Calendula officinalis, Marigold

Common names

Pot marigold, Mary bud, Mary gold, gold bloom, Garden marigold, holigold, golds, ruddes, ruddles, Mary Gowles, Oculus Christi

French = Souci des jardins, German = Ringelblume, Spanish = Calendula, Italian = Calendola

History

Medieval uses: It is a good preservative against the pestilence called “the Plague”
Most important wound remedy
The flowers & the leaves are distilled, the water is then dropped into red & watery eyes, and it ceases the inflammation & takes away the pain. Conserves made of the flowers & sugar taken in the morning fasting, cures the trembling of the heart.

Typhus fever. To reduce swellings in the feet. It was also valued as an aphrodisiac.

Medicinal uses

Spasmolytic, mild diaphoretic, anti-inflammatory, antihaemorrhagic, non-tannin astringent, styptic, vulnerary, local tissue healer, antifungal, antiseptic, cholagogue, emmenagogue, menstrual regulator (please see Glossary).

Benefits

Inflammations of the skin and mucosa. Calendula is an extremely effective herb for the treatment of skin problems and can be used wherever there is inflammation of the skin, whether due to infection or physical damage; for example, crural ulceration, varicose veins, haemorrhoids, anal fissures, mastitis, sebaceous cysts, impetigo or other inflamed cutaneous lesions. It is also specifically indicated in enlarged or inflamed lymphatic nodes. It may be used externally for any wound, bruising or strains and is of particular value in the treatment of slow-healing wounds and skin ulcers or as a first aid treatment of minor burns and scalds. Calendula has been shown to promote blood clotting and to reduce capillary effusion. As an eye lotion, it can be used to treat conjunctivitis. Topical application may be as a lotion, poultice or compress. As an ointment, it is an excellent cosmetic remedy for repairing minor damage to the skin such as subdermal broken capillaries or sunburn. The sap from the stem is reputed to remove warts, corns and calluses. Isolated polysaccharides from the flowers were found to stimulate phagocytosis of human granulocytes in vitro. Although it contains no tannins, Calendula is locally astringent, due to its resin component and probably to other water-soluble constituents as well.

The plant acts against fungal, protozoal, bacterial and viral infections. Antifungal activity has been demonstrated in vitro with a 10% methanol extract, and a 70% hydro-alcoholic tincture had high virucidal activity against influenza viruses and suppressed the growth of herpes simplex virus. The oxygenated terpenes are active against trichomonas. Tincture of Calendula tincture, particularly when combined with Commiphora, is an effective local treatment for fungal and other infections of the vagina, or for fungal skin conditions. 

Taken internally, Calendula is of benefit in digestive inflammation, for example, gastric or duodenal ulcers. It is indicated in unresolved infection or erosion of the upper digestive tract, particularly where there is evidence of bleeding into the gut (i.e. the dark stools of melaena). As a cholagogue it helps relieve gallbladder problems and to aid the digestion generally.

As an emmenagogue, Calendula can be of benefit in the treatment of delayed menstruation and dysmenorrhoea. The hormonal influences are likely to stem from the sterol fraction. 

Other uses

In the 12th century Macer wrote that merely looking at the plant would improve the eyesight, clear the head and encourage cheerfulness. Culpeper recommended it to 'strengthen the heart', and it was highly regarded in the treatment of smallpox and measles. Today Calendula is widely used in homoeopathic remedies, where it is prescribed for coughs, the common cold, fever, wounds and chronic infections. Such large amounts are grown for medicinal use in the former Soviet Union that it has earned the name of Russian penicillin. The leaves and petals can be eaten in salads, and the flowers are widely used in cosmetics. Traditionally the flowers were used to impart a yellow colour to cheese. 

Warnings

None known

References

Bradley, P.R. (ed.) 1992 British Herbal Compendium, Volume 1, BHMA, Bournemouth.

BHMA 1983 British Herbal Pharmacopoeia, BHMA, Bournemouth.

Culpeper, N. 1649 Complete Herbal and English Physician, 1990 reprint of the 1814 London edition of Culpeper’s Complete Herbal, Meyer, Illinois.

Grieve, M. 1931 A Modern Herbal, (ed. C.F. Leyel 1985), London.

Hoffmann, D. 1990 The New Holistic Herbal, Second Edition, Element, Shaftesbury.

Lust, J. 1990 The Herb Book, Bantam, London.

Mabey, R. (ed.) 1991 The Complete New Herbal, Penguin, London.

Mills, S.Y. 1993 The A-Z of Modern Herbalism, Diamond Books, London.

Ody, P. 1993 The Herb Society's Complete Medicinal Herbal, Dorling Kindersley, London.

Weiss, R.F. 1991 Herbal Medicine, Beaconsfield Arcanum, Beaconsfield.

Special thanks to www.purplesage.org.uk