January 23, 2012

  • The awesome Calendula ;)

    I've learned about a lot of flowers, trees (bark of them mostly) and various home remedies from my Grandparents growing up. At the time, I had no idea the depth of knowledge they had!
    I am so glad they taught me what they did, and gave me some "life lessons" I will always cherish. I lived with them from about age 12 till I met my husband & moved out at age 17. I've always
    known the great benefits of the marigold, however the following I didn't write. When it comes to flowers and herbs, its best to be precise ;) So this info is from various sources online that I will list
    at the bottom. I am definitely going to plant some marigolds around my home this year. I want to start a garden too. It's been a very long time since I have had a garden and fresh food from one! I sure do
    miss the freshness, the satisfaction (pride) of growing my own, and of course the freshness of the herbal tea made from my own home-grown herbs!

    Well, without further boring you, here's some great info all about the Marigold flower. Maybe even some stuff you didn't know ;)

     

    The Calendula 
    Latin name: Calendula officinalis
     
    Health Benefits of Calendula Flowers
     
    Calendula is also known as common marigold. It has an orange or yellow bud, and can be grown indoors. 

    It has many wonderful medicinal uses such as:
     
     
     • One of the best herbs for treating local skin problems such as burns, inflammation, mucositis, and pharyngitis. The phytochemicals in calendula oppose fungi, bacteria, viruses, and inflammation. They also excite white blood cells in the immune system to fight microbial invaders. For these reasons and others, calendula has been a good treatment for skin problems of all kinds, particularly cuts, scrapes, bruises, and minor wounds.

    • Is used for intestinal disorders because it limits swelling and inflammation in the lining of the stomach and intestines. It is used to help with ulcers for this reason as well.

    • Because of anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, it can be used to treat ear infections, eye infections such as conjunctivitis, and also for vaginal itching. It can also be used for diaper rash, eczema, or acne.

     • Other uses include treatment of varicose veins, capillary engorgement, and hepatic and splenic congestion.
     
     
     
    Nutritional Benefits of Calendula Flowers

     • Contains beta-carotene.
     
     
     
    How to Use Calendula Flowers

    • Flowers are edible, and may be added to salads, cereals, rice, and soups to add flavor and color. The petals can also be dried for use in teas for internal use.

    • For external use, it works best applied in a salve or oil and rubbed on generously.
     
     
     
    Cautions and Side Effects of Calendula Flowers

     • Safe during pregnancy and nursing, and safe for children.

     • There are no known interactions or side effects from the flowers.

    Interesting tidbits ~ The calendula is an annual flower native to the northern Mediterranean countries. Its name refers to its tendency to bloom with the calendar,
    usually once a month or every new moon. The term "marigold" refers to the Virgin Mary, and marigolds are used in Catholic events honoring the Virgin Mary.
    The Egyptians considered them to have rejuvenating properties. In the Hindu world, the flowers were used to adorn statues of gods in their temples,
    as well as a colorant in food, fabrics, and cosmetics, and of particular interest, in the 18th and 19th century calendula was used to color cheese.
    The calendula was originally used as food rather than as an herb. It adds flavor to cereals, rice, and soups. The petals can be added to salads.
    As recently as 70 years ago, American physicians used calendula to treat amenorrhea, conjunctivitis, fevers, cuts, scrapes, bruises, and burns,
    as well as minor infections of the skin.
     

    Where I buy my herbs :: www.savvyteasandherbs.com & where I got the top information from.