Calendula

Calendula officinalis is a plant native to southern Europe and can be found in countryside fields.

Description

A perennial plant that prefers direct sunlight, calendula flowers continually. Also known as pot marigold, or golde, it has a wide array of herbal medicinal uses (Le Strange 1997).

History

Historically, this plant has been used for both medicinal and magical purposes. Pot marigold has been used both topically and orally. In the fourteenth century calendula was used to relieve fevers and the Romans used it topically for warts. The fresh leaves were applied to insect bites for relief, and in the seventeenth century the leaves were given to poor people instead of saffron for the treatment of smallpox (Le Strange 1997). C. officinalis was also used to treat fevers, spasms and suppressed menstruation (Foster and Tyler, 1999). Further, C. officinalis was used as a witchcraft herb; in the sixteenth century women used C. officinalis in love potions or placed the herb in the footsteps of their lovers (Müller-Ebeling 2003). As such, the plant was also referred to as “sun-bride” in the Middle Ages.

Current Medicinal Uses

Calendula officinalis cream has been shown to be effective for the treatment of diaper dermatitis in children up to 2 years of age (Guala 2007).

The effect of Calendula officinalis flower extract was investigated against experimentally induced thermal burns in rats. The animals treated with the extract showed significant improvement in healing when compared with untreated animals. The histopathological analyses of skin tissue also shows evidence of the increased healing potential of the extract after burn injury (Chandran 2008).

A randomized controlled trial demonstrated positive effects of ointment with marigold extract on venous ulcer epithelialization in the lower leg. The total surface of all the ulcers decreased by 41.7% compared with 14.5% in the placebo group. In seven patients who applied the ointment containing marigold extract (twice a day for 3 weeks), complete epithelialization was achieved. Complete epithelialization was achieved in only 4 patients receiving the placebo treatment, which consisted of saline solution dressings applied to ulcers for 3 weeks. The results suggests that C. officinals promotes statistically significant acceleration of wound healing (Duran 2005).

Calendula officinalis may be a potential therapy in cases for cheilitis, which is characterized by inflamation and cracking of the lips, espeically at the corners of the lips. An eighteen-year-old man, whose symptoms persisted despite daily use of topical corticosteroids, improved markedly within a week of being prescribedCalendula officinalis ointment (Roveroni-Favaretto 2009).

Calendula extract toothpaste has also be recommended as an adjunctive procedure effective for the improvement of gingival inflammation. Brushing with calendula toothpaste led to significant reductions in plaque index, gingival index and bleeding on probing in a prospective, double-blind clinical study of 40 volunteers with established gingivitis (Amoian 2010).

In a double-blind placebo controlled trial, a marigold therapy using a Tagetes patula preparation, plus a protective dressing, effectively reduced the width of the lesion and level of pain of Gunions (Khan 1996).

Calendula has been studied for reducing pain caused by ear infections. Some human studies suggest that calendula may possess mild anesthetic properties equal to those of similar non-herbal eardrop preparations. Further studies are needed before a recommendation can be made in this area (Sarrell 2001).

Adverse effects 

People with allergies to plants in the Aster/Compositae family, such as ragweed, chrysanthemums, marigolds, and daisies, are more likely to have an allergic reaction to calendula (Wintzen 2003).

Aside from general allergic reactions, few severe reactions have been found in published reports. A prospective, multicenter, observational study found that treatment with Asteraceae-containing remedies is not associated with a high risk of adverse drug reactions (Jeschke 2009).

It is not clear if Calendula officinalis is safe for use during pregnancy or breastfeeding. In animal studies, C. officinalis effects the uterus, and it has traditionally been thought to cause abortions and have harmful effects on sperm. However, it is not clear if these effects occur with use of Calendula on the skin (Shipochliev 1981).

References

Amoian B., Moghadamnia A.A., Mazandarani M., Amoian M.M. and Mehrmanesh S.The effect of calendula extract toothpaste on the plaque index and bleeding in gingivitis. Research Journal of Medicinal Plant 2010 4:3 (132-140).

Chandran PK, Kuttan R. Effect of Calendula officinalis Flower Extract on Acute Phase Proteins, Antioxidant Defense Mechanism and Granuloma Formation During Thermal Burns. J Clin Biochem Nutr. 2008 Sep;43(2):58-64.

Duran V, Matic M, Jovanov? M, Mimica N, Gajinov Z, Poljacki M, Boza P. Results of the clinical examination of an ointment with marigold (Calendula officinalis) extract in the treatment of venous leg ulcers.[Abstract] Int J Tissue React. 2005;27(3):101-6.

Foster S. and Tyler VE. Tyler’s Honest Herbal: A Sensible Guide to Use of Herbs and Related Remedies. The Haworth Press, Inc. Binghampton, New York, 1999. (pg. 85).

Guala A, Oberle D, Ramos M. Efficacy and safety of two baby creams in children with diaper dermatitis: results of a postmarketing surveillance study. J Altern Complement Med. 2007 Jan-Feb;13(1):16-8.

Jeschke E, Ostermann T, Lüke C, Tabali M, Kröz M, Bockelbrink A, Witt CM, Willich SN, Matthes H. Remedies containing Asteraceae extracts: a prospective observational study of prescribing patterns and adverse drug reactions in German primary care. Drug Saf. 2009;32(8):691-706.

Khan MT. The podiatric treatment of hallux abducto valgus and its associated condition, bunion, with Tagetes patula. J Pharm Pharmacol. 1996 Jul;48(7):768-70.

Le Strange, R. A History of Herbal Plants. Arco Publishing Company, Inc. New York, 1977. (pg 62-64).

Mills S. and Bone K. Principles and Practive of Phytotherapy: Modern Herbal Medicine. Elsevier Science. 1999. (pg. 142, 148, 177, 163).

Müller-Eberling, C., Rätch C., and Storl WD. Witchcraft Medicine: Healing Arts, Shamanic Practices, and Forbidden Plants. Inner Traditions. Rochester, Vermont, 2003. (pg. 13).

Roveroni-Favaretto LH, Lodi KB, Almeida JD. Topical Calendula officinalis L. successfully treated exfoliative cheilitis: a case report. Cases Journal. 2009 Nov 23;2:9077.

Sarrell EM, Mandelberg A, Cohen HA. Efficacy of naturopathic extracts in the management of ear pain associated with acute otitis media. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 2001;155(7):796-799.

Shipochliev T. Uterotonic action of extracts from a group of medicinal plants. [Abstract]. Vet Med Nauki. 1981;18(4):94-8.

Wintzen M, Donker AS, van Zuuren EJ. Recalcitrant atopic dermatitis due to allergy to Compositae. Contact Dermatitis. 2003 Feb;48(2):87-8.

Disclaimer 

Information on this website is for educational purposes only. Many herbs historically used for medicine are considered too toxic to use today; some of these herbs have caused deaths. Do not ingest these herbs based on information on this website. We have not provided sufficient information for the safe medicinal use of any of these herbs, nor sufficient information for treatment of poisoning. All recreational use of these herbs is dangerous.