By: Britt L. Brown, LMT
Ahh, Calendula! This bright and cheery herbaceous flower is one of my favorites- it’s various hues of oranges and yellows always seem to bring a warmth to my day, and a smile to my face. I love watching the bees and lady beetles dance along the petals looking for their lunch, helping to pollinate my little garden, and keeping pests away from my tomatoes! Sometimes when I’m harvesting the Calendula flowers to make my herbal oils and lotion bars, I’ll set a few aside to sprinkle a “pop” of color and flavor to a salad later (so tasty). There are so many reasons why I love Calendula, but the main reason I want to talk to you about it today is because of its seriously rad healing properties, so let’s break those down shall we?
Though Calendula products are not FDA approved there are many product users, scientists, and natural practitioners who would argue in favor of the antibacterial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor and antioxidant properties of C. officianalis. Other species of Calendula less commonly used have also shown antimicrobial and antimutagenic properties, and hemolytic activities. Most often you’ll find Calendula in body oils, lotions, and balms but it isn’t uncommon to find it in a tincture or tea. When applied topically Calendula salves and balms can help soothe and improve the healing of burns and abrasions and help reduce the likelihood of all kinds of infections. When sipped from a tea or in a recommended tincture dosage, Calendula has shown to have additional calming effects and can help to lower blood pressure. Scientific studies on Calendula are unfortunately few in number and small in sample size, so more research will need to be conducted and reviewed before the FDA will give its seal of approval to our beloved Calendula. In addition- it’s important to note that Calendula isn’t for everyone.
If you have a history of allergic reaction to Marigolds, then Calendula might not be the flower for you as it comes from the same family, and it is likely to cause a similar allergic reaction. Allergic reactions such as contact dermatitis and anaphylaxis, so be sure to consult with your MD or ND before adding any Calendula supplements to your self-care routine. Wondering where I got my info or wanting to learn more about Calendula? Follow the links below!
Sources:
1) “A review on phytochemistry and ethnopharmacological aspects of genus Calendula”, Authors
Disha Arora, Anita Rani,1 and Anupam Sharma, 2013,
Web: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3841996/
2) West Coast Seeds, Web: https://www.westcoastseeds.com/products/single-orange
3) Mountain Rose Herbs, Web: https://mountainroseherbs.com/calendula
Well-Go tiny spa 