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CALENDULA

Botanical Names

  • Family Asteraceae (formerly Compositae)
  • Calendula officinalis

Common Names

  • Marigold, Pot marigold, Holligold/Holigold, Goldbloom/Gold-bloom, Golds, Mary Bud/Marybud, Ruddes, Mary Gowles, Garden/English/African/American/Aztec Marigold
  • Spanish: Caléndula, Mercadela, Coronilla, Virreyna Caléndula, Cempasúchil, Pericón, Flor de Muerto, Cincollagas
  • Nahuatl: Cempoalxóchitl
  • Maya: Ix-ti-pu

Cautions

  • Calendula should not be taken internally during pregnancy.
  • When growing or picking calendula flowers, make sure the plants are Calendula officinalis and not Tagetes species, of which the French, African, and Mexican marigolds are common. They have different properties and must not be used for herbal teas. Instead, those plants are used for warts and also as insecticides or weedkillers.

Description

Native to southern Europe and parts of Asia, calendula is now cultivated worldwide as a popular item in home gardens as it attracts bees for pollination and keeps harmful insects away from other plants. The herb is an annual, growing to about two feet in height with vivid orange to yellow flower heads similar in structure to the daisy. The Calendula genus is native to the Mediterranean. The native American marigold looks very similar and belongs to the Tagetes genus.

Key Actions

Key Components

Medicinal Parts

  • Flower heads and petals
  • The more vivid the color, the higher is the level of active medicinal ingredients.
  • A related wild species, C. arvense, seems to have similar therapeutic properties.

Remedies

  • many uses for infusions (see below)
  • ointments to heal minor burns and sores
  • creams for cuts and scrapes, as well as dry eczema and sunburn
  • infused oil for inflamed, dry skin, chilblains, and hemorrhoids
  • tinctures for eczema, or taken to stimulate the liver and digestion
  • fresh petals added to bathwater to leave the skin soft, while healing minor irritants
  • infused oil soothe inflammations, chilblains, and cracked nipples from breastfeeding
  • compresses applied to slow-healing wounds
  • poultices from the leaves for gouty swellings
  • infused oil suppositories for vaginal yeast infections
  • gargle for sore throats and to relieve the pressure in congested ears.

Traditional Uses

Calendula is one of the most well-known and versatile herbs in Western herbal medicine. Infusions are commonly used to treat such chronic fungal infections as ringworm or oral thrush, as an effective douche for vaginal yeast infections, to aid digestion, menopausal problems, menstrual pain, and esophogeal inflammations, and as a mouthwash, to heal gums after a tooth extraction, mouth ulcers, and gum inflammations.

This plant has a particular affinity for women. Taken regularly, marigold tea is helpful for painful periods, tender ovaries, blocked tubes, and in maintaining equilibrium during menopause. It has a mild estrogenic action often effective in reducing menstrual pain and regulating menstrual bleeding. When taken regularly, calendula will clear up cellulite, especially if used in conjunction with massage.

Taken internally, calendula helps inflammatory digestive system problems, including gastritis, peptic ulcers, regional ileitis, and colitis. It is also useful in expelling amoebas and intestinal worms and such fungal infections as candidiasis.

It is best known as an antiseptic, astringent, and an antimicrobial used on cuts, wounds, skin infections, varicose veins and hemorrhoids. It is especially helpful with fungal conditions, including athlete’s foot, thrush, diaper rash, and cradle cap. It also helps sore nipples from breast feeding.

Calendula has long been used as a detoxifying herb and for helping to treat the cause of such conditions characterized by fever and infection. The herb is also effective for cleansing the liver and gallbladder.

If taken as a hot infusion, it promotes sweating, thereby helping to relieve fevers while improving blood and lymphatic circulation, thus enabling the body to expel toxins.

CALENDULA VS MARIGOLD

Although both are members of the sunflower (Asteraceae) family, marigolds are members of the Tagetes genus, which includes at least 50 species, while calendula are members of the Calendula genus, a smaller genus with only 15 to 20 species.

Calendula is often known as pot marigold, common marigold, or Scotch marigold, though it isn’t a true marigold at all. Marigolds are native to South America, southwestern North America, and tropical America. Calendula is native to northern Africa and south-central Europe.

Other than being from two separate genus families and hailing from different areas, here are some ways to tell the difference between marigolds and calendulas: Seeds: Calendula seeds are brown, curved, and slightly bumpy. Marigold seeds are straight black seeds with white, paintbrush-like tips.

Size: Calendula plants generally reach heights of 12 to 24 inches (31-61 cm.), depending on the species and growing conditions. They rarely exceed 24 inches (61 cm.). Marigolds, on the other hand, vary widely, with species ranging from 6 inches (15 cm.) to 4 feet (1 m.) tall.

Aroma: Calendula flowers and leaves have a slightly sweet aroma, while the odor of marigolds is unpleasant and strangely pungent or spicy.

Shape: Calendula petals are long and straight, and the blooms are rather flat and bowl-shaped. They may be orange, yellow, pink, or white. Marigold petals are more rectangular with rounded corners. They aren’t flat, but slightly wavy. Colors range from orange to yellow, red, mahogany, or cream.

Toxicity: Calendula plants are edible, and all parts of the plant are safe, although they reportedly don’t taste very good. However, it’s always wise to check with a professional herbalist before eating the plant or brewing tea. Marigolds are a mixed bag. Some species may be edible, but it’s probably safest not to eat any part unless you’re absolutely sure of its safety.

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