Herbs of sunshine warm and bright
Herb of skin care, healer’s delight
Such healing power received from you
One of Calendula’s common names is pot marigold. There is another plant known as marigold too, which has a genus name of Tagetes. Though they are not related, they are used similarly.
All About Calendula
Calendula’s common name Pot Marigold gives us a clue how she has been used as food – she was often thrown into soups.
The orange ray flower petals were often added to milk when making cheese to color the cheese.
The flowers are often added to salads as well.
That orange color gives us an indication of the vitamin and mineral content that she might have. Many foods that have an orange color contain beta carotene, which is an orange pigment that is a natural form of vitamin A.
In addition, Calendula also contains iodine, manganese, potassium, and vitamin C. These are all nutrients which promote the regeneration of skin cells, making Calendula a great skin care plant. Calendula loves our skin!
Because of this, Calendula is often used for the skin. She is used for varicose veins, bleeding wounds and other wounds, sores, cuts, scrapes, sunburns, other burns and bruising of the skin, measles, chickenpox, mumps, small pox, thrush, diaper rash, cradle cap, skin pain and irritation, bee and wasp stings, insect bites, chapped lips, dry skin, acne, and sore and inflamed eyes.
Calendula is gentle and detoxifying to the skin, helping to heal it from the inside out. When applied externally to a wound, Calendula’s antimicrobial action works to keep germs and infection out of the wound while her vulnerary action helps it to heal. Calendula helps increase the flow of oxygen to wounds which helps the cells to regenerate more quickly.
Calendula really is an herb that is all-things skin related. She is antifungal and can help with candida and ring worm, as well as thrush and athlete’s foot.
Calendula helps other parts of our bodies too.
Ear aches and infections can be soothed with an oil made from Calendula, similar to Mullein flower oil.
Calendula can help get sluggish lymph systems draining, especially when wounds are not healing and seem to be bogging down the lymph system. Internally, Calendula can help swollen glands that seem to be caused by lingering infections, and cleansing to the lymphatic glands and ducts.
Calendula is healing to our digestive system too. Her healing power helps to repair leaky gut, along with other herbs such as marshmallow, ginger, plantain, and spearmint. Herbalist Ryn Midura has a great recipe that includes these herbs for healing the intestines when combined with proper diet and lifestyle changes.
A tea made from Calendula can be used as a wash for hair to help sooth irritated scalps and reduce dandruff. The golden rinse brightens blond hair at the same time.
Medicinally, we can use Calendula in many ways. A tincture can be made but most often, Calendula is used as a tea or infused oil. The tea can be drank internally or used externally as a wash for the skin, scalp, or eyes.
The oil can be applied to all sorts of skin issues, including the scalp, and is often hardened with beeswax to make a salve for applying on skin ailments. The oil can be used for the ears as well.
Calendula also makes a great plant dye and will make a beautiful orange-yellow color.
Felted Calendula Flower Craft
These fun felt flowers can cheer up a dark corner of the house! They are great for gentle play or to decorate your nature table.
Orange, yellow, rust (or brown) and green felt
Pipe cleaners
Thick green wool yarn (the same color as the green felt)
Thread to match the orange, yellow and green felt colors
Scissors
Glue
Pick either orange or yellow to be your petals. The center can be the same or the rust/brown.
Cut a strip of orange or yellow felt 1 1/2″ x 5”. Fringe one edge of the long side, cutting about 1/4″ apart, leaving about 1/2″ from the end. These will be your petals. If you like, you may round the edges of the fringe.
Cut a 2nd strip out of the same color or the rust/brown, whichever you have chosen to be your center, 3/4” x 3 1/2”. Cut the long edge every 1/4″ apart.
Wrap a pipe cleaner with green wool yarn to cover. Glue the edges into place.
Put a dab of glue on one end of the wrapped pipe cleaner and wrap the smaller fringed felt around it, fringe side away from the end, gluing it down at the end. Do the same with the larger fringed piece, sewing it into place.
Cut a strip of green felt 3/4” x 2 1/2”. Sew a stitch around the center. Sew a 2nd row around the bottom and pull tight. Poke needles through the insides and knot off.
Cut 3 U-shaped leaves, 2 that are 6” x 3/4”, tapering at the points of the U, and one that is 3” x 1/2”, tapering at the points of the U.
Starting about 1” from the top of the flower, place the smaller leaf on and start wrapping the yarn around. Start by leaving a tail hanging down and then covering with the wrapped yarn. Continue adding the 2 larger leaves, alternating sides of the stem while wrapping with the yarn to hold into place.
You can create several flowers using different combinations of colors: orange petals with an orange center, orange petals with a rust center, yellow petals with a yellow center and yellow petals with a rust center to create a beautiful bouquet of calendula flowers to add to your nature table!
Other Fun Calendula Related Videos
Want to learn how to make face and body toner? Check out my Making Monday video here:
https://youtu.be/SO3ve4Pp7P8
Want to listen to “Kal En Chulla: Bright Healer”? This story is from the Calendula issue of Herbal Roots zine and it can be found on YouTube here:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qoydklVU5zQ
Want to learn more about Calendula? You can find the Calendula eBook in my shop: https://herbalrootszine.com/product/calendula-issue-7/