As beautiful as it is beneficial for treating a range of health issues, the Calendula flower is easily among the brightest examples of how Mother Nature provides in abundance. Featuring a score of anti-inflammatory benefits, the Calendula flower, known by its scientific name Calendula Officinalis, is a marigold plant that has seen household use as a medicinal treatment for a broad range of ailments. Its uses range from providing a colourful ingredient to healthy meals, and in use as topical lotions or ointments — particularly for skincare, and to heal wounds. The source of the plant’s medicinal properties is interestingly found within its beautiful and richly coloured orange and yellow flowers, and the leafy green base (involucres) from which its petals sprout from.
The brightly-coloured petals of the Calendula flower are rich in flavonoids, which are phytonutrients (plant chemicals) present in all fruits and vegetables. As a matter of fact, flavonoids are what produces the vivid, beautiful colours in plants such as Calendula, and all other varieties of fruit and vegetables. Interestingly still, it might interest you to know that flavonoids provide significant antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits.
Bees enjoying the Calendula
Where Does Calendula Officinalis Come From?
The Calendula plant is a North American native, that grows annually and easily in full sunlight. It is perhaps this exposure to abundant sunlight that gives the flower its beautiful and bright presentation. While it’s a pretty sight to behold, anyone with a green thumb will be glad to know that these flowers grow fairly well in any home garden. Unsurprisingly, its colourful and fragrant petals attract plenty of butterflies, and is often used as potpourri. As a plant that’s famously known by many, Calendula has also been called the Scotch Marigold, or English Garden Marigold.
Appreciating the Many Health Benefits Provided by the Calendula Flower
The Calendula flower features resinous medicinal oils that are recognised for its effectiveness in treating ailments that affect the skin, as well as for its antifungal properties, and with treating infections. In terms of its practical applications, these medicinal qualities often see its use in treating common ailments such as diaper rash, and for treating wounds. Because of the anti-inflammatory qualities associated with its phytochemicals, the medicinal oils in Calendula flowers are also effective for reducing pain and inflammation.
The reason why Calendula presents such incredible utility as a garden flower that easily finds its place in any medicine cabinet, is to do with its active ingredients. Among these include phytochemicals like Triterpene Saponins, Triterpene Alcohols, and Flavonoids. Collectively, these phytochemicals have been studied (Park et al., 2017) to enhance tissue growth, especially when applied as a topical lotion.
In separate studies, Calendula ointment proved effective with treating caesarean scars, as well as for treating venous leg ulcers. When used in a study by Lavagna et al. in 2001, researchers found that women whose caesarean scars were treated with Calendula ointment presented with faster rates of healing, with treated scar tissue presenting as less red and swollen as a result. In another study by Buzzi et al. in 2016, researchers found that patients with venous leg ulcers who were treated with Calendula extract had a seven times higher rate of healing each week, as compared to those in a control group. Additionally, no side effects were observed during these treatments.
More Common Conditions and Calendula
Calendula’s effectiveness as a home remedy is almost ubiquitous, especially for treating common skin conditions such as eczema, and dermatitis. While ongoing research is still being done to observe its long-term benefits, there is little to doubt its phytonutrient ability to treat common skin ailments. Predominantly, Calendula’s anti-inflammatory qualities are what provides its ability to reduce any inflammatory conditions that occur in skin ailments like dermatitis. As a result, you may have noticed Calendula extract being used with plenty of over-the-counter lotions and balms, which would be used to treat skin ailments. Calendula-based ointments have been as popularly used as other plant-based remedies like aloe vera gel, especially for treating other common skin issues such as diaper rash.
When it comes to understanding Calendula’s benefits, most available products tend to feature an extract of its flowers in the form of an oil or infused tincture. This is then added to a variety of applications, such as when infused as a balm, lotion, or cream. However useful and abundant the Calendula flower is as a home remedy, it also interestingly presents its anti-inflammatory qualities when its dried flowers are added as an ingredient to salads or other simple, home-cooked dishes. When it comes to finding an example of a garden-grown beauty that’s fit for the household, we simply can’t think of other plants that come as close to the kinds of benefits Calendula can provide.
Alaya Body: Supplying You with All-Natural, All-Beneficial Skincare the Way Mother Nature Intended
At Alaya Body, we source the medicinal properties of Calendula extract from organic, high-quality produce. When featured within our skincare lotions and balms, what you’ll get are the best of its anti-inflammatory and healing properties, with as little additives or artificial chemicals added as naturally possible. To see if our skincare range would suit your needs, give our team a call today on 0417 702 130, or by writing to us at [email protected] to find out more.
Disclaimer: This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. All information found here is not meant as a substitute for or alternative to information from your doctor or ongoing medical treatment you currently receive. Consult with your doctor.
References
Buzzi, M., De Freitas, F., & de Barros Winter, M. (2016). Therapeutic effectiveness of a Calendula officinalis extract in venous leg ulcer healing. Journal of wound care, 25(12), 732-739.
Lavagna, S. M., Secci, D., Chimenti, P., Bonsignore, L., Ottaviani, A., & Bizzarri, B. (2001). Efficacy of Hypericum and Calendula oils in the epithelial reconstruction of surgical wounds in childbirth with caesarean section. Il Farmaco, 56, 5-7.
Park, E., Kim, S., & Moon, J. (2017). The Effects of Marigold (Targetes L.) Extract and Calendula officinalis L.) Extract on Collagen Growth and MMP-1 Expression in Human Dermal Fibroblasts. Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology, 34(4), 769-777.
