Calendula officinalis, commonly known as pot marigold, is a familiar and cheerful garden flower that also happens to be a powerful ally in traditional and clinical herbalism. With its vibrant orange and yellow blooms, calendula has been celebrated for centuries for its healing properties—especially in soothing inflammation, supporting skin repair, and promoting overall wellness.
Let’s take a closer look at this beloved herb and how it’s used in contemporary herbal practice.
🌿 A Brief History
Calendula has a long-standing heritage in European folk medicine, dating back to at least the twelfth century. Traditionally, the flower heads were infused into oils or made into salves to dress wounds, burns, and inflamed skin. Across cultures, calendula has also been taken internally for issues such as gastric ulcers, fevers, and menstrual irregularities.
In Indian and Italian folk medicine, it has been used to soothe haemorrhoids, manage heat-related illnesses, and reduce fever. Its uses reflect a common theme: calming the body’s inflammatory responses, both inside and out.
💧 Traditional and Modern Uses
In clinical herbalism, Calendula officinalis is primarily valued for:
- Skin healing: Ideal for wounds, burns, rashes, and dermatitis.
- Anti-inflammatory support: Internally, it’s used to soothe the digestive tract in conditions like ulcers or gastritis.
- Menstrual support: Often used as an emmenagogue to help regulate menstrual flow.
- Antimicrobial properties: Calendula has demonstrated antifungal and antibacterial activity in studies, including against Staphylococcus aureus.
- Lymphatic stimulation: Supporting the body’s natural detoxification pathways through gentle stimulation of the lymphatic system.
Its actions are thought to be due to a wide range of constituents including terpenoids, flavonoids, coumarins, carotenoids, and triterpenes—compounds that modern research has linked with significant healing potential.
🔬 Backed by Research
While calendula’s traditional use is well-established, scientific research has added weight to its reputation:
- A comparative clinical study showed calendula outperformed trolamine in reducing radiation-induced skin damage and pain in cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy.
- Triterpenes in calendula have shown potent anti-inflammatory effects in laboratory studies.
- Extracts have also demonstrated anti-HIV potential and enhanced wound healing in animal models, including increased collagen production and antioxidant support.
🌸 Safe and Gentle – But Know Your Plants
Calendula is generally considered safe and well-tolerated when used appropriately. It is low in toxicity and can be taken internally or applied externally under professional guidance. However, those with allergies to plants in the Asteraceae (daisy) family—such as chamomile or ragweed—should use caution, as calendula may trigger a reaction in sensitive individuals.
