CALENDULA – Calendula officinalis
Family: Asteraceae
Native to Mediterranean Europe and grown in other countries from seed. Self-sows freely in sunny open situations with adequate water. Removing dead flower heads encourages more flowers and sturdy plants. Humidity can cause mildew, hardy drought, and frost-resistant.
Parts Used: Flowers or ray florets gathered when fully opened. Fresh or dried.
Nutritional benefits: Vitamin A, C, E, phosphorous, and calcium.
Medicinal Uses: Treatment of oral mucosa inflammation and topically as a cicatrizing agent for healing skin injuries. The constituents have antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and vulnerary activity. Credited as a mild diaphoretic, a circulatory stimulant, and a sedative.
Cardiovascular: used internally and externally to improve varicose veins and benefit the lymphatic system, hemorrhoids, lymphoma, and fevers.
Gastrointestinal: ulcers, gastritis, jaundice, indigestion, hepatitis, gallstones.
Reproductive tract: dysmenorrhoea, mastitis, cervical, vaginal thrush, vaginitis.
Internally: chronic colitis, duodenal ulcers, and gastroduodenitis.
Externally: skin problems. Wounds, bruises, fungal infections, acne, eczema, sore nipples, sunburn, conjunctivitis, nappy rash, cold sores, and mouthwash.
Historical Uses: Bites of wild animals; liver and spleen congestion; stomach complaints; cancer treatment. Juice is used externally for psoriasis; swollen glands; warts; and bruises. To strengthen the heart, smallpox, measles, headache, jaundice, and toothache. Leaves eaten for scrofula in children.
Dosage: Three times daily by infusion of dried herb 1 – 4 g
Precautions: Calendula alcohol extracts are used with care on abraded tissues & ulcers.
Excerpt Materia Medica of Western Herbs for the Southern Hemisphere by Carole Fisher, Gillian Painter pg. 60, 62