Neil Kingham

My Calendula (English Marigold) is full of flowers at the moment. As well as using the petals in cooking, they are also valuable for their remarkable skin-healing properties. Calendula promotes tissue repair, reduces inflammation and infection, and helps to prevent scarring.

This very simple ointment or balm can be used for chapped hands, minor burns, insect bites and minor wounds like cuts and grazes. To use, wash the area thoroughly, dry gently, and apply the ointment. Repeat a couple of times a day.

Ingredients:

Calendula flowers (approx 20-30g)
Olive oil
Petroleum Jelly (eg vaseline)

Directions:

Put the marigold flowers in a clean jar, and add enough oil to just cover. Allow to stand for 1 week, then strain off the oil into a measuring jug. Now however much oil you’ve got, measure twice as much petroleum jelly, and melt in a bain-marie or carefully in a saucepan on a very low heat. Once melted, take off the heat, and stir in the calendula oil. Pour into a sterilised glass jar and allow to set.

This ointment will keep for some time, at least 6 months, and is best kept in the fridge.

Optional variation: You can also combine St John’s Wort flowers with Calendula to enhance the effect of the ointment. Although St John’s Wort is most well known for it’s internal use as an anti-depressant, it is also very useful as a wound healer. Use equal parts of Calendula and St John’s Wort, and make as above.

My Calendula (Pot Marigold) plants are in full bloom now, and as well as making my garden look great, I’ve been using the petals in my food. The bright orange colour looks amazing, and they have a slightly tangy flavour.

Pick the flower heads off when they are fully open, and then pull off the petals. You will probably want to rinse them or give them a good shake to remove any blackfly (to which the plant is prone.) Regularly taking off the blooms in this way also ensures that the plants keep on producing more flowers.

You can use the petals as a substitute for saffron in any recipe. The petals are also excellent sprinkled onto a leafy salad. Cook them with rice or add to cottage cheese for colour. Or sprinkle some into sauces, soups and casseroles. You can also make calendula tea by steeping the petals in boiling water.

Energetics of Calendula:

Calendula flower is cooling and detoxifying. Taken internally, it clears heat and toxins, reduces inflammation and infection and stimulates Qi and Blood flow. The infusion (tea) drunk hot, is effective at reducing a fever, and is especially appropriate when the fever is accompanied by inflammation. The tea is also used to stop bleeding, and can benefit ulcers.

Calendula is also used externally for its excellent antiseptic, anti-inflammatory and tissue-healing properties (look out for a post on this aspect coming soon…)

CAUTION: Calendula is a uterine stimulant, and should not be used by pregnant women without expert guidance.

This year I would like to encourage you to grow some Calendula (Pot Marigold) along with me. In my view, it ticks all the boxes for a herb to grow at home. I only have a small garden, so every plant needs to earn its keep. Calendula does so admirably – it has beautiful flowers, it’s easy to grow, very cheap, and has both medicinal and culinary uses.

Its bright orange-yellow petals brighten up salads, colour rice and add a pleasant taste to casseroles. They are also used medicinally to reduce inflammation, promote wound healing, and are used as an antiseptic. Used externally, calendula creams and ointments have strong healing properties. Later in the year, when the first flowers appear, I’ll share some recipes and remedies using Calendula that you might like to try.

I have some seed saved from last year’s plants which I’ll be sowing soon. If you’d like to grow some too, you can easily get the seed from any of the large seed suppliers, or buy the plants in a couple of months.

Make sure you get ‘Pot’ or ‘English’ marigold – the Latin name is Calendula. Do not mistake it for the French Marigold (Latin name Tagetes) which is a common garden plant.

This page has some good growing tips for Calendula.