Folk names: oil color, gold color, solstice, flower of the dead.
Parts used: flowers and inflorescences.
Pharmacy name: flowers of marigolds - Caleridulae flos (earlier: Flores Calendulae sine Calycibns).
Botanical description. Annual plant, reaching 70 cm in height. Straightened felt-ploughed stem is branched out and carries the next, also thinly pubescent leaves. Bright yellow inflorescences-baskets are quite large, their diameter sometimes exceeding 4 cm. Blossoms from June to October. It grows as an ornamental plant in gardens and a medicinal plant in cultural plants. Sometimes it is wild from there.
Collection and preparation. The inflorescences should be collected in a fully open condition in very dry weather and dried quickly in a ventilated place, but without artificial heating. Use only tongue flowers, or all the inflorescence (more often in folk medicine).
Effective substances: essential oil, marigold boots, saponins, glycosides, carotenoids, xanthophylls, bitterness, mucus, flavonoids, enzymes and organic acids.
Healing effect and application. Application of this plant inside is greatly reduced. In tea mixtures it is considered to be an additive for giving a beautiful color, although the flowers of marigolds still have their own - light antispasmodic - effect, and the effect on the separation of bile is also not in doubt. Basically, nails and many of them prepared from galenic preparations (ointments) are used to treat wounds. In this sense, the nails are very close to arnica. Badly healing wounds, shin ulcers, inflammation of the nail bed, sprains and sprains are beneficial for the decoction (tea) of flowers of marigolds. Surprisingly well helps wet dressing with such decoction and fresh wounds. With carbuncle and abscesses, hot calendula compresses are recommended. The German Public Health Service recognizes the effect of marigolds on inflammation of the skin and mucous membranes, as well as on bruises, lacerations and burns. Tea of marigolds: 1-2 teaspoons of flowers, pour 1/4 litre of boiling water, insist 10 minutes and then strain. Tea is drunk in case of gall bladder diseases very warm by 1 cup 2-3 times a day; it is also applicable to compressors and bandages.
Use in homeopathy. Homeopathic Calendula is used orally in the cultivation of D1-D6, and as an external (1 teaspoon of the original tincture on a half-glass of warm water) for bruises and lacerations, shin ulcers and to stimulate granulation (healing) of wounds.
Application in folk medicine. In folk medicine, this medicinal plant is highly valued and widely used. Its field of application covers everything that has been said about the marigold so far. Moreover, marigolds are also considered a remedy against warts and skin cancer. With the help of fresh juice it is possible to treat cancerous tumors on the skin, and at night it is necessary to put a compress of broth of marigolds. It is well known that abscesses and tumours heal more quickly when using nail decoction or ointment compressors. But here's what they do for cancer, too, it's doubtful. In folk medicine, ointment (the so-called nail oil), which is used for a lot of ailments, is very revered. It smears the body with abdominal pain, rubs joints and muscles in case of their painful conditions and treats all wounds quickly and painlessly; this nail oil successfully treated and decubitus. * Nail oil: goat oil shall be mixed with the broken flowers of marigolds in a ratio of 1:1 and slightly heated to a liquid state. The active ingredients are transferred to the oil and the rashed flowers are then removed. In folk medicine, marigolds are used in the form of blood purifying tea and painful menstruation. A week before menstruation you should drink 1 cup of tea daily. This normalizes their irregularity and relieves pain. Tea made of a mixture of marigolds, nettles, veronica and celandine in equal parts, they say, helps with stomach ulcer. Calendula is also used in the treatment of diseases of the mouth and teeth, as a prophylactic after brushing, as a remedy for swelling and pain in case of oral inflammation.
Side effects are unknown and allergies are very rare.