Botanicals provide natural, soothing, healing benefits for the skin. 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 at Puro Co. because it provides significant benefits when applied to your skin! Below, we'll explore Calendula and some ways you can use it!
What is Calendula
Calendula (Calendula officinalis) is a happy daisy-like flower that comes in shades of yellow and orange. It is native to the Mediterranean but is now grown worldwide. Calendula is part of the Asteraceae (or Compositae).
Calendula's use dates back to the times of the ancient Romans for its ability to stimulate wound healing. One of the most legendary uses for Calendula throughout history is its anti-inflammatory properties. It can be effective in helping to reduce pain and inflammation in topical wounds, surgical wounds, and skin irritations. 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.
Calendula Skin Benefits
- Anti-Inflammatory. One of Calendula's most common and well-known skincare benefits is its anti-inflammatory properties. This benefit is why Calendula can be soothing for any skin type and may provide some relief from conditions like eczema or diaper rash.
- Moisturizing. Calendula can help keep the skin moisturized and be an intensive moisturizer. Calendula contains fatty acids that help moisturize and hydrate your skin, especially when paired with a carrier oil infused with Calendula. For a skin moisturizing salve, see our Skin Relief Salve.
- Healing. Beyond hydrating the skin, Calendula helps to heal the skin faster. That means it can be applied to wounds and scars post-surgery but can also be for minor injuries to the skin, like bug bites, blisters, and little cuts.
- Gentle. Skincare products that contain botanicals, minerals, and ingredients that come straight from nature can nourish your skin in ways that no other products can. That's why Calendula is a great herb to add to your herbal medicine chest. Calendula is gentle on the skin. It is generally considered safe for all ages.
Ways to Use Calendula
- Moisturize the skin.
- Diaper Rash
- Soothe Eczema
- Minor scapes, cuts, and bug bites
- Wound Healing
One of my favorite ways to utilize Calendula for any of the above is either through a Calendula infused or our easy-to-use Skin Relief Salve.
Skin Relief Salve shown above contains calendula-infused oil as one of its skin-soothing ingredients. It is an excellent addition to your diaper bag or to carry in your purse for all your skin-soothing needs like eczema, scraps, cuts, and rashes, or when you need an intensive moisturizer for dry winter skin.
Ways to use Calendula at home.
Herbal Infusion Compress
Ingredients:
3g calendula flowers
3g chamomile flowers
6 ounces distilled water, boiling
Brew the herbs in a 6-8 ounce glass for 5-6 minutes. Strain. Let cool until warm to the touch.
Dosing Guidelines
Frequency: as needed
Limits: apply the compress for 5-10 minutes at a time
Duration: Until symptoms resolve
Age: no age limits
Storage & Shelf Life
Store at room temperature for a few hours. It does not have a shelf life. Make fresh as needed.
Crushed Calendula
One of the simplest forms of herbal preparation is crushing herbs straight from the garden for application.
Calendula flowers can be crushed and applied to the skin to soothe minor stings, cuts, and scrapes.
Harvest a small handful of clean herbs, grind them with a mortar and pestle, or chop them
Add a little water and mix and smash so the pulp appears paste-like.
Spread it on the skin and leave it there for 10-30 minutes until you feel or see relief.
Grow your own Calendula.
For the home gardener, it can be grown almost anywhere that gets full sun. It's a happy little flower that grows like crazy; the more you cut it, the more it grows. The flowers, which range in colors from 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 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 usually 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 ensure the plant you purchase is Calendula officinalis.
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Safety Concerns
Calendula is a member daisy family or Asteraceae. It is a very gentle herb with very few contraindications, making 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. An individual should avoid it with a suspected allergy to this group of flowers. Never used Calendula before? Apply the new product to a small skin area and wait a day or two to ensure you don't have an adverse reaction.
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