Calendula officinalis, also known as pot marigold or Mary Gowles, is a bright and cheerful herb and is known for its healing properties. This plant has yellow to orange flowers and grows to about 30 to 40 cm tall. Its stems and leaves are thick and slightly sticky. Calendula can be found in gardens and sometimes grows wild. People once used it as a sign of rain. If its flowerheads are closed after 7 a.m., it will rain that day.
Key Ingredients
Calendula officinalis is packed with beneficial compounds, especially in its flowers. These include terpenoids and flavonoids, like ψ-taraxasteol, lupeol, quercetin, and rutin, which are known for their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, making calendula great for healing wounds and calming irritated skin. The plant’s bright orange colour comes from carotenoids, such as lycopene, beta-carotene, and zeaxanthin, which help fight free radicals, lower the risk of chronic diseases, and protect eye health by filtering out harmful blue light.
Calendula essential oils are rich in compounds like limonene and α-pinene, which have antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effects. The leaves contain powerful antioxidants like ubiquinone and tocopherol, and even the roots contribute with terpenoids, adding to calendula’s overall medicinal value.
What do the Studies Say
Studies show that Calendula officinalis has powerful anti-inflammatory properties, reducing inflammation without harmful effects, and is especially helpful in conditions like diaper dermatitis. It’s also a strong antioxidant, with its petals offering protection against oxidative stress, which can benefit heart health, diabetes, and even cancer. Calendula contains compounds like saponins that have anti-cancer effects, showing promise in managing the side effects of cancer treatments, though more research is needed to pinpoint the exact active ingredients.
Calendula is great for wound healing as it boosts collagen production and supports tissue regeneration, effectively treating surgical wounds and chronic ulcers. It also protects the liver by reducing damage from toxins and stress, helping restore normal liver function. Additionally, Calendula has natural anthelmintic properties that help kill parasitic worms and shows strong antibacterial effects against bacteria like Staphylococcus aureus, making it a useful option for tackling infections, especially when antibiotic resistance is a concern.
A clinical trial showed that taking Calendula officinalis capsules (2 grams daily) helped heal second-degree burn wounds faster, with noticeable improvements in wound healing by day 15. This suggests that Calendula capsules could be a useful addition to burn treatment.
Moreover, scientists found that Calendula officinalis can help plants grow better and fight off diseases. These bacteria improved seed germination, boosted plant growth, and protected tomato fruits from harmful fungi, showing promise as natural alternatives to chemical fertilizers and pesticides.
Benefits of Calendula Tea
According to Maria Treben, Calendula tea acts as an excellent blood cleanser, helping to detoxify the body and improve overall health. The tea is particularly beneficial for liver disorders, including infectious hepatitis, making it a great support for liver health.
This herbal tea is also effective in treating stomach and intestinal issues. It helps with cramps, stomach ulcers, and inflammation of the large intestine. If you suffer from dropsy, which is fluid retention, Calendula tea can be very helpful. Additionally, it can assist in clearing up blood in the urine and fighting off various viral infections.
Calendula tea is known to help expel worms from the body, which is a natural way to deal with parasitic infections. When used as a boiled infusion, it can heal herpes and swollen glands, especially when the affected areas are bathed in the tea. Drinking the tea regularly can purify the blood and, when used as an eye bath, can strengthen the eyes.
For those dealing with diarrhoea, Calendula tea offers a soothing and effective solution. It is also beneficial for alleviating nervous conditions and improving sleep.
Benefits of Fresh Calendula Officinalis Juice
One of the benefits of fresh Calendula juice is its ability to remove warts. Applying the juice from the fresh stem directly onto warts can help them disappear over time.
It is also effective in treating scabies, providing relief from this irritating skin condition. Additionally, the boiled infusion of Calendula can be used to heal herpes, offering a natural solution for managing this viral infection.
For glandular swellings, Calendula juice can help reduce inflammation and discomfort. It has also shown promise in treating skin cancer. Applying the freshly pressed juice regularly can help manage and reduce cancerous growths on the skin.
Calendula juice is useful for cosmetic purposes as well. It can help make strawberry marks disappear with consistent application. It is also effective in treating pigment spots and brown spots that often appear on older peoples’ skin. Moreover, it can heal rough, cancer-like skin patches, making the skin smoother and healthier.
Benefits of Calendula Officinalis Ointment
Calendula ointment is great for treating varicose veins, making them look better and reducing discomfort. It also helps with phlebitis, which is when veins get inflamed. If you have varicose ulcers, this ointment can soothe and heal them quickly.
For frostbites and burns, Calendula ointment eases pain and speeds up healing. It’s also good for treating breast ulcers, even serious ones. After surgery, the ointment helps wounds heal better and reduces scarring.
Calendula ointment is very effective for athlete’s foot, even when other treatments haven’t worked. It also treats fungal infections around the genital area. The ointment can heal various wounds and sores, including bruises, sprains, festering sores, bedsores, and swellings.
Benefits of Calendula Officinalis Baths
Calendula baths are especially helpful for treating fungal infections, including those around the genital area. Soaking in a Calendula bath can also soothe skin irritations and inflammations, providing relief from conditions like eczema and dermatitis.
The antiseptic properties of Calendula help heal minor cuts, scrapes, and other skin wounds. In addition to these healing benefits, a Calendula bath offers general soothing and relaxing effects, which can be good for overall skin health and well-being.
How to Use Calendula
Harvest the bright yellow to orange flower heads of the Calendula plant when they are fully open and fresh. Avoid flowers that look wilted or damaged. You can also collect the leaves and stems, ensuring they are healthy, free from mildew, and disease-free.
You should gather Calendula in bright sunshine when its healing powers are at their peak. This typically means collecting the plant during the morning hours after the dew has dried but before the midday heat.
- Infusion: Use one heaped teaspoon of dried Calendula flowers per cup of boiling water. Cover and let it steep for about 5 minutes.
- Fresh Juice: Extract juice from washed leaves, stems, and flowers.
- Sitz Bath: Use two large handfuls of fresh or 100 grams of dried Calendula. Soak the herb in cold water overnight, then boil it in the morning and add the strained liquid to your bath.
- Ointment: Finely chop two large handfuls of fresh Calendula (the whole plant) and mix with 500 grams of melted lard. Stir for a while and remove from the stove. Cover and let it sit for a day, then warm it up again, strain it, and store it in clean jars in a dark and cool place.
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