
Calendula, Marigold, Pot Marigold, bride of the sun, bull flower, butterwort.
The name calendula is a diminutive Latin form of calends (or kalends), meaning “the first day of each month”. Perhaps named after when people noticed it blooming.
Today it's known as fiore d’ogni mese in Italy and fleur de tous les mois in France, meaning “flower of every month.”
The flowers: dried for tea, extracted in tincture, oils, salves, balms or lotions. Also nice in a bath or as an edible flower in food.
Season To Harvest
Flowers - Spring to Autumn
Flowers: Flavonoids, volatile oil, resin, sterols, tannin, amino acids, mucilage, carotenoids, phenolic acids, triterpenoid saponins and polysaccharides.
Flowers: Harvest whole flower heads in the afternoon after the dew has evaporated and dry in a warm, well ventilated area. Harvesting the flower heads every 2-3 days may help to encourage additional blooms.
Uses
Energetically, calendula is warming.
Flower: anti-inflammatory, astringent, antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, antispasmodic, emmenagogue, lymphagogue, vulnerary and a mood enhancer.
Most well known as a vulnerary plant, it is used topically to soothe and mend cuts, burns, bites, sprains, bruises, rashes, sunburns, dry skin and abrasions. The herb may also address inflammation related to bone and joint diseases. Calendula is also used both internally and externally for fungal skin infections and yeast overgrowth such as candida.
Calendula is also commonly used as a lymphagogue. It cleanses the lymphatic system by moving the fluid, removing toxins from the lymph, and decongesting swollen lymph nodes.
Lastly it can be used to help regulate the menstrual cycle due to its antispasmodic and emmenagogue actions, helping resolve delayed menstruation, regulate the cycle, and ease tension, cramping, and pain.
Note: as it rapidly repairs tissues make sure skin/wound is clean before application.