The Medicinal Uses of Calendula

Disclaimer.  I am not a licensed health practitioner.  This is just another post on an item you might wish to have available if needed so that a physician can treat you and your family as best as possible.  No medication, including those available over the counter, should be taken without consulting a physician.  Information shared here is for educational and entertainment purposes only.  It is not medical advice nor a substitute for licensed medical care.  A qualified, licensed physician or other medical provider should be consulted before beginning any herbal or conventional treatment.


Calendula officinalis is a bright, yellow-orange flower in the marigold family.  It is very easy to grow and thrives in full sun with good soil, but also does well in less-than ideal conditions or with little care.  Harvest the flowers on a dry, sunny day, if possible.  The medicine is strongest when the buds are just opening, and the stickier they are, the better.  The flowers are edible and often added to salads and soups. Calendula is a powerful antiviral, yet it is safe enough for babies. 

Calendula has a wide range of medicinal applications and just as wide an array of preparations for usage.  It is used to treat dermatitis, diaper rash, shingles, and minor wounds--cuts, scrapes, bruises, and bites; to reduce inflammation in joints and relax muscle spasms; for abdominal cramps and constipation; to treat ear infections, sore throats, and gingivitis;  and for hemorrhoids, duodenal and gastric ulcers.

Tincture.  The tincture is best prepared using fresh flowers, in a 1:2 ratio, that is, one part blossoms to two parts alcohol (70%)  It can also be prepared with dried flowers in a 1:5 ratio.  Per Stephen Buhner (author of Herbal Antivirals) the dosage is 5-30 drops, up to four times per day.

Oil.  Calendula oil is used topically to treat skin rashes, eczema, and inflamed lymph glands. To prepare the oil:

• Let freshly picked blossoms wilt for about 12 hours.
• Loosely fill a canning jar with the wilted blossoms.  
• Pour melted coconut or olive oil over the top.  
• Put on a lid and place in a sunny location to let the oil infuse for one month, shaking daily.
• Strain the flowers and pour the oil into a clean jar.  
• Store in a cool, dark place.

Creamy salve.  A creamy calendula salve is used to manage superficial skin issues, such as minor burns, cuts, rashes (including diaper rash), dermatitis, ringworm, and athlete's foot, as well as reduce inflammation in joints and relax muscle spasms.  To prepare a creamy salve:

• Melt 8 ounces calendula oil and 2 ounces grated beeswax or pastilles in a double boiler.
• Add 5 drops lavender essential oil.  
• Pour into a small jar, put the lid on, and store in a cool, dark place.

Salve.  Just this morning, I woke up with an incredible itch on my ear; I figure something bit me as I slept.  It was itching something fierce!  I used some salve a friend (thanks, Lisa!) made for me last year, and the itching ceased immediately.  And it hasn't come back. (It's now been almost 12 hours.)  (Little update:  The itching returned about 9PM last night, so I reapplied more and went to bed.  I must have rolled over and been sleeping on my ear and woke up itching.  Reapplied more at 1AM, went back to bed, and made sure to stay off that side.  Still fine now at 7AM.)  To make a salve, follow the directions for the creamy salve above, but use only 4 ounces of calendula oil.  Pour into a jar or lip balm tubes.

Infusion.  An infusion is used internally to alleviate digestive irritation, abdominal cramps and constipation, ulcers, bladder infections, menstrual cramps, measles, and chickenpox.  It is also used as a mouthwash or gargle for mouth lesions, gingivitis, and sore throat.  And it can be used as a wash for treating wounds.  Prepare an infusion by steeping 2 teaspoons of calendula in boiling water for 10 minutes. 

Poultice.  A calendula poultice provides significant relief for shingles and minor wounds.  To prepare a poultice, soak a clean cloth in a calendula infusion and place it over the wound or rash. 

Contraindications.  Not to be used internally by pregnant women or those wishing to become pregnant.

Cautions.  Calendula may lower blood pressure.  It may also cause drowsiness.

Links to related posts:
The Medicinal Uses of Comfrey
How to Make a Salve


For further reading:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16906636 (abdominal cramps and constipation)
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19601397 (wound healing)
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3917203 (dental plaque and gingivitis)
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16677386 (cancer treatment)
https://ascopubs.org/doi/full/10.1200/jco.2004.07.063 (acute dermatitis in cancer)

Dr. Patrick Jones, The HomeGrown Herbalist, p 109-111.
Rosemary Gladstar, Medicinal Herbs:  A Beginner's Guide, p 112-116
Dr. Stephen Buhner, Herbal Antivirals, p 367.

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13 december 2020