Calendula
Calendula Officinalis, also known as Pot Marigold, is a brilliant flowering plant in the Asteraceae family, with edible and medicinal uses.
This wonderful ally has been used for centuries magically. In the 16th century, there was a ritual using calendula that was said to reveal fairies.. Greeks and Romans used Calendula for a number of rituals and ceremonies, often wearing crowns made from the flowers.
The most common use, historically, was for it’s color and flavor in cooking, and it is still used that way today. The petals can be added to salads for a nice pop of color and a peppery taste, or the flowers can be added to stews and soups. I like to pop some flowers into ice cube trays and freeze them up to add to sparkling drinks later for some fun!
edible and medicinal
Medicinally, this lovely lady is a gentle yet powerful wound healing plant with soothing effects to the skin. She can be used externally for rashes, infection, inflammation, stings, wounds, bites, cold sores, diaper rash, cracked nipples from breast feeding, burns, eczema, and many other conditions. She can also be used internally for digestion, peptic ulcers, stimulating the lymphatic system, respiratory infection, and tonsillitis. She is anti-inflammatory, immune boosting, anti-fungal, and antibacterial.
*Remember when using Calendula in medicinals, that you use the entire flower as there are a lot of useful compounds within the green base of the flowering top as well as in the petals. A lot of information out there says to only use the petals, but that would be an enormous waste of powerful medicine.
*Also keep in mind when making a Calendula oil infusion to be sure all of the plant material is completely dry first as to not introduce water into your oil, or it can easily mold and hold bacteria.
*Not intended for internal use during pregnancy as Calendula can bring on bleeding. Do not use Calendula if you are allergic to plants such as ragweed and chamomile.
Calendula Tincure
Florets
In the center of each bloom grows tiny buds that will open into their own individual florets.