Herb Facts: Calendula

Thanks to our good sister Divine Iz Earth for providing a wonderful education on the properties of various herbs.

Teaching: Burns
HERB OF THE MONTH: Calendula

People have known about the benefits of Calendula flowers for centuries to treat a variety of minor ailments and today the bright colored petals are used primarily for skin conditions including dermatitis, eczema and skin injuries including bruises, scrapes, scratches and burns.

Scrapes, scratches, bruises and especially burns respond well to Calendula creams, ointments and washes, as do bug bites, diaper rash and allergic skin reactions. Many traditional physicians recommend calendula cream to help heal sunburn, minor topical burns and hemorrhoids.

When applied to wounds, Calendula prevents microbial growth and does not cause skin tissues to retract, providing more oxygen to the skin cells to help speed up healing.  Studies have shown that using calendula cream while undergoing radiation therapy for breast cancer reduces the appearance of dermatitis.

Anyone with problems or health conditions related to any of these herbs or their actions should not use them. Some herbs are known to react with your medication. Please consult your physician or NGE health practitioner before starting on any herb.