Updated 4 January 2024
Common names
- Calendula
Common origins
- Mediterranean region
Botanical classification
- Kingdom: Plantae
- Division: Magnoliophyta
- Class: Magnoliopsida
- Order: Asterales
- Family: Asteraceae
- Genus: Calendula
Components
- Pentacyclic triterpenes (particularly abundant): alpha- and beta-amyrin, arnidiol, faradiol, ursadiol, etc.
- Saponosides (2 to 10%): calendulosides
- Carotenoids: lycopene, lutein, beta-carotene, xanthophylline
- Flavonoids: quercetin, isorhamne, tin, rutin, etc.
- Gums
- Mucilages
- Polysaccharides
- Coumarins
- Phenolic acids
- Salicylic acid (0.43 mg/kg)
- Essential oil (minor amount, approx. 0.02%)
Parts used
- Flower heads
Organoleptic properties
- Odour: planty, characteristic, strong when fresh
- Taste: resinous, bitter, sweet
Properties
- Anti-inflammatory
- Antiseptic, antibacterial, antifungal
- Anti-oedematous
- Healing, stimulates cell regeneration, cyto-protective
- Anti-oxidant
- Choleretic and cholagogue
- Depurative
- Diuretic
- Hypolipidemic
- Antispasmodic
- Emmenagogue, regulates menstruation (particularly after strong emotions)
- Sudorific
- Anti-pruritic
Indications
Internal use
- Inflammations of the digestive mucosa
- Peptic ulcers, colitis
- Gastritis
- Menstrual pains
- Amenorrhoea
- Venous insufficiency
- Haemorrhoids
- Rheumatic inflammations
- Hepato-biliary disorders
- Sore throat
- Cough
- Cold
- Fever
External use
- Skin irritations
- Diaper rash
- Ulcerations
- Fissures
- Chilblains
- Wounds
- Furuncles
- Anal prutitus
- Corns
- Blisters
- Minor burns
- Sunburn
- Eczema
- Psoriasis
- Healing wounds
- Impetigo
- Insect bites
- Varicose veins, spider veins
- Ulcerated or damaged mucous membranes (eyes, mouth, vagina)
- Bruises
- Shocks, hardening of bones, cartilage, nerves and tendons
Be careful not to apply calendula ointment to an open bleeding wound.
Precautions / Contraindications
- In internal use: nausea, vomiting.
- Possible allergic reaction in persons allergic to Asteraceae.
- Pregnant women are contraindicated.
How to use / Current dose
Internal use
- As an infusion or decoction: 1 to 2 g (depurative and laxative) or 5 g (sudorific, diuretic) per cup, often mixed with other plants. (However, this is not an optimal preparation as some compounds are not soluble in water).
- Mother tincture or liquid extract: 5 to 30 drops in a little water 3 times a day.
- Fresh flower juice: 2 teaspoons per cup, 3 times a day, for vomiting or stomach ulcers.
External use
- Oily compresses
- Ointment or cream, balms, talcum powder
- Alcohol, mother tincture: After tooth extraction, mouthwashes with a dilution of mother tincture relieve pain and help stop bleeding. It can also be used topically for athlete's foot.
- Cataplasm: fresh flowers (or dried flowers soaked in a little hot water) crushed with a pestle.
- Freshly picked marigold leaves, crushed and soaked in vinegar: apply several times a day for warts or corns.
- Spray
Cooking
- Fresh petals can be used in salads to bring a little sunshine to the plate. In England and Germany, dried petals are added to soups.
- Flower buds can also be added to salads or macerated in vinegar and used as a condiment to whet the appetite.
To find out more
To make a 'homemade' marigold oil maceration:
- Fill a clean glass jar (sterilised with alcohol) with dried calendula flowers.
- Cover with a vegetable oil (sweet almond, sunflower, olive, apricot kernel, etc.).
- Place a piece of cloth or greaseproof paper over the top of the jar and secure with a rubber band.
- Leave to macerate in a dark place for 3 to 4 weeks. It can be placed in the sun for a few hours a day.
- Filter.
- Store in opaque bottles.
In homeopathy, marigold heals physical wounds, but above all it heals very old wounds of the soul, helping to heal the wounds left by difficult moments in life.
It is a true vulnerary that brings healing to a close. It also offers its vitality to very tired or hypersensitive people, especially those who are disturbed by frequent inflammatory phenomena that are not very effective in the organic healing process.
Additional information
Habitat and botanical description
It is a herbaceous plant with strong, angular stems of about 40 cm. Its leaves are whole, elongated, elliptic and sessile. The flowers are grouped in large heads of tubular, ligulate flowers of a beautiful bright orange-yellow colour (up to 8 cm in diameter).
Harvest time
The flower heads are best harvested at the start of flowering in June, but can also be harvested late in the autumn. As they dry, they lose much of their weight and therapeutic power.
Mythology / History / Anecdotes and traditional virtues
The word marigold comes from 'Sol sequia', meaning 'that which follows the sun', and 'calendula' is related to the Roman word for the first days of the month, calendas. Marigolds can flower for several months of the year, and their flower heads open and close early with the apparent movements of the sun.
It has been cultivated since the 12th century for its many medicinal properties, including treating headaches, jaundice, red eyes and toothache, healing wounds that do not heal properly and preventing poisoning.
Dr Cazin mentions its use in colouring butter and cheese. It is also a beautiful ornamental for gardens.