Pot Marigold (Calendula)

Pot marigold’s homeland is the Mediterranean, although it can be found all over the world as a decorative plant. Belonging to the family of daisies, chrysanthemum, and ambrosia, its stem can grow up to 60 cm; with orange-yellow blossoms, used to heal various diseases, it can bloom from early spring until the first freeze.

The ancient Romans, who noticed that it blooms every month (calends), usually with each new moon, assigned it the name we know it by today. In those times, it was a symbol of joy and happiness in their gardens, for it guaranteed an endless supply of flowers and gentle leaves, while being regularly used in the kitchen as well.

However, ancient Romans and Greeks weren’t the only to appreciate its benefits. Catholics used pot marigold’s flowers for religious events, the Egyptians appreciated its rejuvenating qualities, in the Hindu world it is still used to adorn the statues of gods in their temples, and even ancient Mayans and Aztecs used its petals in their rituals.

In the past, people used it in cooking, to add aroma and colour to wheat, rice and soup. It is assumed that Saint Hildegard from Bingen introduced it to the European herbalism – in the 11th century in today’s Germany. It was used to cure problem with the stomach, ulcers, to ease menstrual cramps, heal gastritis, warts, minor burns, and wounds, such as sprains and open wounds. Nicholas Culpepper, a botanist, herbalist, and astrologist from the 17th century, recommended it to rinse the skin and scalp, while he also believed that it is astrologically connected to the sun and the element of fire and therefore carries magical powers of protection, clairvoyance and helps with legal matters.

In India, pot marigold was used to adorn Hindu deity and their statues, in Ayurveda for energetic cooling – on small open wounds, to rinse out the eyes, soothe the skin after bee stings and to ease digestive problems. In the traditional Chinese medicine, pot marigold is considered an energetically neutral and drying plant, used to offer support for healthy skin, mostly to improve circulation.

Pot marigold holds essential oil, carotenoids, triterpenes, polysaccharides, saponins, glycosides, sterols, and a high level of flavonoids, based on vegetable antioxidants, protecting the cells from damage caused by unstable molecules, called free radicals. All these qualities make it an excellent weapon against infections, viruses, and bacteria. It has been proven that the ingredients increase the blood and oxygen flow in the body, therefore, accelerating the healing of wounds, while increasing the resistance against infections.

This herb is effective in reducing infections, therefore excellent to heal skin ulcers, eczema, acne. It is one of the numerous plants traditionally used to cure conjunctivitis and other ocular infections by reducing the swelling and redness of the skin.

It is an excellent support in healing wounds, internal and external ulcers, has an antiseptic effect and improves blood flow in the affected area. Some studies have even confirmed early healing of gastric ulcers. It helps heal smaller wounds (stops minor haemorrhages), soothe varicose veins, burns and frostbites, swellings, haemorrhoids.
It has a soothing effect on rashes, caused by diapers, eliminates acne, is an antifungal agent and therefore used to cure fungal infections of the skin, microsporum canis and candida, stimulates skin healing in herpes. It does not irritate the skin and is therefore excellent to use on sensitive, reddish, or chapped skin, especially skin, prone to allergies. In general, it stimulates its circulation and regeneration, protects it from ageing, heals, softens, and nourishes it.

Pot marigold is the plant in our garden that reminds us of the sun; the old folk tale claims that one mere look at it will lighten our mood, and when used for healing purposes, this token of good luck will guide us through.

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