Essential Oil Guide to Calendula
Essential oils have been used by people for several millennia. The first recorded uses of essential oils come from ancient India, Persia, Egypt, Greece and Rome where scented plants, flowers and herbs were likely mixed with fatty oils to make the very first essential oils. Before this, oil producing plants would have been used directly by crushing the plant matter to release the perfumed oil from within.
Did you know that of the hundreds of thousands of plants known to us, only a few thousand produce essential oils?
Essential oils is the name given to oils extracted from plants that have helpful properties. They may be known for their medicinal qualities, flavours or scents and are widely used in pharmaceuticals, food production, agriculture, manufacturing and cosmetics.
This article takes a look at one helpful essential oil ingredient in particular, calendula.
What is calendula?
Calendula is the name of a genus of plants that has approximately 15 different species within it. Calendula officinalis is the most common species of calendula, and it has many different common names including pot marigold, English marigold, Mary’s gold and common marigold, although really calendula and marigold are two separate genae and not the same thing.
The calendula flower is daisy-like with long, thin petals protruding from a round centre. Calendula flowers usually range from bright yellow to deep orange in colour and can bloom from early summer through to early autumn.
The calendula plant is native to Europe, North Africa, West Asia and the Mediterranean and has been used historically for both medicinal and magical uses with historic records containing details of potions and ceremonies involving calendula flowers and calendula oil.
What is calendula oil?
The oil from the calendula plant comes from oil droplets held within the glands of the plant. These oils diffuse through the gland walls and spread across the surface of the plant where they evaporate into the air, spreading their perfume as they do so.
In order to extract this special ingredient, the plant needs to be broken down then either distilled in a still using heat or extracted using fat to soak up the essential oils from the plant matter.
Essential Oil Guide to Calendula
Essential oils have been used by people for several millennia. The first recorded uses of essential oils come from ancient India, Persia, Egypt, Greece and Rome where scented plants, flowers and herbs were likely mixed with fatty oils to make the very first essential oils. Before this, oil producing plants would have been used directly by crushing the plant matter to release the perfumed oil from within.
Did you know that of the hundreds of thousands of plants known to us, only a few thousand produce essential oils?
Essential oils is the name given to oils extracted from plants that have helpful properties. They may be known for their medicinal qualities, flavours or scents and are widely used in pharmaceuticals, food production, agriculture, manufacturing and cosmetics.
This article takes a look at one helpful essential oil ingredient in particular, calendula.
What is calendula?
Calendula is the name of a genus of plants that has approximately 15 different species within it. Calendula officinalis is the most common species of calendula, and it has many different common names including pot marigold, English marigold, Mary’s gold and common marigold, although really calendula and marigold are two separate genae and not the same thing.
The calendula flower is daisy-like with long, thin petals protruding from a round centre. Calendula flowers usually range from bright yellow to deep orange in colour and can bloom from early summer through to early autumn.
The calendula plant is native to Europe, North Africa, West Asia and the Mediterranean and has been used historically for both medicinal and magical uses with historic records containing details of potions and ceremonies involving calendula flowers and calendula oil.
What is calendula oil?
The oil from the calendula plant comes from oil droplets held within the glands of the plant. These oils diffuse through the gland walls and spread across the surface of the plant where they evaporate into the air, spreading their perfume as they do so.
In order to extract this special ingredient, the plant needs to be broken down then either distilled in a still using heat or extracted using fat to soak up the essential oils from the plant matter.
Uses of calendula oil
Calendula has long been used as a helpful essential oil and has surprisingly varied uses.
Food
Calendula is an edible plant, and the petals can be added to salads, soups, stews and dried. It has been described as poor mans saffron as it has a mild, sweet taste with a bitter afternote, and it becomes more pungent with drying. It has been used in cooking historically to both flavour and colour food but is less commonly used these days as a flavouring.
Essential Oil
The most common use of calendula these days is an essential oil. It is usually distilled using heat to make steam which helps the oils evaporate from the plant and be collected via a tap. The resulting oil is pure calendula essential oil. This oil can be added to balms such as our organic baby balm, or added to creams, mixed with other essential oils or added to a carrier oil which has complementary properties, such as moisturising coconut or jojoba oil, or emollient oils such as hemp seed oil.
Dye
The strong colour of the calendula flower petals make is excellent for use as a natural dye and it has been used historically to colour hair, food, wool, other fibres and materials, and paint.
Gardening
Calendula can be grown as an annual or perennial plant, and not only does it look attractive in gardens, but it has pest control qualities too. The bright flowers attract beneficial insects which eat pests such as aphids, fleas, beetles which are detrimental to cultivated vegetables. The odour of the plant also disguises the scent from other plants masking them from potential pests. It is commonly planted alongside crops known to be susceptible to pests for these helpful qualities.
Calendula also has a vase life of 7-10 days making it a wonderful cut flower for the home and it is used commercially by florists.
How to Use Calendula Oil
You can apply calendula oil directly to skin although for a few it may be an irritant so always test a small amount first. To negate this, look for skincare products that use a carrier oil to dilute the concentration. Generally, calendula oils and calendula creams help calm skin when applied topically. Calendula balm is great for sunburn, minor cuts, burns and irritated dry skin.
Calendula cream can be applied to nappy rash in babies until symptoms are alleviated. It can be used on eczema in babies, children and adults to reduce redness and irritation too.
You can brew dried calendula petals to make a tea which is useful for easing inflammation and constipation or scatter fresh petals on salads and soups for a vibrant finish and heady scent.
Calendula oil can also be used to condition your hair and soothe an irritable scalp. Massage a few drops onto a wet scalp whilst in the shower, or choose a calendula infused oil to moisturise into your head and hair.
It is also possible to find calendula capsules that can be taken orally to help with digestion issues.
Benefits of calendula oil
Although not definitively scientifically proven, the extract of calendula flower benefits all sorts of ailments from skin problems such as eczema to digestive issues such as cramps and constipation.
Pharmacological studies have suggested that calendula has antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties and its use in ointments, creams and salves is prolific.
Calendula contains approximately 15 active ingredients in addition to essential oil, including flavonoids, triterpenoids, and polysaccharides. In particular the triterpenoids contain saponins that have proven anti-inflammatory properties. These active ingredients are why calendula is used to treat the following:
- Eczema
- Nappy rash
- Acne
- Burns
- Minor cuts and scrapes
- Stomach cramps
- Constipation
- Menstrual cramps
Where to buy calendula cream
You can buy calendula oil products in health food stores, supermarkets, pharmacies and online. We would recommend always checking the ingredients list of your calendula oil products to make sure there are no harmful additives.
Nature’s Divine love calendula. The scent is both floral and comforting and we use small amounts in many of our products. The natural anti-inflammatory, antifungal and antiviral properties of this wonderful plant work wonders on sore, irritated skin and are gentle enough to use on newborn skin too.
We use amounts that are enough to be relieving and effective whilst making sure our products are still kind to skin. This is why our organic skincare products are as good for babies as they are for adults, including pregnant women, although we do always suggest you check with your health advisor before using new products during pregnancy.
