| Calendula | | | | Pot Marigold (Calendula Officinalis) has been utilized |
| Calendula Officinalis | | | | for centuries for healing all manner of wounds and |
| Common Names: Garden Marigold, Holigold, | | | | skin inflammation. And has been used by many to |
| Marigold, Mary Bud, Pot Marigold. | | | | help heal painful lesions caused by dry eczema. Its' |
| Medicinal Parts: Leaves, Flowers | | | | use was well documented during the American |
| Description: Calendula is an annual garden plant | | | | Civil War. Doctors on the battlefield used the |
| with an angular, branched, hairy stem 1 to 2 feet | | | | flowers on a large scale to treat open wounds. It |
| high. From June to October the plant bears large, | | | | proved to be an effective antiseptic, staunching |
| yellow or orange flower heads. | | | | bleeding, preventing infection, and speeding the |
| Properties and Uses: Antispasmodic, aperient, | | | | healing of wounds. The practice continued by |
| cholagogue, diaphoretic, vulnerary. An infusion of | | | | doctors during WWI. |
| the flowers (either the ray flowers alone or the | | | | According to Wm. Boericke's Materia Medica with |
| whole head) can be used for such gastrointestinal | | | | Repertory: "Calendula Officinalis is a remarkable |
| problems as ulcers, stomach cramps, colitis and | | | | healing agent, applied locally it is useful for open |
| diarrhea. It is also useful taken internally for fever, | | | | wounds, parts that will not heal, ulcers, etc. It |
| boils, abscesses, and to prevent recurrent | | | | promotes healthy granulations and rapid healing. |
| vomiting. The fresh juice of the herbs or flowers | | | | For all wounds, the greatest healing agent." |
| can substitute for the infusions. For external use, | | | | Marigold Infusion can be used to soothe chapped |
| a very good salve for wounds can be made from | | | | hands and may be used in infusion form in the |
| the dried flowers or leaves, from the juice | | | | bath to reduce body scars and soothe varicose |
| pressed out of the fresh flowers, or from the | | | | veins. For inflamed areas prepare a strong |
| tincture. The salve or dilute tincture is also good | | | | marigold tea with equal parts of apple cider |
| for bruises, sprains, pulled muscles, sores, and | | | | vinegar. Apply this with a compress to the |
| boils. To get rid of warts, rub on the fresh juice. | | | | effected area. |
| The tincture is often used internally for gastritis | | | | A few drops of Tincture of Calendula can be |
| and for menstrual difficulties. | | | | added to a cup or more of boiling water and |
| When an individual first begins exploring the use of | | | | applied as a compress to treat cuts, bruises and |
| herbs to treat common ailments, many are | | | | even open wounds. |
| frightened off by statements from the FDA and | | | | A Special Note: This discussion refers only to Pot |
| the medical community, which insist that the | | | | Marigold or Calendula Officinalis, not to be |
| healing properties of specific herbs have not been | | | | mistaken with the non-herb marigolds, dwarf |
| scientifically documented. | | | | French Marigolds and African Marigolds. This is one |
| While this is true, you might want to bear in mind | | | | herb that should not be used if you are pregnant. |
| that clinical studies cost money. There is little or | | | | 1. "The Herb Book," by John Lust, Benedict Lust |
| no incentive for any medical company to | | | | Pub., May 1974 |
| thoroughly investigate the healing properties of | | | | 2. "Herbal Medicine, The Natural Way to Get Well |
| herbs simply because they cannot be patented | | | | and Stay Well," Dian Dincin Buchman, Gramercy |
| and the FDA approval process is lengthy and | | | | Publishing Company, Gramercy 1980 Edition. |
| expensive. | | | | |