Calendula. Profile, Benefits & Uses

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There are many health benefits of calendula, and it has been used as a medicinal herb for a several centuries. It is grown by many gardeners, primarily in Europe and North America, for its beautiful golden petals.

Calendula gained notoriety after Queen Margaret of Navarre called it the favorite flower of the plant and ordered him to grow in his garden. In our time in the Luxembourg Gardens there is a sculpture of the Queen, who is holding a flower calendula in hand.The healing properties of calendula discovered in XII century.

There is also a beautiful legend about this flower. One day a hunter went into the woods and got lost. He hurt himself on a branch and wound did not heal and began to fester. Emaciated poor guy fell to his knees and began to pray to God for help. When I opened my eyes, I found a plant that had never met. He tore off the flowers, put them on the wound and lost consciousness. When he awoke from a light rain, he no longer felt a strong pain in the wound and realized that the plant has helped him. Then he took an unknown flower and its seeds and planted near the house.

Calendula or pot marigold, is a genus of about 15–20 species of annual and perennial herbaceous plants in the daisy family Asteraceae. They are native to southwestern Asia, western Europe, Macaronesia, and the Mediterranean. Other plants are also known as marigolds, such as corn marigold, desert marigold, marsh marigold, and plants of the genus Tagetes. The name calendula is a modern Latin diminutive of calendae, meaning “little calendar”, “little clock” or possibly “little weather-glass”. The common name “marigold” refers to the Virgin Mary. The most commonly cultivated and used member of the genus is the pot marigold (Calendula officinalis). Popular herbal and cosmetic products named ‘calendula’ invariably derive from C. officinalis.

Calendulas are considered by many gardening experts as among the easiest and most versatile flowers to grow in a garden, especially because they tolerate most soils. In temperate climates, seeds are sown in spring for blooms that last throughout the summer and well into the fall. In areas of little winter freezing (USDA zones 8–11), seeds are sown in autumn for winter color. Plants will wither in subtropical summer. Seeds will germinate freely in sunny or half-sunny locations, but plants do best if planted in sunny locations with rich, well-drained soil. Pot marigolds typically bloom quickly from seed (in under two months) in bright yellows, golds, and oranges.

How to Collect Calendula?

Collect plant cutting clippers inflorescences. They are collected as flowering plants. Raw immediately laid out in a dryer sludge under a canopy with good ventilation. Drying plant must not proceed at temperatures above 50 °C. When drying is necessary to regularly mix the raw materials, avoiding the drying and preserving its natural color. Dried raw materials for about 7 days of pickup. Cease drying only when the baskets fall under gentle pressure.

In medical practice, calendula used as a disinfectant and germicide against some pathogens, especially staphylococci and streptococci. The drug is prescribed for the treatment of septic wounds, carbuncles, boils, ulcers, burns, abrasions, stomatitis, periodontal disease, angina, inflammation of the mucous membranes of the mouth, anal fissures. Good effect can be gained with calendula tincture (a teaspoon per cup of water) for barley, blepharitis, conjunctivitis.

Calendula established a calming effect on the central nervous system, it reduces reflex excitability and blood pressure, strengthens the heart and slows the heart rate. Drugs prescribed for some diseases of the liver, heart and biliary tract, ulcers, colitis, hypertension, menopause.

Calendula Benefits for Health

Calendula Tea to Prevent Gastrointestinal Problems. Calendula is generally good for those experiencing gastrointestinal difficulties. Calendula can easily protect the linings of the intestines as well as stomach simply by controlling the prostaglandin-E1 (PGE). Furthermore, it can benefit restrict the negative impacts associated with gastritis, stomach cancer as well as peptic ulcer.

Cancer Treatment with Calendula. Numerous current studies have stated that calendula tea might have qualities as well as elements which make it efficient at avoiding as well as treating cancer. It’s because the existence of specific flavonoids as well as anti-oxidants which are present in this particular herbal tea which could stop the oxidation in addition to irregular growth and development of cells.

Calendula to Reduce Menstrual Pain. An additional wonderful advantage of ingesting Calendula tea is the truth that it regulates menstrual periods in ladies. Throughout these durations, consuming Calendula tea can easily reduce pains associated with abdominal cramping and it can decrease the occurrence of menopausal flashes, headaches, as well as nausea or vomiting. For individuals who’re experiencing menstrual problems, Calendula tea might help relieve and lower the pain along with other unpleasant signs.

Calendula to Cure Wounds. Calendula may be used to accelerate healing in case you have a bruise, cut, or even burn. The petals of the plant are changed into an ointment, tincture, or even wash which is utilized topically. Along with accelerating the recovery process, calendula also offers mild anti-bacterial qualities so that it might help avoid as well as deal with minor infections in wounds. Calendula does apply topically 3 to 4 times a day as required.

Stretch Mark Prevention with Calendula. Simply because calendula helps you to promote collagen, it is usually a fantastic choice to assist reduce the look off stretch marks. Infused calendula oil utilized straight to your stretchmark is capable of healing the skin and, as time passes, concealing their look. While stretch marks never totally disappear, calendula oil is an excellent method to repair the skin and also have you feeling great.

Calendula to Treat Skin Problems. Calendula is commonly used as an herbal treatment for the relief of skin disorders. It is used to heal minor burns, including sunburns, and it is a traditional herbal remedy for the treatment of rashes, including diaper rash. This herb has also been used to treat systemic skin problems such as dermatitis, eczema, acne and psoriasis. It has even been shown to prevent dermatitis in breast cancer patients during radiation therapy, and there is evidence that it may be more effective than trolamine lotion.

Calendula to Reduce Inflammation. You can apply calendula oil to bruises, sprains or swellings. It has anti-inflammatory properties that help bring down the swelling. It can also be used to treat the inflammation associated with varicose veins, spider veins and leg ulcers.

How to Use Calendula?

  • Calendula products should always be stored in dark places free of moisture, and should not be used after three years of storage.
  • An infusion can be made using 1 tsp (5-10g) of dried florets in 8oz (250 ml) of boiling water. It should be steeped 10-15 minutes. Drink 2-3 cups of the infusion per day. Cooled infusion can be used to make a compress by soaking a sterile dressing in cold tea.
  • A tincture can be prepared in a ratio of 1:5 in 90% alcohol; take 5-10 drops (1-2 mL) of the tincture three times daily.
  • Calendula can also be prepared in an ointment containing 2-5% calendula (e.g. 2-5 grams calendula/100g ointment). It can be applied 2-4 times daily as needed.

Uses of Calendula

Calendula for Internal Use: cover calendula petals with a clean cloth and leave them to dry for about 20 days in a dark, cool place. After the process is complete, put 2 teaspoons of dried petals in a teacup or mug and add 250 ml of boiling water. Cover the teacup or mug for 15-20 minutes and after the infusion is ready, you may filter it. Drink at least a cup of calendula tea a day, preferably on an empty stomach.

Calendula for External Use: use margold infusion to wash open wounds, burns, ulcers, eyes and face. Infuse 90-100 g of dried petals in 1 liter of water, leave to cool, then use externally . Calendula has strong antiseptic, anti-fungal and antiviral properties, making it excellent for cleaning purulent wounds. Because it is natural, lacking perfume and other damaging compounds that may alter you natural pH, you can even use calendula as a natural cleanser for intimate hygiene. Not only will it help preserve your natural flora, but it is also efficient against various discharges, although it might be best to also visit your doctor for such sensitive problems. Wash you face with calendula infusion for a natural glow. Regular use is said to help clear acne and reduce the severity of acne scars. In the past, people would use marigold poultices to help treat smallpox scars.

How to Make Calendula Tincture?

It’s simple to create a calendula tincture in your own home by simply including 15 grams of fresh petals of the flowers to 100 milliliters of vodka, allowing it to stand for Ten days, then siphoning it off. However, it’s safer to buy a quality brand tincture at the local health store which warranties the appropriate effectiveness. Calendula tincture, diluted in four parts of water, is extremely useful in creating a compress for open as well as poor healing injuries. You are able to deal with insect stings, mycosis (nail fungus), all the other skin irritations as well as inflammations by frequently dabbing a tincture-soaked cotton wad around the affected region.

How to Make Calendula Cream?

Skin creams within the cosmetic market field now include calendula more frequently than in the past. But you’ll find unique creams having a greater power of calendula for natural skin care within nutrition stores. Even baby creams as well as soaps consist of calendula. If you’d prefer stunning skin, your best choice when it comes to ingredients needs to be calendula cream. It’s additionally good for rough hands as well as finger nails.

How to Make Calendula Ointment?

From the healing perspective, calendula is definitely the queen of all ointments. It’s the most favored of all calendula preparations and it has probably the most persuading outcomes. It is really an extremely flexible medicine and is also great for dealing with wounds, skin cancer, burns as well as bedsores. The cream quickly calms pain, is incredibly simple to apply, and there aren’t any limitations whatsoever to it’s used in terms of tolerability or even unwanted side-effects.

Calendula Side Effects

  • Involuntary Abortion: there are few studies on the safety of calendula during pregnancy. It is believed that it could cause miscarriage considering its emmenagogue effects. Calendula should not be taken during pregnancy.
  • Allergy: People who are allergic to plants of the Compositae family, such as daisies, chrysanthemums or ragweed may also be allergic to this plant, as it belongs to the same botanical family.
  • Dermatitis or skin rash: the direct contact with the fresh plant can cause contact dermatitis in sensitive individuals.

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