Calendula officinalis, or simply calendula, also referred to as pot marigold, despite not being a marigold (genus Tagetes), is a botanical pot of gold with a rich history and a wide range of medicinal uses. Calendula is an herbaceous resinous, aromatic in the Asteraceae family (aster family). The blooms range from a golden yellow to a most brilliant orange and will bloom continuously through the growing season.
Quick Etymology History
The name "calendula" itself is a window into the herb's captivating past. Derived from the Latin word "kalendae," meaning "the first," calendula is intricately tied to the concept of time. In Roman culture, "kalendae" referred to the first day of every month and marked the beginning of a new lunar phase, laying the foundation for our modern word "calendar." Calendula's unique botanical behavior added to its allure—it often blooms in synchrony with the calendar, notably during the first of the summer months or during the new moon. This remarkable tendency to align with the calendar earned calendula the distinction of symbolizing the Roman calendar itself, where its radiant blossoms heralded the commencement of each lunar phase. In medieval England, it underwent a charming transformation, acquiring the name "marigold" or "Mary's Gold." This transition was grounded in a beautiful belief that the Virgin Mary, the embodiment of purity, adorned herself with these golden blossoms—a notion that resonated deeply with the faithful. Thus, the term "Mary's Gold" was coined.
Folklore
Calendula's allure doesn't stop at nomenclature; it is steeped in captivating folklore from around the world. For instance, the French believed that gazing at calendula blooms every day could improve one's eyesight. In an era when infectious diseases loomed large, garlands of calendula flowers were hung from door handles and strewn under beds to ward off evil energies and protect against contagious illnesses—an age-old practice that, given calendula's antimicrobial properties, carries some undeniable wisdom.
The first documented cultivation was by St. Hildegard of Bingen, an 11th-century nun and practicing herbalist in what is now Germany. St. Hildegard recognized the herb's therapeutic potential and contributed to its cultivation, cementing calendula's status as a valuable botanical.
In the 1600s in the Netherlands, calendula was used both medicinal and culinarily The dried leaves were widely available in the markets and were commonly used in broths, thus came about the name "pot marigold". Calendula leaves and flowers are both entirely edible raw and are great additions to salads, soups, and more. Calendula is sometimes called “poor man’s saffron” as it gives the same deep yellow color of its blooms to any food it’s cooked with. The flowers were commonly used as natural dye for hair and fabrics. The art of natural plant dyeing has experienced a resurgence as of late, with calendula being a favored botanical for infusing color into clothing and yarn.
Cultivation
Calendula is native to Eurasia and grows happily in the Mediterranean, all over Europe, southeastern Asia, North America, Australia, and New Zealand. Calendula is not too picky and is rather easy to grow. The ideal time to harvest the flowers is in the heat of the summer day when the resins are high and the morning dew has evaporated. To dry the flower heads you can hang dry them, put them in a low-temperature dehydrator or if you are lucky, you can freeze-dry them. Dried flowers that have lost their color, have lost some of their medicinal benefits.
Herbal Energetics and Actions
Energetically, calendula leans towards warmth, although it also exhibits some cooling effects. This balance of warmth and dryness contributes to its broad range of applications. Calendula's warming nature can help dispel cold stagnation in the body, while its drying quality aids in addressing damp conditions. This is one dynamic and helpful plant!
Vulnerary/antimicrobial - One of calendula's most renowned attributes is its vulnerary action. This means it promotes wound healing and stimulates the regeneration of healthy tissue, supporting the healing of wounds, externally and internally, even serious ones. It's not just an ordinary wound healer; calendula is an antifungal powerhouse with a touch of antibacterial properties. This remarkable combination of properties makes calendula one of the most effective remedies for wounds, including cuts, scrapes, stings, and bruises. Its reputation for wound healing is well-established and supported by documented evidence. In a study involving patients with venous leg ulcers, those treated with calendula ointment experienced a statistically significant acceleration of wound healing compared to those receiving standard saline solution dressings. For internal ulcers, calendula's wound healing, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory properties shine, especially when prepared as a long-infused tea. Calendula's antimicrobial effects extend to addressing dandruff when applied regularly in the form of an ointment or wash. Whether combatting fungal causes of dandruff or soothing inflammation, calendula-based remedies prove effective in reducing dandruff and promoting scalp health.
Lymphagogue - Calendula emerges as a potent lymphagogue, demonstrating its ability to stimulate and support the lymphatic system. This action proves invaluable in cases of acute and chronic lymphatic congestion, which can manifest as various health issues, including intestinal bloating, swollen glands, breast cysts, pelvic cysts, and skin conditions like eczema. Calendula plays a pivotal role in detoxification by encouraging the movement of stagnant lymph. This action is fundamental to the removal of waste and toxins, contributing significantly to overall well-being. The capacity of calendula to circulate and gently dry stagnant, boggy lymph conditions is a hallmark of its efficacy. These conditions, often associated with infection and edema, find relief in calendula's lymphatic support. Beyond its role in lymphatic circulation, calendula is an ally to the immune system. It helps mobilize white blood cells, stimulates lymphatic drainage, and reduces inflammation of the lymph nodes. This immunological support extends to a wide spectrum of conditions, from those triggered by infective pathogens to autoimmune disorders. Calendula's antimicrobial properties are intrinsically linked to its capacity to cleanse the lymphatic system of toxins and impurities. This lymphatic stimulation and cleanup also helps to rid the body of debris that results from joint trauma and can help resolve any swelling that may arise.
Alterative - Often referred to as "blood purifiers," alteratives are a category of herbs that aid specific elimination pathways and prove particularly valuable when dealing with various forms of toxicity, often associated with dampness in the body. Calendula's alterative focus is on the bowels, liver, skin, and lymphatic system. If you are feeling low energy, fatigue, or brain fog, like you just can't quite get over a sickness, that's a good time for alteratives. Calendula is a bitter tonic, which means it will stimulate the liver, increasing the liver's detoxification capacities as well as increasing bile production. Calendula's role as an alterative is particularly significant in preventing the stagnation of bodily fluids. By opening the channels of elimination in the liver, skin, lymphatic system, and digestive tract, calendula helps maintain the free flow of fluids. which helps to prevent stagnation of fluids which then prevents possible bacterial, viral, or fungal infection.
Astringent - Astringent herbs, with their ability to constrict and tighten tissues, serve a valuable role in wound care, and calendula is no exception. Calendula's astringency is a key asset in the healing process, acting gently and effectively to draw the edges of a wound together. This action accelerates the healing process and plays a crucial role in preventing excessive scar formation. Calendula's astringent properties are particularly suited for addressing wounds warm and wet, presenting with symptoms such as swelling, pus, redness, and inflammation. As stated by herbalist Matthew Wood, calendula seems to "clean the wound from the inside out." So rather than merely addressing infection and sealing the wound superficially, calendula delves deeper into the tissues, into the blood and lymph, working its way back outward. This approach results in a more comprehensive and effective healing process. Calendula's astringent qualities are also quite wonderful when used as a hydrosol for sunburn relief, offering soothing and healing relief to sun-damaged skin.
Inflammation modulator - Calendula can modulate inflammation externally and internally through its triterpene, flavonoid, and polysaccharide constituents. Inflammation often manifests as joint pain, and chronic skin conditions such as eczema, autoimmunity, or GI dysregulation. Calendula's primary arena of action in inflammation modulation is within the gastrointestinal system. By soothing and addressing inflammation in the GI tract, calendula exerts a ripple effect throughout the body, impacting inflammation in other areas. Because of its major affinity for the lymphatic system, we see it also benefiting swollen lymph accompanied by inflammation due to stagnation. As an inflammation modulator, calendula plays a vital role in taming overly reactive inflammatory responses. Its triterpenes and polysaccharides contribute to this calming effect, helping to mitigate inflammation and soothe irritated mucosal membranes, particularly in cases of GI inflammation (there is a school of thought that many autoimmune diseases stem from GI inflammation). The flavonoids present in calendula bring additional benefits by contributing to vascular protection, reducing heat and inflammation while enhancing the elasticity and tone of blood vessels. Furthermore, flavonoids offer antioxidant protection, bolstering the body's defense against oxidative stress.
Immune tonic - Calendula's ability to stimulate and support the lymphatic system is at the heart of its immune-supporting ability. The lymphatic fluid serves as a lifeline, delivering vital nutrients to cells, clearing metabolic waste, and serving as the battleground where immune defenses confront invading pathogens. Calendula, in its gentle yet effective manner, achieves balance in fluid metabolism by dispelling stagnation, ensuring that the channels of elimination remain open, and contributing to detoxification. These actions collectively create an environment less conducive to the proliferation of pathogenic bacteria. While many authors describe calendula as "antibacterial" which can imply that it is "bacteriocidal" it is more accurately characterized as "bacteriostatic." Calendula does not directly attack and kill microbes, rather, it contains them and inhibits their spread and infiltration. This containment is achieved by keeping the lymphatic fluid in motion, preventing pathogens from gaining a foothold. Calendula's role in supporting lymphatic health has a profound impact on immune efficiency. By keeping the lymphatic system active and blood cleansed, calendula enhances the immune system's ability to surveil and protect the body. This heightened efficiency contributes to the body's capacity to fend off infections. Folk herbalism has traditionally incorporated calendula into winter soups and stews to bolster immune defenses.
How to use
Tea - you can use 1 tsp of dried calendula flower bud per 1 cup of hot water to make a cup of tea, but I would suggest mixing the calendula with other herbs such as chamomile, sage, or fennel to improve the flavor. I'm drinking a calendula, sage, linden, and wood betony tea with honey and lemon as I type this, and it's a delightful cup of warmth, like drinking autumn in a mug.
Tincture - you can tincture the freshly wilted flower buds into 95% (190 proof) alcohol to make a tincture or around 35% (70 proof) if using the dried flower buds. You can use the tincture topically as a liniment, or internally, diluted in a glass of water.
Infused Oil - so beautiful! Calendula makes a beautiful golden-infused oil that is so wonderful to use topically, in salve making, or soap making. The infused oil is wonderful to soften and moisten dried skin all around the body.
Salve - one of my favorite wound support salve ingredients. Using the infused oil, you can make a calendula salve, or mix it with other herbs such as plantain and self-heal to create an amazing salve that will be the rave of the household.
Hydrosol - hydrosols are the water byproduct of distilling aromatic herbs to make essential oils. The hydrosol will have slightly different properties than the herb or essential oil, and a little different scent, but they can be a wonderful addition to your supplies. Calendula hydrosol can be substituted for the water portion when making lotions, soaps, or room sprays, and is also great to be sprayed directly on the face to reduce acne and ease the discomfort of minor wounds.
Safety & Contraindications
If you have an allergy to the aster family, you should not use calendula, or use it with great caution. Many herbalists say that calendula has a perfect safety record, with no toxicity reported, so use it with joy. However, other herbalists warn that calendula should be avoided in pregnant women during the first trimester. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, please do your due diligence before using any herb or medication.
References
Easley, Thomas; Horne, Steven. The Modern Herbal Dispensatory A Medicine-Making Guide, North Atlantic Books, 2016
Tilgner, Sharol Marie. Herbal Medicine From the Heart of the Earth Update Third Edition, Wise Acres LLC, 2020
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