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Calendula (marigold)
Calendula officinalis
This page contains information on calendula and how it is used as a herb in alternative herbal treatments to treat ailments and problems, such as skin healing, broken skin, menstrual problems and eczema.
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Please note that we are not advocating that people stop using their normal medication, but would like to make people aware that some alternative therapies can be very effective to help treat problems and create a healthier, younger and more vital you. For more information on our range of products, please click here.
Although we believe in the therapeutic and healing properties of herbs, care must be taken in the use thereof, as they are powerful compounds.
Family |
Asteraceae |
Genus and specie |
Calendula officinalis |
Pot Marigold, Holligold, mary-bud and goldbloom.
Calendula is a bushy, aromatic annual, with branched stems and lanceolate leaves.Flowers have yellow to orange ray florets, produced from spring to autumn.
The whole flower heads (Calendula flos cum calyce) and petals (Calendula flos sine calyce) are used for medicinal and culinary purposes.
Calendula is a bittersweet, salty herb, that stimulates the liver, gall bladder, and uterus. It soothes the digestive system, clears infections, and is said to support the heart.
Calendula is beneficial in skin care, soothing inflammation, controlling bleeding and healing damaged tissue and in cases (internally and externally) where the skin is broken.
It contains up to 0.8% flavonoids (O-glycosides of quercetin, kaempferol and isorhamnetin) as well as bisdesmosidic and monodesmosidic saponins, hydroxylated and esterified triterpenes (taraxasterol, faradiol, helianthriol), while the essential oil contains mainly sesquiterpenoids such as cardinol, a-ionone and b-ionone.
It is most effective to help heal wounds and has shown to stimulate the development of granulation tissue. It has immune stimulant properties as well as an estrogenic effect.
- Internal use
- It has an anti-inflammatory as well as spasmolytic effect and is used with great effect for inflammation and small ulcers in the mouth and throat.
- Calendula is also used to improve digestion and stimulate the production of bile, healing gastric ulcers and regulating menstrual disorders.
- It is used in folk medicine to treat ulcers, colitis, hepatitis, swollen glands, menstrual problems, and pelvic inflammatory disease, which seems to be supported by the more scientific results of this colorful herb.
- External use
- It is used to treat conjunctivitis, eczema, yeast infections, herpes, gingivitis, ringworm, athlete's foot, varicose veins, and other minor injuries and skin problems.
- Calendula is beneficial in the treatment of nappy rash and cradle cap in babies, and sore nipples in nursing mothers.
- In cases of slow-healing wounds, as well as burns, eczema, hemorrhoids and dry skin, it is most effective.
- It is ideal in for dry, dehydrated, irritated and delicate skin as the saponins and mucilage has humectant properties.
- Due to the presence of carotenoids in its chemical composition, it has great re-epithelizing properties – making it ideal for general healing, wound healing, eczemas as well as fighting the signs of aging.
- The presence of essential oil and salicylic acid gives it an antimicrobial and anti-oxidizing action, which results in an antiseptic action great for any infections, including acne.
- Aromatherapy and essential oil use
- Aromatherapists use calendula oil for its skin healing properties. The oil is normally obtained by making an infused oil, by steeping the petals in a base oil - such as almond or apricot kernel oil.
None noted - but people that have an allergic reaction to certain plants should first do a skin patch test.
The flower petals are edible, but the extract should not be used for prolonged periods or at a high dosage.
To promote the interest and use of herbs and natural complementary health alternatives, we have included information on the following herbs.
Please note - although we discuss a wide variety of herbs, not all of them are used or sold by us.
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