Calendula

Disclaimer: This information is in no way intended to be a substitute for modern medical care. Do not self-treat any medical complaint without the guidance of a licensed health care provider.

      Calendula officinalis comes from the Latin calends and means "the first day of the month." The term is also references the bloom's extremely long, May to November, flowering season. Marigold refers to the Virgin Mary. Because of the plant's abundant growth, it was seen as a sign of inexhaustible life. This medicinal plant is often called the pot marigold in order to differentiate it from the smaller ornamental marigold, known botanically as Tagetes.
      Take a cold shower, and without drying off, rub your body with calendula oil. Follow with a warm shower, but don't use any soap. Your skin will soon become soft to the touch.

Plant Facts:
      This cheery annual produces golden-orange flowers that have a faint but distinctive scent. It grows up to 28 inches tall. Its upright, branching stems have paddle-shaped leaves that are densely covered with fine hairs. You can add its leaves to salads while the flowers add a colorful garnish to any dish.

Origin:
      It is native to the Mediterranean and is now cultivated throughout the world. It grows wild in many areas, preferring sunny roadsides and open fields. Avoid wild gathering any of this plant from roadsides as the exhaust from vehicles and other roadway pollutants have an adverse effect on plants.

Components:
      Medicinal preparations are usually made from either the whole flower heads or just the petals. Calendula contains an essential oil that has an antibiotic effect and lends the flower its characteristic scent. Other components include calenden (which has a strong odor), the carotene-like dye calendulin, the therapeutic plant fiber mucilage, saponin, organic acids and various enzymes and resins.

Indications:
      Calendula has strong antiseptic properties; both topical and internal. Applied externally to the skin, the plant's antibiotic properties helps promote painless healing of minor wounds by reducing inflammation and pus formation. It also improves blood circulation and is useful for alleviating skin ulcers, eczema, burns and bruises and for reducing scarring. Calendula can also be used as a gargle for sore throats. Taken internally, the plant promotes the secretion of bile and thereby stimulates digestion and bowel function.

Methods of Administration:

Tea: Pour 1 cup of boiling water over 1-2 tsp. of dried calendula petals. Steep for 10 minutes, then strain. Drink 2-3 cups of warm tea daily.

Wound dressing: To facilitate healing of skin wounds, soak a compress in calendula tea and apply to the affected area.

Gargle: Unless your doctor directs otherwise, use calendula tea as a gargle or rinse to relieve inflammations in the mouth or throat. Gargle with warm tea several times a day.

Pressed juice: Press the flowers to extract the juice. Apply it directly to scrapes, corns and warts.

Homeopathy: To help treat bruises or skin ulcers in the lower limbs, take the homeopathic remedy Calendula internally in a 30C dosage. Supplement this with a calendula compress.

Ointment: A healing skin ointment can be bought in stores or prepared at home by mixing a few drops of calendula oil with skin lotion. Apply it to cuts and scrapes.

Varicose Vein/Hemorrhoid Oil

• 1 oz. St. John's Wort oil
• 8 drops of essential oils of chamomile, palma rosa and cypress

Combine ingredients. Apply externally.

Varicose Vein/Hemorrhoid Tea

• ½ oz. each hawthorn berries and flowers, gingko leaves and butcher's broom (if available)
• Hot water (enough to cover herbs

      Combine herbs. Cover with hot water and steep for 5 minutes. Strain and drink. The same herbs can also be used to make a tincture (they are, in fact, used in several commercial tincture formulas).

      If varicose veins break, you can cover them with a cold compress of calendula or St. John's wort with chamomile and carrot seed essential oils. This will decrease the swelling and pain and will deliver healing factors that help repair the veins.

Magickal Information:

Gender: Masculine
Planet: Sun
Element: Fire
Powers: Protection, Prophetic Dreams, Legal Matters, Psychic Powers
Folk Names: Marigold, Bride of the Sun, Drunkard, Goldes, Holigolde, Husband-man's Dial, Marybud, Marygold, Mary Gowles, Ruddes, Spousa Solis, Summer's Bride

• When picked at noon, when the sun is strongest and hottest, it will strengthen and comfort the heart.
• Garlands of marigolds strung on the doorposts stop evil from entering the house and scattered under the bed they protect you while asleep and make your dreams come true, i.e. give you prophetic dreams. Especially effective in discovering a thief who has robbed you.
• Marigolds added to the bath water will win the respect and admiration of everyone you meet.
• Looking at the bright flowers strengthens the sight; and carried in the pocket, marigold helps justice to smile upon you while in court.
• If a girl touches the petals of the marigold with her bare feet, she will understand the language of the birds.

This article is one of many featured in the following Suite events:

THE HUMAN BODY EVENT

Sources:
      All information provided in this article is the result of research using (but not limited to) the following books and guides: Herbs for Health and Healing, Rodale; Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs, Scott Cunningham; Magical Herbalism, Scott Cunningham; The Complete Guide to Natural Healing, International Masters Publishers; Earthway, Mary Summer Rain; Teach Yourself Herbs, Susie White; Natural Beauty from the Garden, Janice Cox; Nature's Prescriptions, Editors of FC&A Medical Publishing, and The People's Pharmacy Guide to Home and Herbal Remedies, Joe Graedon and Theresa Graedon, Ph.D