Do you love creating your own remedies and recipes that leverage natural, plant-based essential oils? Calendula oil benefits can address a wide range of common complaints, and you can make your own at home with the right equipment.
What Is Calendula?
Calendula, commonly known as marigold, is a genus of flowering plants in the daisy family, renowned for its vibrant orange and yellow blooms. It’s a common sight in garden borders and commercial landscaping.
However, calendula is more than just an ornamental garden plant. It’s also a cherished ingredient in traditional and alternative medicine, well-known for its holistic properties, and widely used in herbal and skincare products.
The History of Calendula Use
Calendula's use is deeply rooted in ancient cultures and traditional healing practices. It has been a staple in herbal medicine for centuries, primarily in Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, and Indian cultures.
Historically, calendula has been revered for its healing properties, particularly in treating skin irritations, wounds, and infections. Today, it has transitioned from a mystical herb to a researched and respected component in modern herbalism.
Top Calendula Oil Benefits and Uses
Calendula tincture uses include many applications for skincare, both in commercial products and homemade concoctions.
A Skincare Superstar
Calendula oil is treasured for its ability to boost the human body’s own capabilities, thanks to active compounds like flavonoids and saponins.
Healing Properties
Calendula's effectiveness in speeding up wound healing is attributed to its anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. These play a crucial role in reducing inflammation and combating bacterial infections while reducing scarring.
Soothing Eczema and Other Skin Irritations
Calendula’s healing properties reduce inflammation and aid in skin repair, alleviating symptoms of eczema such as redness, itching, and dryness. It’s also ideal for cases of rosacea, acne, and even poison ivy or poison oak exposure.
Anti-Aging Effects
Calendula is rich in antioxidants, which play a crucial role in skin health and appearance and combat free radicals. This action helps reduce the signs of aging, such as wrinkles and age spots, and promotes skin elasticity and texture.
Calendula is a Natural Health Booster
The plant world holds many ingredients that can naturally boost your health. Calendula is one of the most versatile, helping you balance your health and address common complaints.
Immune Support
Calendula has a high concentration of flavonoids, a special type of antioxidant. These compounds may stimulate the body's defense mechanisms, helping to fight off pathogens and infections. They can also help reduce chronic inflammation, a common barrier to a healthy immune response.
Digestive and Menstrual Care
Calendula may effectively relieve stomach ulcers by promoting healing of the gastric lining and reducing inflammation. Additionally, calendula's antispasmodic properties make it beneficial for alleviating menstrual cramps.
Antifungal and Antimicrobial Benefits
Calendula’s antimicrobial and antifungal properties can help prevent the growth of harmful bacteria and fungi. These properties also make calendula a useful natural preservative in skincare and cosmetic products, inhibiting the growth of microorganisms and extending product shelf life.
Uses for Calendula in Everyday Life
Calendula tincture uses range from enhancing culinary efforts to contributing a powerful, wholesome ingredient to your home remedies.
Culinary Uses
The petals of calendula flowers are edible and can add a splash of color and a mild, peppery taste to salads. In pastries, these vibrant petals are an attractive and edible decoration, enhancing their visual appeal and adding a subtle, unique flavor.
Uses in Beauty
Calendula-infused oil can be readily blended into the base formula of many skincare products. This integration allows the calendula oil benefits to be integrated through direct skin absorption. Calendula is typically non-reactive and is particularly suitable for products designed for sensitive, irritated, or dry skin.
Home Remedies
Create mild calendula-infused oil by placing dried calendula petals in a clean, dry jar and covering them with almond or olive oil. Seal the jar and let it sit in a warm, sunny spot for 1-2 weeks, shaking daily, then strain out the petals and store your calendula oil in a cool, dark place for use as a topical or oral remedy.
A simple calendula tea can be made by adding a teaspoon of dried calendula petals to a cup and pouring boiling water over the petals. Let the concoction steep for about 10 minutes before straining out the petals. Add honey for a delightful aromatic, sweet, and spicy experience.
These simple recipes access small amounts of calendula. If you need a stronger end-product to develop more potent, effective recipes, an extractor is the best way to concentrate calendula oil for home use.
ExtractCraft for Home Bakers, Herbalists, and DIY Crafters
Start making high-quality botanical concentrates at home using ExtractCraft low-temp vacuum extraction. Prepare your own powerful herbal creams, body butters, tinctures, and essential oils using your choice of plant materials for home remedies you can trust.
SOURCES:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3270572/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3623793/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3768360/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7336704/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10142266/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3379952/