Calendula,
a natural wound healing
herbal remedy
Where
does Calendula come from?
This herbal medicine is
commonly grown in gardens because of its pretty orange flowers and its
ability to resow itself. Calendula is sometimes call "garden
marigold" or "pot marigold." Calendula is well-known as an
effective insect repellant and also keeps
harmful insects away from other plants.
Calendula
is one of
the herbal remedies that has a long history of use as a wound-healing
botanical. In
Greece and Persia, calendula was used to flavour food and the ancient
Egyptians viewed it as a rejuvenating herb. Medieval monks
used
this herbal medicine to treat snake bites and liver problems.
Battlefield doctors used calendula flowers to treat open wounds during
the American Civil War and this practice was continued by
doctors
during WWI.
Today, calendula is available in many different herbal remedy forms -
topical creams and ointments, teas, tinctures and pills.
How
can Calendula help me?
Keeping calendula in
your first-aid kit is good practice as
it is
prescribed
to treat minor cuts and
abrasions, as well as minor burn wounds. Calendula is also
considered to be a good antiseptic cream that can prevent wounds from
getting infected.
There are
numerous topical
creams and lotions available containing calendula. Calendula
lotion is especially
good to treat diaper rash and keeping a tube in your handbag or pocket
is the ideal treatment for chapped lips.
Mild cases of sunburn can be soothed by applying calendula lotion to
the affected areas several times daily. Eczema is treated and
symptoms kept under control when using herbal lotions and creams
containing calendula.
This herbal remedy is of benefit to people with diabetes who often
suffer from slow-healing sores and wounds as calendula speeds up the
healing process and minimizes scarring. Bed-ridden patients
experience relief when calendula is massaged into bed sores several
times a day.
Calendula is often prescribed by health care practitioners to treat a
variety of intestinal complaints such as indigestion, colitis, gastric
ulcers and duodenal ulcers. In two separate medical studies,
calendula was proven to heal duodenal ulcers.
Further
studies showed that when combining calendula with comfrey, the healing
effects on the intestinal system was greatly enhanced. People
suffering from gastroduodenitis find relief when drinking calendula tea.
Tea
made from calendula can be used as a mouthwash to treat gum and tooth
infections, and as a gargle to treat sore throats and tonsillitis.
To relieve the pain and itching associated with bee stings and insect
bites, rub the fresh flowers of the calendula plant directly onto the
affected area for immediate relief.
Calendula is often prescribed to treat varicose veins as well as spider
veins. Varicose veins are veins on the legs which become
twisted
and inflamed and can cause swelling, itching and pain.
Massaging
the legs with calendula oil or calendula lotion twice daily can not
only relieve the symptoms but also heal varicose veins. This
is
due to calendula's ability to restore circulation and increase the
skin's healing properties.
This herbal remedy is also believed to stimulate the immune system to
assist the body to fight off colds and flu, and the antibacterial
properties make it an excellent herbal medicine for a sore throat.
Calendula is one the most popular treatments for fungal infections such
as athlete's foot and thrush.
If I am already on medicine,
what are the interactions or side
effects I need to know about when using Calendula?
Please consult your medical practitioner prior to using any herbal
medications should you be under their care.
Side-effects when using calendula are very rare, although some people
have reported a skin rash and itching after using a cream or lotion
containing calendula. Simply discontinue use of the specific
herbal remedy containing calendula.
There are no known interactions with prescription medicine.
How do I use Calendula?
To make an herbal calendula tea to soothe intestinal complaints, use 1
teaspoon of dried flower per 250 ml of boiled water. Let it
steep
for 10-15 minutes and drink 2-3 cups a day of this herbal remedy.
When purchasing an ointment, lotion or cream containing calendula,
ensure that the herbal treatment contains at least 5% calendula.
Apply to wounds, sores, scrapes and cuts and minor burn
wounds
3-4 times daily.
To treat vaginal thrush, insert a calendula suppository into the vagina
every 12 hours for 5 days. These herbal suppositories are
available at health stores and through health practitioners.
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