Calendula (marigold or calendula officinalis) is one of the most loved flowers I used and I still use, both in my medical herbalist practice and in the Inlight organic skin care product formulations.
I have always been attracted by its simple shape, its radiant colour and power: a little joyful “sun” hidden in the green of the meadows, spot of light stolen from the sky during the sun set.
You cannot pass by a beautiful orange calendula flower in the wild without taking a double look. It is one of those plants that can’t go by unobserved.
It belongs the Asteraceae (from Latin aster = star) family and is originating from North Africa. Its botanical name “calendula” comes from Latin “calendae” meaning the first day of the month: in fact the marigold can flower nearly every month from spring to autumn. Others think that the name calendula comes the Greek kalàtos meaning basket, because of the shape of its flower head.
Like the sunflower it is characterized by the heliotropism phenomenon that is the ability to follow the light of the sun. It reminds me the Egyptian god RA, the God of Sun. Its colour is connected with the 3th Chakras called Solar (= related to the sun) Plexus, the centre of energy and power in the human body.
Every year the plant can produce up the 60 flower heads: very prolific!
The calendula has also many other properties: anti-viral, anti-bacterial (flavonoids and saponins) against Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus beta-haemolyticus, anti-fungus, immune-modulating, vaso-protective, anti-inflammatory (triterpenic fraction), etc.
Because of all these properties calendula extract is excellent for external use in many skin complaints with inflammatory reaction such as dermatitis, keratosis, acne, spots, burns and cuts, varicose veins, sun burns, acne rosacea, mosquito bites, skin infection and fungus, etc.
For internal use it is great for regulating period problems, for gastritis and bowel inflammation, for calming spasms.
Incredible!
When here at Inlight we infuse organic calendula flowers in to the organic extra virgin olive oil to produce our “extraordinary herbal oils”, we can see the variation of the colour of the oil (see below): after few days it becomes intense yellow and then orange. For us is a joy to attend to this “magic” alchemy.
When calendula extract is part of a balm it will work very well with the oils combining the moisturising qualities (oils) with the anti-inflammatory, cytophylactic (cell regeneration) and healing properties (calendula extract). Nothing works better together!
From a phyto-chemical point of view the calendula is rich of carotenoids (yellow-orange pigments) equal to 1.5% of its dry weigh: amongst them beta-carotene, lycopene, lutein and xanthophyll. All of them are lipo-soluble that means soluble in vegetable oils. All these carotenoids are antioxidant, anti-free radical activities and therefore anti-aging properties. Furthermore the carotenoids, together with glycoside flavonoids and with the essential oil, are responsible for its vulnerary (healing) action, especially on the skin.
Dr Mariano Spiezia
Our 100% organic Inlight Skin Care Range contains calendula oil extract we make in house in our laboratory, here in Cornwall, in the following products: Night Balm, Line Softner, Body Oil with Arnica,
Restorative Body Butter, Nyp Salve, Foot & Leg Balm, Skin-Easy Balm, Extra-Easy Balm and Chocolate Face Mask.