Have you grown calendula (Calendula officinalis) in your garden? This beautiful bright flower is packed with many powerful medicinal properties and it is safe for your animals. The plant has anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, astringent, bacteriostatic and fungicidal properties.
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It is easy to grow in the ground or in planters. You can learn more about growing calendula in my article here. It adds a beautiful pop of color to any garden.
Harvest Calendula
To harvest you will want to pick them after the dew has evaporated and the flowers are vibrant. The green underside has a resinous bract, your hands will get sticky from the resin. Once the flowers start blooming check them every two or three days. By continuously harvesting you will encourage new flower heads to pop.
As a gift to mother earth any blooms that have started to go to seed drop back to her. The seeds will continue to form and return as new blooms in the next season.
Once you have harvested you can determine if you will be eating these right away or drying them for future use. For immediate use read the section for uses in the kitchen.
To dry calendula, place the entire flower on a screen or thin sheet that is raised so that it can get good air flow. Place the rack in a shaded area, direct sunlight will deplete the medicinal properties more quickly. Make sure to shake the flowers around each day. It will take about 10 – 15 days for them to dry completely. Once the flower petals are brittle to touch, they should be dry enough to store. You can place them in a glass jar for future use.
Using calendula with animals
Having a jar of dried calendula petals provides you with an easy first aid ingredient for your pets. If your pet gets a minor scrap you can make a tea with the flowers and then use that spray to treat the wound. Place the tea in a spray bottle for easy application, make sure you keep it refrigerated and replace it every two to three days to ensure it doesn’t grow bacteria.
Another option is creating a powder for dusting wounds that won’t dry up. This can be done using a mortar and pestle or use a blender that has a blade for dried goods. For a powder you can also add other herbs that have healing properties such as lavender, or chamomile.
Dr. Patrick Jones also recommends a formula for animals that supports their periodontal health that is a blend of calendula, echinacea, devil’s claw and comfrey.
When I was working at Celestial Farms we often had to deal with thrush on the hooves of many of the animals. Calendula was one of the ingredients in a blend that we found much success with you can learn more in my article about thrush here.
Uses in the kitchen
If you haven’t yet read my article about how to use calendula for yourself, you can learn more by reading it here. Some of the suggestions include adding some petals into scrambled eggs.
Compound butters are always a unique way to add garden flavors to your dishes. Try mixing a few different herbs together to find a blend you love.
Calendula tea has uses both internally and externally. Externally it has been used as a wash to help moderate fevers. It is a nourishing herb that is cleansing to the lymphatic system.
Historical Animal Use
According to Hildegard von Bingen calendula has a strong vital energy and prevails against poison. When it came to animals she had a remedy too. Veterinary care back then didn’t have options like we do now and people would notice that cows or sheep may eat something bad for them that would cause them to swell up rapidly. For this pound calendula to express the juice, the juice should then be poured into the animals mouth with a little bit of water and they will be cured. Another recommendation was if a cow or sheep cough pour the juice into their nostrils, the animal will then expel the noxious humors and become well.
I always find reading her remedies interesting and humorous. Working with animals can be an interesting adventure when figuring out how to help them use herbal remedies. Sheep or not easy to catch and often not friendly so I can’t imagine trying to pour something in their nostrils.
Creating a medicinal herb and flower garden is a great way to provide beauty to your yard and an easy way to support your health and your animals. Is there something more you would love to learn about feel free to share in the comments or reach out to me.
