Appreciated for its calming and healing properties, calendula (or officinal marigold) is an effective remedy for small skin problems. It also helps relieve gastric or hepatic disorders, ENT inflammation or even premenstrual pain.
Calendula helps, by its antibacterial and healing properties, to treat small wounds, eczemas, acnes, boils, ulcers, and yeast infections. Also, by its softening and moisturizing properties, it helps to treat benign skin problems, sunburns, dry and delicate skin.
Learn more about the benefits of calendula
Also called marigold, officinal marigold, calendula or calendula officinalis is a plant of the asteraceae family and native to the Mediterranean basin. It is nicknamed “the bride of the sun”, for its particularity to open and close according to the movements of the sun.
It has been widely known since antiquity for its culinary, cosmetic, medicinal and dyeing properties (fabric dye and food coloring). Calendula became very popular from the Middle Ages and was known to soothe all kinds of ailments (insect bites, snakebites, jaundice, conjunctivitis, ringworm, painful periods, fever). Nowadays it is more appreciated in dermatology, for its softening and healing properties.
The parts of calendula used in herbal medicine are its flowers (fresh or dried). Its many health benefits come from its active subtances : flavonoids, carotenoids (lycopenes, carotenes), triterpendioles (faradiol esters), saponosides, salicylic acid, mucilage, essential oil.
The other benefits of calendula
The benefits of calendula are varied:
- It helps to regulate menstrual cycles.
- By its draining and purifying actions, it allows to cleanse the liver and prevent liver problems.
- Calendula relieves digestive disorders especially gastric inflammation.
- He is effective against fever, sore throat and mouth.
- It strengthens the immune system.
- Excellent painkiller and anti-inflammatory, it helps relieve minor burns, insect bites, hives and bruises.
How to use it ?
Calendula occurs under various forms and preparations : ointments, creams, gels, balms, mother tinctures, oils, eye drops, vaginal eggs, infusions. For any use, it is important to always comply with the product instructions or seek medical advice for the rules of application.
- In the form of calendula oil : it can be applied in massage, on dry and irritated skin, 2 or 3 times a day.
- In infusion: we take one or two teaspoons of dried flowers that we add to 200 ml of boiling water. In case of digestive disorders or yeast infection, you can drink a cup 3 times a day. This infusion can also be used locally, in compresses, gargles, or mouthwashes.
- In the form of tincture: its uses can be similar to those of infusion. Internally, we take 30 drops diluted in water, 3 times a day.
Contraindication and precaution for use
The taking calendula for internal use is prohibited for pregnant or breastfeeding women and children under 6 years old. Also, we strongly advise against prolonged internal use (infusion, mother tincture) of more than 2 weeks, without the advice of a doctor or a specialist in herbal medicine.
Concerning the precautions, we avoid a prolonged application of preparations containing alcohol (mother tincture), because they can cause irritation, even allergic reactions, particularly in people sensitive to plants belonging to the asteraceae family. There is no known interaction with herbal remedies, supplements or drugs.
