Ranunculaceae – Ranunculaceae.
Popular names: butter color, yolk color, cow color, greasy color.
Parts used: grass.
Pharmacy name: marigold herb – Calthae palustris herba (formerly: Herba Calthae palustris).
Botanical description. This perennial plant with bright yellow glossy flowers is hard to miss in spring. Its height varies depending on the habitat from 5 to 30 cm. All parts of the plant are green and very juicy when fresh. On a powerful, very short rhizome, already in the fall, fully formed buds develop, containing the rudiments of future shoots. Strongly branched erect or creeping stems bear bright yellow glossy flowers at the ends of the branches. The lower leaves are petiolate, cordate-reniform; the upper ones are stalk-bearing. The margins of the leaves are more or less distinctly serrated or crenate; Veins are prominent on the underside of the leaf. Blooms in April (March to May). Wet meadows, ditches, puddles are the favorite habitats of marigold marigold, as can be seen from its name.
Active ingredients: saponins, flavonoids, anemonin, choline and xanthophyll and carotene contained in flowers.
Healing action and application. As a saponin-containing raw material, marigold could have a wide range of applications, but due to numerous, sometimes conflicting data on its likely toxicity, there are a number of limitations. The corrosive action of anemonin is feared, although it is known that it is destroyed when dried. In addition, the youngest leaves in the fresh state are used to prepare the salad, but no noticeable harm was observed with all this. Therefore, if we can talk about poisoning, then only in the case of consuming a large amount of fresh leaves. And since there is no final clarity on this issue, heed my advice: do not eat raw marigold leaves!
Use in homeopathy. The homeopathic product Caltha palustris is prepared from fresh flowering plants. The remedy is given in medium dilutions (from D 1 to D6) for herpes, whooping cough, bronchitis and painful menstruation in young women. Usually take 5 to 10 drops several times a day.
Application in folk medicine. In folk medicine, marigold is not often, but still used. It finds use in diseases of the liver and gallbladder, as evidenced by a close examination of earlier signatures. More often, marigold is used as a cough remedy, especially in a mixture with coltsfoot and lanceolate plantain. Pickled marigold flower buds are very popular as an appetizing spice. To do this, they are harvested in early spring, still green, poured with salted vinegar, and after a few days, like capers, they are served with sausages, egg dishes. Just don’t get carried away!
Side effects. Possible poisoning and side effects have already been mentioned. I will only emphasize that the marigold is at least a little, but poisonous, so I do not recommend using it on your own.