
include: antibacterial, antiseptic, antifungal
agent, reducing inflammation,
wound healing, antispasmodic, aperient,
cholagogue, diaphoretic,
vulnerary.
Calendula Usage in Aromatherapy
Inhalation - Great insect repellent in the garden.
Skin Care - Use for acne, and rejuvenating skin.
Compress - Varicose veins., sprains and wounds, bring down fever.
Hair Care - Hair rinse to lighten and brighten hair.
Tea - Drink two to three cups daily.
Bath - For soothing sunburn and skin rashes.
Massage - With infused oil. rejuvenating to the skin, and the soul.
Compress- To help
in the healing of skin wounds: soak a compress in
Calendula tea, and
apply to the wound for 30 minutes twice daily.
Make an infusion or tea of calendula, bathe wound
with it.
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Recipes
Basic Calendula Infused Oil
Fill a glass jar with
dried Calendula petals. Fill the jar with oil. Cap
tightly and keep
covered in a warm place for a week. Strain thoroughly
and store oil in
a clean glass jar or bottle. *
*Make your own or order Calendula Infused Oil from It's My Nature.
New Batch Just In!
http://itsmynature.net/html/InfusedOils.html
4 tablespoons Almond Oil
2 tablespoons dried Calendula flowers
A few drops of Rose Water (optional)
Warm the oil in a bowl placed over a pan
of hot water. Stir in the dried
flowers and heat gently for about 30 minutes
(over the pan). Remove the
bowl and allow the oil to cool. Stir in
the flower water at this point.
Use as a cleanser on your face and neck.
Skin Soothing Bath Tea
2 tablespoons dried Thyme
2 tablespoons dried Calendula blossoms
2 tablespoon dried Chamomile blooms
1 quart boiling water
Pour boiling water over dried herbs and
let steep for 10-15 minutes. Strain
the herbs and add the infusion to your
bath water.
Delightful Herbal Tea Blend
1/4 cup dried Orange, Pineapple or Apple
Mint
2 tablespoons dried Rosemary
1 tablespoon dried Sage
2 tablespoons dried Lemon balm
1 tablespoon dried Calendula petals
3 tablespoons dried Chamomile flowers
Combine the dried herbs together and store
in an airtight container. Use 1
teaspoon per cup of tea.
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Our cat Walter had a dog maul his tail. A week later, we saw it was gangrenous and we decided it wouldn't be hard to fix, to save the cat's life. My son Luis cut the rotten part off with pruning shears, (I held Walter,) we put calendula on wound. Walter was relaxed, didn't seem to bother him But we were stressed and didn't think things out. We SHOULD HAVE LEFT EXTRA SKIN! PULLED SKIN BACK BEFORE SLICING. But we didn't. Daily we changed bandages on his stump, putting on more calendula. I even went to healthfood store and got a bottle of the liquid. The SEALING properties of CALENDULA were so extreme, that the tail's SKIN grew around the stump which was the size of a fifty cent pieces, and MET in the middle. He lived a long life. His name became STUMPY, not Walter.
SO WE LOVE CALENDULA.