herbal treasure chest : calendula

calendula (calendula officinalis)

how to grow:

Calendula is grown from seed. It's an annual and the seeds usually don't survive the harsh winter here in Montreal. I usually grow them in pots as they blossom in fall and so I can bring them inside in case of an early frost. This beautiful plant is not only loved by us but also by bees and butterflies.

calendula

medicinal properties:

Calendula is a wonderful herb to use for your skin. I use a cream made from calendula as my daily face cream.
Calendula really is good for all kind of skin problems if they come from injury or infection. It is used topically to heal bruises, wounds, burns, sores and skin ulcers. It also helps stop bleeding of small wounds. An infusion can even be applied to heal skin eruptions like measles and chicken pox and even shingles. It is also said to help lessen scars.
It is antiseptic, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory.

The face cream I use daily contains calendula. It is made from almond oil, bees wax, lanolin as well as propolis tincture and calendula tincture. I usually buy it but maybe next spring I will plant enough calendula to try it myself.
Meanwhile you might want to try the salve recipe from this website: https://mommypotamus.com/calendula-salve-recipe/

It is probably the flavonoids and the carotenoids that give calendula its healing powers.

It is also possible to drink calendula as a tea.
To prepare a tea or an infusion take 1 tablespoon (15g) of dried flowers with 1 cup (250ml) of boiling water and let it steep for 10-15 minutes. You can dry the flower heads by putting them in the oven for 30-40 minutes at a heat of 100°C (212°F). Turn them every 10 minutes. When they are completely dry store them in a sealed glass container in a dark and dry room or cupboard.

While it is mostly applied externally on the skin my herbal books also mention it for a whole lot of internal uses which however vary widely depending on the author you read. It is said to help normalize heart activity, reduce swollen lymph glands, treat fungal infections, improve liver function, help with menstrual cramps and to be good for gallbladder problems including breaking up gallstones among others.

calendula

cautions and possible side effects:

Calendula should not be taken internally during pregnancy.
Some people might be allergic to Calendula.

references:

The Way of Herbs by Michael Tierra, (Gallery Books; Original ed. edition (Aug. 1 1998), ISBN-13: 978-0671023270)
Rosemary Gladstar's Medicinal Herbs: A Beginner's Guide: 33 Healing Herbs to Know, Grow, and Use by Rosemary Gladstar, ( Storey Publishing, LLC (April 10 2012),ISBN-13: 978-1612120058)
Homegrown Tea: An Illustrated Guide to Planting, Harvesting, and Blending Teas and Tisanes by Cassie Liversidgel, (St. Martin's Griffin (March 25 2014), 978-1250039415)
herbal medicine - trends and traditions by Charles W. Kane, (Lincoln Town Pr; 1 edition (May 1 2009), ISBN-13: 978-0977133321)
The Herbal Handbook: A User's Guide to Medical Herbalism by David Hoffmann, ( Healing Arts Press; 3rd Edition, Revised Edition of The Herb User's Guide edition (Feb. 1 1998), ISBN-13: 978-0892817825)
A Russian Herbal: Traditional Remedies for Health and Healing by Igor Vilevich Zevin, (Healing Arts Press (1997),ISBN-13: 978-0892815494)
20,000 Secrets of Tea: The Most Effective Ways to Benefit from Nature's Healing Herbs by Victoria Zak, (Bantam Doubleday Dell Publishing Group Inc (Dec 1 1999), ISBN-13: 978-0440235293)