Calendula, Marigold, Pot Marigold, bride of the sun, bull flower, butterwort.
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: 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!
Medicine
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, calendula can be used topically to soothe and mend cuts, burns, bites, sprains, bruises, rashes, sunburns, dry skin and abrasions. She soothes inflammation including inflammation from deeper bone and joint diseases. Note: as calendula rapidly repairs tissues make sure skin/wound is clean before application.
Calendula is also used both internally (tea/tincture) and externally (oil/salve) for fungal skin infections and yeast overgrowth such as candida.
As a lymphagogue/lymphatic herb, she can be taken as a tea to cleanse the lymphatic system, remove toxins from the lymph, and decongest swollen lymph nodes.
She can also be used to help regulate the menstrual cycle due to her antispasmodic and mild emmenagogue actions, helping bring on delayed menstruation and ease tension, cramping, and pain.
Folklore and Magic
As a flower of the sun, it is said a cup of calendula tea can be enough to brighten even the foulest of moods! Like adding sunshine to a cup! As a sun herb, she also brings confidence, especially if added to a bath or perfume before important events.
Love Em xx