Calendula officinalis L. (Marigold flowers) Tr 1:3 25%

Calendula officinalis

Common Name: Pot Marigold, Mary-Bud, Gold-Bloom.
Family: Compositae/ Asteraceae

Part used: Dried ligulate florets of plant.

Constituents: Volatile oil; Yellow resin (calendulin) gives antifungal, antiviral and antibacterial properties; Bitter principle; Triterpenes; Pentacyclic alcohols including faradol, brein, arnidiol, erythrodiol, calenduladiol, heliatriol C and F, ursatriol, longispinogenine; Calendulosides; Amyrin; Taraxasterol, lupeol; Flavonoids; Isorhamnetin glycosides, including narcissin and quercetin; Glycosides, including rutin; Chlorogenic acid; Carotenes; Mucilage; Sterols

Calendula carotenoids include Meso-zeaxanthin, Lutein and Zeaxanthin which have been extracted and used to make a product called Macushield which is reported to protect the macula against blue light damage, free radicals and help to replenish macula pigments. Presumably including marigold petals in the diet will do the same thing.

Actions: Spasmolytic; Aperient (stimulates appetite); Cholagogue; Diaphoretic; Anti-inflammatory; Anti-haemorrhagic; Emmenagogue (promotes menstruation); Vulnerary (helps heal wounds); Styptic (stops bleeding); Antiseptic; Mildly oestrogenic; Astringent; Anti-oxidant

Traditional and current uses:

Gastric and duodenal ulcers

Colitis, gastritis, oesophagitis

Diarrhoea

Enlarged or inflamed lymph nodes

Skin conditions,  both internally and externally

Burns and sunburn, topically

As eyewash for conjunctivitis. Also believed to replenish eye pigments when taken internally and protect the tissues of the eye

Compresses for mastitis

Clearing to the liver

Fresh juice for warts

The flowers are traditionally thought to lift the spirits and encourage cheerfulness.