Calendula officinalis
Flower head.
The calendula is a potent antiseptic herb. Several of the active chemical constituents found in the herb are fungicidal or mycotic toxins - especially the resins, in addition these compounds are also bactericidal and anti-viral agents. The astringent quality of the herb also has a beneficial effect on the functioning of the capillaries, this property of the herb accounts for the effectiveness of the herb in the treatment of cuts, physical wounds, varicose veins, and various other inflammatory disorders that affect the human body. The most beneficial actions of the calendula herb are for its positive effects on the skin, the herb is a very good remedy for all types of skin complaints. Calendula is a very effective herb for the treatment of most minor skin problems induced by different factors. The remedy made from the calendula can be employed to treat cuts, scrapes, and different kinds of minor wounds; it is excellent for alleviating reddened and inflamed skin. It is an excellent remedy for minor burns and for problems such as sunburn. It is a good remedy for acne and for the treatment of rashes. All types of infections caused by fungi including ringworm, the athlete's foot, and thrush can be treated using the calendula. In addition, the calendula is excellent for treating diaper rash and cradle cap in infants. The herb also soothes nipples that are sore from prolonged breast feeding sessions. When the calendula remedy is consumed as the herbal infusion or in tincture form, the herb helps fight off all sorts of inflammatory problems affecting the digestive system, including problems such as gastritis, chronic peptic ulcers, regional ileitis and colitis. The herb brings relief from these problems when used therapeutically over the long term. The detoxification power of the calendula has been recognized for a long time in the herbal community. Calendula helps in treating the toxicity in the body, which is the reason for so many fevers and infections; it actively aids in the detoxification of the body and is a good remedy for the treatment of systemic skin disorders, including chronic problems such as eczema and acne. Due to its ability to detoxify the body, the calendula helps cleanse the liver and gallbladder of accumulated toxins, and a remedy made from the calendula can be employed for the treatment of problems affecting these two vital organs in the body. The mild estrogen like action possesses by the calendula is often employed in treatment strategies that are directed at lowering menstrual pain and in order to help in the regulation of bleeding during normal menstruation in women. Calendula infusion can be used as an effective douche for treating yeast infections in the vaginal cavity.
The calendula is used in the preparation of many culinary dishes. The addition of fresh and tender calendula leaves to salads and raw vegetable mixtures is an excellent idea. The chopped or whole petals of freshly plucked calendula flowers can also be added to tossed salads to improve the taste. Calendula floral petals can be used in fresh, dried, or powdered form to impart color and to bring a subtle bittersweet flavor to different foods, including different kinds of sea foods, to chowders and soups, to flavor stews and rice, to add flavor to roast meats and vegetable dishes, or to spice up chicken dishes. The floral petals of the calendula can be prepared into a flavoring liquid. To make this, the petals of freshly plucked flowers can be chopped and bruised; these should then be soaked in milk or water and left for some time. Once they have been soaked for sometime, the gold colored liquid can be strained and used as required in any dish. The calendula can act as a substitute in any recipe requiring the use of saffron flowers. Calendula is cheap compared to saffron, the color imparted to the food is of a similar vibrant hue, and however, the flavor imparted to the food is different and equally delicious. At a commercial level, the flowers of the calendula are employed in coloring poultry products, to color butter and cheese, and as a flavor for ice creams, different soft drinks, baked goods, as well as candy and other condiments.
Calendula is also used in floral displays, the pretty calendula flowers can be included in fresh floral bouquets and arrangements during the summer. The fragrant smelling calendula floral heads and the dried aromatic petals can be included in potpourris and incenses.
The calendula is an indigenous plant species of the southern European region. These days, it is cultivated in many temperate regions of the world for use in many processes and is naturalized in temperate North America and Asia. Ideal soil profiles for the growth of the calendula are light to sandy and moderately rich soils. The soil must be fairly moist with a good drainage without water logging. The calendula tolerates a pH range from an acidic 4.5 to a very alkaline 8.3. For best growth, the calendula prefers sites with full exposure to sunlight, though the herb will tolerate light shade. The calendula is very easily grown from stored seed. The seeds of the calendula can be sown in the garden on the advent of spring, only when all danger from late frost has disappeared. The calendula seeds can be planted to a depth of six mm or a quarter inch deep in the soil. The seedlings of the calendula normally emerge from the soil in eight to twelve days time. Once they germinate, calendula seedlings must not be subjected to transplantation, as this procedure mostly results in the wilting and death of the large succulent leaves. When the seedlings emerge, they can be thinned out so that forty to fifty cm-16 to 20 inches of space exist between each of the plants. This spacing will result in optimum utilization of space by the growing plants. When the calendula plants are growing, the side branches must be pruned away from time to time to encourage taller growth and to induce larger blooms in the plants. To keep the plants in full bloom throughout the summer, the dead flower heads must be removed from each plant from time to time. These measures will ensure that the plants grow at an optimal rate and produce the best flowers. Calendula plants will self sow if they are left undisturbed at a site where they are growing. The calendula is normally free of plant pests and resistant to diseases. The calendula can be placed in pots for keeping inside the house in midsummer. Plants must be brought indoors several days in advance before the estimated coming of the first frosts in the fall. When calendula plants are placed indoors, the plants will need a minimum of five hours exposure to direct sunlight daily, which can be substituted by twelve hours of exposure to strong artificial light a day. As root rot can result from excess water, plants must not be watered too often. Ideally, the soil in the pot must be kept moderately moist at all times.
Calendula contains saponins, flavonoids, mucilage, essential oil, bitter principle, resin, steroidal compounds.
Herbal calendula tea can be prepared by steeping one to two teaspoons of the flowers in two hundred ml of boiling water; the pot must be covered for ten to fifteen minutes to allow the herb to infuse into the water. Once this is done, the decoction can be strained, cooled and then drunk as and when needed. Generally, a minimum of three cups of the herbal calendula tea must be consumed everyday to get the beneficial effects. Calendula herbal tincture must be used thrice a day in a similar manner to the tea, a single dose of the tincture can be one to two ml. Calendula herbal tincture can be consumed mixed in water or in ordinary tea. Skin complaints of all kinds can be treated using the prepared ointments of the calendula; these remedies are often effective in treating disorders affecting the skin. Skin complaints can also be treated using wet dressings made by dipping cloth into the cooled herbal calendula tea. Due to the necessity of maintaining an absolutely sterile condition, using the infusion of calendula as a home remedy for treating eye conditions is not recommended.
As culinary herb, the calendula is considered to be one of the safest herbs around. At the same time, a person can react badly to the calendula, for example, a person who has an allergic reaction to pollen of any plant species belonging to the daisy family of plants, like the ragweed, may experience an allergic reaction to the calendula as well, though the chances of this occurring are rare. Being considered safe and moderately therapeutic, the calendula herb is very often used in preparing homemade skin remedies, which are used in treating a variety of skin complaints. Though quite rare, there are occasions when some individuals develop an allergic reaction to the calendula as a result of frequent use of the herbal calendula skin remedy. The menstrual cycle is traditionally believed to be influenced by calendula herb. Due to these concerns, some authorities on herbs suggest that calendula must not be consumed by pregnant women and nursing mothers, however, no evidence of harm from the use of calendula in these women exist.
A major property possessed by the calendula is an antiseptic action. Due to this strong antiseptic effect, the calendula is particularly valuable for external complaints and is used as an herbal healer of wounds to heal problems like cuts and scrapes, and minor wounds on the body. When consumed, the calendula acts from the inside and has a beneficial effect leading to the alleviation of many external skin disorders including chronic eczema, acne, and psoriasis. The fungicidal action of the calendula is also well known, and the herb helps in dealing with external problems like athlete's foot and is a good remedy for fungal induced disorders inside the body including problems like Candida - thrush, it is also helpful in dealing with diaper rash that affects infants. Calendula remedies are also useful in treating problems affecting the cardiovascular system internally and externally, it makes an excellent remedy for dealing with problems like the varicose veins. The calendula herb is also excellent for treating problem affecting the digestive system, especially in treating all kinds of ulcerative conditions and various digestion related disorders. The herb is also an excellent liver tonic, promoting the functioning of the liver. The beneficial effects of the calendula also extend to the functioning of the human reproductive system in women; the herb brings relief from menstrual symptoms and alleviates pain related to menstrual disorders. The potent bactericidal and antiviral properties of the herb come in handy when dealing with all types of infections in the human body.
Only the tender and young leaves must be picked and only freshly plucked leaves must be used to prepare remedies. As for the calendula flowers to be used fresh or dried for late use, the floral petals must be collected only from flowers that have just opened. When fresh flowers are to be used in culinary or medical preparations, the first thing to be do is to pluck the petals from the flowers in one clean action, the white or pale green "heels," on the flowers that have a somewhat bitter taste must then be cut off, the freed petals can then be washed gently in water, and then dried well using tissues. One more way to do this is to wash the collected flowers initially; followed by the plucking out of individual petals, and lastly a drying session using paper towels to pat dry the wet petals. Once the petals have been washed, they can be stored wrapped in plastic bags in the refrigerator for use as and when they are needed. After harvesting, the calendula flowers that need to be dried can be spread thinly on screens inside a dark, warm and well ventilated site. If the air flow is poor while the petals are being dried, they tend to lose their color and flavor, therefore proper ventilation in the site is a must for drying the flowers. While they are being dried, the flowers must frequently be turned till they become crisp to the touch. Separate the petals from the flowers once they become dry and then store these in an airtight container for use as and when needed. Due to the fact that the dried calendula petals tend to absorb moisture, they must be absolutely dry before storage - moisture can destroy the dried flowers. When preparing remedies from the dried petals, one way to use them is to ground them well and to use the powder to make the herbal remedy.
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