Calendula - Properties And Medicinal Uses Of Calendula Officinalis

2024 Author: Josephine Shorter | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 21:43

Calendula

Properties and uses of calendula officinalis

Content:

• Calendula Recipes
• Useful properties of calendula
• The use of calendula for various diseases
• Tincture of calendula
• Calendula ointment
• Contraindications

Botanical characteristics of calendula officinalis

Calendula is a medicinal plant. Calendula blooms with beautiful orange-yellow flowers, and besides the fact that it is used for medicinal purposes, it is widespread in decorative floriculture. In domestic pharmacology, this plant is highly valued.

The flowers of the plant are yellow or orange in color, collected in inflorescences-baskets. The fruit of the calendula is an achene, slightly bent, without a tuft. Fruit on the outside of an uneven surface with spines. The plant begins to bloom in June and ends in September. The fruits ripen in October. The plant is very fond of light, but it is demanding on moisture and soil. It can be seen in Southern Europe, the Middle East and Western Asia.

This plant blooms for quite a long time, starting from June until late autumn, almost until October. Calendula bears fruit in July, propagates by seeds, does not require special conditions for cultivation, and at the same time is considered a good honey plant.

Calendula is considered a cultivated plant, it is grown for both medicinal and decorative purposes, it very rarely runs wild. For treatment, only inflorescences are used, that is, baskets that are harvested during the flowering period, when the basket has completely blossomed. Leaves and peduncles are not used.

For medicinal purposes, the newly blossoming plant inflorescences are harvested. The baskets should be cut at the base of the flower stalk and dried for about 4 hours in an air dryer, inside which the temperature is 45 ° C Celsius. Dried raw materials can be stored for no more than two years. The plant is most often found in Russia, Ukraine and the Caucasus.

Useful properties of calendula

The flowers of this medicinal plant contain many carotenoids (thanks to this, the flower has an orange color). The calendula flower contains carotene, rubixanthin, lycopene, cygroxanthin, violaxanthin, flavochrom, flavoxanthin and other substances.

By the color, one can judge the amount of carotenoids contained in the flower. The brighter the flower, the more carotene it contains. In addition, the flowers of calendula contain paraffinic hydrocarbons (gentriacontan and sitosterol), saponin, bitterness, mucus, resins, phytoncides, proteins, flavonoids, calendyloside glycoside, traces of alkaloids, triterpendiols (arnidiol and faradeliol), organic acids (salicylic), ascorbic acid and essential oil, which gives these flowers a wonderful aroma and phytoncide.

The green parts of the flower contain bitterness, tannins, triterpene saponins. As recent studies have shown, preparations with calendula are widely used in pharmacology due to the content of biologically active compounds in plant flowers - for example, carotenoids, flavonoids and vitamins.

As studies of the general effect have shown, this plant is low-toxic and has an inhibitory effect on motor activity, as well as reflex excitability of animals. As a result, a noticeable sedative effect of galenic forms of the plant was revealed, which was expressed by a long period of sleep and antagonism in relation to stimulants of the central nervous system.

Calendula is used for medicinal purposes as an antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, wound-healing agent. It is used for both indoor and outdoor use. Preparations from this plant have astringent, antispasmodic, choleretic and sedative effects, improve heart function, and lower blood pressure. Quite often, calendula is used to treat diseases of the internal organs, nervous system, as a sedative, as an anticoagulant, immunomodulatory drug. It is also used as a diuretic, diaphoretic, expectorant, analgesic, desensitizing and general tonic. Calendula has also found application as a means of increasing male potency.

Calendula flowers are also used as an antispasmodic agent. It is able to relax the smooth muscle structures of organs such as the stomach, intestines and liver, which leads to increased bile production and bile secretion and increased secretory activity of the stomach.

Calendula exhibits its anti-inflammatory properties under the conditions of experimental models of inflammation of a septic as well as aseptic nature. Among other things, calendula preparations can improve the regeneration processes. Despite the fact that the bactericidal qualities of calendula are insignificant in relation to streptococci and staphylococci, the processes of inflammation, complicated by the bacterial flora, under the action of drugs from this plant proceed much easier due to the increased growth of granulations, improved epithelialization and increased local defense mechanisms.

Calendula Recipes

Infusion of calendula. Take 1 tablespoon of calendula and fill it with a glass of boiling water, leave to brew for 1 hour. Strain the finished infusion and take 1 tablespoon three times a day. The remedy is used for stomach ulcers, gastritis and liver diseases. The same infusion is suitable for gargling with sore throat and inflammation of the oral mucosa.

Fresh inflorescences of the plant that need to be crushed will help get rid of warts. The finished mass is applied to the wart, a plaster is glued on top and goes to bed with it. This process is carried out until the day when the wart falls off.

Decoction with the threat of miscarriage. Take half a tablespoon of calendula inflorescences and the same amount of St. John's wort. Pour this mixture with 200 ml of boiling water and leave for 1 hour. Straining the finished broth, take it 500 ml per day, dividing this amount of liquid into 2 doses. This medication is used 1 month before delivery.

Tincture of calendula with alcohol. You need to take 100 ml of 70% alcohol and mix with 10 grams of calendula flowers, then leave to infuse for several hours. This tincture is used externally by diluting 1 teaspoon of the tincture in 200 ml of boiling water. Diluted tincture washed cuts, purulent wounds, burns.

Tincture of calendula on water. Take 1 tablespoon of plant flowers and pour 100 ml of boiling water over them, pour into a thermos. Leave the composition in a thermos for 1–2 hours. Having filtered the finished tincture, take it 1 tablespoon three times a day for gastritis. Also, this tincture is used as a means for inhalation, rinsing and lotions.

How to make oil infusion? Video recipe:

Application of calendula

Angina: you need to take one tablespoon of dried calendula flowers, pour a glass of boiling water, leave for 1 hour, tightly wrapped, and then strain. It is recommended to gargle with this infusion 2-3 times a day. Alcohol tincture of calendula is also suitable for rinsing. For this, 70% alcoholic tincture is stirred in a glass of water at the rate of 1 tablespoon of tincture per glass of water.

You can also prepare such a rinse: mix the inflorescences of calendula, plantain leaves, wormwood grass, take one tablespoon of this collection, pour a glass of water, boil over low heat or in a water bath for 10-15 minutes, leave to infuse, then strain … Warm broth should be gargled every 2 hours. This broth can be consumed orally 1 tablespoon 3-4 times a day.

Allergy is a reaction of the body caused by its high sensitivity to the effects of any substances (allergens). In order to get rid of allergies, you can take an infusion of calendula flowers. For its preparation, 10 grams of inflorescences need to be poured with 1/2 cup boiling water, let it brew for 1-2 hours and use 1 tablespoon 2-3 times a day.

Arrhythmia of the heart: preparing an infusion of calendula flowers. Two teaspoons of inflorescences must be poured with two glasses of boiling water, leave for one hour, drain. Use the remedy for half a glass three times a day. Such a collection is effective in case of cardiac arrhythmias, palpitations.

Arthritis: we are preparing a collection that will require calendula inflorescences - 5 g, common juniper fruits - 5 g, buckthorn bark - 5 g, black elder flowers - 10 g, dioecious nettle leaves - 10 g, horsetail herb - 20 g, purple willow bark - 20 g, warty birch leaves - 20 g. Take three tablespoons of the ready-made collection, pour 0.5 liters of boiling water, leave for 10 minutes, cook for 5-10 minutes, strain and consume 1 glass every two hours.

Asthma: To prepare the collection, take calendula inflorescences, peppermint leaves, tricolor violet herb, marsh rosemary herb, elecampane roots, coltsfoot leaves, licorice roots, chamomile inflorescences, ordinary anise fruits - all the herbs equally. Two tablespoons of the ready-made collection should be poured with 200 ml of water, heated in a boiling bath for 15 minutes, cooled for 45 minutes, filtered, brought to the original volume with boiled water and consumed 1/3 - 1/4 cup 3-4 times a day.

Afty: a decoction of calendula flowers. Pour one tablespoon of calendula inflorescences with one glass of boiling water and heat in a water bath or boil for 10 minutes. Prepare the infusion: pour 20 grams of inflorescences with one glass of boiling water. We dilute the finished infusion with water in a ratio of 1: 2 or 1: 3. It is recommended to use the product for rinsing.

Blenorrhea: Pour one tablespoon of calendula inflorescences with one glass of boiling water, insist in warm (or wrapped) for 30-40 minutes, then carefully filter. We use for washing eyes, for lotions, compresses on the eyes.

Hepatitis: preparing an infusion of calendula. Fill two teaspoons of calendula inflorescences with two glasses of boiling water, leave for 1 hour, filter. The infusion should be taken half a glass 4 times a day. The tool has choleretic properties.

We prepare tea from a mixture of herbs: calendula inflorescences - 2 parts, St. John's wort herb - 2 parts, knotweed herb - 1 part, chicory root - 1 part, chamomile flowers - 1 part, sandy immortelle flowers - 2 parts, alder buckthorn bark - 1 part … We take four tablespoons of the ready-made collection, pour 0.5 liters of cold water overnight, boil in the morning for 5 minutes, leave for 20 minutes. You need to drink tea 1/2 cup three times a day 30 minutes before meals.

Jade: preparing the collection, which will require calendula inflorescences - 40 g, St. John's wort herb - 40 g, sandy immortelle inflorescences - 40 g, chicory flowers - 30 g, buckthorn bark - 30 g, knotweed grass - 20 g, chamomile inflorescences - 10 g Take 20 g of the ready-made collection and fill it with two glasses of boiled water, leave for 10 hours, boil for 5-7 minutes, cool, filter. We use it throughout the day. The decoction is used as an astringent and anti-inflammatory agent.

Gastritis: for the preparation of the collection, we take the inflorescences of calendula officinalis - 1 part, rose hips (crushed) - 3 parts, marsh grass grass - 1 part, chamomile inflorescences - 1 part, white rose petals - 1 part, shoots of field horsetail - 1 part, common turnip grass - 2 parts, wormwood grass - 2 parts, dill seeds - 3 parts, St. John's wort grass - 4 parts, plantain leaves - 4 parts, flowering tops of yarrow - 7 parts. Pour a tablespoon of the collection with 0.65 liters of boiling water, set it to languish for 30 minutes, and then filter. It is recommended to use the product in half a glass 4 times a day 15–20 minutes before meals. The infusion has a slightly bitter taste.

Essential hypertension: a tincture of calendula inflorescences is recommended. In order to normalize blood pressure, it is necessary to use a tincture (2: 100 in 40-degree alcohol), 20-40 drops 3 times a day for a long time. As a result of taking the drug, efficiency increases, headaches do not bother, sleep is normalized.

Dizziness: a decoction of calendula inflorescences is used. 10 grams of inflorescences pour 200 ml of boiling water and consume 1-3 tablespoons 3 times a day.

Dermatomycosis: make baths. Gauze, folded 3-4 times, is impregnated with calendula infusion and applied to the affected area of the skin.

Jaundice: prepare inflorescence infusion. With two glasses of boiling water we brew two teaspoons of calendula flowers, leave for 1 hour, filter. It is necessary to consume the infusion half a glass 4 times a day.

It is very good to use calendula and tincture. Better to start with 30 drops and bring to one teaspoon 2-4 times a day.

Preparing the collection. We take the aboveground mass of calendula -1 part, rose hips (crushed) - 3 parts, dandelion root - 3 parts, corn columns with stigmas - 3 parts, horsetail shoots - 3 parts, sandy immortelle inflorescences - 4 parts, white rose petals - 2 parts, fruits of wild strawberry –2 parts, inflorescences of chamomile –2 parts, fruits of common juniper (crushed) - 1 part, grass of a forest creeper – 1 part, leaf of white birch - 1 part, dill seeds - 1 part. Pour 0.5 liters of boiling water over one tablespoon of the ready-made collection, leave to languish for 30 minutes, filter. The product should be taken in 150 ml three times a day 10-15 minutes before meals. The infusion has a bitter taste.

Scrofula: pour one teaspoon of calendula flowers with a glass of boiling water, leave to infuse for one hour, then strain and use 1/2 cup 3-4 times a day.

Colitis: take 2 parts of calendula flowers and 2 parts of blueberry leaves. 4 teaspoons of the ready-made collection should be brewed in a glass of boiling water. The broth should be consumed 1/2 cup 3 times a day before meals.

Malaria: to prepare a medicinal infusion, you will need 2 parts of calendula flowers, 3 parts of wormwood herb, 5 parts of sunflower flowers and 10 parts of centaury herb. It is necessary to take one tablespoon of the collection, brew in a glass of boiling water and leave to infuse, and then strain. Use the resulting medicine 1/2 cup 4 times a day before meals.

Thrush (candidiasis): with a glass of boiling water, you need to brew a tablespoon of dried calendula flowers, leave to infuse for one hour and strain. You should rinse your mouth 2-3 times a day with the prepared infusion. The infusion can be replaced with a diluted tincture (1 teaspoon of alcoholic tincture of calendula per one glass of boiled water).

A tumor is an excessive proliferation of tissue, which consists of qualitatively changed and transformed body cells. Tumors are divided into benign (as a rule, they do not grow into nearby tissues, do not give metastases) and malignant (cancer, sarcoma, etc.).

Since ancient times, calendula has been considered an excellent remedy for getting rid of tumors and malignant tumors. However, unfortunately, it is impossible to overcome the disease with calendula alone. It is recommended to reduce the intoxication of the body. In some patients with certain forms of malignant tumors, an improvement is observed. Namely, in patients with stomach cancer, dyspeptic symptoms disappear, belching, nausea and vomiting decrease.

We prepare an infusion of calendula flowers. Pour 2 teaspoons of calendula flowers with two glasses of boiling water, insist for 15 minutes, divide into 4 parts and drink in equal portions throughout the day.

Periodontal disease: pour 10 grams of inflorescences with a glass of boiling water, leave for 2 hours, filter, rinse your mouth.

Blood rushes to the head: Preparing the collection, for which we take 2 parts of calendula, 2 parts of mallow flowers, 3 parts of common anise seeds, 3 parts of tricolor violet herb, 3 parts of black elderberry flowers, 3 parts of field steel root, 3 parts of buckthorn bark, 3 parts of licorice root bare. In a thermos we brew two tablespoons of the ready-made collection of 0.5 liters of boiling water and leave overnight, filter. We consume 2 glasses of infusion per day.

Rickets: pour one tablespoon of calendula inflorescences with a glass of boiling water, insist in a warm place for 1 hour, filter. We use 1/2 cup of the product 3-4 times a day.

Rheumatism: we prepare a collection of 10 g of calendula inflorescences, 10 g of licorice root, 5 g of rhizomes with the roots of Valerian officinalis, 5 g of dill fruits, 10 g of Panzeria grass and 10 g of tripartite herb. We brew one tablespoon of the collection with one glass of boiling water in a thermos for 1 hour. It is necessary to take the infusion for rheumatic pains, angina pectoris, neuroses.

Stomatitis: a pharmacy tincture of calendula (drug) is recommended for treatment: one teaspoon of the tincture should be mixed with a glass or 0.5 cups of boiled water. You can also use the infusion, for this 20 g of inflorescences are poured with one glass of boiling water, after which the infusion is diluted with water in a ratio of 1: 2 or 1: 3 and used for rinsing with inflammation of the gums or oral mucosa.

Toxicosis: There are two recipes for getting rid of early toxicosis.

1. Mix 2 parts of calendula flowers with 1 part of lemon balm, pour 500 ml of boiling water over one tablespoon of this mixture, leave for 20 minutes and take 75 ml 3 times a day for 7-8 weeks (consult a doctor beforehand).

2. Mix 4 parts of calendula inflorescences, 3 parts of crushed rose hips, 4 parts of motherwort herb, 3 parts of valerian root, 2 parts of peppermint, 2 parts of calamus rhizomes and 2 parts of St. John's wort. One spoon of the ready-made collection is poured with 500 ml of hot water, boiled for 1 minute, left to brew for 20 minutes, filtered. Take 50-100 ml 3 times a day 30 minutes or 1 hour before meals for two months, after which it is necessary to take a break for 10 days and the treatment can be repeated.

Spleen enlargement: you need 1 part of calendula inflorescences and 1 part of yarrow herb. 20 grams of the finished collection is poured into 0.5 liters of boiling water, insisted in a warm place for 40 minutes, filtered and taken in 1/3 cup 2 times a day.

Acne (acne): insist 50 grams of calendula flowers in 0.5 liters of vodka for 8-10 days. Then, in 150-200 g of boiled water, dilute one teaspoon of the tincture and use it for lotions.

Bruises: places of bruises, abrasions, bruises or tumors are smeared with ointment or alcohol tincture of calendula inflorescences.

Cholecystitis: we prepare a herbal collection, for which we take the herb of calendula officinalis - 1 part, rose hips - 3 parts, dandelion roots - 3 parts, corn columns with stigmas - 3 parts, shoots of field horsetail - 3 parts, inflorescences of cumin sandy - 4 parts, white rose petals - 2 parts, wild strawberries - 2 parts, chamomile inflorescences - 2 parts, fluffy birch leaves - 1 part, common juniper fruits - 1 part, forest creeper grass - 1 part, dill fruits - 1 part. Pour one tablespoon of the crushed mixture with 0.5 liters of boiling water, then the composition should be simmered for 30 minutes, strain and take 150 ml 3 times a day 10-15 minutes before meals.

Enteritis: take an infusion of calendula inflorescences. One teaspoon of inflorescences is taken in a glass of water. You need to take the product in 0.5 cups in between meals. To improve the effect, it is good to mix calendula with chamomile and yarrow.

Peptic ulcer of the stomach and duodenum: use the infusion of inflorescences of calendula officinalis, for which 20 grams of inflorescences are poured with one glass of boiling water. Take the drug 0.5 cups 3 times a day between meals.

A decoction of calendula: 10 grams of inflorescences are poured with 200 ml of boiling water and 1-3 tablespoons are consumed 3 times a day.

We prepare a collection of herbs: 1 part of calendula inflorescences, rose hips - 3 parts, marsh creeper grass - 1 part, chamomile inflorescences - 1 part, white rose petals - 1 part, horsetail shoots - 1 part, common agaric grass - 2 parts, wormwood herb - 2 parts, dill seeds - 3 parts, St. John's wort herb - 4 parts, plantain leaves - 4 parts, flowering tops of yarrow - 7 parts. Take one tablespoon of the collection and brew 0.5 liters of boiling water, the composition should be simmered for 30 minutes, drain. Take half a cup of infusion 4 times a day 15-20 minutes before meals.

Barley: prepare an infusion of calendula flowers, for which we pour 10-15 dry inflorescences with a glass of cold boiled water, insist in a warm place for 30-40 minutes, filter. We use the product as lotions and compresses.

Tincture of calendula

Calendula tincture helps get rid of headaches, improves sleep and increases efficiency. In case of hypertension, the tincture is taken in a course of 3 weeks, it can be longer. Also, tincture of calendula is recommended for gastrointestinal diseases, ulcers, rickets, cancer, insomnia, cardiac arrhythmias, with shortness of breath, as a choleretic agent, to improve overall health.

Preparation of calendula tincture: For 100 ml of 70% alcohol, take 10 grams of calendula, insist for 2 weeks. The product should be filtered. They take the medicine 20-30 drops 3 times a day.

With the help of such a tincture, you can quickly get rid of inflammatory processes and purulent inflammation, from discharge after wounds and ulcerative processes, tissue regeneration is accelerated and wounds heal, including sarcoma.

For use externally make lotions or lubricate sore spots, ulcers, burns, pimples, scratches, cuts. This medicine is effective in the treatment of diseases of the oral cavity, throat (gargling), be sure to dilute the tincture with water.

For the treatment of barley, blepharitis, conjunctivitis, lotions and rinsing are made, the tincture is diluted with water in a ratio of 1:10.

Good results are obtained with tincture in the treatment of gynecological diseases, ulcers, erosion of the cervix and leucorrhoea. For treatment, the agent is diluted with water in a ratio of 1:10. Both compresses and douching are used.

Calendula ointment

To prepare the ointment, you need to take 50 grams of calendula flowers and grind them into powder, then mix the calendula flowers with 200 grams of melted lard. Place everything in a water bath until the mixture is smooth and stir constantly. The finished ointment is stored in the refrigerator.

Calendula ointment is used for wounds that do not heal well and have not healed for a long time. This ointment has an improving effect on blood circulation in the skin. Making the skin more elastic, the ointment protects it from mechanical and chemical irritation. The tool is excellent for burns, cracks, flayed skin and abrasions.

The ointment is also used for allergic rashes, as it softens itching and tension. The medicine will help make the skin of the hands smooth, the face will get rid of wrinkles, and the lips will protect from frost and heat.

For children suffering from diaper rash, calendula ointment is better than any remedy. Reactions to new diapers, rash in a newborn and diaper dermatitis - all this can be eliminated with this ointment.

Contraindications to the use of calendula

Acute gastritis, gastric ulcer and duodenal ulcer during an exacerbation.

You can not take the drug orally with bradycardia and hypotension.

The author of the article: Sokolova Nina Vladimirovna | Phytotherapist

Education: Diploma in "General Medicine" and "Therapy" received at the Pirogov University (2005 and 2006). Advanced training at the Department of Phytotherapy at the Peoples' Friendship University of Moscow (2008).