Information on Calendula
| Latin Name |
| Calendula officinalis |
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| Affects |
| Urinary system, Integumentary system |
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| Herb Forms |
| Tinctures, salves, oils, creams, bulk herb. |
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| Dosages |
Oil: External use
Infusion: 1-3 cups dailly
Tincture: 40-60 drops 2-3 x daily |
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| Botanical Information |
| A stout herb of the daisy family with elongated, tongue-shaped leaves and abundant bright orange flowers. A garden favorite; abundantly reseeds itself. |
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| Description |
Calendula is popular in ointments, salves, or creams for various skin problems, such as eczema, skin rashes, bed sores, diaper rash, varicose veins, bruises, burns, and sore breasts. The tea is used locally for sore throats, slow-healing wounds, or leukorrea and internally for fever and swollen lymph glands. The tea or tincture is beneficial for the healing of ulcers in the digestive tract and to ease gallbladder inflammation and enlarged, sore lymph glands. An extract of calendula flowers (combined with allantoin) was shown to dramatically accelerate the healing of surgically-induced wounds and prevent infection.
Calendula has a taste of SPICY, BITTER and a temperature of NEUTRAL. |
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| References |
| Blumenthal, Mark et al. 1998. The Complete Commission E Monographs. Austin: American Botanical Council.
Newall, C. et al.. 1996. Herbal Medicines: A Guide for Health-care Professionals. London: The Pharmaceutical Press.
Leung, A. and S. Foster. 1996. Encyclopedia of Common Natural Ingredients. New York: J. Wiley & Sons.
McGuffin, M. et al. 1997. Botanical Safety Handbook. Boca Raton: CRC Press.
Wren, R.C. 1988. Potter's New Cyclopaedia of Botanical Drugs. Essex: C.W. Daniel Co. Ltd.
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Ailments treated by Calendula
| Ailment |
Treatment Support |
Application |
| Abrasions |
anti-inflammatory |
cream or salve externally |
| Bed sores |
anti-inflammatory, skin soother |
cream or salve externally |
| Bee stings |
anti-inflammatory |
salve, externally |
| Breasts, sore |
anti-inflammatory, soothing |
salve, externally |
| Corns |
skin softener and soother |
salve externally |
| Dermatitis |
anti-inflammatory |
salve externally |
| Fleas |
skin soother |
salve externally |
| Frostbite |
vulnerary |
salve externally |
| Herpes |
antiviral, anti-inflammatory |
cream externally, tincture internally |
| Mastitis |
anti-inflammatory, soothing |
salve, cream, or tea externally |
| Ichthyosis |
soothing to the skin |
cream externally |
| Inflammation |
anti-inflammatory, vulnerary |
1 cup infusion or droppersful tincture, 2-3 times daily |
| Insect bites |
anti-inflammatory, soothing agent |
cream, salve |
| Itching |
anti-inflammatory, vulnerary |
creams |
| Leucorrhea |
anti-inflammatory |
tea as a douche |
| Mouth sores |
anti-viral |
tincture (placed directly on sore) |
| Nettle Sting |
anti-inflammatory |
salve, oil, cream |
| Pruritis |
anti-inflammatory |
cream, salve, or tea externally |
| Psoriasis, acute |
anti-inflammatory |
cream, tea, or salve externally |
| Ringworm |
soothing anti-inflammatory |
salve externally |
| Skin eruptions |
soothing anti-inflammatory |
salve or cream externally |
| Wounds |
vulnerary, anti-inflammatory |
cream, salve, oil |
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