Herb Profiles

Calendula

by katheryn Langelier March 06, 2021

CALENDULA

Calendula officinalis

Family: Asteraceae

Part used: Flowers

Energetics: Cooling, bitter, pungent

Actions: Alterative, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiviral, astringent, immunostimulant, lymph tonic

Calendula is such a beautiful little ray of sunshine. We grow rows and rows of this wonderful herb and harvest its blossoms well into the fall. We make it into a fresh tincture and dry it for teas, soup stock and oil. Externally, I like to use calendula on hot, irritated skin conditions and it’s my top go-to herb for rashes, cuts, abrasions and rashes. I love adding this to soup stocks in the wintertime and other immune teas or baths. I add it to teas for soothing the intestinal tract and gut and to support digestion and absorption. I regularly use this herb for any congestion related to the lymphatic system, such as swollen glands, and it makes a great mouthwash for gum inflammation.

Contraindications: None known.

katheryn Langelier

Author

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