All About Calendula and a Simple Healing Balm

Fresh Calendula Flowers

Calendula flowers seem to have their own internal light. When winter descends, the veggie garden takes on tones of dark greens and purples, I love to see these cheery flowers shining through. Super easy to grow and an essential herbal medicine. They also have the added benefit of attracting bees and other beneficial insects to your garden all year round.

A stash of calendula is an absolute must to have on hand for making concoctions to treat minor wounds, burns and bacterial infections. I will share with you just how easy they are to prepare and use.

The name Calendula is derived from the latin calends meaning the first day of the month – it reflects the plant’s ability to flower almost continuously throughout the year. Calendula has been used for thousands of years by different cultures as herbal medicine.

Calendula has a solid history of treating wounds, cuts, and grazes. Science has backed up this history, showing that it may be beneficial for helping to heal both internal and external wounds and inflammation including gastrointestinal inflammation/ulceration and burns.

Calendula officinalis, researchers have shown the common medicinal form of Calendula to have the following properties:

antibacterial
antiviral
antiinflammatory
antitumour
antioxidant

Calendula is a herb tolerated well by almost all people except a small minority who are sensitive or allergic to food or plants of the daisy (Asteraceae) family of plants.

I put away a few batches of dried calendula flower a year. I like to dry the flowers and petals before using them in herbal preparations. Taking the water content out helps to ensure that they are less likely to grow moulds. Drying also allows you to store the petals and flowers making sure they are always on hand for making teas, lotions and potions.

Fresh Calendula Flowers Ready for the Dehydrator

Calendula Water Infusion

You can use a simple water infusion of calendula flowers or petals as a tea or in body care preparations.

You simply place 1 – 2 tsp (1 – 2g) of dried leaves/flowers (3 – 4g for fresh) in a teapot. Infuse for 10 – 15 minutes. You can then drink the infusion throughout the day.

Tea – calendula tea has been enjoyed as a tea for centuries to aid in the healing of inflammation and ulceration of the gastrointestinal tract. Check with your healthcare practitioner before drinking calendula infusion regularly.

Mouthwash and Gargle– preparations aid in the healing of gingivitis, ulceration, thrush and other minor infections of the mouth and throat. They are also useful for tonsillitis and pharyngitis. You can swish a cooled infusion of calendula around the mouth, making sure it is being pushed through the teeth, gargle and then spit out or swallow.

Eye infections – for minor eye infections you can soak a cotton ball in cooled calendula infusion (strained through a very fine doubled cloth or doubled over clean nut milk bag) and apply liberally around your eye with your eyelid shut. You will need to make a fresh infusion every day and do not double dip with the cotton ball to prevent cross infection.

Dried calendula petals, easy to store and ready for use.

Calendula oil Infusion

Calendula infused oil is super easy to make, you can find out how to make a batch here. Oil infusions are great for rubbing directly into your skin or for making balms and salves.

You can make balms and salves you make to store for up to a year in a cool, dark place with your first aid supplies. They will then be at the ready to apply to minor wounds and burns. Here is a simple first aid balm that you can make for all manner of minor wounds:

Calendula and Lavender Healing Balm

250mL calendula infused extra virgin olive oil (recipe)

50g natural beeswax, grated

25g medicinal honey

30 drops lavender essential oil

Clean, sterile glass jars and lids to hold approximately 300mL of balm.

Instructions:

Over a medium heat add the beeswax and oil to a double boiler (see note). The beeswax will slowly dissolve into the oil. Stir with a whisk to combine.

When the beeswax is almost dissolved remove from heat and allow it to cool for a few minutes, but not so long as for the balm to harden. Add the honey and essential oil and stir again.

Pour into a small jug with a fine spout. You can also use a syringe if you prefer.

Fill the jars. You will need to work quickly as the balm will harden. Between pours stir the balm to ensure the honey does not settle in the jug’s bottom.

Note: If you do not have a double boiler simply pop a stainless steel or heatproof glass mixing bowl over a saucepan filled to a quarter with water and brought to a simmer. Make sure the bottom of the bowl does not touch the water.

I have a lip balm recipe that you can make for chapped, cracked lips that also works a treat.

Bling

Calendula flowers are edible and I always think of edible flowers as salad bling! You can also scatter the petals over carrot, zucchini or any other cakes to brighten them up.

Dried petals and whole flowers are a wonderful addition to bath bombs (recipe here), bath salts and other lovely things. No doubt you can find many decorative uses for them too.

Calendula Petals Make Healthy Salad Bling!

Do you have any favourite ways to use these wonderful flowers?