Calendula is a medicinal plant, also known as medicinal marigolds. The plant blooms with orange-yellow flowers that play a decorative role in floriculture, but its main value lies in the available useful qualities.
In folk medicine, the useful properties of calendula are widely used to treat various diseases. With its help, together with other drugs, restore health after serious illnesses. Also, this flower is used in cooking and cosmetology.
Did you know? Calendula can help in the fight against popular pests of gardens - Colorado beetles. If the site is planted with marigolds around the perimeter, then the smell of this plant will scare away insects.
The chemical composition of calendula
Medicinal properties of calendula due to its chemical composition. The plant contains the following biologically active substances:
- essential oils - destroy and inhibit the development of pathogens;
- flavonoids - stimulate the production of bile, promote healing of gastric ulcers, relieve smooth muscle spasms, neutralize and remove harmful substances from the body, prevent tumors, relieve inflammation;
- coumarins - help get rid of various inflammations;
- carotenoids (calendars) - pigment synthesis promoting vitamin A;
- triterpenoids - a group of elements that provide anti-inflammatory properties of the flower, reduce cholesterol levels, improve the transmission of nerve impulses;
- tannins;
- sterols - alcohols similar in structure to cholesterol, which pass through the digestive system, are absorbed instead of it, thereby reducing the level of cholesterol in the body.
Medicinal marigolds contain many trace elements. Zinc - helps strengthen the immune system, selenium - prevents the formation of atypical cells, improves the cardiovascular system, strengthens the immune system.
Molybdenum - prevents the occurrence of caries, detains fluoride. Copper - helps to overcome inflammation. The calendula also contains elements such as potassium, calcium, iron and magnesium.
Medicinal properties of calendula
Calendula has known beneficial properties. It has an antiseptic, anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect.. With its help, you can act on different systems of the body. For the treatment mainly taken flower baskets of plants. Less often extract juice and use leaves and roots.
Treatment of diseases of the upper respiratory tract and oral cavity
Calendula treats diseases of the upper respiratory tract and oral cavity. This is possible due to the bactericidal action of the plant. Calendula rinses destroy streptococci and staphylococci.
For rinsing the mouth and rinsing the throat is used calendula tincture, its diluted version or a decoction of calendula flowers. These remedies are effective for sore throat, acute respiratory viral infections, flu, cold. Promote faster recovery from bacterial and viral infections.
Also, calendula tincture is suitable for ingestion for diseases of the respiratory tract and oral cavity.
For bronchitis, the use of calendula flowers is indicated. You can take it several times a day. The effect will complement the compress from the tincture of marigolds.
Important! Calendula alone will not cure serious diseases like sore throat. It is used as an adjuvant in combination with antibiotics and sulfa drugs.
Skin diseases
Calendula contributes to the removal of various inflammatory processes on the skin, healing of wounds, suppurations.
To do this, you can prepare the following mixture: Take half a cup of calendula flowers, half a cup of boiling water and a tablespoon of vaseline. Then, pour boiling water over the flowers, insist for 2 hours, then strain the broth and add Vaseline to it. This mixture can smear problem areas of the skin.
To cure boils, apply spirit tincture of calendula. For its preparation will need a glass of fresh flowers and 50 grams of alcohol. Having mixed these components, mix insist 2 weeks. When using it is necessary to take a small piece of cloth, moisten it in tincture and attach it to the boil for 15 minutes. The procedure is repeated 3-4 days.
Another calendula is used to get rid of warts. For this it is used in conjunction with celandine, namely celandine juice and calendula extract are taken (in equal proportions) and every day is applied on the warts for 5-7 minutes, until the complete disappearance of the formations.
Diseases of the cardiovascular system
With a large number of cardiovascular diseases, calendula can help improve the overall condition of the body, and without any side effects.
Calendula is used to treat the following problems with the cardiovascular system:
- Tachycardia is a condition manifested by rapid heartbeat;
- Arrhythmia - unstable heart rate;
- Atherosclerosis;
- Hypertension;
- Heart failure;
- Dyspnea;
- Hypotension.
Treatment of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract
Calendula decoction and calendula tincture are used in the treatment of diseases of the digestive system. Their antispasmodic and wound-healing properties help the stomach and intestines cope with gastritis and ulcers. Calendula is also very useful in the fight against diseases of the gallbladder.
To get rid of constipation, you can cook a mixture of one orange juice, 100 ml of water and three tablespoons of dried marigold flowers. Calendula pour boiling water, then squeezed into a separate container and orange juice.
It remains only to strain the infusion of calendula and mix it with the resulting juice. Drink this remedy before bedtime. For reliable results, use 2-3 days in a row. This mixture perfectly helps the intestines.
Diseases of the urinary system
Calendula will help get rid of cystitis and urological diseases.
In case of cystitis, healing nails will reduce unpleasant and painful sensations. It is necessary to provide plenty of calendula tea drink and diet. To prepare the broth will need 4 tablespoons of flowers and 400 ml of boiling water. Flowers need to pour boiling water and insist 1.5 hours in a dark place, then strain and regularly take the broth.
This decoction is suitable for urological diseases, but even better to prepare the infusion of calendula with wild rose berries.
Treatment of female diseases
Calendula helps to cope with uterine bleeding and various inflammatory processes in the genitals. It is used in the treatment of cervical erosion, for thrush and menopause (to combat mood swings, "tides").
The plant is prescribed for douching, as it effectively removes unpleasant sensations, helping to get rid of itching and irritation during inflammatory processes. However, it should be understood that calendula alone will not cure the disease, but only alleviate its symptoms.
Instead of douching, you can use calendula candles. They have anti-inflammatory and wound-healing effect, as well as destroy microbes.
Calendula oil in the treatment of female diseases is prescribed for the diagnosis of colpitis, vulvitis, cervical erosion, painful menstruation, menopause.
How to properly collect and store calendula flowers
To calendula flowers brought maximum benefit, there are certain rules for their collection. For example, it is started as soon as the flowering of the plant begins. This is the most important rule, otherwise the flowers may lose their color. When flowers are not picked in time, they are strongly crushed during drying, which makes the raw materials of poor quality and unsuitable.
It is necessary to dry medicinal marigold no later than 3-4 hours after collection. After drying, the flowers should be placed in fabric or paper bags. They must be stored in a place protected from moisture at a cool temperature.
Also an important point of storage - a separate content of calendula from other plants. The plant can be stored for no more than two years, since after this time, the beneficial properties of calendula flowers will no longer work.
Pharmaceutical preparations based on calendula
On the basis of calendula produced a lot of pharmaceutical preparations. It is part of tinctures, tablets, powders, creams and ointments. In addition, in the pharmacy you can buy flowers of the plant, used for the preparation of infusions and decoctions.
Pharmaceutical preparations based on calendula:
- Calendula tincture - used for quick healing of wounds, cuts, for sore throat for rinsing (in diluted form), for choleretic effect (in drops inside);
- Kaleflon - tablets with flowers of marigold, prescribed for gastritis, gastric ulcer, duodenal ulcer, inflammation of the biliary tract and gall bladder. Tablets stimulate recovery processes;
- Calendula ointment - has anti-inflammatory effect, is used to get rid of diaper rash, cracks on the heels. This calendula ointment contains calendula tincture and vaseline;
- Ointment Dr. Theiss Calendula - relieves inflammation, promotes the regeneration of wounds, burns, speeds up the healing process, destroys streptococci staphylococcus.
The use of calendula in cosmetology
Calendula is loved by many women who care about their skin condition. The fact is that this plant has an excellent effect in combating age-related changes, destroys pigment spots, freckles, provides caring care for sensitive skin and cleans it from such troubles as acne. That is why calendula is often used to care for the skin of the face and hands.
Age-related changes such as fine wrinkles can be treated calendula decoction. For it you will need one tea false dry marigold and 200 ml of boiling water. Infuse the mixture for 15 minutes and wash it every morning. You can also freeze this broth and rub it with ice cubes.
In the fight against aging is often used and calendula based masks. It is prepared from one tablespoon of oatmeal and one tablespoon of dried flowers of the plant, which are carefully ground together. In the resulting mixture, you must add a little boiling water to the consistency was viscous. Apply to face and hold for 20-30 minutes.
In order to get rid pigment spots and freckles, mix lemon juice and calendula tincture. This mixture is regularly rubbed face.
To care for delicate skin, calendula oil is used. It protects the skin from burns under the summer sun, relieves inflammation, and disinfects the skin.
Fighting acne is possible with the help of infusion of calendula on alcohol, talkers with calendula, compresses. The most effective in this matter is alcoholic tincture.
Important! Alcoholic infusion based on calendula must be applied point on, precisely on problem areas, as alcohol dries the skin.
How to use calendula in cooking
Appearance, aroma and taste of calendula did not go unnoticed by cooks. For many centuries, this flower is added to different salads, soups, dishes.
Confectioners using calendula, namely, due to the substance calenduline contained in the plant, give the dough and creams a golden hue. Calendula leaves in the rosette stage are added to soups, salads, pates, steamed vegetable dishes, meat and fish dishes.
Calendula use options in cooking:
- Calendula salads. Many vegetables are well combined with calendula: cucumbers, boiled potatoes, carrots, green onions. Calendula salads can be filled with sour cream, vegetable oil;
- Sandwiches. To prepare, mix the oil, sugar and calendula petals. This mixture is spread on bread and a sandwich is ready.;
- The drinks. Dry calendula flowers pour boiling water, boil again and insist. Such broth is mixed with apple juice, with viburnum juice, honey or sugar is added and tasty healthy drinks are obtained.;
- Pouring. Mint and ground calendula flowers are boiled for 5 minutes, filtered, sugar is added. After cooling down, mix with vodka in a ratio of 1: 3 - 1 part of broth, 3 parts of vodka;
- Marinated and salted calendula. For salting you need to add 60 grams of salt and one kilogram of calendula flowers to half a liter of water. Boil the composition of five minutes - salting can be considered ready.
It remains to be poured into sterilized jars. To marinate Calendula, you need one kilogram of inflorescences, 9% vinegar (150 ml), salt 40 g, pepper 2 g. Mixing all the ingredients and waiting 5 minutes, the composition can be considered ready for use.
It remains to be poured into sterilized jars. To marinate Calendula, you need one kilogram of inflorescences, 9% vinegar (150 ml), salt 40 g, pepper 2 g. Mixing all the ingredients and waiting 5 minutes, the composition can be considered ready for use.Did you know? In England, medicinal calendula was equal to spinach, they were even cooked in one pan. In the cookbook at the royal court, marigolds were an indispensable seasoning for braised larks and sparrows.
Contraindications to the use of calendula
In addition to the indications for use, there are contraindications of calendula flowers for use. These include the following cases:
- component intolerance;
- pregnancy - you can not do douching, take the juice of the plant, or use it in any other way, as this can increase toxicosis, or even lead to miscarriage;
- immediately after childbirth or abortion;
- hypotension - the plant has a downward effect;
- simultaneous use of sedatives, barbiturates;
- bradycardia;
- exacerbation of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract;
- children under 12 years old.
Contraindications marigold should be taken into account, deciding on the use of drugs with calendula. Self-treatment is also undesirable, because first you need to consult with your doctor.Calendula rightfully deserves the title of a universal plant, it treats, is used in food, and gives aesthetic pleasure. The main thing is to apply it correctly and immediately exclude it in the presence of contraindications.
