Calendula is a beautiful little orange or yellow flower with tons of potential! It has antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, astringent and immunostimulating properties which makes it excellent for healing various conditions, especially on skin. It's also extremely gentle so it's perfect for even young children.
I grew a TON this year because they're beautiful and so versatile! I'd like to share some of its uses in this post :)
I usually use it infused in oil and make it into various skin creams and products like lip balm, lotion, diaper cream, sugar scrubs, deodorant, hair masks and bath oil.
If you're familiar with making soap calendula is a perfect addition!
I simply get a large jar and pour in organic oil, usually olive and let it sit in a dark place for a while, usually a few weeks. Next I strain it off and mix it up in different recipes!
I dried all my flowers, when infusing plant matter in oils it's important to make sure it's fully dry if you wish for it to have a much longer shelf life. Many recipes can use either dried or fresh, when using the fresh, often your creation won't last near as long.
You can also use fresh calendula flowers in salads and other dishes, it looks beautiful!
Calendula also makes a lovely tea. This tea can be used for many internal issues such as ulcers, UTI's, lymphatic congestion and you can gargle it for a sore throat. Externally you can use the tea for many more things like rashes, blisters, disinfecting wounds, in a foot bath for athletes foot, and even use it to wash your face to help get rid of pimples!
Just a note: Calendula tea in higher doses can also bring on menstruation in mammals, so if you're pregnant it's best to avoid drinking it.
I'd love to know if you've ever grown calendula before and what you used it for! Let me know :)
Nice post
Thank you! :)
:)
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Thanks!!!
Calendula i never hear about this nice properties specially healthies, here only uses it as a give and put it for people die in the cementery only, thank you for this interesting information.
Best regard.
Thanks for reading! It's gaining in popularity these days, it's even 'trendy' in North America LoL
I heat infused some in coconut oil and use it to stop the itch from insect bites. I have to refrigerate it though....next time I will add some beeswax to firm it up. Nice post!
That's awesome! Great idea!
I tried heat infusing once and I burned the crap out of it! Haha I accidentally made deep fried calendula!
That's funny! I used a mini crockpot that they sell for potpourri, but it did get too hot! Next time I will try it with a timer.
That's why I love cold infusions! It's perfect for my forgetful and perpetually distracted self! LoL
Since coconut oil is solid at room temp, do you know if it's possible to do a cold infusion? Maybe mix it with another oil? I love coconut oil!
I think coconut oil would only work for a cold infusion if you use the fractionated stuff, it stays a liquid in room temperature.
For regular coconut oil you can do a warm infusion instead and that would work :)
Thanks for the enlightening article!
Thank you! Glad you liked it :)
It also deters grasshoppers! One year we were inundated with them. Some were proper locusts too. They freak me out! They would hang out on my front doorknob and I'd be throwing my mail at them like, "LET ME ENTER MY APARTMENT YOU CREEPY BASTARDS!!" Once my neighbor came to help because they heard me. LOL
So I googled anything to deter them, and: calendula/marigold. So i started putting pots of it by my front door. Haven't had a grasshopper on my doorknob since! ;)
Hahahahahaha oh man I just laughed my ass off at that!!!
I love grasshoppers, I think they're so cute haha
I had one show up on the dash of the car the other day when we had brought home all our lentil plants, he must have come along for the ride and hopped out into the van. I was pretty scared when he turned and looked at me, I was like 'DONT YOU JUMP ON MY FACE WHILE IM DRIVING!!' Hahaha I had to pull over and get him out!
Lol! I would have gotten into an accident probably. XD
LoL it was actually scary!
This is one flower plant i have on my addition list for next year's garden.
Thanks for the info. So many beauty tips with this flower. Awesome!
Thanks! Just a warning though, once those seed heads start showing up those seeds will get everywhere if you don't catch them in time!! LoL
You may end up with more than you bargained for! Haha
Yeah I read and researched that they'll take over the area QUICK!
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