Calendula (Calendula officinalis) also known as pot marigold. This beautiful bright flower is packed with many powerful medicinal properties. It has many medicinal properties including, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, astringent, bacteriostatic and fungicidal properties. This makes it a great plant to help you stay healthy.
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It is easy to grow in the ground or in planters. Learn more about growing calendula in my article. Calendula adds a beautiful pop of color to any garden.
If you do have it growing though why not harvest some to use for skin care or in the kitchen.
Harvest
The flower petals can add a spicy, tangy pop to a fresh salad. Also use them dried for making tea.
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. When 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.
Drying the flowers
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.
Uses in the kitchen
As mentioned above you can use the petals in a fresh salad or to decorate a cake. You can also consider cooking some petals into some 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.
Uses in body care
Calendula is great for treating skin and gentle enough to use in facial treatments.
In fact, Rosemary Gladstar uses calendula infused oil as one of the main ingredients in a face cream. The cream can also be used to sooth rough or irritated skin.
Calendula is even gentle enough to use on babies and children. You can create a diaper rash cream with infused oil.
To create a baby balm, follow this recipe:
Ingredients
- 2 TBSP coconut oil
- 2 TBSP apricot kernel oil infused with calendula
- 2 TBSP grated beeswax
- ¼ tsp vitamin E Oil
Instructions
Use a double boiler pan or a heat resistant measuring cup in a pot of water to melt all the ingredients together. Turn the burner on to a low heat, you don’t want to burn the ingredients. You will want to start with the beeswax first because it will take a bit to melt. Once the beeswax is in a liquid state pour in the coconut oil and apricot kernel oil. The wax will slightly solidify again allow this to melt completely stirring gently, turn off the burner and add in the vitamin E oil. Then pour this into a glass or metal tin to for use.
Historical Use
According to Hildegard von Bingen, calendula has a strong vital energy and prevails against poison. One of her recommended remedies was to cook calendula in water and after squeezing out the water, place it (the warm plant material) over the stomach. Today we would call this a poultice. It was believed that this would weaken the poison to be excreted. Her next recommendation was that the same person should warm a good wine and place calendula in it, then drink this semi warm calendula infused wine. “He will get rid of the poison through his nose, as foam.” Sounds like an unpleasant way to deal with poisoning, but if it worked, I guess people could deal with it.
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.
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