When I talk about calendula in my classes, several people say they haven’t heard of this magnificent and powerful flower. When they see the spelling of the name, they realize they have seen the name before, but they pronounce it differently. The correct pronunciation sounds like “cu len jew la” not “cal n do la”.Calendula also known as pot marigold because in the olden days it was used as a cheaper substitute for saffron and was added to the cooking pot to color butter, cakes and puddings.
Calendula is one of my favorite herbs. If there is only one flower you can grow, calendula would be it. It grows easily from seed, gives flowers for most of the year and re-seeds itself sprouting up new plants. Tonight is the full moon. The full moon is the best time to plant seeds as the moon pulls more moisture into the soil and the seed sprouts sooner. Plant your seeds a day before, during or after the full moon.
I pick the calendula flower head in mid morning after the morning dew has dried. I then place the flower head in a paper bag or on a screen to dry. I make calendula oil with the flower by infusing it into olive, jojoba or almond oil. The properties of the calendula flower remain in the oil. Calendula oil is one of the best oils for skin, even a baby’s skin. Calendula oil can be used in handmade soaps, lotions, body scrubs, serums, diaper balms, etc. The flower petals are edible and I add them to my salads.
Calendula is known for:
healing many skin conditions and wounds
soothes inflamed and irritated skin
an antibacterial and antifungal
promotes cell repair
helps to rejuvenate skin
Use Calendula for:
to soften skin
diaper rash
eczema
rashes
chapped skin
burns
bruises
brighten skin
HOW TO MAKE CALENDULA OIL
Calendula oil can be made with the fresh flower head or the dried flower head. This oil can be used directly on the skin, in skin care formulations or added to the bath water.
Fresh Calendula:
Method 1: Cut fresh calendula flowers in small pieces into a glass jar and cover all of the flowers with olive, jojoba or almond oil. Set away from heat for 4-6 weeks. Fresh calendula flowers contain moisture. For the first few days, check your oil (open the lid) to see if there is mold on the calendula flowers. If there is, remove that piece of flower with a utensil. Your oil is still fine to use. After 4-6 weeks, strain the oil into a jar using a coffee filter or muslin cloth inside a funnel to remove the calendula flowers.
Method 2: Cut up fresh calendula flowers into a crock pot and cover with olive, jojoba or almond oil. Lightly warm oil for 10-12 hours. The crock pot must have a warm setting (low is too high)-the crock pot I use is a smaller version, a Proctor Silex, model # 33015, slow cooker with temperature settings of keep warm, low and high. Strain the oil into a jar using a coffee filter or muslin cloth inside a funnel to remove the calendula flowers.
Dried Calendula:
Method: Cut up calendula flowers into a crock pot and cover with oil. Lightly warm oil for 10-12 hours. The crock pot must have a warm setting (low is too high)-the crock pot I use is a smaller version, a Proctor Silex, model # 33015, slow cooker with temperature settings of keep warm, low and high. Strain the oil into a jar using a coffee filter or muslin cloth inside a funnel to remove the calendula flowers.
calendula seeds
What have your experiences been with calendula? Please post comment below and let us know.
2 comments:
Hi Joan,
I also LOVE calendula. It is one of my favorite herbs - not only in skin care, but also in the garden. Just looking at the masses of flowers brightens my morning!
I make a Calendula Cream, which I love to use on my face, hands, elbows, knees and feet (anywhere my skin feels dry). Recently my good friend, who has a large tube of my cream, exclaimed how amazed she was the soothing qualities of calendula when both her and her fiance slathered it on after they had regrettably gotten terribly sunburned in the Mexican sun.
I've also had similar experiences - I spend a lot of time gardening and, although I use 50+ everywhere, I still manage to get the odd patch of redness from UV exposure. The calendula flower really is a lovely, soothing herb.
Cheers!
Deanna
Your calendula cream sounds soothing and nourishing to the skin.
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