Calendula officinalis

The herb calendula (botanical name Calendula officinalis) is also known as the pot marigold and forms the basis for the homeopathic remedy calendula. The herb derives its name Calendula from the Latin term 'kalendae' denoting the first day of the month, most possibly because pot marigolds blossom at the beginning of most of the months of the year. On the other hand, the common name of the herb 'marigold' possibly denoted the Virgin Mary or may be from its ancient Saxon name that translated to English literally connotes 'it turns with the sun'. People have been using this herb since times immemorial to cure numerous health conditions that vary from skin disorders to cancer. In the present day, calendula is among the most extensively used herbs that is especially applied externally and its extract is also used as a gargle to stop bleeding following a tooth extract. Calendula officinalis, also known as the English marigold or pot marigold, is a valued herb that is used medicinally both in herbal as well as homeopathic therapy to facilitate as well as accelerate healing of wounds and also to alleviate irritation of the skin. Currently, calendula is available in numerous dissimilar formulations and preparations ranging from herbal lotions to homeopathic pills to diaper rash cream. Calendula is safe as well as effectual for use by people of different ages. As aforementioned, calendula is extensively used to cure as well as alleviate cuts and broken skin. In addition, calendula has the potential to avert development of scars from torn and rough wounds that causes disfiguration. Apart from this, several non-alcohol based remedial preparations of this herb help to ease eczema. In addition, physicians also prescribe calendula for internal as well as external use for treating leg and varicose ulcers, ruptured tendons and muscles and also to heal post-operative injuries. Physicians also recommend the use of calendula to heal torn perineal tissues (tissues of the urinary passage and the rectum stretch) after childbirth, bleeding in the gums following a tooth extract and also joint injuries wherein there may be loss of synovial fluids. Calendula possesses antiseptic as well as anti-inflammatory properties and, hence, it is among the traditional herbal medicine that has been used for very long period and is very popular both with the herbal medicine practitioners as well as the common people. Since Russia grows huge amounts of this herb, it has been fondly nicknamed as the 'Russian penicillin'.

Uses

Calendula or the pot marigold is an ordinary garden plant. The herb possesses antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties and this has been the reason why people since very ancient periods used it to cure an assortment of health disorders that ranged from skin complaints to cancer. In the present day, calendula is among the most extensively used herbal medicine, particularly for treating skin disorders. Apart from these therapeutic uses, calendula is also applied topically to heal cuts. The homeopathic remedy calendula is a very popular antiseptic homeopathic medication and is generally applied externally as a cream or tincture to facilitate healing albeit the skin is broken or ruptured. In addition, calendula also facilitates in controlling hemorrhages, for instance, from grazes, minor cuts and scrapes. This homeopathic remedy is used extensively to heal torn perineal tissues after childbirth. Apart from healing wounds, a gargle prepared from calendula is highly effective in curing sore throats and mouth ulcers owing to its potent antiseptic attributes. As mentioned earlier, calendula is also effective in controlling bleeding following tooth extractions. The homeopathic remedy calendula is also used internally to treat fever and jaundice associated with nervous anxiety, tetchiness and acute hearing. People have been using calendula for several centuries for numerous remedial purposes, including treating scrapes, cuts, burns as well as irritation or inflammation of the skin. Herbal medicine practitioners usually use the whole pounded flower head and apply it straight away to the skin. Alternately, they also use calendula in the form of soothing oils and tinctures to heal skin disorders. In homeopathy, the remedy calendula is also prepared in the same process except that the pounded flower heads and leaves are also diluted to the desired level and succussed. In addition, a herbal tea prepared from calendula flowers, diluted tinctures and/or oral homeopathic pills are taken internally to treat numerous ailments, especially skin complaints. It may be noted that although the homeopathic remedy calendula possesses potent antiseptic properties, it is unable to eliminate bacteria. On the other hand, calendula possesses the attributes that put off the growth or development of bacteria. Topical application of the homeopathic remedy calendula helps to stop bleeding from shallow cuts. The antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties of calendula make it an important element in the manufacture of various moisturizers, soaps and bath products. In addition, calendula is also a valuable constituent of many lip balms and diaper rash creams. Currently calendula is used as a therapeutic herb, particularly to heal skin complaints. As mentioned before, apart from curing the above conditions, a tincture prepared from calendula is applied topically to cuts to speed up healing. In fact, calendula is a very popular homeopathic remedy and is primarily used as a cream or tincture to facilitate healing of skin disorder, including broken or ruptured skin, for its exceptionally potent antiseptic attributes. In addition, the homeopathic remedy is also effective in controlling bleeding, for instance abrasion or scrapes and trivial cuts. Apart from these benefits, this homeopathic remedy in its tincture form makes a wonderful gargle to treat sore throats and mouth ulcers. As aforementioned, people have been using calendula, commonly also known as pot marigold, for therapeutic purposes since the ancient times. It was primarily used to cure a variety of health conditions ranging from skin complaints to cancer. In the present times, calendula is among the most widely used medicinal herbs - both externally to cure cuts, burns, scrapes and abrasions; and internally as a gargle for sore throats and mouth ulcers as well as to stop bleeding after tooth extractions. Several balms prepared from calendula are used to heal wounds, superficial cuts, burns and diaper rash. In fact, topical application of creams and balms prepared from calendula facilitate the rapid healing of scrapes, wounds and diaper rash. The petals of the calendula flower are also edible and may be used in salads and may also be used in place of saffron in soup and rice. In addition, petals of calendula flowers are used to add color to butter, cakes, and cheese as well as milk desserts. The homeopathic medication calendula is a very universal home remedy and facilitates in healing wounds quickly and gently. Calendula is a very effective homeopathic antiseptic and is effective in treating surgical cuts, clean cuts (superficial cuts) and also slashed or oozing wounds. In addition, topical application of calendula to wounds avoids oozing of pus and, at the same time, speeds up the healing process. Precisely speaking, the homeopathic remedy calendula is effective in every case where loss of soft parts is involved. It is especially useful in healing ruptured muscles or tendons, oozing wounds or torn perineal tissues during childbirth. The homeopathic remedy calendula can also be used following an eye operation or in case of an eye injury that may be discharging pus or any other liquid. In addition, this homeopathic remedy is also indicated for treating neuritis (inflammation of a nerve) caused by a lacerated or oozing wound. Apart from the benefits of the homeopathic medicine calendula discussed above, it is also effective in treating burns, carbuncles and ulcers. In fact, this remedy is very useful in case of ulcers that are tetchy, inflamed, quagmire and secrete profuse pus. Calendula is also a useful homeopathic remedy for women who have been enduring problems of the cervix, warts and uterine hypertrophy (thickening of the muscles of the uterus accompanied by bleeding) accompanied by weight and breadth in the pelvis region. Women suffering from uterine hypertrophy may also have a feeling of pulling in the groin. Besides, the homeopathic remedy calendula is also effective in healing contagions of the breast.