Calendula: Why I grow, use and can't live without it.

February 10, 2015 • Kristyn Bango • anti inflammatory • balm • calendula • flowers • herbal remedies • herbs • home remdies • inflammation • infusion • marigold • natural • natural health • precautions • puro co • relief • remedies • safety • usage

UPDATED POST: Amazing Calendula Benefits for your skin!

Read the new updated post on calendula here.

If you've followed us or used any of our products, you can probably tell that I love Calendula. It is one of my favorite herbs that I use the most in my day to day life and in the products I make for Puro Co. I thought that it's important to share as much information about this amazing herb as I can. Below you'll find some reasons why it's an essential herb for everyone trying to lead a natural lifestyle.

It's easy to grow

For the home gardener it can be grown almost anywhere that gets full sun. It's a happy little flower that grows like crazy and the more you cut it, the more it grows. The flowers, which range in colors of yellow and orange, were originally native to Egypt and the Mediterranean Region. When fall arrives, it drops its seeds and will generally re-seed itself and begin to grow again in the spring. It also makes a great companion plant to place around your garden when you are trying to plant flowers and herbs that naturally repel insects away from your vegetables. Although it is often called pot marigold, it's a different plant than the ornamental marigold often found in nurseries and big box stores. There are over 20 species of calendula but only one is used for medicinal purposes, making the scientific plant name especially important. When searching for seeds or starters you want to make sure the plant you purchase is Calendula officinalis.

It's safe for almost everyone

Beyond its visual appeal and garden benefits, it's a great herb to add to your herbal medicine chest. The flower heads can be picked when fully dried and used in many herbal preparations around the home. It is a very gentle herb with very few contraindication which make it ideal for use on almost any member of the family, even pets in some situations. The most common negative interaction with this plant is an allergic reaction. As a member of the daisy family or Asteraceae it should be avoided by any individual with a suspected allergy to this group of flowers.

It's effective for many day to day concerns

One of the most legendary uses for calendula through out history is for its anti inflammatory properties. Calendula has been used medically dating back to the times of the ancient Romans for its ability to stimulate wound healing. It has effectively been used in helping to reduce pain and inflammation in topical wounds, surgical wound, and skin irritations. It has also been used in many herbal preparation to help reduce the inflammation associated with ear infections, thus helping to reduce the unnecessary use of antibiotics. Due to the gentleness of this herb you will often see it used in baby care items such as diaper creams, cradle cap treatments and rash ointments.

It's easy to incorporate into a natural lifestyle

The possibilities of incorporating this amazing herb into a natural lifestyle are endless. At Puro Co. we add it into numerous products like our Sweet Orange and Calendula Soap and Tea Tree and Neem Soap which are both great for sensitive skin. We also make an Infused Calendula Salve that can be used for dry, cracked and damaged skin. It's a great addition to your diaper bag or to carry in your purse for specific skin conditions like eczema, scraps, cuts and rashes or just when you need an intensive moisturizer for dry winter skin. It will also be one of the featured ingredients in our newest shave oil that will be released soon on our website.

If you're new to using herbs or looking for a safe way to start incorporating herbal remedies into your life, calendula is a great place to start! Coming soon we will talk about an easy way to make a calendula infused oil that you can use at home. Feel free to leave a comment or contact us directly with any questions.

Read the new updated post on calendula here.

← Older Post Newer Post →

Leave a comment