Lavender
March 1st, 2002, 02:54 PM
Pot Marigold or Calendula Officinalis is not the same as the little french marigolds. Those are Tagetes and do not have the same medicinal properties.
I find the calendula is one of the most versitile herbs around. Very hardy to grow and very useful in the medicine cabinet. Actions of the calendula are astringent, antiseptic, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, regulates menstrual cycles, heals wounds, stimulates bile production for digestion. Externally, calendula cream or salve can be used for all sorts of skin problems ranging from dry chapped skin, wounds, and eczema. Calendula cream is also excellent for burns & sunburns too. It also helps promote healing of the burns. Because of it's antiseptic nature, calendula will help prevent further infections of the burns.
Calendula cream is also a good alternative to lanolin for sore nipples in breastfeeding.
Calendula flowers are so happy and sunny, ranging from a pale golden yellow to bright orange. Some say that the brighter orange varieties have more medicinal values but I haven't read anything conclusive about this. I know there are strains of calendula that are more potent than others.
Calendula is a very hardy plant. It reseeds itself quite easily and will grow in just about any condition. I have one pot of calendula that kept blooming all through the winter. Though, calendula is listed as an annual plant, I find quite often, they do live through the winter, depending on how harsh your winters are. To save the seeds for planting, let the flower heads go to seed. Pick the seeds when they have fully developed & dried.
The flower heads can be picked & dried for winter use. The best time to harvest is early summer and early fall. Pick the flower heads & give them a quick shake to get rid of the bugs. Spread them out on newspaper in a warm dry place, but not in direct sun. The sun will evaporate the oils. After about a day, place them in paper bags & label the bags. Give the bags a gentle shake a couple of times a day. When the flowers are dried, store them in an airtight container.
Though the plant itself is hardy, when you're harvesting the flowers, be gentle with them. Don't squish or press on the petals too hard. You don't want to bruise the petals.
http://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/m/marigo16.html
http://www.holisticonline.com/Herbal-Med/_Herbs/h37.htm
I find the calendula is one of the most versitile herbs around. Very hardy to grow and very useful in the medicine cabinet. Actions of the calendula are astringent, antiseptic, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, regulates menstrual cycles, heals wounds, stimulates bile production for digestion. Externally, calendula cream or salve can be used for all sorts of skin problems ranging from dry chapped skin, wounds, and eczema. Calendula cream is also excellent for burns & sunburns too. It also helps promote healing of the burns. Because of it's antiseptic nature, calendula will help prevent further infections of the burns.
Calendula cream is also a good alternative to lanolin for sore nipples in breastfeeding.
Calendula flowers are so happy and sunny, ranging from a pale golden yellow to bright orange. Some say that the brighter orange varieties have more medicinal values but I haven't read anything conclusive about this. I know there are strains of calendula that are more potent than others.
Calendula is a very hardy plant. It reseeds itself quite easily and will grow in just about any condition. I have one pot of calendula that kept blooming all through the winter. Though, calendula is listed as an annual plant, I find quite often, they do live through the winter, depending on how harsh your winters are. To save the seeds for planting, let the flower heads go to seed. Pick the seeds when they have fully developed & dried.
The flower heads can be picked & dried for winter use. The best time to harvest is early summer and early fall. Pick the flower heads & give them a quick shake to get rid of the bugs. Spread them out on newspaper in a warm dry place, but not in direct sun. The sun will evaporate the oils. After about a day, place them in paper bags & label the bags. Give the bags a gentle shake a couple of times a day. When the flowers are dried, store them in an airtight container.
Though the plant itself is hardy, when you're harvesting the flowers, be gentle with them. Don't squish or press on the petals too hard. You don't want to bruise the petals.
http://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/m/marigo16.html
http://www.holisticonline.com/Herbal-Med/_Herbs/h37.htm