Spotlight Herb: Calendula
Hi Guys! Carol from Green Magick Apothecary here! Welcome back to our weekly blog series where we discuss a new herb, its history and common uses. This week’s herb is one of the most well-known herbs in western herbal medicine! Calendula!
Calendula, also known as pot marigold, is a plant native to Asia, southwestern Europe, and the Mediterranean. It is easily identifiable by its extremely vibrant yellow or orange blossoms. It is one of my favorite herbs to use because it looks gorgeous in nearly every herbal blend we make, and it is useful for SO MANY common issues.
I will be perfectly honest with you all, and say that most weeks when I draft this blog, I am learning with you guys. I usually know about the herb and already use it for several things, but there is always something new I learn in my research! I have known about and used calendula since I was in middle school for minor fungal infections on the skin, scrapes, and minor wounds, but I was actually shocked learning a few things about this plant today! Read on to learn more!
Calendula is used, above all, as a remedy for the skin. The blossoms are used to treat cuts, scrapes, wounds, red and inflamed skin including burns and sunburn, acne, and many rashes. Its antiseptic and healing properties help to prevent the spread of infection and speed up the rate of repair. It is also a cleansing and detoxifying herb that can be used to treat chronic infections. It is astringent, meaning it constricts pores and capillaries; this is beneficial for the skin and can be helpful for acne and to heal cuts and wounds, but may also make it helpful for varicose veins and various other inflammatory conditions!
Calendula's resins are also known to be anti-fungal, making it helpful for minor skin infections such as athlete's foot, ringworm, and thrush. For those of you who aren't aware, thrush is a common yeast infection that can affect newborn babies who breastfeed. It is normally passed between mother and infant, and can affect both of them. Calendula is actually helpful for multiple baby-related issues; including diaper rash, cradle cap, and it even helps to soothe soreness in the nipples for the breastfeeding mother.
The incredible benefits of calendula do not stop there! Due to its anti-inflammatory capabilities, taking calendula internally in an infusion or a tincture is shown to have positive effects on the digestive system, particularly in people with inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis! This was the true shocker for me, as 6 months ago our eldest son was hospitalized and almost died because he had underlying Crohn's we did not know about. He was prescribed a medication to take to keep his gut from flaring that cost $3800 for a two months' supply. Obviously we do not recommend trying any herbal treatment as a substitute for medical treatment, but for us, it was nice to know there may be more we can do to help support his gut health!
Calendula is also an important herb for women of child-bearing age. Above we learned it can be a great treatment for you AND your baby during breastfeeding, but it is mildly estrogenic too. This means it can also be helpful during menstruation, both for the painful cramps and to reduce heavy flow.
The last really important tidbit I'd like to share about calendula is its abilities as a detoxifier. It is known to help cleanse the toxicities that can underly many chronic health conditions. In fact, laboratory studies suggest that calendula's background as a traditional treatment for cancers, particularly breast cancers, is likely justified!
At Green Magick Apothecary, we currently use calendula in two of our salves. The first is our Skin-Nirvana Soothing Skin Balm :
This is our everything balm! This was the very first salve I ever attempted and it was originally designed because a dear friend of ours was suffering from chronic auto-immune hives and was unable to take any over-the-counter or prescription antihistamines to calm them due to an allergy. Turning to herbal relief was her only option, so I immediately thought of calendula. I knew from my upbringing that calendula is the "skin herb." Our friend has been using this salve for almost 2 years now, and it has become her best friend. She's now pregnant and due to deliver any day, so in addition to using it for her hives she also moisturizes her belly with it daily and it has helped keep her stretch marks to the minimum. We MIGHT just have to develop a new baby butt balm and nipple salve with calendula just for her little guy!
The other salve we use calendula in is our Resplendent Rose Facial Salve.
This was our first salve we didn't design specifically for an ailment. We wanted to add a beautifying product to our line and knew that rose was a great place to start because of its recent rediscovery and popularity as a beautifying herb, but we were really excited to learn that calendula works well with it as a treatment for acne because of its ability to constrict and shrink pores.
Both of these salves are available now in our store!
Warnings: The use of herbs is a time-honored approach to strengthening the body and treating disease. Herbs, however, can trigger side effects and can interact with other herbs, supplements, or medications. For these reasons, you should take herbs with care, under the supervision of a health care provider.
Calendula is generally safe to use on the skin. However, it should not be used by anyone with allergies to plants in the daisy family, including ragweed, as they are related and may cause allergic reaction. ALWAYS perform a spot test if you have any allergies before using in large amounts. Calendula should also not be taken internally by pregnant women because it could effect hormone levels. Calendula should also not be used if you are using prescription or over-the-counter anti-fungals because it could interact.