Herb Talk Tuesday – Calendula – Why & How to use it

kerry brock

Herb Talk Tuesday – Calendula – Why & How to use it

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Herb talk tuesday calendula

Calendula is one of my favorite herbs for promoting skin health! It is also a gorgeous flower and very easy to grow in your garden. The seeds are generally easy to find where ever you buy seeds.

Sometimes Calendula called ‘marigold’ or ‘pot marigold’. Though a different genus, Marigolds (Latin name: tagetes) and Calendula (Latin: Calendula officinalis) do share the same plant family of the Asteraceae.

And just so you are not tempted to pronounce the word how it is spelled, I am going to leave this helpful youtube video here so you can learn how to properly pronounce it. (I am a stickler about this, because my mentor, Victoria, was too).

calendula flower, buds, seed heads

How to grow Calendula

Calendula is very easy to grow in your garden when started by seeds after danger of frost. You can usually find Calendula plants at your local nursery, as well.

You can easily save seed from the spent flower tops to plant again next year. But they often self seed, which is a bonus!

calendula bud

Calendula prefers full sun and compost rich soil. It also tolerates being grown in pots, well. Dead heading your plants will encourage more blooms.

If harvesting for making your own herbal remedies, avoid using synthetic fertilizers or weed/bug killers. Calendula, like Marigold, is supposed to deter unwanted critters, so it is a great flower to add to your veggie garden.

Harvest the flowers all summer long when they are fully bloomed. Dry and store away from heat and direct sunlight. Or add fresh to your remedies, and culinary dishes.

How to use Calendula

Use this skin loving plant in your next first-aid herbal ointment or salve. With it’s astringent properties, and calming, cleansing abilities, it is perfect for supporting healthy happy skin!

dew on calendula bloom

A warm, Calendula tea is calming and cleansing and supports healthy skin from the inside out! Calming to the stomach, and extra comforting for women during their regular monthly cycle. A cold infusion is used as a refreshing face and eye wash.

Avoid internal use during pregnancy. Combines well with Chickweed, Comfrey and Plantain.

Make your own Calendula infused oil

calendula blossoms and oil

Gather 4 ounces (volume) Fresh Calendula blossoms (Or 2 oz. vol. dried). Add your calendula flowers to a crock pot (or double boiler) with enough of your favorite liquid carrier oil to cover all of the flowers completely. (I like sweet almond oil; but you could use olive oil, apricot oil, jojoba oil, fractionated coconut oil, etc!)

Warm the oil for about 1.5 hours (do not simmer). Then strain off the herb and place in dropper bottles to store. Use a few drops at a time on strained muscles, as a facial serum, and under band-aids. Feel free to scent with your favorite, skin loving essential oils.

Join the conversation

calendula in full bloom

How do you prefer to use Calendula? Do you grow it in your garden, but perhaps never realized it’s a handy herbal remedy? Leave a comment below, follow us on Facebook, join our closed Facebook Group page, and follow me on Instagram! Let’s chat about herbs together! I love learning from others.

Blessings to you in Christ on this sunny Tuesday!

-Kerry

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