Calendula is a medicinal plant, the use of calendula in folk medicine

Even the philosophers of ancient Greece mentioned in their treatises about medicinal values, decorative qualities and medicinal properties calendula. In addition, calendula, or marigold in other words, was used as a seasoning. Dishes prepared with it acquired an amazing red hue and a rather piquant tart taste.
Calendula, at its core, is a herb that can be either annual or perennial, depending on the variety, by the plant. The stem of the plant is erect; branches can be observed in its upper part.
It can reach a height of 70 cm. Flowers can have colors from soft yellow to fiery red. The inflorescences are basket-shaped and located exclusively in the upper part of the stem. Grows well both in the wild and at home.
Absolutely no maintenance requirements. For the preparation of medicines, mainly flower baskets and the flowers themselves are used.
Content:
- Calendula - beneficial properties
- Calendula tincture and its use
- Ointment
- Pills
- Calendula - contraindications
- Calendula in folk medicine
- Application in cosmetology
- How to make ointment at home
Calendula - beneficial properties
Medical research confirms that preparations based on calendula have a calming effect on the central nervous system, significantly reduce reflex excitability, reduce blood pressure, and promote normal activity of the heart muscle.
In addition, compositions with calendula have good bactericidal properties that can cope even with microorganisms such as streptococcus and staphylococcus.
Quite often, practical medicine recommends taking calendula tinctures for those who suffer from gastritis, gastrointestinal ulcers, liver problems, as well as those who have heart disease and hypertension.
Calendula in tea should be the main component in eliminating problems associated with indigestion and other digestive poisoning. The tannins included in its composition have a good astringent effect.
Calendula - tincture and its use
For various dental problems you can and should use infusions from calendula. With their help, you can not only significantly alleviate painful sensations, but also get rid of some problems completely.
For example, to get rid of oral thrush, pyorrhea and other things, a sufficiently abundant and constant rinse with the following composition: 1 glass of boiled water at room temperature and 1 teaspoon of calendula tincture diluted in it.
The huge amount of flavonoids and carotenoids found in the flowers of the plant act together to strengthen the walls of the capillaries and therefore relieve various types of inflammation that have arisen in the oral cavity, eliminate bleeding gums, and strengthen the gum tissue.
To eliminate such problems, along with using calendula tincture, it is advisable to take a suitable vitamin complex.
By rinsing with a composition containing calendula, you can even get rid of a sore throat. But, in addition to it, you will also need to use antibiotics and sulfonamides.
Alcohol tincture
It is made from alcohol floral baskets and the flowers themselves. The liquid is almost colorless with a slight yellow tint. If internal use is necessary, dilute 1 teaspoon in a glass of boiled water at room temperature.
Ointment
In specialized stores or pharmacies you can find an ointment called calendula. It is made on the basis of an emulsion of water and Vaseline and calendula tincture.
The product is produced in glass containers, which should be stored exclusively in a cool place. They are used mainly to treat burns, cuts, cracks in the skin resulting from overdrying, bruises, eczema, and so on.
Pills
There are also tablets on the market called Caleflon. They are produced from purified extract of plant flowers. Well treatment the drug can range from three to six weeks. Take three times a day after eating.
The drug is intended to relieve inflammatory processes, to stimulate reparative processes in case of stomach ulcers, gastritis, and so on. The drug can be used simultaneously with antispasmodics.
Calendula - contraindications for use
At the slightest manifestation of any side effects, use of the drug should be stopped immediately. If any discomfort does not go away on its own, you should contact your doctor immediately.
Calendula in folk medicine
Traditional medicine advises using calendula infusions to treat:
- the entire gastrointestinal tract,
- cough,
- hypertensive manifestations,
- heart problems,
- rickets.
The preparation of infusion from flowers is carried out according to the following recipe:
- Place 2 tablespoons of crushed and pre-dried flowers add 200 ml of boiling water to them,
- Cover tightly with a lid, place in a water bath, stir frequently and bring to a boil.
- then remove from heat and allow time to cool to room temperature.
- using gauze, filter the mixture, and squeeze out the resulting cake well.
The squeezed liquid is poured into a two hundred gram glass. If the displacement is not enough, it is added with boiled water. The tincture can be stored for no more than two days, strictly in a cool place. Reception should be done warmed to room temperature, a maximum of three times a day, two tablespoons.
Alcohol tincture of calendula is actively used not only in folk medicine, but also in official medicine. Without a prescription, you can purchase one at a pharmacy or, after reading the prescription recommendations in detail, you can make it yourself.
Of course, a medicine prepared at home will not have the same concentration as a factory-made drug, but marigolds will not lose their medicinal properties. Self-production makes it possible to adjust the strength, which can vary depending on the disease being treated.
To obtain a composition against peptic ulcers, you need to take 70% alcohol and the flowers themselves in crushed form, the percentage of components should be as follows:
- 1 part flower mass
- 10 parts alcohol
The components are placed in a glass container, shaken and left to settle for about two weeks. After the specified time, the composition is ready for use. Use it three times a day, 25 drops.
The composition made according to the recipe described above is suitable for rinsing the mouth. The only thing worth considering is the fact that using alcohol tincture for rinsing is diluted: 1 teaspoon of tincture in a glass of boiled water at room temperature.
This diluted tincture is used to treat inflamed gums and stomatitis. Inflamed lesions formed on the oral mucosa are cauterized with a cotton swab previously moistened in an undiluted alcohol tincture.
A diluted infusion can be used for compresses in the treatment of burns of varying degrees, frostbite of the extremities, fungal skin diseases, and to relieve irritation caused by the bite of various insects.
Dilute the infusion for compresses as follows: 1 part of the infusion and two parts of boiled water. A napkin soaked in the diluted composition is applied to the problem area for 10 minutes. The procedure can be repeated several times throughout the day.
The same aqueous solution of calendula can be used to wash the eyes or make lotions from it. Procedures of this kind are carried out to treat conjunctivitis, barley, and blepharitis.
For the treatment of cardiovascular diseases, the tincture is prepared with a lower alcohol content:
- 5 parts alcohol
- 1 part marigold
The resulting composition is taken 4 times a day, 30 drops at a time.
Problems with fluctuating blood pressure today occur in both the younger and older generations.But, a tincture of marigolds prepared as follows will help to cope with this problem: 2 tablespoons of inflorescences are poured into 100 grams of vodka. Take three times a day, 30 drops at a time.
Insomnia sufferers can also benefit from this amazing plant. A remedy that will help you fall into the arms of Morpheus is done like this: 2 tablespoons of flowers are mixed with 100 grams of 70% alcohol and infused for two weeks in a dark and cool place. After the end of the specified period, you can start taking the medication. They do it this way: take 30 drops three times after meals every day.
Calendula in cosmetology
To get rid of various inflammatory processes on the skin, including on the face, you can prepare the following composition: 20 grams of flower mass, pour 100 grams of vodka and leave for two weeks. Afterwards, the resulting mixture should be used to wipe problem areas on the skin daily in the morning and evening.
Practice shows that pimples, acne and other types of inflammation decrease quickly enough, and subsequently disappear completely.
For dandruff
Eliminate dandruff and excess oiliness hair, as well as their excessive loss, can be done with the help of a therapeutic mask, which includes marigolds. The alcohol tincture should be diluted in water keeping a ratio of 1:3.
From freckles
Cosmetologists quite often use freshly squeezed plant juice to combat the appearance of freckles. If desired, you can find and purchase marigold cream in specialized stores.
For hair treatment
To strengthen hair follicles, give hair volume and eliminate excess oil, it is recommended to make the following decoction for rinsing: calendula, nettle, chamomile, hop cones are mixed in equal parts, poured with water, brought to a boil and used as a rinse.
Skin treatment
Various skin diseases can be easily eliminated with the help of marigold-based ointment. You can prepare it yourself at home. For preparation you will need: sunflower, or even better, olive oil and fresh, just collected flower mass.
Fill the glass container about 3⁄4 full with flowers, and the rest of the volume is filled with oil. The container covered with a glass lid is placed in a cool, dark place for ten days. The mixture must be stirred periodically.
Afterwards, the mixture is passed through a fine sieve. Further storage is carried out in the refrigerator.
Since the ointment has a disinfectant, bactericidal and anti-inflammatory effect, its use can be quite wide and varied.
The oil will help cope with such external problems as: ulcers, burns of varying degrees, frostbite. The most effective method of use is to apply oil-soaked wipes to problem areas of the skin. Can be used daily for any skin type to protect against the harmful effects of the environment, both in summer and winter.
After rubbing oil on your skin, you can be quite sure that ultraviolet rays will not cause harm. In the same way, you can protect yourself from sunburn during prolonged exposure to the active sun in the summer.
This composition can and should be used to care for the delicate skin of newborns.It will relieve not only diaper rash, but also abrasions.
Doctors recommend using oil to eliminate the consequences of dry eczema, prevent the appearance of scars and visibly even out the skin in areas where they already exist. Applying oil to the areas where bruises appear will not only reduce pain, but will also actively promote their healing. The oil also helps quite effectively with the appearance of bedsores and dilated veins.
Ingestion of the oil is recommended for the following diseases: gastritis, neurasthenia, duodenal and stomach ulcers, problems with the gallbladder and liver, for the treatment of enterocolitis and colitis.
It is recommended to take it 20 minutes before meals, 1 tablespoon twice a day. Before starting to take the drug orally, you should definitely consult with your doctor.
How to make ointment at home
In order to make the ointment with your own hands at home, you need to do the following: grind the flower mass, about half a glass in volume, to a powder, mix it with a glass of rendered pork fat. Place the mixed components in a container in a water bath.
Using a spatula or wooden spoon, stir constantly until the mixture becomes homogeneous. After this, the container is removed from the bath, allowed to cool for some time and transferred to a glass container with a lid. The container with ointment is stored exclusively in the refrigerator. Lard can be replaced with the same amount of Vaseline, but you need to take into account that the quality will suffer from this.
This composition will become indispensable in the treatment of poorly and long-healing wounds, various skin lesions, cracks in the skin, and so on.
It has been proven that calendula ointment is an excellent stimulator for tissue repair, prevents the development of various inflammatory processes, has an excellent bactericidal effect, improves blood circulation, adds elasticity to the skin and thereby makes it less susceptible to chemical and mechanical influences.
Let's watch an interesting video about growing calendula and its use for medicinal purposes:
Comments
We use calendula flowers in our family in the form of infusions and additives in various infusions and teas, including fortified ones. But we don’t use it for cosmetic purposes. Although there are shampoos with calendula.
I use calendula tincture to treat my heart. It calms the rhythm well and helps reduce blood pressure. I also made oil from calendula flowers, which heals wounds well, softens the skin and removes inflammation.
I use calendula as an alcohol tincture. It has a very good effect on the entire body. Sometimes I also add a freshly picked flower to tea. But not often, since I only drink it for coughs.
You gave me a good idea, dear kerro! Fine! Otherwise, in our family we make alcohol-free tinctures, but now I’ll start making them with alcohol. I think the effectiveness of using this tincture will increase!