Calendula Oil

Calendula Oil
60 ml
Active Ingredient: Calendula Leaves and Flower

General Description:

Calendula is an annual or biennial aromatic native to the Mediterranean countries. Its name refers to its tendency to bear flowers by the calendar, once a month in warm climates, usually during the new moon. “Marigold” refers to the Virgin Mary, and marigolds are traditionally used in Catholic celebrations concerning the Virgin Mary.

Calendula bears many-petaled orange or yellow flowering heads two to three inches (four to seven centimeters) in diameter. Grown widely as a garden flower, calendula is cultivated for use in herbal medicine in Eastern Europe and throughout Latin America. The flowers are used in herbal preparations and the petals are a good source of lycopene and lutein.

Benefits:

Calendula is an antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antiparasitic, and painkilling agent for minor injuries and topical infections and irritations. It also can help with wound healing. Some of the chemical components of calendula have shown potential in laboratory tests as a reverse transcriptase inhibitor for the treatment of HIV/AIDS. When mixed with other herbs, it may help reduce earache in children with acute otitis media, although some studies do not support its use in this context. Animal and cell studies suggest that calendula can kill cancer cells. Preliminary data support its use topically for prophylaxis of acute dermatitis during radiation therapy in cancer patients.

Bowel diseases. Calendula reduces the inflammation that causes pain in these disorders. It reduces the general tension that can promote bowel problems, relaxing the nervous constriction of the digestive muscles to help the bowels.

Conjunctivitis. Calendula washes are useful in treating chronic conjunctivitis. They are antibacterial and stimulate the growth of healthy tissue in the membranes surrounding the eye.

Gastritus German studies have demonstrated that calendula prevents the hormonal reactions that produce swelling and inflammation in the stomach lining, specifically by acting on the inflammatory prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). Calendula has a strong bactericidal effect that may counteract infection with Helicobacter pylori, a bacterium associated with both gastritis and peptic ulcers. Calendula and comfrey taken together may have a healing effect on duodenal and peptic ulcers and increase the effectiveness of antacids. (See COMFREY.)

Inflammation. In cells, calendula inhibits cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), a key enzyme mediating inflammation. Synthetic drugs (such as Vioxx) that act as COX-2 inhibitors and targeted arthritis, Alzheimer’s disease, and some cancers have been removed from the market by the FDA. Calendula may help in these conditions, but more human studies are needed.

Mucous membrane and skin disorders. Calendula is widely used as an additive to cosmetic skin creams. Used in these creams, it stimulates the production of collagen, filling in wrinkles. Calendula creams also hydrate winter-dried skin, relieve pain and inflammation caused by conditions such as mastitis and hemorrhoids, and alleviate vaginal itching caused by menopausal tissue changes. In addition, this herb has antibacterial action that allows it to prevent and treat various types of infection. Wound healing studies have only been conducted on animals, but the results are positive.

Calendula creams are used in Europe to prevent skin damage from drying, insect bites, and sunburn. Europeans also make wide use of them for preventing diaper rash and inflammations of the mouth, nose, and throat. Used externally, calendula helps to soothe, heal, and protect a baby’s sensitive skin.

Indian researchers report that aerosol sprays of calendula extracts stop bleeding from cuts and scrapes while preventing infection. Calendula washes kill Staphylococcus aureus, a common germ that infects abrasions, burns, and cuts. Calendula, used externally, helps injured skin to rejuvenate. In one study, skin pain and redness were reduced with topical calendula when used by women with breast cancer who were receiving radiation therapy to the breast. This study was an open label study, so results are not conclusive and more work is needed. However, this treatment may offer benefit to women who do not respond to other therapies.

Carrier Liquid: Olive Oil, Hempseed Oil, Peppermint Essential Oil