Calendula, the Little Plant that Could

Calendula officinalis, is a perky little flower from a very worthy family of plants. Related to—and sometimes confused with—Marigold (Tagetes), they’re both little cousins of the Sunflower and daisy family of Asteraceae or Compositae. And like its family members, there are many calendula benefits and uses worth knowing and putting to good use.

Also known as Pot Marigold, calendula is hardy as an annual early spring plant that lasts well through fall. The calendula flower is an amazing powerhouse of medicinal benefit. Calendula is beautiful, low maintenance, fights off bad guys, heals and feeds. What a lady!

Calendula benefits and uses are many! So buckle up and let’s dive in!

Uses and Benefits of Calendula

Calendula has been found to be beneficial for a number of ailments and especially for the skin.

As evidenced by its vivid yellow and orange colors, Calendula is rich in the flavonoids and carotenoids found in the yellow-orange range of fruits and vegetables.

CALENDULA NUTRITION

• Antioxidants –
  • carotenoids
  • flavonoids
• Vitamin A – good for skin and eyes
  • lutein
  • beta carotene

CALENDULA TOPICAL APPLICATIONS – Gels, Cream and Oils

Good for foot rubs, lip balms, hand creams, and all sorts of skin ailments, calendula uses include:

• Anti-fungal – good for
  • athletes foot
  • candida
  • jock itch / vaginal itching
  • ringworm
• Antimicrobial
• Antiseptic
• Inflammation
• Insect bites
• Acne
• Hemorrhoids
• Skin –
  • eczema
  • psoriasis
  • post-radiation skin inflammation^[1]https://www.herbalgram.org/resources/herbalgram/issues/77/table-of-contents/article3229/
  • rashes –
    • Diaper rash
  • soothes dry and cracked skin
• Soothes sore muscle
• Wounds –
  • minor cuts
  • sores

See also,

INTERNAL APPLICATIONS – Calendula Tea

• Antioxidant – protect cells from oxidative damage
• Digestive aid for digestive problems
• Stomach aches
• Abdominal cramps
• Constipation
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)*
• Menstrual cramps – (emmenagogic, which stimulates blood flow to the pelvis)
• Urinary tract problems
• Tonic for overall boost to vigor and wellbeing
• Induces sweating – (sudorific)
• Antispasmodic – (relaxant; natural muscle relaxant)
• Toothache
• Sore throat

*A GardensAll community member said her professional herbalists recommended calendula tea. Pour boiling water over calendula flower petals, cover and steep between 20 min to 18 hours, then strain and drink. “Boy was I happy. It has worked many times.”

Calendula Tea Dosage Guidelines

• Internally – 1.5-6.5 (3-12g) teaspoons of dried herb daily, steeped in water as a tea
• Externally – as a tea containing 1-2 tsp of dried herb per 8oz (240ml) of water ^[2]https://www.nationalnutrition.ca/herb_articles_Calendula2.aspx
• Fluid extract (1:1 in 40 percent alcohol): 0.5 – 1.0 milliliters three times per day
• Skin ointments with two to five percent calendula. ^[3]https://www.drweil.com/vitamins-supplements-herbs/herbs/calendula/

Calendula is also beneficial for eyes and cataract prevention and for use as an eye wash. Here’s a simple eye wash recipe from NerdyFarmWife.com,^[4]https://thenerdyfarmwife.com/calendula-a-natural-remedy-for-irritated-eyes/, and a pink eye poultice recipe from DrAxe.com.^[5]https://draxe.com/home-remedy-for-pink-eye/.

Resource: Image by Jan Berry of TheNerdyFarmWife.com ^[6]https://thenerdyfarmwife.com/calendula-a-natural-remedy-for-irritated-eyes/

Calendula Officinalis Deters Garden Pests

Calendula repels tomato hornworms and asparagus beetles, while marigolds deter cabbage maggots, Mexican bean beetles, aphids and many other pests. Plant both along crop rows and between plants for a little extra color and added insect protection.^[7]https://www.hobbyfarms.com/keep-garden-pests-away-with-companion-planting-4/

Lovely Garden Gifts

Our favorite gifts ever are those from the garden. Consider turning your lovely calendula flowers (and other kinds) into gifts for holidays, birthdays and Mother’s Day.

Or you may wish to gift a calendula plant. Here we cover some of the best medicinal calendula, and also, making calendula salve.

Turn your dried calendula flowers into:

• Calendula cream – place it in these cute reusable hinged lid jars
• Calendula oil – or you can get it on Amazon.
• Calendula salve – healing / medicinal; see how to make calendula salve
• Calendula tea – wrap the dried flowers with a tea infuser and teapot or tea cup
• Greeting cards – press calendula flowers onto card stock for homemade cards

For your gift giving homemade goodies, you can find your choice of cool labels to personalize your gift.

Enjoy growing and using this beautiful flower that can heal and help keep your skin healthy!

Calendula flower has anti-inflammatory properties known to protect cells from free radical damage.^[8]https://www.herbalgram.org/resources/herbalgram/issues/77/table-of-contents/article3229/

One friend found my salve to be very helpful with his son’s eczema and it is useful in treating other skin conditions, as well.

While this is a DIY project if you are interested in pursuing creams and salves to sell to others I highly recommend Richo Cech’s book “Making Plant Medicine”; this man literally wrote the book on formulating herbal products.”

But… if you can’t make your own just yet, you don’t have to wait. You can find some on Amazon and make plans for making your own during the next growing season.

Forms of Calendula Remedies

• tincture
• essential oil
• salve

More on Culinary Calendula

Now while it’s true that the calendula flowers and leaves are edible, they can be very bitter. Some people like how they add beauty and a little gourmet touch to salads, but if you try it, you may want to start with just the petals sprinkled around for garnish and work your way up to the entire flower.

Consuming the flower however does provide beneficial antioxidants. But if you don’t like the taste you can use the flowers externally for medicine or for tea instead.

One great culinary use of calendula petals that won’t affect a dish’s flavor is obtained by sprinkling them in rice instead of saffron, which is quite expensive. The dried calendula petals will impart a rich golden yellow color to the rice, while imparting a barely perceptible flavor.

Other culinary uses depend on whether you like the flavor of the flowers. In addition to adding flowers to salads, try using them in herbal butters and cheese spreads, or use the dried flowers to make tea.

More on Medicinal Uses of Calendula

Calendula is a commonly used as a topical gel or ointment for skin rashes, diaper rash, skin sores, muscle soreness, acne, and a number of other conditions.

WebMD published a blurb on how early research points to Calendula ointment being applied to skin after radiation therapy helps reduce skin inflammation. Now that’s powerful… and promising!^[9]https://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-235-calendula.aspx?activeingredientid=235&activeingredientname=calendula

Extensive research is still being done to find more conclusive evidence of Calendula and its positive effects in helping to treat cancer. But, we always recommend using caution when using Calendula or any other plant to treat ailments.

Calendula is not just a topical medicine. When drunk in tea form, it aids digestive problems, stomach aches, menstrual cramps, and urinary tract problems.

This bold and perky plant has more than looks and longevity. In the garden calendula helps deter pesky insects, and in salves, tinctures, teas and decoctions it helps in home remedies for healing and health.

Learn how to make your own calendula salve.

Calendula: The little plant that does!

Contributing writer, Jane Seeley:
With the creative flare of an artist and the eye of a photographer, Jane Seeley is a master at creating lovely gardenscapes reminiscent of a painting.

“Growing up in North Carolina, my first gardening friend was an elderly neighbor who grew a huge garden and engaged the neighborhood in evening bean shelling and corn shucking.

Transplanted to Mt. Shasta California in the mid 90’s, I learned how to garden organically at 3,500 feet at the base of a volcano where summers are short and winters long and cold. Each year I learn how little I know as each season brings its challenges and rewards. Now I’m breaking new ground as a garden writer, sharing from my lifetime of experience and love of gardening.”