Calendula or Calendula offocinalis, also known as pot marigold is a cheerful orange or yellow blossoming flower. It not only looks good in the garden, and is a companion to other plants in the garden but it also has incredible healing properties.
Growing and Harvesting Calendula
Calendula is a gift in the garden. Not only does it add a cheerful beauty, but it also has many benefits. Calendula is one of the best companion plants in the garden. This means that they help other plants thrive. The smell of Calendula deters cabbage maggots, Mexican bean beetles, aphids, tomato hornworms and the asparagus beetle. Plant it everywhere! Calendula loves the sun but can do well in partial shade too and likes a moderate amount of water. Plant seeds in the ground early spring and you might get them to grow to 2 feet tall! Keep on picking the calendula as it flowers because then it will keep growing more. Collect the flowers on a hot summer day as that is when the resin content is the highest. Dry the calendula right after harvest and make sure that the flowers are dried all the way through before storage to prevent molding. Once you have dried Calendula flowers and leaves you can make all sorts of earth medicine!
Calendula as Medicine
- Heals wounds and skin irritations
- Anti-aging
- Anti-inflammatory
- Anti-Fungal
- Anti-Viral
- Astringent
- Stimulates the Immune System
- Helps minimize skin scarring
- Helps with sore throat and sores and inflammation in mouth and throat
- Helps rid Dandruff
- Can bring body temperature down when there is a fever
How to Use Calendula
HOW TO MAKE
CALENDULA OIL:
This can be applied to skin, hair or scalp and added to recipes for creams, salves and lip balm
- Put dried flowers in a glass jar
- Fill the jar with olive oil
- Close the lid and store in a dark place for 2 weeks
- Shake daily
- After 2 weeks strain the oil into another glass jar
- Add Vitamin E for long term storage
CALENDULA CREAM RECIPE (A First Aid Cream)
This is a good cream for wounds, scraps, skin irritations, bites, stings, sunburn, scars, acne and wrinkles.
Ingredients:
- 6 ounces of the Calendula Oil (how to above)
- 2 ounces of Almond Oil
- 3 ounces Shea Butter
- 1/2 ounce Beeswax
- 20 drops of Essential Oils (optional)
Directions:
- Melt ingredients together in a glass jar in a pot of water.
- Once melted add essential oils.
- Pour into tin or glass jars.
- Allow to cool thoroughly before using.
CALENDULA TEA
This is good for stomach issues, immune booster, sore throats, mouth sores and for lowering a fever
- Take calendula petals, about 1-2 teaspoons, if they are dry
- (Take 2-4 if they are fresh).
- Mix it with 1 cup of boiling water and steep for 10 min.
- Strain.
- For strong infusion, let it steep for overnight.
- Mix some lemon juice and honey.
