My Favorite Herbs: Calendula

A bright and cheerful winter annual that no garden should be without, calendula is a wonderful healing plant. Early records of this herb go back to the Middle Ages when it seems to have been used in religious ceremonies. At that time, when many worshippers claimed that the Virgin Mary was adorned with the golden flowers, monks changed the name of calendula to ‘Mary Golden’ in her honour. So the common English name ‘marigold’ was born — and this, unfortunately, is where confusion has arisen ever since, especially in South Africa, where our ‘marigolds’ are in fact the strongly scented Tagetes erecta or African marigold, which does not have the same properties as Calendula species. Do not confuse them!

A. CULTIVATION Full sun and a well-dug bed, rich in compost, will ensure prolific flowering throughout winter and spring.

B. PROPAGATION Sow seeds from late summer onwards or buy trays of seedlings from the nursery to give you a head start. New varieties are offered as seed and now the common orange variety has been extended to yellow, cream and even a bronzy colour. But it is the orange variety, often single, that has the medicinal value.

C. HARVESTING AND PROCESSING I keep dried petals for the summer months when it is too hot to grow calendulas. Pick frequently to ensure more blooms. Thread the flowers on fishing line to make garlands to dry for winter use or dry upside down in the shade.

D. COMPANION PLANTING Plant with basil, cabbages, celery, potatoes and radishes.

E. USES OF CALENDULA

i. Culinary: Calendula petals give a deep yellow colour to egg and cheese dishes. If fed to farmyard hens and cows, beautiful golden egg yolks and rich-coloured cream and butter are produced. The petals have a slightly peppery taste and can be sprinkled on salads, soups, casseroles and pastas.

ii. Medicinal: Primarily used as a skin healer, a poultice of calendula petals is antiseptic and its essential oil compounds will help new tissue form and soothe at the same time. Calendula tea makes an excellent mouthwash for gum problems or after dentistry and tooth extraction. Alternatively, sip slowly to soothe indigestion and as a liver tonic treatment. To make the tea, use 1/4 cup fresh or dried flowers petals. Pour over this 1 cup boiling water. Stand 5 minutes. Strain and sip slowly. For an eye wash, dilute the tea with 1/2 cup warm water — our grandparents used it to help reduce cataract formation and red, tired, sore eyes. Calendula cream (see recipe section) is excellent for treating haemorrhoids, cracked lips, sore nipples, chilblains, varicose veins and leg ulcers.

iii. Cosmetic: I make a nourishing cream (see recipe section) for winter-dry feet and hands and massage it into the dogs’ feet too. Calendula lotion (see recipe section) can be used as a toner or splash or dabbed on as a lotion. Dry, itchy, flaking skin or aftershave redness, or rashes, grazes or sunburned skin all show immediate results with this lovely lotion. Use calendula bath vinegar (see recipe section) as a dash in your hair rinsing water (and see how it shines!) or add to the bath for dry itchy skin or sunburn, or for rashes and grazes, etc. Use as a foot soak to soothe blisters and calluses and dry, cracked heels.

iv. Other uses: Calendula leaves and flowers can be added to the compost heap where they quickly break it down into a rich friable mass.

Possibly related posts: (automatically generated)
My Favorite Herbs: Calendula

• Planning a Herb Garden, Growing Herbs Yourself
• My Favorite Beauty Herbs:Rosemary
• Gardeners Many Uses of Herbs to Serve with Food
• Fresh Herbs on Hand
• The Herb Garden
• My Favorite Herbs Basil
• Garden Thyme
• My Favorite Beauty Flowers: Tansy
• My Favorite Delicious Bayberry, Pimento
• My Favorite Beauty Herbs: Borage