Amazing Calendula (Video)

When we started gardening at our community garden, they gave us a bunch of seedlings. One of those babies was a calendula plant. It has now blossomed into a huge plant that is thriving and flowering constantly and attracting lots of bees. (YAY!)

When it started to flower I began looking up uses for it and fell in love with this powerful little plant. The first thing I started using it for was a tea for my husband. The tea contains a variety of flowers and herbs. (Calendula has been known to assist with digestion and the immune system.)

As the plant grew I felt like it was wasteful to not use the stems and leaves. I asked around and lots of people told me that you only use the flowers. As I continued searching I found that the leaves and stems could be steeped in oil or liquor (depending on what you want to use it for). I also found that you can make it into a poultice. That was the next thing I used it for.

My husband had his foot amputated a few months ago and the healing has been progressing, but VERY slowly. So I created a poultice of calendula (including flowers, leaves, and stems) and ginger. Calendula and ginger aide in tissue regeneration. Calendula increases blood flow, and this invites healthy and infection free healing, allowing new tissue growth and reducing scarring. He also has issues with excema and so I steeped some calendula parts in some melted shea. As soon as he applied each, the poultice and the shea, he saw results by morning. (Calendula also promotes the production of collagen which helps you get healthier skin.) I have since used the shea for our daughter, as she still has bouts of excema, and also scratches when she’s frustrated. The calendula infused shea has worked wonders.

Besides steeping the plant in oil, eating/ drinking it, or applying it directly, I also make an extract using dried calendula and alcohol. I’ll be able to use that as a tincture by itself, and also as an ingredient in other medicines and topical treatments.

Before using calendula you’ll want to be mindful of an allergies you may have. Also, making sure to test small amounts and checking with your healthcare provider.