Calendula seems to be in everything that you buy at a health food store. What is it about this beautiful but plain flower that is so useful? First of all Calendula is common and easy to grow. It’s a sunny yellow or orange flower that is in the daisy family and is also called Marigold. The more you pick the bright flowers, the more they grow back. This is important since many well-used herbs are on the endangered list.
In one sentence, Calendula is a demulcent (soother), antibacterial disinfectant, digestive stimulant, vulnerary (wound healer), and antifungal. This means that it will decrease the pain from a wound without suppressing the healing process. Calendula is therefore used for fresh or festering wounds, burns and ulcers. It makes a nice soothing herbal eyewash and can be used for stings, sprains, strains and skin eruptions such as eczema and psoriasis.
Calendula can be taken internally as well where it will heal the digestive tract of wounds such as ulcers and will help with fungal intestinal infections. It helps to prevent the exhaustion that occurs the day after an injury. It also helps with children that cannot use a stronger herb. Energetically Calendula is said to strengthen and comfort the heart. The bright yellow flower follows the sun and brings light to dark places therefore adding sunshine to a melancholic heart.
