How to Benefit From Calendula

One of the most beautiful and colorful flowers that you can grow in your yard is also a powerful natural medicine. Calendula, also known as marigold, has many health benefits and is a useful tea, oil, tincture or salve for a number of internal and external conditions.

Things You'll Need

• Dried calendula
• Calendula tincture

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Instructions

• 1

  Get the healing benefits of calendula by making a soothing oil which is helpful for a variety of conditions. Fill a glass jar with a tight fitting lid with dried flowers and then cover with extra virgin olive oil. Place the lid on the jar and store in a cool dark location, shaking each day for 2 weeks. Strain the leaves from the oil and add one vitamin E capsule as a preservative.

• 2

  Make a healing cream using your homemade calendula oil. Combine 3 tbsp. of calendula oil, 1 tbsp. of sweet almond oil, 1.5 tbsp. of shea butter and 1 tbsp. of cocoa butter in a small pot and heat to simmer on low. Remove from heat as soon as the ingredients are melted and well mixed and pour into glass jars. Leave uncovered until the cream is cool.

• 3

  Purchase a calendula tincture and take it with tea or water up to 3 times daily. Always follow the manufacturer's information for dosage information; however, the most common dose is 10 drops per cup of water.

• 4

  Benefit from calendula while enjoying a hot and delicious cup of tea. To make the tea, pour boiling water over 1 or 2 tsp. of dried flowers, cover and allow to steep for 15 minutes. Add lemon and/or honey if desired and drink up to three times daily.

• 5

  Use oils, creams, or make compresses from calendula tea to help heal wounds, reduce inflammation, soothe burns and sunburns, help clear conjunctivitis, heal and reduce the symptoms of eczema and psoriasis, treat dandruff and stop itching caused by chicken pox, bug bites and more.

• 6

  Take calendula tincture or tea internally to help soothe gastritis, heal and reduce the symptoms of ulcers, treat ulcerative colitis, heal and ease a sore throat, break a fever and even get relief from menstrual cramps.