Calendula
BotanicalCalendula officinalisAlso calledPot marigold, Marigold, Marybud
Bright orange petals with a bitter, resinous edge, long loved in Western herbalism for calm, comfortable skin and an easy belly.
Calendula is the cheerful pot marigold of old kitchen gardens. Pinch a dried flower head and your fingers come away a little sticky, with a resinous, faintly bitter smell. That resin is part of why herbalists have reached for it for centuries, mostly on the skin.
It is not a classical Ayurvedic herb. Modern teachers who bring Western plants into Ayurveda describe it as bitter and cooling, which places it with the herbs that settle heat. Think of it when skin feels warm, red or easily bothered, the classic signature of pitta.
Ayurvedic Properties
Not described in classical Ayurveda; modern Ayurvedic writers describe it as bitter and pungent in taste and cooling, with a pungent post-digestive effect (Frawley and Lad, The Yoga of Herbs, and other modern Ayurvedic teachers).
- RasaTastes
- ViryaHeating or cooling
- Cooling
- VipakaPost-digestive effect
- Pungent
- AgniEffect on digestion
- Gently supports agni
Mildly bitter, it gently supports digestion.
- GunaQualities
- TridoshaEffect on Vata, Pitta and Kapha
- Vata: increases in excess
- Pitta: decreases
- Kapha: decreases
- ↓decreases (calms that dosha)
- ↑increases (can aggravate it)
- =neutral or balancing
- ?not known
- V Vata · P Pitta · K Kapha
Calendula's bitter, cooling nature makes it most at home with pitta and kapha. Vata types can still enjoy it, especially on the skin in an infused oil, where the oil adds the moisture vata needs.
Traditional Uses
- Traditionally used to support clear, calm, comfortable skin.
- Traditionally used to support the skin's own repair after small everyday scrapes, when applied as a wash or infused oil.
- Traditionally used to support easy digestion as a mild bitter tea.
- Traditionally used to support a settled feeling when there is too much heat in the system.
How People Use It
- TeaSteep 1 to 2 teaspoons of dried flowers in a cup of just-boiled water for about 10 minutes. It tastes mildly bitter and grassy, so a little honey or a few mint leaves help.
- TopicalFlowers slowly infused in sunflower or coconut oil make a gentle body oil. Cooled tea also works as a simple compress. Patch-test a small area first.
- FoodFresh petals can be scattered over salads and grain bowls for color, the way old cooks used them as poor man's saffron.
Simple Calendula Infused Oil
A slow, gentle oil for the end of a hot summer day.
- 1/2 cup dried calendula flowers
- About 1 cup sunflower oil or fractionated coconut oil
- A clean, dry glass jar with a lid
- Place the dried flowers in the jar and pour in enough oil to cover them by about an inch. Make sure everything is completely dry, since water spoils oil.
- Close the jar and set it in a warm spot out of direct sun for two to four weeks. Give it a gentle shake every day or two.
- Strain through fine cloth, squeezing out the oil. Store in a cool, dark place and use within a few months.
- Patch-test on the inside of your arm first. If all is well, massage a little into dry or warm skin after a bath.
Pairs Well With
Cautions
- Do not take calendula by mouth during pregnancy or while breastfeeding, since its safety has not been studied.
- Calendula is in the daisy family. Avoid it if you are allergic to ragweed, chrysanthemums, daisies or marigolds, and stop if you notice a rash or itching.
- Always patch-test topical preparations, and do not apply them to deep or serious wounds.
- Herbal supplements are stronger than culinary amounts and may affect how some medicines work, so check with your doctor if you take any medication.
- Please consult a qualified practitioner or your doctor before using calendula regularly.
In Our Shop
Organic Calendula Flower, from $4.75. Weighed and packed by hand at our Rockville Centre studio.
Shop Calendula →From the Journal
Sources and Further Reading
This page shares how herbs are traditionally used in Ayurveda and other herbal traditions. It is for general education only and is not medical advice. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA, and herbs are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Please talk with your doctor or a qualified practitioner before using herbs, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication or managing a health condition.