A Simple Cup of Calendula

As a member of the Asteraceae family, Calendula (Calendula officinalis) is a relative of other helpful plants such as chamomile, yarrow, dandelion, Echinacea, and Arnica. The bright orange flowers of the marigold plant are rich with powerful antiseptic (antibacterial), anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, and wound-healing.

Probably no herb has as many healing benefits as calendula. Unsurpassed in treating most skin problems, from cuts and scrapes to surgical wounds, from sunburn and insect bites to psoriasis and varicose veins, calendula also works wonders in the digestive, respiratory, urinary, immune, and female reproductive systems.

Calendula officinalis Linn. (Pot marigold) has been traditionally used in the treatment of inflammations of internal organs, gastrointestinal ulcers and dysmenorrhea and as a diuretic and diaphoretic in convulsions. It is also used for inflammations of the oral and pharyngeal mucosa, wounds and burns. Calendula is a cleansing and detoxifying herb and the infusion treat chronic infections. The dried flower heads have been used for their antipyretic, anti-tumor and cicatrizing effects. Topical application of infusion of flowers is used as antifungal and antiseptic in wounds, marks, freckles, sprain and conjunctivitis. Calendula tea is used as eyewashes, gargles, diaper rashes and other inflammatory conditions of the skin and mucous membranes.Mother tincture of C. officinalis is used in homoeopathy for the treatment of mental tension and insomnia.

Medicinal properties of C. officinalis have been mentioned in Ayurvedic and Unani system of medicine indicating that leaves and flowers are antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, antiepileptic and antimicrobial. In traditional and homoeopathic medicine, C. officinalis has been used for poor eyesight, menstrual irregularities, varicose veins, hemorrhoids and duodenal ulcers. In the middle ages, Calendula flowers were used for liver obstructions, snake bites and to strengthen the heart. It was used in the 18th century as a remedy for headache, jaundice and red eyes.

Calendula blossoms are also well known by herbalists as a wonderful lymphatic herb to turn to for helping to prevent infection and hasten recovery from illness. Herbalist Anne McIntyre explains, "research has found Calendula to be effective in controlling flu and herpes virus, to reduce lymphatic congestion and infections, and swollen lymph glands" (McIntyre, 1996:77). It can be used during fevers to assist the body by bringing on a sweat and can be used by everyone in the family, including children (McIntyre, 1996).

As a gentle yet powerful ally for menstruating women, Calendula can help to "normalize the menstrual process" (Hoffmann, 1998: 91) and it is said to have both emmenagogue and estrogenic properties (McIntyre, 1996). It can be used to help with menstrual issues such as delayed menstruation, cramping, excessive bleeding as well as pelvic congestion and infections(Trickey, 1998).

Marigold/calendula tea

Dried marigold flowers can be used to make tea.

You will need:

• 200ml water
• two teaspoons of dried pot marigold (Calendula officinalis) flower heads

Instructions:

1. Boil the water.
2. Once the water boils, remove it from the heat and pour it over the marigold petals.
3. Cover the liquid with a lid and let it cool down for 10 - 15 minutes.
4. Strain the liquid and pour it into a glass.
5. Enjoy your marigold tea while it is still warm.

For all medicinal preparations, be sure that you use the whole dried flowers, as the medicinal oils are found mostly in the resinous green bases of the flower heads (these are called involucres, botanically speaking). Also take care that the dried petals are bright yellow or orange, which is another indication of quality and freshness. Sometimes calendula is sold as petals only, but this is weaker medicine.

Cooking With Calendula

Surprisingly, these pretty flowers can be enjoyed as a regular addition to many of the foods we love to eat, and they have been included in food by cooks for thousands of years! According to herbalist James Duke, Calendula blossoms were used as a "soup starter in the Middle Ages" and as a saffron substitute (Duke, 2007, p.11). He also explains that the flowers are a wonderful source of healthful carotenoids including lycopene and lutein.

The mild tasting flowers are easy to include in a wide array of foods for their nutritional content and herbal benefits. Simply pull the petals off of the fresh or dried flower heads and toss them into stews, soups, casseroles, sauces, eggs dishes, rice and other grains, veggie and fruit salads, herb cream cheese, muffins, cookies, whipped butter, puddings, and more!

The petals can also be ground and used to add a delightful yellow colour to foods, similar to saffron, giving rise to another common name for Calendula, poor man's saffron (McIntyre, 1996).

It is used topically as a wash, or you can soak a cloth in the tea to make a compress for cleaning and soothing skin wounds, rashes, burns, bug bites, and bruises. It can even be useful for sore, tired eyes. Add a strong brew of Calendula blossoms to the bathtub to help ease the itch of rashes and insect bites or to soothe a hot, tight sunburned skin. It can be made into a wonderful sunburn relief spray and makes a wonderful poultice for topical application.

Sip a cup of hot Calendula blossom tea or infusion during illness, such as colds and flu, to help ease lymphatic congestion, gently stimulate the immune system, and promote sweating; and a woman can enjoy a cup to help soothe menstrual issues. Try combining Calendula with lemon balm, linden, elderberry and flower, or spearmint to make tea for everyone in the family.

The whole flowers can also be dried and added to soups and stews as a winter immune tonic. This traditional folk use heralds from medieval Europe, where the flowers were likewise added to bread, syrups, and conserves. In the classic 1863 text The Complete Herbal, Nicholas Culpepper wrote, "The flowers, either green or dried, are much used in possets, broths, and drink, as a comforter of the heart and spirits, and to expel any malignant or pestilential quality which might annoy them."1

Tincture, Syrups, & Elixirs

Calendula makes a wonderful companion in many internal herbal preparations. Use it in syrups, elixirs, and tincture blends to help support and nourish the body. It blends wonderfully with immune system herbs that help to support and nourish the body during illness or even to assist in preventing the onset of respiratory infections.

Tip:

Speak with a homeopathic practitioner for dosage recommendations.

Calendula is generally considered to be a very safe herb for general use by most folks. However, due to Calendula's action as an emmenagogue, it should not be used during pregnancy.

Love and light,

Sophie and Ellie xx

Sources:

Mindy Green (1994)Calendula

Botanical.com; draxe.com; healthyhildegard.com;

Herbalacademy.com; chestnutherbs.com

Mo Siegel, Nancy Burke (1999) Herbs for Health and Happiness: All You Need to Know

Disha Arora, Anita Rani,1 and Anupam Sharma (2013) A review on phytochemistry and ethnopharmacological aspects of genus Calendula https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3841996/