Calendula

Calendula officinalis is primarily a skin care herb of the calendula genus. It is often called ‘pot marigold’ or ‘English Marigold’. Calendula is used in healing skin lesions, wounds, scrapes, small burns, sunburns, acne and all types of rashes.

Calendula flowers are usually grown in gardens both for use as a food and medical resource. It has bright orange and yellow petals with medicinal properties. If you are not sure what a calendula looks like, there are many pictures of calendula on the internet for you to look at.

The calendula flower is also used for treating fungal infections of the skin like tinea, fungi and athlete’s foot. Due to its antiseptic effect, the calendula herb can be used to combat fungi, bacteria and viruses. Calendulas are also widely regarded as a capillary astringent that is beneficial in treating cuts, wounds, varicose veins and other inflammations.

Calendula is usually cultivated as dried flowers or calendula essential oil. The raw material is then processed into calendula ointment, calendula acne cream, calendula soap, infused oils and calendula lotion. It is possible to buy products containing calendula in most health food stores and online. Then again, if you have a calendula plant at home, you can use calendula for skin care by creating your own skin care products.

It is possible to make calendula oil at home. All you have to do is pack a glass jar with dried calendula flowers, and then pour olive oil over these flowers and fill the jar to the brim. The jar has to be covered with a tight lid and then stored in a dark cupboard. Shake the bottle everyday for two weeks and then strain into a clean glass jar or bottle. Vitamin E has to be added as a natural preservative. Then, the calendula oil is ready for use on the skin, scalp or hair.

You can also make your own calendula cream. All you need is six ounces of calendula oil to be prepared as above, and two ounces of sweet almond oil. These oils have to be mixed with 3 ounces of shea butter and 2 ounces of cocoa butter in a small pot, on low heat. Once melted, the mixture has to be simmered for twenty minutes while stirring regularly. This mixture is poured into plastic or glass jars and then left to solidify. This cream can be used on skin, scalp or hair as needed. It is better to refrigerate the calendula cream to lengthen its shelf life.