The Essences and Magic of Calendula 

Calendula showing off her Ray and Disk Florets with the early morning dew.

I am positive we have all heard of a marigold. The orange pom pom looking flowers, gardners love as companions to their vegetables. Well this isn’t about them. This is a close cousin Calendula. (Calendula officinalis, Asteraceae)  She is bright like the sun, persistent, and well, medicinal. She is a great herb to start with in the beginner’s garden. When I started my education with herbs, Calendula stood out to me. Her brightens and mightiness was waving me down through the computer screen. 

She's more than just her looks, she is an ally to the immune and lymphatic system, great for the skin, and she will aid in lifting your spirits. Um, you want to be her best friend yet? She's almost like a catch all. 

I am writing about Calendula, because she made me feel empowered in my journey of becoming an Herbalist.  Plant one seedling in your favorite pot, or just in the ground in Early Spring to see her blossom. She has resinous leaves that are broad and curvy, as they cuddle her flowerhead the more unique the leaf becomes. Everything sticks to her. That is a signature of her medicinal qualities to the immune and lymphatic system. She will grab onto whatever is causing a blockage and help relieve that stagnation. 

Let's get to her flower head. She is made up of petals called ray florets. Those are not the only petals she has though! A characteristic of the aster family, she also has disk florets. They reside in the center of her head and are placed so perfectly. If you turn calendula over, you will find bracts, they hold her petals in place and are super resionious. When harvesting you want to keep these bract intact for a strong medicine. If you are hungry, and just want a snack, that could only fill up a Fae, you can pick her petals and eat them. Calendula has loads of antioxidants so they make a great addition to salads or baked goods. 

Calendula does more than just help internally, she is well known for her vulnerary actions. She is anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial- and antifungal. You can make an oil infusion by harvesting her flower head and soaking it in oil of your choice for 4-6 weeks. Calendula oil can be used on eczema, psoriasis, acne, stings, cuts, burns, rashes, sunburns, bruises, and that's just touching the surface. Are you convinced yet of her wonders? 

As I grow her in the garden, I am more drawn to her. Every morning she greets me with her sunny blooms. Her orange blooms have the energy of the sun. Powerful and energetic.  Calendula has the ability to remove negative energy from the body, with a glance of her blooms, or infused into a warm cup of tea. Her leaves are so characteristic. They flow like a dancer. Giving movement to the garden. Giving movement to your spirit. If you think I sound crazy, well grow her yourself. Use her medicine and see what I am talking about! 

She’s holds lots of M A G I C. Her infusion will lift your spirits and make you feel like you just received a hug. Her energetics are warming and drying. This makes her an ally for winter time. We all find ourselves a little gloomy and feeling “without'' in times of darker days. Calendula can be that friend to bring light to those sunless days.

I hope I have convinced you to start growing and learning more about Calendula. It’s time we start taking control of what we see, feel, and how it impacts our health. A garden can do more than you think for your holistic health. Calendula can be grown even if you think you have a brown thumb. So why not? Start the journey of a medicinal garden with Calendula. She might teach you more than you think!

Recipe for Calendula Oil 

Adding Rose, elder flowers, and comfrey to the calendula oil

Ingredients Needs for Calendula oil:

Whole Dried Calendula flowers ( bracts included)

Organic Olive Oil or Oil of Choice

32 oz Mason Jar

Natural Wax Paper

Optional : Food processor and double boiler

Instructions:

First, grab about 2 cups worth of whole calendula flowers and add them to your mason jar

Secondly, add the oil of your choice to the jar and allow 1 inch to be above the flowers

Thirdly, put this mixture into a blender or food processor so it greats more surface area

Fourthly, put this mixture back into your mason jar. Add the wax paper to the top of it and then screw on the lid. This is to help with the erosion of the lid getting into your medicine.

Optional: Adding your macerated mixture to a double boiler for 6 - 8 hours on low heat will help extra the resinous compounds in the calendula. This will make stronger medicine.

If you opt out of doing the double boiler, store the jar in a dark cabinet for 6 weeks with a label on it.

Label should included, ingredients, medicine mixtures names ie. Calendula oil, Origin of herbs, and date.

If you feel comfortable adding more skin loving herbs to the mixture go for it!

Some good ones include:

Yarrow, Comfrey root, Chamomile, Rose, violet, Elder Flowers and Gotu Kola.

For Further Reading and Resources

Check out Chestnuts School of Herbal Medicine for more on Calendula <— Link Here

To find loose Calendula flowers, check out a local apothecary or Mountain Rose Herbs <— Link Here

To grow your own Calendula, Johnny’s Selected Seeds  <— Link Here or Strictly Medicinals Seeds <— Link Here