The Miracles of the Pot Marigold – Calendula Officinalis

July 17, 2024

After a soggy Spring, Summer seems a reluctant arrival, but nonetheless it is still warm enough for outdoor pursuits. Whether you’re kite surfing, riding horses, walking through the woods or just pottering around the house, if you manage to run into a scrape, you might be grateful for this golden gem from mother’s nature’s garden. Calendula, which can be found in nappy cream, lotions and ointments, was given its name by the Romans who noted that it flowered monthly, and has been used as a herb since the 12 th Century.

In both herbalism and homeopathy, it is known as a remedy for the treatment of minor wounds and burns, but science is also becoming aware of its potential. A 2023 study (Shahane eta al) found ‘this plant contains flavonoids, triterpenoids, glycosides, saponins, carotenoids, volatile oil, amino acids, steroids, sterols, and quinines’ which offer ‘anti-inflammatory… wound healing… antioxidant activities’. The study found it was ‘employed in cases of certain burns and gastrointestinal, gynecological, ocular, and skin conditions’.  A 2013 (Eghdampour ) study of 111 postnatal women in Tehran, found that it speeded episiotomy recovery. A 2023 (Rezai) study of 60 burns patients given 2 grams of marigold extract for 14 days at Valiasr Hospital in Arak concluded ‘Calendula officinalis may be effective in accelerating the healing of second-degree burns’.

Adding a few drops to cooled boiled water, can be an effective and safe way to clean wounds, prevent infection and promote healing. Dr. Petrie Hoyle, a homeopathic physician from the first World War wrote: ‘I have used this on all sorts… to Calendula alone I attribute the quick sweetening of all these wounds.”

If you are interested to learn more about Calendula and other first aid remedies, you might be interested in my Summer course called Homeopathy for the Great Outdoors. You can add calendula to your first aid kit by purchasing tincture, cream or lotion from a herbal or homeopathic pharmacy. You never know when you might be grateful to this sunshine flower.


References

Boericke, W., CALENDULA OFFICINALIS – HOMOEOPATHIC MATERIA MEDICA (homeoint.org)

Hardy, L., Mills, S., 2001, Botanical Medicine for Women’s Health, Aviva Romm, Elsevier

Eghdampour, F, et al 2013, The Impact of Aloe vera and Calendula on Perineal Healing after Episiotomy in Primiparous Women: A

Randomized Clinical Trial, Journal of Caring Sciences.

Rezai, S., 2023, Rahazani, K., Hekmatpou, D., Rostami, Effect of oral Calendula officinalis on second-degree burn wound healing, A., Scars, Burn, Heal

Samet, Dr. Linda https://www.homeopathyworks.com/dr samets- insights/calendulaone-of-homeopathys-many-gifts-to-humankind

Shahane, K., et al, 2023 An Updated Review on the Multifaceted Therapeutic Potential of Calendula officinalis L


The Miracles of the Pot Marigold – Calendula Officinalis
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