Popular names: oil color, golden color, solstice, flower of the dead.
Parts Used: Flowers and inflorescences.
Pharmacy name: marigold flowers – Caleridulae flos (formerly: Flores Calendulae sine Calycibns).
Botanical description. An annual plant growing up to 70 cm in height. The erect, felt-pubescent stem is branched and bears alternate, also finely pubescent leaves. Bright yellow inflorescences-baskets are quite large, their diameter sometimes exceeds 4 cm. It blooms from June to October. It is grown as an ornamental plant in gardens and as a medicinal plant in cultivated plantations. From there it sometimes runs wild.
Collection and preparation. Inflorescences must be collected in a fully open state in very dry weather and quickly dried in a ventilated place, but without artificial heating. Either only reed flowers are used, or the entire inflorescence (more often in folk medicine).
Active ingredients: essential oil, marigold sapogenin, saponins, glycosides, carotenoids, xanthophylls, bitterness, mucus, flavonoids, enzymes and organic acids.
Healing action and application.The use of this plant inside is greatly reduced. In tea blends, it is most often considered just an additive to give a beautiful color, although marigold flowers still have their own – slight antispasmodic – action, and the effect on bile secretion is also beyond doubt. Mostly marigolds and many galenic products (ointments) prepared from them are used to treat wounds. In this sense, marigolds are very close to arnica. On poorly healing wounds, leg ulcers, inflammation of the nail bed, dislocations and sprains, compresses with decoction (tea) from marigold flowers have a beneficial effect. A wet bandage with such a decoction helps surprisingly well with fresh wounds. For carbuncles and abscesses, hot calendula compresses are recommended. The German National Health Service recognizes the action of marigolds in inflammation of the skin and mucous membranes, as well as bruises, lacerations and burns. o Tea from marigolds: 1-2 teaspoons of flowers pour 1/4 liter of boiling water, leave for 10 minutes and then strain. Tea is drunk for diseases of the gallbladder very warm, 1 cup 2-3 times a day; it is applicable for compresses and dressings.
Use in homeopathy. The homeopathic remedy Calendula is used internally in dilutions D 1 -D6, and externally (1 teaspoon of the original tincture in half a glass of warm water) for bruises and lacerations, for leg ulcers and to stimulate granulation (healing) of wounds.
Application in folk medicine.In folk medicine, this medicinal plant is highly valued and widely used. Its scope covers everything that has been said about calendula so far. Moreover, marigolds are also considered a remedy for warts and skin cancer. With the help of fresh juice, one can supposedly treat cancerous tumors on the skin, and at the same time, it is necessary to put a compress from a decoction of marigolds at night. That abscesses and tumors heal faster when using compresses with a decoction of marigolds or ointment from them is reliably known. But that they help with cancerous tumors is doubtful. In folk medicine, an ointment (the so-called marigold oil) is very revered, which is used for many ailments. It is applied to the body in case of pain in the abdomen, rubbed on the joints and muscles in case of their painful conditions, and heals all wounds quickly and painlessly; this marigold oil is successfully treated and bedsores. * Marigold oil: goat oil is mixed with crushed marigold flowers in a ratio of 1:1 and slightly warmed to a liquid state. The active ingredients pass into the oil, and the crushed flowers are then removed. In folk medicine, marigolds are used both as a blood-purifying tea and for painful menstruation. A week before menstruation, you should drink 1 cup of tea every day. This normalizes their irregularity and relieves pain. A tea made from a mixture of marigold, nettle, veronica and celandine in equal parts is said to help with stomach ulcers. In folk medicine, marigolds are used both as a blood-purifying tea and for painful menstruation. A week before menstruation, you should drink 1 cup of tea every day. This normalizes their irregularity and relieves pain. A tea made from a mixture of marigold, nettle, veronica and celandine in equal parts is said to help with stomach ulcers. In folk medicine, marigolds are used both as a blood-purifying tea and for painful menstruation. A week before menstruation, you should drink 1 cup of tea every day. This normalizes their irregularity and relieves pain. A tea made from a mixture of marigold, nettle, veronica and celandine in equal parts is said to help with stomach ulcers.
Side effects are unknown, allergies are very rare.