June’s Herb of the Month: Calendula

June’s Herb of the Month is calendula! Also known as Mary’s Gold and Summer’s Bride, it feels especially appropriate to focus on calendula this month as we approach the summer solstice later in June. As calendula blooms, it unfurls its petals in a celebration of summer. With golden-orange and sticky flowerheads, calendula is the perfect companion flower to attract many of our favorite pollinators.  As if it’s in a constant state of celebration of summer, calendula will flower for months, as long as you maintain it by deadheading it. 

 

Common name: Calendula, Pot Marigold, Mary’s Gold, Summer’s Bride

Latin name: Calendula officinalis

Parts Used: flower (whole head, not just petals)

Benefits: Alterative (works to alter the body’s processes towards health), Antibacterial, Anti-Inflammatory, Antispasmodic (relieves muscle spasms), Calmative (has a soothing effect), Diaphoretic (promotes sweating), Emmenagogue (stimulates menstrual flow)

Taste:  bitter, pungent

Energetics: cooling and drying

History:

The name calendula comes from the Latin word Kalendae, which was used to indicate the first day of every month. It was believed that calendula bloomed on the first of every month and thus was used as a botanical calendar. It was this mixture of botanical and astronomical importance that cemented calendula’s magical (cultural) importance. It’s because of its photonastic ( meaning it opens in the sunlight and closes in the dark) movement that calendula also got its nickname “Bride of the Sun” or “Summer’s Bride.”

 

Before the name calendula, this flower was first named Caltha by the Ancient Greeks. In Greek Mythology, Caltha was a young woman who was so in love with the sun god Apollo that she waited every morning to see his bright rays. She had such an unending admiration for his rays that she was transformed into the flower, and thus it became known as caltha. Because of this expression of grief and loss of a passionate love, calendula flowers (as marigolds) were even referenced in Shakespearean plays to indicate the loss of love. 

 

Besides a few brief mentions, calendula doesn’t appear in herbal medicine accounts until about the early 14th century where it was used for the treatment of amenorrhea (loss of menstrual cycle), stomachaches, and inflamed eyes. 

Benefits:

Skin: Calendula has a long history of being used for a variety of skin ailments, from cuts to burns and larger scars. It promotes tissue repair and regeneration, and is anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial – goodbye acne! It’s been used for centuries to boost skin health and fight off external damage. It firms, plumps, and hydrates skin – and may even reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles! Its sticky resin makes this the perfect herb for wound care, mouth sores, sinus infections, and bug bites.

 

Alterative: An “alterative” is an herb that typically helps open up channels of elimination (liver, bowels, skin, etc.) to promote detoxification. Calendula helps stimulate natural detoxification pathways by moving congestion through the lymphatic system. It has also been beneficial in stimulating the elimination of toxins through the GI system and skin (remember, it helps promote sweating). 

 

Bitter: Calendula’s bitter properties stimulate the liver for detoxification and increase bile production and secretion from the gallbladder. This helps your body metabolize and digest difficult fats and helps support digestive insufficiency. Through these mechanisms, calendula helps drain excess fluids (as we’ve seen through the lymphatic system, as well as) through the liver, gallbladder, and GI systems. 

Emmenagogue (promotes menses): Calendula is still used prolifically in European herbal medicine to help stimulate a stagnant menstrual cycle, as well as to relieve menstrual discomfort. It’s believed that this is due to its bitter taste/actions, where there is a downward mechanism of action to drain excess fluids from the body. 

Emotional Aspects of Calendula:

Emotionally, calendula is employed to help cultivate receptivity and compassion. It helps spur on active listening and promotes communication for healing and empowerment. It comforts us in times of change and reassures us with warmth, openness, and resiliency. 

Recipes

 

Calendula & Lavender Healing Balm by The Kitchen Apothecary

 

A versatile healing balm for minor skin wounds and inflammation.

 

Ingredients

• 250 mL calendula-infused extra virgin olive oil
• 50g natural beeswax, grated
• 25g medicinal honey
• 30 drops of lavender essential oil

Instructions

• Assemble clean, sterile glass jars and lids to hold approximately 300 mL of balm.
• Heat the beeswax and oil in a double boiler (see note) over medium heat. The beeswax will slowly dissolve into the oil. Stir with a whisk to combine.
• When the beeswax is almost dissolved, remove from heat and allow to cool for a few minutes, but not so long as for the balm to harden. Add the honey and essential oil, then stir again to combine.
• Pour into a small jug with a fine spout or load up a large syringe.
• Fill the jars. You will need to work quickly as the balm will harden. If you are using a jug, stir the balm between pours to ensure the honey does not settle in the bottom.
• Allow the jars to cool (I place a piece of kitchen paper on top). When cool, cap tightly and store in a cool, dark place for up to a year.

Notes

• If you do not have a double boiler, simply pop a stainless steel or heatproof glass mixing bowl over a saucepan. Fill to a quarter with water and bring to a simmer. Make sure the bottom of the bowl does not touch the water.

 

Calendula Bread By Taste Of Yummy

Ingredients

• 2 Cups of Dried Calendula Flowers
• 1 Teaspoon of Pink Salt
• 4 Teaspoons Baking Powder (Non-Aluminum)
• 4 Cups of Sifted Spelt flour
• 1 Teaspoon Cinnamon
• 4 Tablespoons of softened Earth Balance Butter
• 2⅔ Cups of Almond Milk
• 2 Tablespoons of Flaxseed Meal
• 1/3 Cup of Spring Water
• ½ Cup of Grape Seed Oil
• 2 Teaspoons of Vanilla Extract
• 1 Cup of Honey

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350 Degrees.
• In a large bowl, sift together dry ingredients to include: the spelt flour, salt, baking powder, and cinnamon. Whisk together, then set aside.
• In a large mixing bowl, mix softened Earth Balance Butter, almond milk, flaxseed meal mixture, oil, vanilla extract, and honey. Whisk together. Set aside.
• Next, add the dried calendula flowers to the dry ingredients.
• Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients with the mix on low. Scrape down the sides as needed to get all the dry mixed ingredients.
• Pour batter into a lightly oiled 9 x 5 loaf pan.
• Bake for 45 minutes to an hour until a toothpick comes out clean. If not, bake until done.

Notes:

How To Prepare Flaxseed Meal (Egg Replacer)

• In a small bowl mix 2 tablespoons flaxseed meal with ⅓ cup of spring water.
• Let sit for 10 minutes before adding to wet ingredients.

 

• Feel free to try as muffins! (Yields 12 )

 

Grapefruit and Calendula Tea Hot Mulled Cider Recipe by Ginger With Spice

Ingredients

• ½ cup dried calendula flowers* (6 grams)
• ½ cup honey (170 grams)
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh mint (optional)
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 1 star anise
• 2 blood oranges (or regular oranges)
• 1 large grapefruit
• 4 cups water (divided, 1 liter)

Instructions

• In a saucepan, add the dried flowers, honey, mint, cinnamon stick, star anise, zest from the oranges and grapefruit and 1 cup (250 milliliters) water. Let this come to a boil and reduce to simmer for about 10 minutes. Stir occasionally.
• Strain into a large, heat-proof pitcher and add 1 cup (250 milliliters) citrus juice (about 2 blood oranges and 1 large grapefruit).
• Add in as much boiling water as you want, I think 3 cups (750 milliliters) are perfect.
• Delicious to garnish with extra star anise or cinnamon sticks.

 

Loving the Herbs of the month? Come along on our herb walk with us and read our other blogs!

 

May: Cleavers

April: Lemonbalm

March: Violet

February: Hawthorne

January: Fennel