What are the benefits of calendula?

The benefits of using calendula are many and that is the reason why it was used in ancient Egypt, some sources say that it is originally from there and it was later cultivated in Europe.

The name “calendula” comes from the Latin word “calendas” (some sources say from “calendae”), which refers to the first day of the month. This is because calendula is able to flower almost every month of the year, even in winter (as long as the winter is not too harsh like in the UK.

The many benefits of calendulas are:

Benefits on the skin:

1- Calendulas have anti-inflammatory and healing action. The anti-inflammatory action is mainly due to triterpene alcohols and flavonoids.

2- Calendulas also seem to help stop bleeding from wounds, just like yarrow. And it is also said to be a good antipruritic, that is that it eases itchiness in the skin.

3- If used internally, that is taken in teas, it also helps with wound healing.

4- Internally it can aslo help to ease the inflammation of the lymphatic system.

Benefits on the immune system:

1-Calendula is an inmune modulator.

2- Calendula has an antibacterial effect against Staphylococcus aureus, Streptocuccus fecalis, Escherichia coli (E.coli) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Sarcina lutea y Klebsiella pneumoniae.

3-Also an antifungal effect against Candida albicans, antiparasitic action against Trichonomas vaginalis and antiviral action against flu virus and herpes virus.

Benefits for women:

1- It is a mild emmenagogue, helping to regulate the menstrual cycle and relieve pain. It is uterotonic. It can be used for PMS.

2- Calendula has some properties such as balancing the hormonal system and helping with menopause, breast pain, and mastitis.

3- Caledula is astringent so it can help to reduce excessive bleeding during menstruation.

4- Calendulas have been used to treat candida albicans internally.

Benefits for the digestive system:

1- Internally it heps with the production of bile and the expulsion of the bile, making it a digestive tea.

2- Calendula helps in case of gastic ulcer reducing the inflammation and helping to lubricate the digestive tract.

3- In the throat it can ease the imflammation due to its polisacarids.

Other benefits:

Traditionally calendula has been used to treat fever, and also as a detoxifiying plant, and to treat rheuma, because the plant has properties that help perspiration in the body.

Traditionally Calendula has been used for its medicinal properties as a tea, or externally as a poultice, or in salves, ointments and creams.

These are the traditional medicinal uses of Calendula:

* External use: Calendula is used as an anti-inflammatory, healing and antiseptic.

*Internal and external use:

• Calendula is effective for wounds and inflammations in the mouth and throat, including swollen gums. Such as mouth ulcers, gingivitis, etc... It is used in mouthwash, gargle, even in gel.

  
  

• Wounds and sunburns. There are studies where they see it useful in second and third degree burns.

• Wounds with slight bleeding, as it seems to stop the bleeding.

• Insect bites and, in the past, it was used on snake bites.

  
  

• Wounds even with difficult healing. Even frostbite injuries.

  
  

• Varicose ulcers and preventive treatment of sores.

  
  

• Varicose veins, thrombophlebitis and spider veins.

  
  

• Dermatitis such as diaper rash, rashes, contact dermatitis, radiodermatitis (caused by radiotherapy), eczema, atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, etc...

  
  

• Irritated skin, sensitive skin, acne rosacea. Impetigo.

  
  

• Bruises and bruises.

  
  

• Sprains and strains of ligaments.

  
  

• Mastitis and inflammation of the lymphatic system nodes.

As you can read there are so many benefits of using calendula. These uses are generic and if you want to use the plant it has to be used with caution and preferrably as recommneded by a specialist, such as a herbalist. There are some contraindications in using calendula, as alwasy consult with your doctor before you decide to use it. If you have some allergy to the daisy family you can have a reaction to calendulas as they are from the same family. Also they can't be used if you are pregnant because they have uterotonic effect. Occasionally it has caused some contact dermatitis to sensitive people.