Calendula, also known as pot marigold, is a flowering herb used for centuries in traditional medicine. It is native to the Mediterranean region but can now be found growing in many parts of the world. Calendula has a number of potential health benefits and is commonly used in the form of an herbal tea, tincture, or oil.
One of the main benefits of calendula is its ability to support the lymphatic system. The lymphatic system is a network of tissues and organs that help to filter waste and toxins from the body. Calendula is believed to stimulate the flow of lymph and reduce inflammation in the lymphatic system, which can help to improve overall immune function.
In addition to its benefits for the lymphatic system, calendula is also known for its anti-inflammatory action. Inflammation is a natural response by the body’s immune system to injury or infection, but chronic inflammation can lead to a number of health problems such as heart disease and diabetes. Calendula has been shown to reduce inflammation in the body, making it useful for conditions such as arthritis, eczema, and inflammatory bowel disease.
Calendula is also a bitter tonic, which means it can stimulate the production of digestive juices and improve digestion. This is due to the presence of compounds called sesquiterpene lactones in calendula, which stimulate the production of bile and help to break down fats in the body. As a result, calendula is often used to treat digestive issues such as indigestion, bloating, and constipation.
Calendula is also believed to have antibacterial properties, making it useful for wound healing and preventing infections. In addition, calendula has been shown to stimulate the production of collagen, which is important for maintaining healthy skin. As a result, calendula is often used in skincare products to help reduce the appearance of scars and promote healing.
Calendula (Calendula officinalis)
Family: Asteracea
Parts Used: Whole flower head.
Parts used:
It is important to use the entire flower and not just the petals, for it is underneath the flower base that contains much of the aromatic and resinous properties of the plant which are responsible for it’s medicinal actions. The petals themselves are relatively mild and sweet, but the entire flower is distinctly much more medicinal.
Taste – First and foremost it is a bitter remedy, which indicates many of it’s primary actions and organ affinities. Next we see it has a slightly sweet and salty taste, as well as a degree of pungency. These inform us that it has a slightly nutritive quality (sweet) which it has upon the mucosal membranes, a water regulatory aspect (salty), as well as a stimulating property (pungent).
Actions
Lymphagogue – Calendula is most beneficial in cases where the acute cough, cold, flu or infection has passed, but there is a lingering after-effect of the sickness, where the person just doesn’t feel all the way better, perhaps with low-grade fever and lymphatic congestion.
Alterative – People who need alteratives can often be quite tired and run down due to the fact that their vital force is busy trying to clean the system out
Immune Tonic – Calendula acts as a gentle remedy which builds up the vital heat of the body, maintains balance in the fluid metabolism by clearing any stagnation, keeps the channels of elimination open and detoxifying, and helps keep any pathogenic bacteria at bay. Many authors note that it is “antibacterial” and “anti-fungal,” though rather than acting as a direct antimicrobial agent, it is best considered a “bacteriostatic,” meaning that it contains the bacteria and prevents their spread and infiltration by keeping the lymph moving. Remember, the lymphatic system is a critical part of the immune system and through keeping the lymph moving and cleansing the blood the immune system is able to better screen the system and do it’s job more efficiently and effectively. Traditionally in folk herbalism it was put into soups and stews in the wintertime for this effect.
Affinities:
•Lymphatic and Immune Systems
•Liver and Gallbladder
•Digestive System (mucosal membranes)
•Skin
Energetics:
Warming. Calendula is beneficial in that it a gentle warming agent of the 1st degree. This means that it gently warms the solar plexus, thins fluids, and dispels moisture through the pores of the skin and other channels of the body. Also considered a stimulant, meaning that it directly activates and directs the vital force in a particular direction. The effects upon moisture are varying depending on the situation and organ systems being analyzed.
Specific Indications:
The tongue will be slightly puffy and swollen, which indicates an accumulation of fluids within the tissues (IE lymphatic stagnation). There will also be red or pink papillae along the edges of the tongue, which is the region in correspondence with the lymphatic system and the Spleen. The red and pink coloration indicates heat patterns and “unresolved infections.”
