The beneficial properties of calendula have been known since ancient times. It was used in the treatment of various skin diseases, as well as for healing all kinds of wounds. Even then, people believed that the plant could cure cancer. And already in modern world this ability has been successfully proven. The use of calendula for the treatment of cancer tumors is now considered appropriate.
Just one look at these flowers improves your mood. Calendula is widely used in cooking, folk medicine, cosmetology and soap making.
The healing properties of calendula
You can make a whole list of beneficial properties of calendula. Among them are normalization of blood pressure, choleretic and analgesic effects. It reduces the growth of tumors, cleanses the liver, stops bleeding and reduces swelling. It is very good for the heart and has a number of other indications.
Calendula officinal (calendula officinal is L.) is an annual herbaceous plant from the Asteraceae family, reaching a height of 40-60 cm. The stem is branched, softly pubescent, ribbed. The leaves are alternate, the flowers are golden yellow or orange, collected at the top of the stems in basket-shaped inflorescences with a diameter of 3 - 5 cm. The smell of the flowers is fragrant, blooms all summer, starting in June, the seeds ripen in August.
The birthplace of the culture is central and southern Europe and Central Asia. In Russia it is cultivated as an ornamental and medicinal plant. Sometimes the plant runs wild, but it is almost never found in the wild in Russia.
Calendula grows well in moist, open, sunny places.
Flower baskets are medicinal raw materials. Marigold flowers are collected all summer, as at least half of the reed flowers in non-double varieties open. The break between collecting baskets can be 2-5 days; During the summer, from 10 to 20 collections are carried out. The baskets are cut off at the base of the peduncle and the reed flowers are plucked out of them. The raw materials are dried immediately after collection (no later than 4 hours) in dark places or in dryers, turning over frequently. When drying in a dryer, the temperature in the dryer should not exceed 40-45 °C. Drying is completed when the baskets fall apart with light finger pressure. Dried flowers can be stored for no more than 1 year.
Calendula in mythology
Calendula officinalis (marigold) Calendula officinalis L.
The name is from the diminutive Latin Calendal - the first day of each month among the Romans; Latin officinalis - medicinal. 
The Russian name for marigold is explained by a fairy tale.
A long time ago, a boy was born into a poor family. They called him Zamorysh because he was weak and sickly. When he grew up, he went far away to gain his wits. Soon a rumor spread that a man had appeared who healed not with spells, not with divination, but with healing drinks. People began to be treated by Zamorish (it was him), but no one went to the old witch. She decided to poison the doctor and brought a cup of wine with a potion. The runt drank wine, and when he felt that he was dying, he called people and bequeathed to bury the nail from his left hand under the window of the insidious sorceress after death. They fulfilled his request. A golden flower grew in that place, which people called marigold. And the marigold flower cures people from many diseases, and the fame of the miracles of the marigold flower spreads all over the world. 
Marigold, in English marigold "Mary's gold", is considered to be named after the Virgin Mary. They were used to decorate statues of the Savior’s mother. This flower is often found in wedding bouquets(hence its other name among the British - “summer wedding couple”) and symbolizes constancy and long-term love. In southeastern Europe, it is believed that if a husband begins to look away, his fidelity will return if marigolds are sown around his footprints on the ground. In China, marigolds symbolize long life; This is the "flower of 10,000 years". In Hinduism, it is considered the flower of Krishna. In ancient India, garlands were woven from calendula and decorated with statues of saints. Calendula is sometimes called the “bride of summer” because of the flower’s tendency to follow the sun.
Flowers were used not only as medicine. They were added to food, replacing spices. It is known that Queen Margot, about whom A. Dumas wrote in his novel of the same name, was very fond of calendula. In France there is a statue of her holding a bouquet of these flowers in her hands.
In some countries, calendula is considered the flower of the dead. This is believed to be due to the smell of calendula, which some say resembles the smell of a corpse. On the other hand, in some countries there is a custom to decorate the coffins of deceased children with these flowers. In particular, calendula is called the flower of the dead in Germany. And in Austria it is called the flower of the dead also because it is planted on graves on November 1, the day following All Saints' Day, and also because calendula, together with periwinkle, is used to weave wreaths for the dead.
Calendula is a good honey plant. Along with medicinal purposes, it is also used in Food Industry as a dye in the production of fats, cheese, butter, margarine. 
Chemical composition Calendula is very rich in biologically active substances. Its flower baskets contain carotenoids. Brightly colored calendula varieties are especially rich in carotenoids. In addition, resins, mucus, organic acids (malic and traces of salicylic acid), bitter alkaloids, and vitamin C were found in marigold flowers. In addition, the aerial parts of the plant contain saponin, which yields oleanoic and glucuronic acids upon hydrolysis. Calendula seeds contain fatty oil and alkaloids.
Calendula has strong bactericidal properties against many pathogens, especially staphylococci and streptococci. Preparations made from it are used to treat burns, non-healing wounds and fistulas, to gargle for sore throats and the mouth for stomatitis.
In folk medicine, marigold infusion is used internally for diseases of the liver and gall bladder, spleen, stomach cramps, bladder stones, cough, hypertension, cardiac neurosis, scrofula, rickets. Externally - for erosions, cracks in the anus. Calendula contains carotene or provitamin A, flavonoids that have a choleretic, antispasmodic, antitumor, antitoxic effect on the human body, essential oils that have an antibiotic effect, coumarins that can relieve inflammation.
Calendula contains such essential microelements as zinc (Zn), which is responsible for the normal functioning of the sex glands, growth and immunity; copper (Cu), necessary for treatment inflammatory processes; molybdenum (Mo), good for teeth as it retains fluoride; Selenium (Se), which has an anti-cancer effect and has a positive effect on the cardiovascular system. 
Traditional recipes with calendula
Calendula in gynecology
In gynecological practice, calendula is used in the treatment of cervical erosions and colpitis (douching); in menopause - as a sedative. In case of threatened abortion, you should take 3 tablespoons of crushed calendula leaves and inflorescences and boil them in 1 liter of water until 0.5 liters remain. Drink 1/2 glass three times a day before meals.
Make a mixture of 2 parts calendula flowers and 1 part lemon balm. Pour 1 tablespoon of the mixture into 0.5 liters of boiling water. Leave for 30 minutes, strain. Drink 0.3 glasses 4-5 times a day between meals for 7-9 weeks.
Calendula for hair.
Against hair loss
An alcohol tincture of calendula is used, diluted with water in a ratio of 1:3. Strips of linen folded in four are moistened in the solution and applied as a compress to bald skin for an hour and a half. Procedures must be carried out daily until hair growth is restored. If there is no effect after a month, treatment should be stopped.
Calendula for face.
For acne, against acne
To treat acne, prepare the following composition: pour 2 tablespoons of fresh calendula flowers into 50 ml of 70% alcohol, 40 ml of water and 30 ml of cologne. Leave for 2 days in a warm place. After infusion, add 5 g of boric acid powder and 3 ml of glycerin. Lubricate the affected areas 2-3 times a day. 
Calendula for hemorrhoids
The following collection is used: cinquefoil root - 10 g, watch leaves - 10 g, marshmallow root - 10 g, St. John's wort herb - 20 g, calendula flowers - 15 g, eucalyptus leaf - 5 g. Pour 1 tablespoon of the collection into 0.5 l boiling water, leave for 1 hour. Administer as microenemas 3 times a day, 50-100 ml.
Calendula for flu, sore throat, nasopharyngeal diseases
One tablespoon of dried calendula officinalis inflorescences per 1 cup of boiling water. Infuse, wrapped, for 1 hour, strain. Rinse your mouth 2-3 times a day.
To gargle, you can also dilute 70% alcohol tincture of calendula at the rate of 1 teaspoon per glass of water.
Calendula inflorescences, great plantain leaves, wormwood herb - equal parts of everything. Pour one tablespoon of the mixture into 1 glass of water, boil over low heat (preferably in a water bath) for 10-15 minutes, let it brew, strain. Gargle with warm broth every 2 hours. The same decoction can be taken orally, 1 tablespoon 3-4 times a day.
Treatment with calendula in dentistry
As an external remedy, calendula preparations are used in dental practice for diseases of the oral cavity (thrush in children, gingivitis, pyorrhea, inflammatory-dystrophic form of periodontal disease). Clinical observations have shown that abundant irrigation of the oral cavity with an aqueous solution of calendula tincture (1 teaspoon per glass of water) before and after removing tartar, placing turundas, abundantly moistened with undiluted calendula tincture, into pathological gingival pockets relieved inflammation, reduced or stopped discharge from gum pockets, bleeding gums, contributed to the compaction of gum tissue, which is due to the presence of calendula flowers large quantity carotenoids, flavonoids with capillary-strengthening activity. The most lasting therapeutic effect was observed with complex treatment (vitamin therapy, physiotherapy). Gargling with calendula tincture is used in the treatment of tonsillitis, and in combination with sulfonamide drugs and antibiotics - for the treatment of sore throat. 
Calendula for diseases of the liver and biliary tract.
For hepatitis
You can drink both calendula infusion - 4 times a day, and medicinal tea. Take 10 g each of calendula and immortelle flowers, St. John's wort herb, 5 g each of chamomile flowers, knotweed herb, chicory root and buckthorn bark. 4 tbsp. spoons of mixture
drink 500 ml cold water at night, in the morning boil for 5 minutes, leave for 20 minutes and drink 1/2 cup 3 times a day half an hour before meals. The collection as a whole helps to improve the health of the body during hepatitis.
Calendula for kidney and bladder diseases.
For nephritis and pyelonephritis
For chronic inflammatory kidney diseases and urinary tract The following collection is used: calendula flowers - 20 g, nettle leaf - 10 g, steel grass root - 15 g, yarrow root - 20 g, fennel fruits - 10 g, horsetail grass - 10 g, birch leaf - 15 g.
Calendula for burns
To prevent a blister from appearing on the burned area, just put a piece of cotton wool soaked in calendula alcohol tincture on it.
Calendula for oncology
An infusion of calendula flowers (2 tablespoons per glass of boiling water) is used as a lotion for open forms of breast cancer, without a bandage. Compresses are changed every 2-3 hours, preventing them from warming up.
For stomach cancer, take the infusion 1/2 cup 3 times a day before meals.
For inoperable forms of cancer of the esophagus and stomach, the condition of patients is significantly improved by the composition: calendula inflorescence powder and nicotinic acid powder in a ratio of 2.5:1. For a one-time dose, give a composition consisting of 0.25 g of calendula inflorescence powder and 0.1 g of nicotinic acid powder. 
To increase the protective functions of the body, restore and strengthen the immune system
Pour 1 tablespoon (flowers, leaves) into a glass of boiling water. Leave until cool, strain. Drink 2-3 glasses during the day. Drink 0.5 cups 4-6 times between meals.
Tincture of calendula
Tincture of calendula (Tinctura Calendu1ae). Alcohol (70 degree alcohol) tincture (1:10) of flowers and flower baskets. Clear liquid yellow color. For use, dilute 1 teaspoon in a glass of water. As a choleretic agent, take 10-20 drops per dose.
Infusion of calendula flowers (Infusum Calendulae). Place 2 tablespoons of calendula flowers in an enamel bowl, pour in 200 ml (1 glass) of hot boiled water, cover with a lid and heat in boiling water (in a water bath) with frequent stirring for 15 minutes, cool for 45 minutes at room temperature, filter, the remaining raw materials are squeezed out. The volume of the resulting infusion is adjusted to 200 ml with boiled water. The prepared infusion is stored in a cool place for no more than 2 days. Calendula infusion should be taken warm, 1-2 tablespoons 3-4 times a day.
Ointment made from calendula flowers and leaves
Orange petals of calendula have disinfectant properties, so the treatment of ulcers and wounds, especially purulent ones that do not heal for a long time, has been known for a long time.
Kneipp recommended for the treatment of eczema, wounds caused by burns, bedsores, varicose veins vein ointment made from fresh calendula flowers and leaves:
50 g fresh calendula flowers, 150 g fresh leaves, 150 ml alcohol. Finely chop the flowers and leaves, add alcohol, and close tightly. After 12 hours, mix with 1 kg of heated wax and place in a dark place for 5-6 hours.
Calendula infusion is used in the treatment of fistulas - an infusion (1:10) of calendula in equal parts with a 3% solution of boric acid is injected into the fistula canal. 
Calendula contraindications
But there are also contraindications to treatment with marigolds. The plant should be used with caution during pregnancy; there are also restrictions for people with low blood pressure and individual intolerance. Before using calendula, it is advisable to consult a specialist.
It is not recommended to combine calendula with some herbs that have a sedative effect, as it enhances this effect. These plants include California poppy, catnip, capsicum, celery, wheatgrass, Siberian ginseng, goldenseal, hops, lemon balm, shepherd's purse, stinging nettle, valerian, wild carrots and wild lettuce.
The interaction of calendula with certain medications can also cause undesirable effects. In particular, you should not combine calendula with barbiturates and other drugs that have a sedative effect.
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Simple in appearance, the calendula flower has powerful medicinal potential. Many gardeners love this plant for its pleasant appearance, unpretentious nature, long flowering and undeniable benefits for both humans and the garden. Many people know this plant under the name “marigold”. It can often be seen in flower beds, personal plots. A seemingly inconspicuous simple plant, when planted in groups, can paint a garden in bright yellow-orange colors. At the same time, the healing properties of calendula have been known since the Middle Ages. Thanks to its rich range of biologically active compounds, calendula is used in various dosage forms. The most common are: calendula extract, infusions, decoctions, teas, ointments, creams, candles. By growing marigolds in the garden, gardeners acquire not only an ornamental plant, but also a “green” medicine for almost all ailments.
Calendula is an annual or perennial, herbaceous or subshrub plant from the Asteraceae family.
The erect stems are branched, ribbed, thick, and pubescent. The alternate leaves are simple, elongated, oval, elongated or lanceolate. At the tops of tall peduncles, single yellowish basket-like inflorescences bloom orange color. Calendula blooms all season, blooms with sunrise and closes with sunset, even in the cloudiest weather the plant delights with bright blooms. According to the superstition, if the marigold flowers do not bloom at sunrise, expect cloudy, rainy weather, but if the first rays bring joy open flowers- it will be a clear sunny day.
The achenes are curved, the shape of the curvature depends on the location in the basket. Seed germination lasts 4 - 5 years. Thanks to the curved shape of the seeds, reminiscent of marigolds, the plant received its second name “marigold”.
Calendula officinalis is a very beloved flower by many gardeners, valued for its simple decorative appearance and medicinal properties for a wide range of applications.
When describing calendula Special attention pay attention to the composition of a herbaceous plant with characteristic healing properties that have been known since the 15th century.
The medicinal plant calendula is truly a storehouse of useful substances, an indispensable assistant in effective treatment, restoration and maintenance of health.
Where does calendula grow?
Despite the weather conditions, in gardens, dachas, flower beds, where calendula grows, you can see small red “suns” that look advantageous against the background of dense greenery. Just a century and a half ago, marigolds could only be seen growing naturally in the Mediterranean, Western Europe and southwest Asia. But the popularity and fame that calendula has earned for its medicinal properties have made the plant in demand almost all over the world.
What does calendula look like?
When describing a plant, special attention is paid to the inflorescence. The outer part of calendula flowers consists of petals or reed-like large flowers of bright yellow-orange color, flat and elongated in shape. The central part is small tubular flowers or a core of a darker shade. Many people know what calendula looks like. This is a fairly simple plant with easy care and unpretentious character.
Types and varieties
The genus includes about 20 species. Currently, there are many known garden forms derived from the original natural species.
One type of calendula, marigold, is very popular among gardeners because it is a simple ornamental plant. The development of various varieties of calendula is carried out in two directions: decorative and medicinal. Domestic breeders work mostly in the medical field.
Field
Calendula field
An annual type of medicinal herb, 10 - 30 cm high. The stem is straight, branched, with soft, scattered pubescence. Alternate simple leaves are located along the entire length of the stem.
Single flowers 1 - 2 cm in diameter form “basket” inflorescences, painted in pale mustard and yellow colors.
The species is not popular and in demand among gardeners, since the flowers are rather inconspicuous and rather small. They are rarely found on sale due to low demand; they can be found among planting material of wild and field species.
In its natural environment, the species is found in southern Europe, in France and Germany.
Medicinal
Calendula officinalis
The most famous and widespread type. Although calendula is called “marigold,” it is still correct to call only calendula officinalis “marigold.”
Southern Europe is considered the birthplace of the flower.
Compact annual herbaceous plant about 20 - 75 cm in height. The stems are straight, highly branched, light green, ribbed, pubescent with small glandular hairs. The leaves are oval, elongated, simple, pubescent. Flowers with a refreshing specific aroma. The petals are glossy, yellow or orange on top, matte on the underside, the central part has small tubular flowers of yellow, orange or brown.
Calendula officinalis blooms from July to November, numerous seeds remain viable for up to 5 years. Based on this medicinal herb Various ornamental and medicinal varieties have been created. Although both have healing properties, for ornamental species the priority properties are the size and shape of the flower, the height of the stem, and the length of flowering.
Radio
Calendula Radio
Compact medium-sized medicinal plant 30 - 50 cm tall. The stems are tough, strong, ribbed. The light green leaves are elongated, oval, large, with characteristic embossed veins. Single flowers are collected in hemispherical, double and semi-double inflorescences 6 - 8 cm in diameter, radiant in shape. The petals are half-twisted into a tube and form diverging rays resembling antennas; the central part of the flower is a lighter shade.
Yuvel
Volumetric, compact, almost spherical bush 40 - 50 cm tall. The stem is light green, pentagonal. The leaves are large, oblong, wide, light green. Flat double and semi-double inflorescences are 5 - 8 cm in diameter, the central part of the flower is yellow, the flat petals are pink - orange.
Bonbon
A low-growing variety of calendula up to 30 cm high. Dense imbricated, densely double flowers up to 8 cm in diameter, yellow-orange in color.
Indian Prince
Calendula Indian Prince
Tall variety 60 - 75 cm tall. Calendula flowers are large, double, up to 7–9 cm in diameter, with dark central tubular flowers and rich bronze-orange petals, with burgundy streaks at pointed ends. Used to decorate gardens and in floristry.
Plant care
Planting calendula and caring for flowers is not difficult. Due to its unpretentious nature and easy propagation, maintaining the plant will not cause any difficulties. For good growth and abundant flowering, you need to choose a well-lit place for planting, but at the same time the flower develops well in diffused light and in partial shade. However, if there is not enough light, the plant may get sick. powdery mildew, and its decorative appearance also deteriorates.
Plants require regular and abundant watering, especially during the period of sprouting. An adult plant can easily survive the dry period of the year without watering, but this will reduce the number of flowers on the bush.
For long-lasting flowering, the inflorescences should be cut frequently. This procedure has two goals: firstly, the calendula is prepared for further drying, and secondly, the plant reacts to cutting the flowers with even more luxuriant flowering.
Collect flowers in the morning in clear weather, after the dew has dried. Only the flowers themselves with a small fragment of the peduncle are cut off. Cutting time comes when most of the flowers on the bush have bloomed. The plant easily propagates by self-sowing. To avoid this, collect baskets with seeds before they begin to fall off. As soon as most of the seeds have darkened, the basket is cut off, the remaining seeds quietly ripen when dried.
In addition to the decorative effect, marigolds bring considerable benefits to the soil where they grow. They are able to disinfect soil from pathogenic microbes and save nearby garden crops and flowers from various harmful insects.
Diseases and pests
Calendula flowers are affected by gray rot: the leaves begin to darken and become covered with brown, black spots. Such plants should be immediately removed from the flower garden and destroyed by burning. As a preventive measure, the amount of fertilizer applied should be reconsidered; perhaps, their amount should be reduced by an order of magnitude. Too dense plantings can provoke the formation of disease.
Powdery mildew forms on the stem and leaves white coating. Over time, the new formation darkens, the decorative appearance of the plant deteriorates, the flower largely stops growing and loses its cold-resistant qualities. At severe defeat Plants with mold or powdery mildew are treated with fungicides.
Of the pests, the plant is attacked only by green and black aphids; marigolds repel other insects. When fighting aphids, you should not only destroy the drivers themselves, but also their carriers. Ants often plant aphids on stems and leaves for further reproduction and use. Treatment with special preparations helps against pests.
Planting and transplanting
Before planting, you should consider the seed material. Plants with big amount flowers grow from narrow and strongly curved seeds than from large and weakly curved ones. When choosing a place to plant herbaceous plants in open ground preference is given to moist, fertilized and loose soil. The area should be bright, preferably protected from strong winds. Calendula is grown not only in flower beds and flowerpots, but also next to garden crops, since the plants can repel butterflies. Planting marigolds near potato beds saves them from the Colorado potato beetle; spider mites also do not like being near calendula.
Planting calendula next to asters and gladioli will not only decorate the garden composition, but will also save them from blackleg and thrips. However, do not forget that planting too close to garden crops can cause a slowdown in their growth, since the roots of the medicinal plant have allopathic properties. This fact should be taken into account when planting and growing calendula from seeds next to radishes, basil and other garden crops.
Due to the strong root system, marigolds are not replanted; if necessary, it is better to sow the seeds in a new place.
When to plant calendula?
Marigolds reproduce by seeds. The timing of planting calendula depends on when gardeners plan to see the flowers bloom. If the seeds are planted in the ground in the spring, flowering will begin no earlier than in 2 - 2.5 months. For more early flowering use the seedling planting method. To obtain cut flowers, seeds are planted from March to April; to decorate flower beds, seeds are sown in late February or early March. To maintain constant flowering of calendula, it is sown at different times, starting in early spring and ending in November.
Landing
To grow seedlings, calendula seeds are planted in a greenhouse in April, in prepared soil, which consists of half peat, 1/3 humus, the rest - sand and lime. Young seedlings are planted in open ground in a permanent place in May, when the possibility of night frosts is completely excluded. When propagated by seeds, calendula is planted in early spring. The beds are prepared, the seeds are planted at a distance of 30 - 40 cm from each other to a depth of 2 - 4 cm. If a denser and denser planting is planned, then the seeds are sown at a distance of 7 - 10 cm from each other. Young shoots appear in 7 - 14 days, the first flowering will occur in 2 - 2.5 months.
Transfer
Before planting calendula seedlings in open ground, it is necessary to subject it to a hardening procedure for seven days. To do this, the boxes with seedlings are taken out of the greenhouse onto the balcony or terrace for 10 - 15 minutes. Every day this time is increased by 5 - 7 minutes. Young shoots should get used to the new climate and, when they are planted in a permanent place, the change of environment will not be stressful for them. They are planted in open ground in May, when the possibility of night frosts has disappeared. But even if the night cold returns, it will not affect the seedlings in any way; it is not afraid of mild spring frosts.
Medicinal properties
The use of calendula in folk medicine is very wide. Many doctors of traditional treatment note the high effectiveness and healing properties of calendula.
Calendula treats so many conditions and is used in so many different areas of medicine that answering the question of what calendula helps with can take quite a long time.
Marigold flowers are irreplaceable in the treatment of skin diseases, acne, wounds, lichens, boils. Calendula can significantly speed up the restoration of damaged skin areas and has an anti-inflammatory, tonic, and healing effect. Due to the fact that calendula contains vitamin E and other active components, it has a beneficial effect on the epidermis and the regeneration of skin cells.
In the treatment of the gastrointestinal tract, it has an anti-inflammatory effect; calendula preparations are useful for gastritis, colitis, constipation, ulcers, and indigestion.
Calendula during pregnancy (when used topically) helps prevent the appearance of stretch marks on the skin, has a general calming, sedative effect, improves sleep and appetite. However, during pregnancy you should be extremely careful when using calendula infusions. Use them only after consulting a doctor.
For diseases respiratory tract and ENT organs, sore throat, calendula is used as an infusion for daily rinsing. For diseases of the larynx and sore throat, calendula effectively relieves pain and reduces the inflammatory process. For otitis media, calendula tincture is used as ear drops: it can reduce pain, relieve inflammation, and speed up the healing process.
Rinsing the sinuses with a solution helps eliminate infection and prevent the occurrence of colds.
For diseases of the organs of vision, prepare a weak decoction of calendula for instillation into the eyes.
Rinsing teeth with calendula decoction is used to remove plaque on teeth, unpleasant odor from the mouth, to prevent gum disease.
For diseases of the genitourinary system, menopause or prostatitis, calendula significantly reduces possible pain. Thanks to its antibacterial, tonic and anti-inflammatory properties, the general condition of the body improves. Calendula is quite effective and can, along with general strengthening of the body, significantly alleviate the course of various diseases.
Due to its unique composition and beneficial properties, calendula has no analogues; it is possible to obtain similar qualities only in a complex of several medicinal herbs.
Chemical composition
Calendula flowers contain carotenoids, which help relieve inflammation and have an anti-cancer effect.
Sterols help improve the functioning of the cardiovascular system and remove excess cholesterol. Triterpenoids stabilize blood sugar levels and tone the immune system.
Flavonoids help restore affected areas of the mucous membranes, remove toxins from the body, have an antispasmodic, choleretic effect, and prevent negative impact ultraviolet rays.
Essential oils support the immune system and have antibiotic effects.
Coumarins maintain the elasticity of blood vessels and reduce the chance of blood clots. Lactone has an antitumor effect.
Calenden promotes rapid healing of wounds and relieves inflammation.
From vitamins and minerals present: potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron, manganese, copper, cobalt, molybdenum, silicon, aluminum, selenium, lead, zinc, ascorbic acid, vitamin E, organic acids, in particular salicylic acid, thanks to which marigolds are in great demand as an effective treatment of colds and viral diseases.
The active components in the plant have a strengthening effect, normalize fluid balance in the body, support cardiac activity, strengthen bone and muscle tissue, regulate the process of hematopoiesis and oxygen metabolism in tissue cells, have a calming effect, eliminate inflammatory processes, affect the formation of red blood cells, participate in metabolism and have a positive effect on the condition of the epidermis.
Pharmacological properties
Long-term practice of using medicinal herbs has proven that calendula has a wide range of applications. Numerous medicinal components obtained from marigold flowers are aimed at treating and preventing various diseases. By studying a medicinal plant, its chemical composition, morphological characteristics, geography of growth and growing conditions, tasks are set for the procurement, storage and identification of places for collecting the most useful specimens.
The pharmacological activity of marigold-based drugs is due to the presence of carotenoids and flavonoids, which have antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects.
What are the benefits of calendula - medicinal properties
The beneficial properties of calendula are used in herbal medicine and for the prevention of various ailments: digestive disorders, combating high blood pressure, diseases of the nervous and cardiovascular systems, diseases of the upper respiratory tract, skin, ailments of the genitourinary system. There are many options for how calendula is beneficial for the body. The active substances, essential oils and vitamin E that make up calendula can trigger the protective mechanisms of the immune system, speed up the healing process or alleviate the course of current diseases.
Indications
Calendula-based preparations have a wide range of applications. Various dosage forms based on marigolds are used in the treatment of infectious diseases(flu, acute respiratory infections). The plant is useful for skin rashes, herpes, boils, wounds, burns, cracked lips. Calendula tincture for acne on the face - safe and very effective remedy, which reduces irritation and has a positive effect on the condition of facial skin.
Calendula tincture for rinsing reduces inflammatory processes in oral cavity, improves the condition of upper respiratory tract diseases.
Decoctions and lotions with calendula relieve swelling, promote the healing of cracks in the mucous membranes, help with anal fissures and hemorrhoids, remove stagnation of bile, and are prescribed for liver diseases. For diseases of women genitourinary system minimize the chance of cervical erosion and thrush. Relieves inflammation of the intestinal mucous membranes.
Calendula tincture for otitis media can reduce inflammation, reduce pain, and promote a speedy recovery. A bath with the addition of a decoction of plant flowers is very useful for the delicate skin of babies. It helps with diaper rash, wounds and abrasions.
Contraindications
Medicinal herbs, like any medicine, have beneficial properties and contraindications. Calendula is not recommended for use during pregnancy and breastfeeding. The main danger is from calendula juice, since the components in its composition can provoke a miscarriage, increase toxicosis, and cause vomiting.
Marigolds can lower blood pressure, making the use of medicinal herbs extremely dangerous in case of hypotension. The use of marigolds is not recommended during periods of exacerbation of cardiovascular diseases or diseases of the digestive system, as they can aggravate the course of the disease.
Children under 12 years of age are not recommended to take calendula in any dosage form.
Marigolds are considered a mild allergen, but people with allergies to Asteraceae plants (chrysanthemums, daisies and others) should do a skin test before use.
Side effects
Due to the use of the plant, some adverse reactions of the body are possible. Marigolds are incompatible with some medications and other medicinal herbs. When using medicinal herbs together with various sedatives, including barbiturates, pain in the abdomen and bitterness in the mouth may occur. When mixing medicinal herbs of mint, celery, valerian, pepper and other plants with a calming effect, the use of marigold will increase the calming effect.
For bronchial asthma, medicinal preparations based on the plant can cause Quincke's edema and urticaria.
Overdose
As a result of long-term practice of using marigolds to treat diseases, cases of overdose have not been observed.
Application in cosmetology
Calendula is widely used in various facial and body skin care products. Thanks to a wide range of beneficial properties, marigolds are used as an anti-inflammatory, regenerating, antiseptic, rejuvenating, and healing agent. Calendula for the face is used in the form of infusion, ointments, creams, lotions, and lotions. You can simply brew marigold flowers with boiling water and use the infusion for rubbing.
Calendula tincture is very effective against acne; it reduces inflammation, cleanses and revitalizes facial skin. Calendula tincture against acne reduces the risk of infection, tightens pores, reduces oily skin, and activates the skin's natural defenses.
The use of calendula oil in various cosmetology products enriches them with useful substances and enhances the effect of their use. The use of calendula in cosmetics allows you to create an almost universal product. The plant has such a wide range of applications that it is perhaps the leader among face and body skin care products.
Any body cream with calendula has an excellent anti-aging effect. Various masks, conditioners, lotions, and tonics with calendula will help get rid of and prevent possible skin problems. 
Calendula tincture for hair
Calendula tincture helps improve the condition of the hair and scalp. Due to their bactericidal and antiseptic properties, marigold flowers help well in the fight against dandruff, hair brittleness, various inflammations and lesions of the scalp, and increased sebum secretion. Calendula can enhance hair growth and stop hair loss. For rinsing hair, calendula is simply irreplaceable. Thanks to it, hair gains strength and shine.
It is very useful to rinse your hair with an infusion of flowers after each wash. Calendula oil can relieve dandruff, itching and irritation of the scalp. To do this, just rub the oil into the scalp for 10 - 15 minutes before each wash.
Calendula tincture for acne
For problematic oily facial skin, prone to acne and irritation, use marigold tincture. You can buy salicylic lotion based on calendula, which is indispensable for the prevention and treatment of acne. It is enough to apply a little lotion to the tumor. This will be enough to reduce inflammation, speed up healing, and improve skin condition. Calendula tincture can increase blood circulation in the area of acne formation, thereby stimulating processes for resorption, smoothing out stagnant spots and acne marks.
Calendula will only help if the procedure is carried out regularly; you need to treat your face several times a day. You can only moisten problem areas or completely wipe your face. If acne and pimples occur, calendula should be used at least 6 times a day until complete healing and improvement of skin condition.
Calendula tincture for face
When caring for facial skin, calendula helps tighten pores, reduces facial oiliness, gives skin healthy and fresh look. Calendula is very useful for dry skin, helps get rid of freckles and age spots, soothes irritated skin, quickly heals small cuts, increases skin tone and regeneration, smoothes out fine wrinkles.
Calendula tincture for the face, depending on its strength, can affect the condition of the skin to varying degrees. To prevent and improve the health of tissue cells, wipe the face with calendula tincture daily. This will help possible small cuts and wounds heal quickly.
The medium strength of the tincture is used for oily skin: when rubbed, the oily sheen will disappear, sebum secretion will be normalized, and the risk of acne will be minimized.
A strong infusion for the face is used in combination with creams and masks. This tandem will enhance the effect of the healing effects of calendula. Calendula oil for the face gives excellent results when used for skin prone to acne and oily sheen. It can also protect the skin from exposure to ultraviolet rays, wind, and frost.
Use at home
Prepare medicine or cosmetic product using calendula herb at home is quite easy. Decoctions are prepared by simmering marigold flowers filled with water in a water bath for 15 to 25 minutes. It is not difficult to make a calendula tincture at home; a ready-made alcohol tincture can be bought at a pharmacy.
For home use You need to prepare your own calendula flowers. To do this, collect healthy and open flowers and scatter them on a flat, even, dry surface. The room should be cool and well ventilated, and the flowers should be turned over periodically. It is very easy to find out when the flowers have dried. To do this, just lightly press on the flower: if the petals fall off, the flowers are dry. Flowers are stored in paper or cotton bags in dark, dry rooms, shelf life is 1 year.
At home, calendula oil is prepared as follows: a glass jar is filled loosely with marigold flowers and poured with warm vegetable or olive oil.
To prepare oil, many cosmetologists advise using organic olive oil, it is of higher quality and, in combination with flowers, enhances the healing effect. The jar is placed in a warm place for seven days, shaking occasionally, after which the oil is filtered into a dark glass container and stored in a cool place.
Dosage form
Due to its wide range of uses, calendula is used in various dosage forms to treat many diseases. However, many drugs are unsafe and their use requires special caution. When purchasing a medicine at a pharmacy, you must study the instructions for use of alcohol tincture, lotion, ointment and other drugs. All dosage forms should be used in strictly prescribed doses, otherwise side effects may occur.
Although marigold flowers have a wide range of different beneficial substances, overuse of calendula can lead to negative consequences. Calendula tea is beneficial, but at the same time harmful if consumed in excess of the norm, since it is drunk only for medicinal purposes.
Calendula decoction
The decoction is a universal remedy for treating a wide range of diseases due to its rich set of biologically active components. It is recommended by many doctors. How to brew calendula flowers so that they impart all the beneficial properties to the decoction? To do this, place two tablespoons of marigold flowers in a pan, add one liter of water, boil over low heat for 15 minutes, then remove from heat, wrap the pan in a towel and leave for about an hour. After this, the finished broth is filtered.
Tea
The healing drink is used only for medicinal purposes; it is not suitable for daily use. Calendula tea is useful for diseases of the gastrointestinal tract that occur in chronic form, helps relieve inflammation, has a healing, anti-ulcer effect.
You can drink calendula for respiratory diseases; it can relieve pain and reduce inflammation. Also, a healing drink can increase the body’s resistance to various diseases, remove toxins and waste, improve performance digestive system, kidneys and liver. Calendula tea is not recommended for people who are prone to allergies, pregnant or breastfeeding, or with low blood pressure.
Alcohol tincture
A good remedy for various diseases is alcohol tincture of calendula. Used to treat diseases of the upper respiratory tract. Gargling with calendula can eliminate inflammation, relieve pain, and significantly speed up recovery. You can make an alcohol infusion of calendula yourself. For this you need 4 tbsp. l. pour fresh flowers with 1 glass of alcohol solution, which is obtained by mixing equal parts of pure alcohol and cold boiled water. Alcohol can be easily replaced with vodka, which does not need to be diluted to prepare the tincture. The mixture is tightly closed, put in a dark place for a week, after which the liquid is filtered and stored in a cool place.
A course of using calendula tincture cures a number of serious diseases, and also prevents the occurrence of infectious diseases of the throat. For prevention, doctors recommend gargling after each visit to a place with a large crowd of people, especially during the cold season and the period of colds.
How to gargle with tincture?
Is it possible to gargle with calendula for diseases of the upper respiratory tract? Gargling with calendula is an effective procedure for pain and inflammation, including sore throat, pharyngitis, stomatitis, colds, acute respiratory infections and other viral infections.
Calendula tincture for gargling can be prepared at home: 1 tbsp. l. dried flowers are poured with 1 cup of boiling water, left for 20-30 minutes, filtered and cooled, used warm.
For the rinsing procedure, an alcohol tincture is also used, which can be made at home or purchased at a pharmacy. The solution requires 1 tsp. Dilute alcohol tincture of calendula in 1 glass of warm boiled water. You should gargle with calendula at least 4 times a day for the period recommended by your doctor. The procedure of rinsing with alcohol infusion is not recommended during pregnancy and breastfeeding, children under 12 years of age, people prone to allergies. An adult should explain to the child the procedure for gargling with calendula tincture and monitor this process each time.
Calendula ointment
The recipe for making calendula ointment is very simple: just mix Vaseline with crushed marigold flowers or add a few drops of calendula oil to Vaseline. The use of calendula ointment can restore skin cells, relieve inflammation, eliminate irritation, heal burns, wounds, cuts and other various injuries to the skin. Daily application of ointment to the legs and feet helps combat varicose veins. Thanks to the large selection active substances calendula helps restore damaged areas skin on the feet, and also prevents the formation of cracked heels.
Calendula oil
Used for external use. Thanks to its numerous properties, calendula oil is used to nourish and soften sensitive and dry skin. In principle, it has a good effect on any skin type: it has a good healing effect, helps cope with burns, cuts, abrasions, bruises, cracks on the lips, and wounds. Protective functions are manifested when used in frosty and sunny weather. Calendula oil improves blood circulation, tones tissues, and reduces the symptoms of varicose veins. Reduces inflammation, reduces itching, irritation, and rash.
Douching with calendula
In gynecology, the plant is highly valued for its ability to disinfect, disinfect, heal, inhibit and even stop the course of many inflammatory processes in the vagina and cervix.
Douching with calendula is an indispensable therapy for thrush, acute and chronic colpitis, vulvitis candidiasis, vaginal inflammation and other diseases. Only a gynecologist prescribes the procedure after a complete examination.
Douching in itself can bring not only benefits, but also harm, so they are prescribed only in complex therapy. With any douching, the microflora is washed out, which can provoke the emergence of new infectious diseases.
Douching with medicinal herbs is contraindicated during pregnancy; it can cause premature birth, allergies and vaginal dryness. The procedure cannot be performed after childbirth, surgery or acute inflammatory diseases of the female genital organs. The decoction is prepared from 2 tbsp. l. dry raw materials and 0.5 liters of boiling water. The decoction must be infused for 2 - 3 hours, after which the liquid is filtered, cooled and diluted with boiled water in equal proportions. Douching lasts up to 5 days, carried out 2 - 3 times a day.
Application in landscape design
Marigolds will easily fit into any flower arrangement and will be appropriate in almost any corner of the garden.
Low-growing varieties are used to decorate borders. They look great in a flowerbed with decorative flowers of blue and blue color, for example, felicia, cornflowers, ageratum.
To create a rustic garden, marigolds will look good with mallow, purple morning glory, and chamomile.
Due to the ability of calendula to disinfect the soil at the planting site and repel many insects, gardeners try to plant this treatment plant in different places of the site.
or Marigold
Calendula officinalis L.
Family - Compositae - Asteraceae (Compositae).
The parts used are flowers and inflorescences.
Common names: marigold, butter color, golden color, solstice, flower of the dead.
Pharmaceutical name - marigold flowers - Caleridulae flos (formerly Flores Calendulae sine Calycibns).
Botanical description
Calendula officinalis is an annual herbaceous plant, densely pubescent. The stem is erect, branched, densely leafed, reaching a height of 70 cm. regular; the lower ones are petiolate, oblong-ovate; stem - sessile, oblong-lanceolate. Flowers are in large single baskets, the outer ones are reed-like, yellow or orange-reddish, the inner ones are tubular, darker in color.
The fruits are sickle- or hook-shaped achenes. It blooms from June to October, the fruits begin to ripen in August.
The homeland of calendula is Europe, Central Asia. It grows wild only in Mediterranean countries. In Russia it is widely cultivated as an ornamental and medicinal plant, and therefore industrial plantations have been established on specialized state farms.
Collection and preparation
They are collected by hand during the entire flowering period (during the horizontal position of the reed flowers), tearing off the inflorescences without pedicels. After collection, the flowers are separated from the calyx and dried in the shade, in attics or in dryers at a temperature of 40-45°, spreading them in a thin layer. The finished raw material should not contain crumbled heads or peduncles and have a salty-bitter taste with a feeling of sliminess.
Active ingredients
Essential oil, calendula sapogenin, saponins, glycosides, carotenoids, xanthophylls, bitterness, mucus, flavonoids, enzymes and organic acids.
Healing effect and application
They have an astringent, sedative, hypotensive, choleretic and diuretic, anti-inflammatory and antiseptic effect, increase the secretion of bile, urine and sweat.
In folk medicine, calendula preparations have been used since ancient times as a choleretic agent for diseases of the liver and gall bladder, menopausal disorders, peptic ulcer stomach and duodenum, gastritis, spasms, and also as a diuretic and antihypertensive agent. It was used as a preventive and therapeutic anticancer agent. A compress of fresh calendula juice should be applied to cancerous tumors on the skin at night.
Calendula infusion in the form of lotions, washes and compresses was used for skin rashes, carbuncles, long-term non-healing ulcers and fistulas, bedsores and, in the form of enemas - for proctitis and paraproctitis, douching - in the treatment of cervical erosion and other gynecological diseases.
Infusion. Pour 1 teaspoon of dried calendula flowers into 1 glass of boiling water and let it brew for 10-15 minutes. Strain and take 0.5 cups warm between meals. For gallbladder diseases, for compresses and dressings.
Calendula officinalis
Name: Calendula officinalis
Other names: Medicinal marigolds.
Latin name: Calendula officinalis L.
Family: Asteraceae
Lifespan: Annual.
Plant type: Herbaceous plant.
Trunk (stem): The stem is branched, often from the very base, lightly pubescent, ribbed, slightly sticky.
Height: Up to 50 cm.
Leaves: The leaves are oblong, the lower ones gradually narrowing towards the base.
Flowers, inflorescences: The flowers are golden yellow or orange, at the top of the stems, collected in basket-like inflorescences with a diameter of 4-5 cm, reminiscent of a chamomile.
Flowering time: Blooms all summer, from June to October.
Fruit: The fruit is an achene.
Smells and tastes: The smell is specific, pleasant.
Collection time: Inflorescences (baskets) are collected in sunny weather, when they have fully opened.
Features of collection, drying and storage: After preliminary drying in the sun, the raw materials are dried in the shade outdoors or in a ventilated room, spreading in a thin layer and stirring from time to time. Artificial drying is carried out at a temperature of 40-45°C. The yield of dry raw materials is 14-15%. Shelf life – 1 year.
History of the plant: Marigolds have always been cultivated as an ornamental and medicinal plant, sown along the beds to repel pests.
Spreading: The homeland of calendula officinalis is Central and Southern Europe. Throughout Russia and Ukraine, the plant is grown as a ornamental plant, which sometimes runs wild. WITH therapeutic purpose the plant is grown in specialized farms.
Habitats: Loves moist, open, sunny places.
Use in cosmetics: For skin cracks and herpes (at the stage of blistering), use a 10% infusion of flower heads in vegetable oil, and for acne and infectious cracks in the corners of the mouth - a 20% infusion.
A diluted tincture (1 teaspoon of tincture in 1 glass of boiled water) treats leg ulcers, pityriasis versicolor and oily seborrhea of the face, eczema, pustular rash on the skin and frostbite.
Freckles on the face and hands are removed by daily (morning and evening) smearing with juice from fresh calendula leaves, half mixed with lemon juice, red currants and almond oil.
Interesting Facts: If you systematically break off the inflorescences, the plant will bloom until late autumn and even in winter, if it is not harsh. The plant is called “marigold” for its crescent-shaped and hook-shaped seeds, similar to bird claws.
Marigolds were the favorite flower of the Queen of Navarre, Margaret of Valois. And now in Paris there is a statue of the ruler holding a calendula flower in the Luxembourg Gardens. The homeland of marigolds is Southern Europe.
Garden care: Sow marigolds in early spring to a depth of 1-1.5 cm and water thoroughly. Seedlings do not take root well; it is better to sow immediately in a permanent sunny place. This is one of the most useful plants Sada will never disappoint your expectations.
Medicinal parts: Inflorescences - baskets (as well as leaves, mainly the lower ones, during flowering) are used for medicinal purposes.
Useful content: Flowers contain up to 20% of the bitter substance calenden, carotene, resins, nitrogen-containing mucus, acids, saponins, oils, alkaloids.
Actions: Calendula officinalis has anti-inflammatory, bactericidal, wound-healing, antispasmodic, blood pressure-lowering and calming properties, enhances heart function, increases the metabolic function of the liver (secretory and excretory functions increase, the concentration of bilirubin and cholesterol in bile decreases).
The wide therapeutic activity of calendula is explained by the presence in it of a significant amount of carotenoids, flavonoids, salicylic acid, vitamins and other compounds.
Calendula is especially widely used for local treatment. It is recommended to rinse the mouth and throat (every 1.5-2 hours) for ulcerative stomatitis, gingivitis, pyorrhea, inflammatory-dystrophic forms of periodontal disease, tonsillitis and sore throat.
In folk medicine, in addition to all the above-mentioned cases, infusion and tincture of flower baskets are given orally for ulcers on the mucous membranes, bronchitis, scrofulosis, rickets, jaundice, diseases of the bladder (formation of stones and sand) and spleen, nervous fever and dizziness.
Dosage forms:
Tincture : 1 part calendula to 10 parts 70% alcohol. Take 15-20 drops 3-4 times a day.
Infusion . 2 tablespoons of calendula per 400 ml of boiling water, leave for 2 hours, cool, strain. Take 1/2 cup 4 times a day before meals.
Infusion for lubrication . 1 part flower baskets into 5-10 parts vegetable oil, leave in the sun for 2 weeks. Use to lubricate affected areas of the skin.
External aqueous solution . 1 teaspoon of tincture (1 part calendula to 10 parts 70% alcohol) per glass of boiled water. Used for rinsing, compresses, washing, lotions, baths, enemas and douching (in the latter case, the infusion is diluted with boiled water in a ratio of 1:5 before use).
External infusion . For rinsing the mouth and throat, microenemas and douching, you can also use 10-20% water infusion flower baskets (for douching, the infusion is diluted with boiled water in a ratio of 1:5).
Medicinal recipes:
Infusion . 3 teaspoons of flower baskets per 200 ml of boiling water, leave for 30 minutes, strain, cool. Used as a compress for oily facial skin.
Mask
. Mix the infusion of calendula flower baskets (3 teaspoons per 200 ml of boiling water) with powdered milk, starch or flour. Apply the resulting paste to your face and wash off after 15-20 minutes.
Flower formula
Formula of the marigold flower: ♂♀ * H(5)L(5)T(5)P1.In medicine
Marigold flowers are used as an external rinse in dentistry for diseases of the oral cavity (stomatitis, gingivitis, periodontitis, thrush in children, pyorrhea, inflammatory-dystrophic form of periodontal disease). In gastroenterology, marigolds are used for gastritis, gastric and duodenal ulcers, colitis, enterocolitis, and liver diseases. In gynecology - in the form of douches for the treatment of cervical erosions and Trichomonas colpitis.
Also, infusion of marigolds is used in the form of rinses in the treatment of tonsillitis, and in combination with sulfonamide drugs and antibiotics - for the treatment of sore throats; in the form of enemas - in the treatment of proctitis and paraproctitis.
Tinctures, ointments, emulsions, and fresh plant juice are used externally for minor wounds, cuts, bruises, burns, furunculosis, and blepharitis.
Medicinal marigold flowers are included in many herbs and dietary supplements.
As a dye
Marigold flowers are brightly colored. This is due to the plant’s content of the dye calendulin, which is used to color butter, cheeses, soups, sauces, and dough. And products and various dishes are valued not only for their taste and aroma, but also for their appearance, because they are pleasing to the eye. Calendulin dissolves well in fats, and therefore, if you want to give a beautiful shade to the dough, you must first boil the plant’s petals in milk.
In cosmetology
Marigolds are widely used in cosmetology. A tincture of marigold inflorescences can be used in the form of compresses when caring for skin with oily seborrhea and acne. For the same purpose, you can use a cream with a plant extract, which has a beneficial effect on the skin after sunburn and other burns, promotes the healing of cuts and cracks, softens the skin and causes a feeling of freshness.
In floriculture
Gardeners love marigolds for their bright appearance and long flowering period (from June to late autumn). There are many varieties of plants, and double and dark orange varieties are widely cultivated in many countries. Marigolds are light-loving, undemanding to soil, but grow better in moist areas. Experienced flower growers know that for long flowering it is very useful to pick flower baskets. Marigolds reproduce by seeds. For the next crops, it is best to collect seeds in August - September.
Classification
The plant marigold, or calendula officinalis (lat. Calendula officinalis L.), belongs to the Aster family (lat. Asteraceae). The genus Marigold ((lat. Calendula) has up to 20 species of plants.
Botanical description
Calendula officinalis (marigold) is an annual herbaceous plant up to 50-60 cm high with a specific aroma. The root is taproot, branched. The stem is erect, branched, and covered with glandular hairs in the upper part. The leaves are alternate, light green, covered with hairs; the lower ones are petiolate, obovate, elongated, the upper ones are sessile, lanceolate. The flowers are golden yellow or orange, collected in large (4-7 cm in diameter) apical baskets. Marginal flowers are ligulate, pistillate. The middle ones are tubular, five-toothed, with an underdeveloped pistil and five stamens. Blooms from June until autumn frosts. The formula of the medicinal marigold flower is ♂♀ * H(5)L(5)T(5)P1. The fruits are arched warty achenes, arranged in 2-3 rows, ripen in July.
Spreading
In the wild, calendula officinalis (marigold) is found in the Mediterranean countries of Europe, Africa and Asia, spreading to the Middle East to Iran. Some botanists believe that calendula officinalis (marigold) is an old natural hybrid of calendula subshrub (C. suffruticosa), native to southern Europe, and star marigold (C. stellata), native to Africa.
Marigolds are cultivated in many European countries (Germany, Austria, Hungary, Poland), including Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, as well as in the USA and Central Asia.
Regions of distribution on the map of Russia.
Procurement of raw materials
Marigold flowers (Calendulae flores) are used as medicinal raw materials. The collection of flower baskets begins during the period of mass flowering. Plants with horizontally arranged reed flowers and partially blossomed tubular flowers are picked. Behind summer period you can make from 10 to 20 collections of inflorescences. With systematic, frequent collection, new inflorescences are formed. After preliminary drying in the sun, the raw materials are dried in the shade in the fresh air, in well-ventilated attics or in a dryer at a temperature of 40-45 ° C, spreading in a thin layer. The raw materials are official in Russia and in many foreign countries. In Germany, the whole plant along with the root (Herba Calendulae) is used for the production of medicinal products.
Chemical composition
The flower baskets of medicinal marigolds contain carotenoids (up to 3%) - carotene, rubixanthin, lycopene, citroxanthin, violoxanthin, flavochrome, flavoxanthin, etc. (15 compounds). Marigold varieties with dark orange reed flowers contain almost 10 times more carotenoids than varieties with yellow reed flowers.
Also found in marigold flowers are paraffin hydrocarbons (gentriacontane and sitosterol), resins, triterpene glycosides, mucous and bitter substances, organic acids (malic, salicylic), and ascorbic acid. In marigold extracts, triterpene saponins were identified - oleanolic acid glycosides, called calendulosides A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H. The content of the total oleanolic acid glycosides in the roots and aerial parts of medicinal marigolds ranges from 4 to 5%.
Eight flavonoids (rhamnetin, isorhamnetin-3-glucoside, isoquercitrin, etc.) were identified in marigold inflorescences. Their number varies depending on the variety and population in the range of 0.26–0.91%, and varieties with double orange inflorescences are rich in flavonoids.
Triterpene compounds are present in marigold flowers and other plant organs: alcohols (up to 5%) and oleanolic acid. A polysaccharide was isolated from the inflorescences of the plant, which includes arabinose, galactose, glucose, rhamnose and xylose.
Marigold inflorescences contain 0.05–0.2% essential oil, and there is more of it in the receptacle (up to 0.4%) than in reed flowers (up to 0.12%). In addition, a small amount of coumarins (scopoletin, umbeliferon and esculetin), resinous (up to 3.44%) and tannins, mucus (up to 2.5%), traces of alkaloids and trace elements were found in the inflorescences of the plant.
All organs of marigolds contain sterols, especially a lot of them in the leaves (up to 18%). Tocopherols and calenden bitterness have been isolated from the leaves of the plant.
Pharmacological properties
An infusion of marigold flowers has anti-inflammatory, antiseptic and choleretic effects. The phytoncidal properties of the infusion are due to essential oil plants.
Despite the fact that the bactericidal effect of the plant in relation to streptococci and staphylococci is insignificantly expressed, in general, inflammatory processes complicated by bacterial flora proceed more favorably under the action of marigold preparations, apparently due to increased growth of granulations, improved epithelization and increased local protective mechanisms.
Calendula (marigold) flowers have antispasmodic properties. By relaxing the smooth muscle structures of organs such as the stomach, intestines and liver, the plant also stimulates secretory activity, which enhances bile formation and bile secretion and increases the secretory activity of the stomach.
At the Department of Dentistry of Kyiv medical institute Clinical studies of marigold flowers were conducted for the treatment of inflammatory-dystrophic forms of periodontal disease. Clinical observations have shown that abundant irrigation of the oral cavity with an aqueous solution of marigold tincture before and after the removal of tartar, placing turundas, abundantly moistened with undiluted tincture of the plant into pathological gum pockets, relieved inflammation, reduced or stopped discharge from the gum pockets, gum bleeding, and promoted compaction gum tissue, which is due to the presence in marigold flowers of a large number of carotenoids and flavonoids with capillary-strengthening activity. The most lasting therapeutic effect was observed with complex treatment (vitamin therapy, physiotherapy).
A positive effect of calendula (marigold) preparations has also been noted for cardiovascular diseases accompanied by palpitations, shortness of breath, and swelling. The plant, enhancing cardiac activity, leads to a decrease or disappearance of edema.
Marigold tincture has hypotensive and calming properties. For this purpose, scientific research was carried out at the Institute of Therapy of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences. We observed 38 patients with hypertension who took marigolds for more than three weeks. During treatment, all patients performed their usual work. The marigold tincture was taken 3 times a day. In 18 people who suffered from stage II hypertension, the disappearance of headaches, improved sleep and increased performance were noted; in 5 out of 18 people there was a decrease in blood pressure. Also, in patients with stage I hypertension, general health improved, headaches decreased or disappeared, and sleep improved. Side effects was not noted, but marigold tincture must be used for a long time.
The use of calendula (marigolds) for diseases of the gastrointestinal tract is associated with their high therapeutic effectiveness in inflammatory-dystrophic processes of the mucous membranes and parenchymal tissue of internal organs. Good results are observed with the simultaneous use of calendula (marigold) with chamomile and yarrow.
The high content of carotenoids, flavonoids, ascorbic acid and organic acids in marigold flowers causes an increase in the metabolic function of the liver, which improves the composition of bile, reduces the concentration of bilirubin and cholesterol in it, and increases secretory and excretory functions. And in combination with marigolds and chamomile preparations, biliary function improves, which helps eliminate bile stagnation in the gallbladder.
Use in folk medicine
In folk medicine, marigold infusion is used for diseases of the liver and gall bladder, spleen, stomach, and stones in the bladder. In Polesie, the plant was considered a good remedy for insomnia. For this purpose, flowers were added to children's baths, placed under their heads, and given to them to drink with milk. An ointment was prepared from marigolds in sour cream to lighten freckles. In the Hutsul region, a couple of flowers were given instead of tea to scrofulous children, they bathed newborns, and they washed their hair for pain. In Transcarpathia, tincture of flowers was successfully used to treat wounds and ulcers.
In France, calendula inflorescences are widely used for washing wounds from bee and wasp stings, vitamin deficiencies and hysteria.
In folk medicine in many countries, marigolds are used to treat inflammatory and purulent processes in the oral cavity and pharynx, including periodontal disease, skin diseases (eczema, furunculosis), mastitis, and discoloration of age spots. Calendula (marigold) is also recommended for neurasthenia and pathological menopause. In folk medicine of Belarus, a decoction of marigold inflorescences is used for liver diseases, diathesis in children, uterine bleeding, and to prevent miscarriage after injury. In Lithuanian folk medicine, the plant is known as an anticancer agent.
Historical reference
As a medicine, marigolds were used by the ancient Greeks to treat poorly healing wounds, boils, malignant tumors, etc. During the Roman Empire, poor people and scammers passed off the petals of the plant as expensive saffron. Dioscorides wrote that “if a pregnant woman administers calendula in the form of suppositories, she will immediately throw away the fetus.”
Avicenna (979–1037) also wrote about the benefits of marigolds. He noted that the flowers of the plant help with inflammation of the sciatic nerve, against all poisons, especially with the bites of poisonous animals. He offered the fresh juice of the plant to women in cases of delayed menstruation and drug poisoning.
The medicinal benefits of marigolds were known and valued in the 12th–14th centuries. Medieval Armenian doctor of the 15th century. Amirdovlat Amansiatsi in the book “Unnecessary for the Ignorant” (1478–1482) recommended using marigold ointment for “hot swelling”, drinking the juice on an empty stomach in case of poisoning, poultices from the crushed root of the plant on the back - to increase sexual excitability, juice from the root - for soothing toothache and runny nose.
Crushed leaves and flowers of the plant were used externally to remove warts and calluses, and internally to treat cancer, especially of the breast and female genital organs. The German healer Saint Hildegarde (1098–1170) recommended using marigolds for poisoning, migraines, and for the treatment of scab and other skin diseases. Medieval alchemists and healers believed that calendula (marigolds) contained the power of the sun, they were collected at noon on a sunny day, put in jars, exposed to the sun and after a few days the juice was made to treat wounds.
In 1819, G. Nandelstedt defended his dissertation on the study of the medicinal properties of marigolds. In his work, he used ancient herbalists and medicinal books and recommended using crushed leaves and flowers of calendula topically for warts and calluses, and internally for cancer of the breast and female genital organs.
The French Pharmacopoeia of 1840 describes 5 preparations of herbs, leaves and seeds of marigold recommended for the treatment of certain types of cancer.
Russian pharmacologist Academician A.P. Nelyubin wrote in his writings in 1852 that calendula (marigold) is “a healing agent endowed with special healing powers.” He noted that in folk medicine the plant was used “for chronic vomiting, pain in the atrium, scirosis, skin cancer; venereal, lichen and scabies ulcers.”
Currently, marigold preparations are included in the state pharmacopoeias of many countries around the world.
Literature
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