Pot marigold, or calendula (Calendula officinalis) is considered as one of the most important and versatile herbal remedies¹. The combination of its actions make it a particularly effective and widely used skin calmer and wound and tissue healer^2,3.

The bright orange (sometimes yellow) flowers have a light, mildly spicy taste, and traditionally this is seen as a cooling, drying herb that has a gentle astringent, tightening effect on tissue^4,5,6.

Calendula’s skin benefits come from a rich mix of constituents working together. Triterpene alcohols act directly on inflamed skin, calming redness and irritation⁷, while flavonoids support tissue repair^8,9 and essential oils help keep microbes in check^10,11. In combination, these form calendula’s multiple skin-helpful actions: anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antifungal, astringent and mildly pain-relieving, alongside a gentle wound-healing action^2,3,4.

Calendula can be used externally and internally together if necessary, and it also improves lymphatic function, aiding any inflammatory condition⁶. It is a traditional treatment for eczema, itching, cuts and grazes, burns, bites and stings, cradle cap, chilblains, acne, boils and nappy rash^3,6,12. It is safe enough to use in an infused oil to soothe sore, cracked nipples during breastfeeding.

For external use, infusions are best for abraded skin, but a stronger 90% alcohol tincture that draws out the resin-rich compounds make it especially useful for cleaning bites, stings, fungal rashes and infected wounds. Milder tinctures or teas are generally used internally^3,6.

Calendula should be used with care on septic wounds due to its rapid tissue healing action that can trap infection¹³. It should be avoided in cases of daisy (Asteraceae) family allergy. As with most herbs, calendula should only be administered during pregnancy or lactation with professional supervision^3,4.  

References

1. Bartram T. Bartram’s encyclopedia of herbal medicine. Robinson; 1998.
2. Bokelmann JM. Medicinal herbs in primary care. Amsterdam: Elsevier; 2022.
3. Fisher C. Materia medica of western herbs. London: Aeon Books; 2018.
4. Thomsen M. The phytotherapy desk reference. 6th ed. London: Aeon Books; 2022.
5. Easley T, Horne S. The modern herbal dispensatory. North Atlantic Books; 2016.
6. Hedley C, Shaw N. Plant medicine. Waddell G, editor. London: Aeon Books; 2023.
7. Ralph A, Tassell M. Native healers. London: Aeon Books; 2020.
8. Giostri GS, Novak EM, Buzzi M, Guarita-Souza LC. Treatment of acute wounds in hand with Calendula officinalis L.: a randomized trial. Tissue Barriers. 2022;10(3):1994822.
9. Shahane K, Kshirsagar M, Tambe S, Jain D, Rout S, Ferreira MKM, et al. An updated review on the multifaceted therapeutic potential of Calendula officinalis L. Pharmaceuticals (Basel). 2023;16(4):611.
10. Gou J, Lu Y, Xie M, Tang X, Chen L, Zhao J, et al. Antimicrobial activity in Asteraceae: the selected genera characterization and against multidrug resistance bacteria. Heliyon. 2023;9(4):e14985.
11. Jyotisree G, Sruthi R, C RB, Amita SM. Calendula officinalis and Echinacea purpurea as antimicrobial agent. J Appl Pharm Res. 2020;8(2):8-12.
12. Alfs M. 300 herbs: their indications and their contraindications. London: Aeon Books; 2022.
13. Holmes P. The energetics of western herbs. 4th ed. London: Aeon Books; 2020.

Image: Calendula officinalis Mhlayson, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons