All About Calendula
The history of Calendulas healing ability is as luminous as ; its orange coloured florets. Known also as the Marigold it has long been one of ; the most popular and efficacious herbs in baby products, and any topical ; product worthy of your baby’s delicate skin will contain this natural healer. ; It is highly regarded throughout Europe as a soothing, infection-fighting, ; cleansing medicine with benefits that are more than skin deep; think of ; varicose veins, haemorrhoids, thrush, even herpetic eruptions. In the past ; midwives and mothers alike have used calendula to heal all manner of skin conditions ; in babies like nappy rash, eczema, cradle cap, and minor cuts and grazes. And ; not only is it completely safe for babies, it’s also a fabulous protective and ; healing agent for mothers with nipple soreness during breastfeeding and skin ; irritations. The secret to calendulas success as a healer is largely due to its ; ability to treat such a diverse range of complaints, reflecting its many ; medicinal actions and therapeutic ingredients. These are discussed here with ; reference to their usefulness in common baby skin problems.
How Calendula works
The flowering heads of the blooming plants are used to ; create calendula extracts in lotions, elixirs, tinctures, oils, creams and many ; other body products. This herb is so safe that it can be used internally, externally ; and as a homeopathic wound healer. How does it work?
Soothing on the Skin
The soothing properties of calendula are due to many of its ; chemical constituents, in particular the triterpene saponins and mucilage. Both of these ; substances provide a soft and ‘demulcent’ healing effect on external skin ; surfaces and also on mucous membranes internally. Another significant component ; of calendula is the essential oil which is used in many skin ; formulations and is aromatic and soothing to smell. These are all reasons why ; calendula is such a great nutritive for the skin and the best choice for the ; sensitive skin of a baby.
Anti-oxidant& anti-aging effects
Of the many therapeutic actions of calendula this is the ; most celebrated, and it is due to the presence of carotenoids, flavonoids and phenolic acids. Carotenoids are an important cellular nutrient, helping skin ; to heal faster while flavonoids reduce cellular aging and maximize the ; integrity of cell walls. Phenolic acids are thought to be protective to cells, ; in particular those in the cardiovascular system.
Anti-inflammatory actions
Where-ever there is skin irritation and redness, an ; anti-inflammatory action is needed to help the skin recover. Here the triterpene alcohols in calendula exert ; their powerful inflammation reducing effects. They contribute to the plants ; overall ability to heal wounds such as burns, cuts and grazes as effectively or ; more effectively than conventional steroidal applications. The phenolic acids in the plant are known to increase in production after an ; injury which suggests that they are a key factor in calendulas wound healing ; abilities.
Anti-microbial action
Calendula is a strong antiseptic, due to it wide variety of ; chemical constituents, including carotenoids which speed up wound healing and strengthen cells. Along with fighting bacteria ; in topical preparations, calendula also fights viruses and fungi, particularly ; those on the skin and nails. Preventing infections means having a healthy ; immune system, and here the ability of calendula to cleanse the lymphatic ; system comes into play. A sluggish immune system is nearly always characterised ; by poor lymphatic function. So by improving the health of the lymphatic system, ; calendula indirectly support healthy immunity. Due to this cleansing activity ; the plant is used in Alternative Cancer programs in Europe. In tea form ; calendula offers a bitter action to stimulate the digestive system, again ; helping you to cleanse deep down.
Astringent
Calendula has an astringent action. That means that it is ; able to improve blood vessel tone and tighten up skin cells, thus reducing the ; occurrence of complaints such as haemorrhoids. Many new mums find themselves ; looking for a natural way to combat this condition and it is important to do so ; as there is a risk of developing blood clots. Calendula once again is the ; medicine of choice as it contains hydroxycoumarins, ; anti-thrombotic agents that can prevent this from happening. The plant also ; contains flavonoids which improve ; circulation by boosting the health of capillaries. For best results use a ; product containing both calendula and witchhazel (Hamamelis).
A word of advice
Always buy organic and biodynamic calendula products. ; Research shows that it is the organic calendula extracts and not the ; non-organic products that possess the powerful anti-inflammatory and ; anti-viral activities. Also for pregnant mothers, it is not recommended to ; drink calendula tea as it stimulates menstruation.
References
Renee van Leeuwen, (2007) Dutch Pure Pregnancy Book, Weleda, ; Holland
McIntyre A (1995) The Complete Woman’s Herbal, Henry Holt ; & Co, New York
Ody P (2002) Essential Guide to Natural Home Remedies, ; Kyle Cathie Ltd, United Kingdom
Bone K, Mills S (2000) Principles & Practice of Phytotherapy, ; Churchill Livingstone, London
Bone K (2007) he Ultimate Herbal Compendium, ; Phytotherapy Press Australia
Kraft K, Hobbs C (2000) Pocket Guide to Herbal Medicine, Thieme, ; New York
Pommier P, Gomez F, Sunyach ; MP, D'Hombres A, Carrie C, Montbarbon X, 2004, “Phase III Randomized Trial of ; Calendula Officinalis Compared With Trolamine for the Prevention of Acute ; Dermatitis During Irradiation for Breast Cancer”, Journal of Clinical Oncology, Vol.22, No.8, pp. 1447-1453
Anonymous, 2001, “Final ; report on the safety assessment of Calendula officinalis extract and Calendula ; officinalis”, International Journal of ; Toxicology Vol.20, Suppl 2, pp:13-20
Fuchs SM, ; Schliemann-Willers S, Fischer TW, Elsner P. (2005) “Protective effects of different ; marigold (Calendula officinalis L.) and rosemary cream preparations against ; sodium-lauryl-sulfate-induced irritant contact dermatitis.”, Skin pharmacology and physiology Vol.18 ; No.4, pp:195-200. ;
Kalvatchev Z, Walder R, ; Garzaro D (1997) “Anti-HIV activity of extracts from Calendula officinalis ; flowers”, Biomedicine and pharmacotherapy. ; Vol.51, No.4, pp:76-80
Akihisa ; T, Yasukawa K, Oinuma H, Kasahara Y, Yamanouchi S, Takido M, Kumaki K, Tamura ; T. (1996) “Triterpene alcohols from the flowers of compositae and their ; anti-inflammatory effects.” Phytochemistry. ; Vol.43 No.6 pp:1255-60
Häkkinen S. ; (2000) “Flavonols and Phenolic Acids in Berries and Berry Products” Kuopio University Publications, Finland
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Su-lin Sze - Author
Su-lin Sze has an Adv.Dip Western Herbal Medicine, Dip. Nutrition
Su-lin Sze is an independent writer, practising herbalist, nutritionist and holistic movement instructor. A consultant to health product manufacturer Weleda, she advocates and supports environmentally sustainable, organic and biodynamic practices. She runs Herbalwell in Sydney, a multidisciplinary clinic dedicated to holistic health care.
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