Above: Calendula flowering in the garden.
This blog post is part of my 2021 Herbal Oil Blog Series and addresses Calendula, including how to make a Calendula-infused oil.
Calendula (Calendula officinalis)
July is when my Calendula flowers really take off in my garden here in the Mid-Atlantic region of the US. Calendula’s bright resinous blooms literally glisten with healing potential. I need to replant calendula every spring because of our cold winters, but I don’t mind at all as Calendula is one of the most used herbs in my practice!
Calendula is easily grown (just pop the seeds 1 inch in the ground in spring), and is a high-yielding plant that forms flowers as quickly as you can pick ‘em!
Its resinous nature attracts and traps tiny aphids that would otherwise harass the other plants growing in my garden. It is also loved by pollinators and I enjoy the steady hum of bees and the beauty of butterflies, moths, and lady bugs as I work in the garden.
See below to learn about what I use Calendula flowers for!
** An important note: Calendula’s common name is Pot Marigold, not to be confused with the common garden Marigold (Tagetes), which is unrelated and not edible.
Internal Use
Preparations: Tea (decoction), tincture
Energetics: slightly warming/drying
Calendula is a vulnerary, which means it is incredibly healing for the skin. Vulneraries are not just limited to the skin on our bodies. Many mucosal membranes of the body, including the lining of our gut mucosa, are very similar in composition and function to the skin. Calendula, as a vulnerary, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial herb, can be helpful for ulcerated tissue in the GI tract, IBD, and Leaky Gut Syndrome.
Calendula is also a helpful alterative, working to enhance elimination mostly through the liver and lymph. Because it works directly on the Lymphatic System, it is considered a lymph tonic as well. It can be used both internally and externally (as a compress, poultice, or oil for lymphatic drainage massage) to reduce enlarged lymph nodes, lymphatic stagnation, lymphedema, breast congestion, and to stimulate the immune system and move lymph to aid in clearing infections. It can also be used internally (with Dandelion root) to aid the liver in clearing excess hormones, especially estrogen that may be causing fibrocystic breast conditions.
Calendula flowers are rich in antioxidants, with carotenoids such as Lycopene and Lutein, and flavonoids. The petals can be eaten raw in salads or prepared into a decoction (simmer for 15 minutes and steep for an additional hour) to consume these beneficial phytonutrients.
External Use
Preparations: Compress or sitz bath (of decoction), poultice, infused oil, salve, mouth rinse, vaginal douche, suppository and diaphragm
A compress of Calendula decoction, poultice, or infused-oil can also be used topically for the lymphatic disorders addressed above. It enhances our innate immunity at sites of mucous membranes and in the skin, making it a helpful topical for acute breast abscesses, slow-to-heal wounds, and other infections. The infused-oil or salve can be used for skin pain and inflammation due to radiation therapy. It can also be applied to cracked nipples from breastfeeding.
The decoction can be used as a mouth rinse or gargle for painful or infected buccal mucous membranes, periodontal disease, laryngitis, and tonsilitis. The decoction can also be used as a sitz bath for hemorrhoids, anal fissures, or perineal tears or incisions.
The decoction can also be used intravaginally (as a douche) for infections and inflammations. The infused-oil can be used for vaginal dryness and as a lubricant. A vaginal suppository can also be made from Calendula-infused oil for infections and inflammations. My teacher Herbalist David Winston uses Calendula and other herbs in a vaginal diaphragm to address cervical dysplasia. I’ve used this personally with great success!
Calendula-infused oil is healing and nourishing to the skin, and can be beneficial for those with eczema, psoriasis, or dermatitis. Infuse it in your favorite body oil (mine are jojoba, almond, coconut, and olive) and use it as a chemical-free, inexpensive moisturizer! It also makes a great moisturizer for the face and is beneficial for acne.
Calendula-infused oil is a great choice for breast massage or lymphatic drainage massage. Try mixing it with other breast and lymph-beneficial herbal oils such as Violet, Dandelion flower, and Red Clover.
Once you have your Calendula flowers, visit my herbal oil post to learn how to make your own Calendula-infused oil, or watch the video below:
Free Calendula Info Card Download
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