Useful properties of calendula, especially the preparation and use

The medicinal properties and contraindications of calendula are known in many European countries. From ancient times it was used as a wound healing and anti-inflammatory medicine. And each nation will have its own myths and legends associated with this plant. For example, in England the grass is called the "Mary's Gold", it refers to the sacred flower and is associated with the Virgin Mary. Here, wedding bouquets are made from calendula. The Germans and Austrians - this is the "grass of the dead" or "flower of the dead." According to these peoples, the astringent smell of a plant resembles a cadaveric smell. It is also customary to bring these flowers to the graves and funerals. The Russian name of the claw is associated with a fairy tale plot. Calendula is also famous outside of Europe. In India, it is the flower of Krishna, in China - "grass of ten thousand years."

Marigold features

Among the medicinal plants, the calendula takes the place of honor of the antiseptic herb. It is not inferior in popularity in folk and traditional medicine to chamomile, plantain, sage, licorice, marshmallow, St. John's wort, oak bark and other medicinal herbs of antiseptic action.

Area

Marigolds are a thermophilic plant. You cannot meet a flower in the wild on the territory of the European part of Russia. But the grass is successfully cultivated in the climatic conditions of the Central Russian strip, as well as in the North Caucasus. And it is often grown for beauty and aesthetics in gardens, on personal plots, flower beds. The birthplace of the flower is the southern regions of Europe, the Mediterranean, Southwest Asia.

Botanical characteristic

Calendula officinalis is an annual with a height of up to 75 cm. The root is rod, the stem is erect, branched. The leaves are oblong, slightly pubescent. Calendula is recognized by single orange or bright yellow flower baskets, which reach a diameter of 4 or more cm. Although recently decorative varieties with large, fluffy baskets up to 8 or more cm have been bred. Many gardeners appreciate this plant for its unpretentiousness and long flowering. It starts in June and ends in October.

Collection and Harvesting

If there is a personal plot or garden, you can easily harvest grass yourself. How to grow this plant? And how to dry the raw materials in order to preserve the healing properties of calendula?

• Disembarkation. Nails multiply by seeds, which can be freely bought. The plant takes root and grows well, but loves moisture and a lot of light. Sowing seeds can be in April or even in May, you can also do it in the fall.
• Collection. Gather fully opened flowers. Do it in dry weather. Only flower baskets are collected throughout the flowering time.
• Drying. The collected flowers must be dried very quickly (no later than 4 hours after they were picked). The raw materials are laid out in a thin layer, dried in a room with good ventilation, attics and awnings are suitable for this purpose. It is not recommended to dry grass in electric dryers.How to understand that the grass is dried? You need to press your fingers on the inflorescence. If it breaks up into petals - the raw materials can be packaged.
• Storage. You can store marigold flowers in cardboard boxes, wooden boxes, glassware. Shelf life of raw materials is 2 years.

In some herbalists, a different shelf life is indicated - 1 year. Experienced herbalists recommend annually updating any type of medicinal raw material.

Healing properties and active substances

Useful properties of calendula:

• bactericidal;
• anti-inflammatory;
• hematopoietic;
• blood purifying;
• antispasmodic;
• secretory (choleretic);
• painkiller;
• diuretic;
• cardiotonic;
• hypotensive;
• wound healing;
• sweatshops.

Active substances:

• essential oil (gives a tart smell and taste);
• marigold
• resins;
• organic acids;
• volatile;
• carotenoids and provitamin A (orange color);
• bitterness;
• saponins;
• glycosides;
• enzymes.

Indications

What diagnoses and symptoms are prescribed for grass?

• Gastrointestinal organs. Chronic forms of stomach ulcers, gastritis, inflammation of the spleen, gall bladder, liver, biliary tract, inflammation of the intestine (colitis, enterocolitis). Under the influence of grass, increased bilirubin in the blood falls, cholesterol decreases.
• Respiratory disease. Decoctions of marigolds treat cough with SARS, bronchitis, tracheitis, pneumonia. They recommend taking fees of herbs - calendula and St. John's wort. When coughing, they drink decoctions of calendula or take drops of tincture under the tongue. This method relieves attacks of an obsessive cough.
• Urinary system diseases. Inflammation of the bladder, kidneys, stones in the bladder.
• Cardiology and neurology. The grass enhances cardiac activity, is also useful for shortness of breath, arrhythmias, hypertension, relieves swelling, headaches, soothes the nervous system and normalizes sleep.
• Gynecology. Marigolds help if there are malfunctions of the menstrual cycle, vaginal discharge (leucorrhoea) with inflammation, cervical erosion, fibroids, uterine bleeding.
• External application of marigold flowers. The antiseptic and wound healing effect of marigolds is an indisputable fact in folk and traditional medicine. They treat non-healing ulcers and wounds on the body with diabetes mellitus, burns, frostbite, fistulas, cuts, boils, lichen, purulent skin rashes, warts and corns, cracks in hemorrhoids. Used for eye inflammation - barley, conjunctivitis, blepharitis. Actively used in dentistry and otolaryngology: rinsing the mouth with periodontal disease, stomatitis, gingivitis, throat - with angina, tonsillitis, pharyngitis; rinsing the nose with a runny nose, sinusitis. The tool is used in the form of lotions, compresses, baths, washes. In addition to decoctions and infusions, externally use fresh plant juice.

Home use

What is the use of calendula flowers in folk and traditional medicine?

Pharmacy preparations

The healing properties of calendula herb are widely used in pharmacology. It can be purchased in various dosage forms.

• Plant material "Calendula flowers." In the pharmacy you can buy loose grass and in the form of filter bags for one-time brewing. If brew loose grass, take 3 tbsp. l dry raw materials per 200 ml of water. To brew packaged calendula take 2 sachets per 100 ml of water.
• Calendula oil. In a bottle of 30 ml of oil. It is an effective skin care product for sensitive skin. It is also used for massage.The oil contains vitamin C, which promotes collagen growth and cell repair. Also in the composition there is rosemary - an extract for rejuvenation, tightening mature skin. It acts gently, perfectly heals minor scratches, cuts, protects against sunburn, softens rough skin. It can be used even in infants, treating a rash from diapers. Oil is used to protect the skin in windy, frosty weather.
• Ointment. In its composition is a homeopathic tincture of calendula and petroleum jelly. The main purpose of the ointment is antiseptic, it is treated with diaper rash, cracks and other types of skin lesions - dermatitis, eczema.
• Homeopathic medicines. Medicinal marigolds are widely used in homeopathy (in the form of granules). They are taken orally in various dilutions, depending on the diagnosis and age. It is also widely used externally in the form of ointments and diluted infusions for skin injuries, for the rapid healing of wounds and ulcers.

Preparation of medicines at home: 3 recipes

From marigolds you can make teas, decoctions, water infusions, alcohol and oil tinctures. Before using them, it is better to consult a doctor. It is important to know that decoctions with calendula, chamomile and yarrow enhance the choleretic effect. Such a mixture can provoke a strong exacerbation. How to prepare grass to preserve its healing properties?

Making tea

1. Put in a cup 1 tsp. dry raw materials.
2. Pour boiling water.
3. Steam for 10 minutes.
4. Strain.

Tea can be drunk for the prevention of chronic gastrointestinal diseases. Safe dosage - 2 glasses per day.

How to cook calendula infusion

1. Put 2 tbsp. l herbs in the dishes.
2. Pour a glass of hot water (not boiling water!).
3. Hold in a water bath for 20 minutes.
4. Insist for half an hour, then strain.

Store in the refrigerator for no more than 2 days. Dosage: ¼ cup before meals 3 times a day.

Preparation of alcohol tincture

1. At 3 tbsp. l flowers, take 100 g of alcohol (40%).
2. Soak for 7 days in a glass bowl in a dark place.
3. Strain.

Tincture can be used undiluted (drip 10 drops under the tongue and dissolve) or dilute 30 drops in ¼ cup of water. Also, an alcohol solution is applied externally in diluted form. What helps tincture of calendula? It is most effective for diseases of the liver and gall bladder, coughing attacks, neurosis, insomnia, cardiological disorders, hypertension. Of course, it is an effective antiseptic for the treatment of the throat and oral cavity, wounds, boils, abscesses.

Application in gynecology

For women, calendula can be effective for cervical erosion, vaginal discharge for inflammation, menstrual irregularities, and other symptoms. It is used in the form of tampons, douching from decoctions, ointments. Alcohol tincture can be taken only inside. All these procedures should be carried out only after consultation with a gynecologist.

• Calendula for douching. It is prescribed as an antiseptic for colpitis, cervical erosion, and whitewash. For douching, a weak broth of calendula is made in this calculation: 1 tbsp. Are taken per 0.5 liter of water. l herbs. Douching with warm broth is carried out in the morning and in the evening. The course of treatment is 5 days.
• Uterine fibroids. Fibroids and fibroids are benign uterine tumors that most often provoke an increased level of estrogen. How can calendula help with myoma and its varieties? The grass has the ability to cleanse the blood and liver, remove toxins and toxins from the body. This indirectly affects the state of the organs of the reproductive system. In addition, the plant promotes resorption of tumors. With myoma, calendula is usually prescribed along with other herbs - mistletoe, celandine, mint, hops, knotweedle, horsetail. From them prepare decoctions for douching. And for ingestion, an infusion of such plants is brewed - calendula, rosehip, viburnum, nettle, pine andBirch buds. This fortified drink strengthens the immune system, which is also important for recovery.
• Climax. Calendula helps relieve nervous tension, anxiety, irritability in the premenopausal period. There are positive reviews of women of mature age about the beneficial effect of the herb on the nervous system and its mild sedative effect.
• Menstrual irregularities. Ambiguous information is found in herbalists: some write that the grass causes menstruation, others indicate that it acts as a hemostatic. Alcohol tincture is drunk in case of cycle failure, delayed menstruation. However, do not forget that only a doctor after an examination can determine the cause of cycle disorders, which is often associated with hormonal imbalance.

Marigolds are also beneficial for men. Calendula is part of the fees that increase potency. It is brewed together with St. John's wort, Valerian, immortelle. Grass is also effective for male candidiasis (thrush). Of decoctions of calendula and chamomile make lotions and compresses, washing the genitals.

Application in cosmetology

Marigolds enhance metabolic, regenerative processes in the cells, relieve inflammation and irritation, the grass is useful for problem skin. Calendula is a natural antiseptic. Its extract is found in many cosmetics - lotions, creams, tonics, shampoos, soaps.

• Acne tincture of calendula. From it make lotions, homemade lotion, which is suitable for sensitive skin. However, alcohol tincture is not used in its pure form, so as not to get burns, irritation, dry skin. It is bred with boiled water. Such a solution saves from acne, seborrhea, dries oily skin with wide pores. If the skin is sensitive and dry, use only decoctions.
• Calendula for hair. It can be used as a mask and rinse aid. Helps with dandruff, strengthens hair roots, removes greasy shine. The mask is prepared from castor oil and alcohol tincture (10: 1 ratio). Such masks can be done before washing your hair for a month. If the scalp is dry, water decoctions of the marigolds are suitable for rinsing.
• Warm foot baths. Prepared from the calculation: for 1 liter of water - 2 tbsp. l herbs. This is a good disinfectant, softens rough skin, cracks in the heels, eliminates diaper rash between the fingers.

The most effective is the external use of calendula as a powerful antiseptic and wound healing agent. But also infusions and decoctions of marigolds successfully treat diseases of the digestive tract, the genitourinary sphere in women and men, lower respiratory tract, and neurosis.