Calendula officinalis

Family: Asteraceae

The Active Herbalist products with calendula: Immuni-Tea

History & Growing: Calendula’s name originates from the Latin word “calens” speaking to its long growing season and harvesting cycle (it was believed to bloom and grow on a calendar month cycle)and “officinalis” which refers to its medicinal species, as it was used historically in apothecaries. Calendulais native to Southern Europe but is cultivated throughout the Americas and Europe. It is grown as an annual, however it readily self-seeds and can establish itself into a bed unless the flowers are the plant are harvested regularly. Calendula is easy to grow, and germinates easily from seed. The seeds are VERY unique, they remind me of dinosaur teeth. All the calendula cultivars can be used for culinary and medicinal purposes, but the yellow and orange types are “standard.” (Blankespoor) The more you harvest the beautiful orange and yellow flowers, the more it blooms! It enjoys full sun, and will bloom heartily when sited well upon planting, but can tolerate some shade.

Parts Used Medicinally: Flowers; specifically the petals and the resinous flower head bottoms

Supplementation Forms:  Tea, tincture, oil, salve, topical lotions, compress, poultice, sitz baths, suppositories & vaginal douche, food herb

Taste: Mildly bitter, earthy

Energetics: Warming & drying

Actions:

• Alterative
• Antifungal, Antibacterial, Antiseptic
• Antiviral
• Antioxidant
• Anti-inflammatory/Inflammation-Modulator
• Astringent
• Bitter tonic
• Cholagogue (stimulates bile flow)
• Emmenagogue (stimulates menses), mild estrogenic
• Lymphagogue (promotes production and flow of lymph)
• Vulnerary (wound healing)

Constituents: Triterpenes, carotenoids (namely lutein and beta-carotene), volatile oils and resins, polysaccharides, minerals (Groves, Popham)

Organs & Body Systems Herb Acts Upon:

• Reproductive System (uterus)
• Digestive System (liver, gall bladder)
• Immune/Lymphatic System
• Nervous System
• Skin

Traditional Uses:

• Used in Ancient Greece, popular in German folk remedies
• Dioscorides mentions its use in treating hemoptysis, intestinal complications, and to staunch nosebleeds.
• It was used topically for wound healing and in the treatment of stomach ailments as well as delayed menstruation or amenorrhea.
• Gerard notes its use in decreasing inflammation and pain relief.
• Detoxifying & cleansing herb used as an early form of cancer treatment

Current Uses (& Studies/Research):

• Skin/Topical: its vulnerary, antiseptic/antifungal, and astringent properties make it a choice herb for wound healing and hot, dry, inflamed skin conditions. It is used effectively for treating diaper rash & cradle cap, ore nipples from breastfeeding (it is safe for babies to consume small, residual amounts during breastfeeding), athletes foot, ringworm, thrush, acne, psoriasis, eczema, rashes, hemorrhoids, shingles, cold sores, ear infections and pink eye. Calendula can also help reduce scarring, speeds healing time, and decreases inflammation. It combines well with other healing herbs like chamomile, yarrow and St. John’s wort for topical applications. Calendula makes a wonderful beauty product ingredient, as it supports skin health and vibrance.
• Digestive: Tea and tincture supplementation of calendula is incredibly effective for digestive disorders, namely acid reflux, peptic ulcers, gastritis, intestinal inflammation, GERD, leaky gut, colitis, and IBS. Calendula helps heal inflamed or wounded tissue in the gut and digestive tract. As an alterative, calendula supports elimination and “draining fluid” particularly when toxicity and stagnation are contributing factors, or when dampness is a clear pattern. As a bitter tonic, calendula stimulates the liver and bile production in the gall bladder, supporting the digestive system as a whole. Calendula can be helpful in the healing process for some food intolerances like gluten and dairy.
• Reproductive: as a mild estrogenic and emmenagogue, calendula is helpful in relieving pain during menstruation as well as stimulating the menses when they are “stuck or stagnant,” namely in those with cold and/or stagnant symptomology. Calendula is also a known ally for treating damage to the reproductive system after birth. It is also a chief ingredient in emotional and physical healing in post-traumatic care after sexual abuse or trauma. It is commonly used for uterine and vaginal issues, such as yeast infections, bacterial vaginosis, cervical dysplasia and perineal tears/damage after childbirth.
• Immune: As an anti-inflammatory and lymphagogue, calendula is a fantastic herb in treating acute and chronic illness. Calendula stimulates the flow of lymph and encourages detoxification, so there’s no surprise its used to help speed recover from colds, flus, coughs and infections. As it is high in carotenoids, calendula helps improve vitamin A levels. It is incredibly helpful in “moving stagnation” such as edema, swollen lymph nodes both acute (such as a result from an infection) and chronic particularly, herbalist Sajah Popham notes, when accompanied by inflammation due to stagnation. As such, calendula helps disperse water retention. Those with generally weak immunity can benefit from regular calendula intake, especially those who have been exposed to antibiotics for a long time. It combines well with astragalus for supporting the immune system, namely in those who have undergone chemotherapy or adjacent to cancer treatments, or in for the elderly population.
  • “Calendula officinalis shows promising results regarding its potential usage in cancer management, especially in cancer prevention, treatment, and in palliative care.”
• Nervous: Calendula is an uplifting herb and can be an especially powerful herb during the winter months. Adding the flowers, who look like miniature suns, into broths and infusions during the dark, cold seasons help boost immunity while uplifting the spirit. It combines well with other “happy” plants that can be of benefit to those struggling with grief, loss, mild depression or SAD. Some combinations for this purpose may include rose, tulsi, lemon balm, and oat straw

**Calendula’s Superpower: Similar to St. John’s Wort, calendula is like sunshine in a cup. Something that stuck with me in my earliest research on calendula was herbalist Michael Wood, who notes it has a particular positive psychological affinity for those who have a fear of cancer. Calendula is ideal for people who are emotional and physically sluggish with weak immunity and poor digestive health, healing the gut, uplifting the mind, and stimulating the immune system.

When to Reach for Herb & In What Form:

• The petals make a wonderful addition to tea! I encourage folks who are feeling a little down, a little cold, a little sluggish to have some calendula tea mixed with other uplifting immune-and-digestive supporting herbs, like St. Johns, rose, and tulsi.

Dosage & Preparation: Standard herb doses

• Tea: 1 Tablespoon dried flower per 8 oz water 1-3 times/day. Calendula can get bitter if infused for a long time, I often use just the petals in tea to help prevent the bitter taste
• Tincture: 2-3 ml 1-3 times/day
• Broth: Calendula petals make a beautiful, nutritious topping to salads and soups. When making broth, add the petals in the final few moments of cooking or as a garnish.

Contraindications:

• As an aster family herb, those with allergies to the daisy family should use caution.
• Do not consume during pregnancy.
• Good sourcing (small, local, organic) is key for maximum potency as the herb can easily ‘lose power’ over time.

Elemental, Planetary & Dosha Discussion:

• Water Element (actions on lymphatic & female reproductive system). Sun-ruled plant
• Warming and drying nature (pitta-like!) of calendula is indicated for the cold vata and damp/stagnation of kapha while it could aggravate the pitta dosha. It should be formulated appropriately for short/long term use so as not to cause excess dryness/heat.

Citations & Recommended Reading:

• Herbs in History: Calendula by Alain Touwaide & Emanuela Appetiti, June 2003
• Calendula Monograph by Sajah Popham
• The Healing Garden by Juliet Blankespoor
• Body Into Balance by Maria Noel Groves
• The Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine by Andrew Chevallier

Recipe of the Week:

Calendula Infused Oil

• Ingredients: 1 cup dried calendula flower heads, Sweet Almond Oil
• Materials: Large sterilized glass jar and strainer

Directions: add the flower heads to a large clean container. Pour enough sweet almond oil into the jar to cover the flowers. Cover and set in cool dry location for 4-6 weeks, swirling the mixture every few days. Strain, label and store in the fridge for up to a year or at room temperature for 6 months.

*Alternatively, you can make this on the stove in a double boiler. Add flowers and approximately 1 cup of sweet almond oil to the double boiler. Infuse for 2-4 hours (I just keep the water simmering and the oil hot).  A slow cooker may also be used, though I haven’t tried this. Strain and label. Keep mixture in the fridge for up to a year, or at room temperature for 6 months.