Whenever I see Calendula, she brightens up my day! Known as the “Herb of the Sun” the flowers open in the morning and close in the evening (solar plexus goddess beauty rest).
She’s great for cleansing old infections and swellings under the skin and strengthening the thymus (brain of the immune system). A tea made with her sunshine flowers is a blessing in the case of chronic stagnation and allergic congestion. She’s a nourishing herb (food medicine), providing high levels of protein, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, carotenoid and essential fatty acids. This plant is antimicrobial and a surface immune stimulant (good for the common cold, flu and mild to moderate infections; a short term immune system stimulation to fight infection).
Calendula is excellent for digestive problems such as ulcers and irritable bowel that need soothing, moistening and rebuilding. A calm, warming anti-fungal demulcent, she’s useful for healing and repairing tissue where there is digestive sluggishness and/ presence of a yeast or bacteria overgrowth (relieves itching and burning).
Throughout the ages, tinctures made from calendula blossoms have been used to treat headaches, toothaches and even tuberculosis; the Romans used her to treat scorpion bites and soldiers in the American Civil War found she helped to stop bleeding. The plant is popular in salves and creams as she decreases the inflammation of sprains, stings, varicose veins and other swellings; soothes burns, sunburn, rashes and skin irritation; great for the treatment of eczema and acne. Laboratory studies show Calendula kills bacteria and fungus such as ringworm and athletes foot.
Here's a couple of ways I love to work with this beautiful plant spirit!
TEA INFUSION Small handful dried calendula in 32oz mason jar; cover with boiling water; steep 6-8hrs.
TICTURESmall handful dried calendula in 8oz mason jar, cover with alcohol of choice (I work with Everclear; before bottling i add 1/3 water + honey) or ACV, cover top with parchment paper (this avoids rusting), pop lid on, label (instructions on how to label HERE) and put in a neutral temp/dark space for 6-8 weeks. After 6-8 weeks, strain and bottle. Take 1 dropper full of her good ness/day. **NOTE: you can add other plants to this medicine if you feel called.