Calendula Infused Oil
Calendula infused oil promotes the healing of many skin disorders. It effectively treats burns, hard to heal wounds, varicose veins, cradle cap and damaged tissue. It is soothing to painful skin irritations and can even be used with good results for fungal and viral complications. It is also nice as a massage oil for the breasts, and in other areas with lymphatic congestion, as Calendula is a great ally to the lymphatic system. I have also used it with good results for cracked nipples after breastfeeding and for some people with eczema and other chronic skin irritations. This oil is also a nice addition to lotions and facial creams.
Apply a small amount of Calendula oil and massage gently into affected area.
Ingredients:
Organic oil of choice (olive, almond, apricot, etc)
Freshly picked Calendula blossoms (wilted)
(Dried Calendula flowers can be used if freshly wilted flowers are not available)
Method #1: On a sunny day, after all dew has dried, hand pick Calendula flowers. Harvesting can be done every two-three days during the summer months, helping to promote new growth.
Spread flowers on drying screens to wilt/dry (24 hours- 4 days), as they are quite moist and may mold if you do not dry them a little before infusing them in oil. (Using a dehumidifier and fan and/or heater to help circulate air will greatly aid this drying process).
Place dried flowers in a clean jar with organic olive oil to completely cover (having a 1/4 inch of oil covering herb on top). You can crumble the flowers as you put them in jar or cut with scissors to allow more surface area exposure. Allow a little room at top of jar and check after 12 hours to see if you need to top off the oil a little (making sure all flowers are immersed in oil). Store in dark place or place in brown paper bag. Try to swirl the Calendula oil daily, infusing positive energy. Sometimes oil will seep out of the top of the jar during the infusing process, so place jar on newspaper or in a place where the oil will not drip down and create an oily mess.
After 4-6 weeks, strain Calendula flowers from oil. Let strained oil sit for one day and check to make sure there is no water present at bottom of jar. Decant the oil from the water if water separates and is present at bottom of jar so that no water is in your final product of infused oil. Label final product with Calendula, type of oil used and date.
Method #2: Use an old crock pot with a low setting. Place chopped Calendula flowers in oil so that flowers are completely covered. Heat oil on lowest setting in crock pot for 4 – 8 hours (be sure to keep temperature below 110- 120 degrees F, so as not to fry the flowers). Strain the flowers, pressing as much of the oil from the flowers as is possible. Consider using a thermometer to monitor the temperature of the oil, as oil will lose its healing properties if heated above 110- 120 degrees. Let strained oil sit for one day and check to make sure there is no water present at bottom of jar. Decant the oil from the water if it is present at bottom of jar. Label final product with Calendula, type of oil used and date.
Storage: Store the infused oil in a cool, dark place. It should be good for one year. Always smell the oils to ensure they are in their optimal state. If a rancid odor is observed, then sadly the oil will need to be discarded.
Enjoy oil as a healing remedy on its own or include it in with other infused oils and/or with beeswax for a healing salve.
Other ideas: Some other infused to consider making as healing remedies are: Plantain, Comfrey, Chickweed, Jewelweed, Lavender, Echinacea, Goldenseal, Saint John’s Wort, Mullein, Bee Balm, Elder flower and Garlic, among others. I suggest making infused oils with one herb at a time. Once you have your single infused oils, other blends can be made from these single infusions.
Calendula Salve
Calendula salve is very soothing and healing to skin irritations, burns, rashes, eruptive skin disorders. It can also be used on a wound before adding a compress and/ or fomentation to help soften the skin, making it easier to penetrate wounded area with the healing herbal properties of the salve and poultice. Apply a small amount and massage gently into affected area. This is a must have for the herbal first aid kit!
Ingredients:
1 cup or 8 oz Calendula flower infused oil (see above recipe)
1/4 cup or 2 oz Clean Grated Beeswax (use more if you like a very firm salve)
Optional: add 1/2 teaspoon Vitamin E oil as additional preservative
First, prepare an herb infused oil.
To make the salve, add 1/4 cup grated bees wax to double boiler. If using pyrex or mason jar, place in pot of gently boiling water to melt. Meanwhile, pour in one cup of Calendula infused oil to heat proof jar, 2-cup measuring pyrex container or double boiler with beeswax. When beeswax is melted, remove jar of solution from heat and pour into small jars or tins. It will thicken and harden as it cools. If the consistency is not to your liking, simply remelt salve and make adjustments (more beeswax for a firmer salve or more oil for a softer salve).
You can use any combination of herbal infused oils to make salves, depending on what your intention is for its use. Some other infused oils to consider blending into your healing remedies are: Plantain, Comfrey, Chickweed, Jewelweed, Lavender, Echinacea, Goldenseal, Saint John’s Wort, Mullein, Bee balm and Elder flower.
Calendula Compress or Fomentation
This is an external application of herbs to help soothe pain, alleviate inflammation, stop bleeding, treat burns and skin irritations, rashes and lymphatic congestion. Hot fomentations or compresses can help to stimulate the circulation of blood or lymph in the wounded area and allow the healing qualities of Calendula to penetrate the skin.
Materials:
Fresh or Dried Calendula flowers
Clean moisture absorbent cloth or towel
For a Calendula fomentation, make a Calendula tea of 1-2 Tablespoons dried Calendula flowers with one cup just boiled water. Steep for 15 minutes and strain. Place clean cloth in tea and wring out. Apply to desired area. For a hot fomentation, place a dry cloth over hot cloth and cover with heating pad or hot bottle. The heat will help relax achy areas and lymphatic congestion. This can be alternated with cold compresses to increase circulation to area. Compresses can also be combined with a warm Calendula poultice.
A Calendula poultice can be made with fresh or dried petals. Macerate flowers or petals into an herbal mass and apply directly to skin. The fresh petals can be an effective treatment for shingles and measles.
For even more herbal healing power, apply a Calendula oil on the skin before the compress or fomentation. Allow 20- 30 minutes for the healing properties of Calendula to take effect. Consider sipping a cup of Calendula tea at the same time, for even better results.
Calendula Tea
Calendula tea can be used internally and externally. For external use, try it as a compress, skin wash, eye wash, or mouthwash. These antiseptic washes are good for inflammation and wound healing. As a mouthwash it is healing to gums after tooth extractions. Drink tea internally, for inflammation and lymphatic congestion. According to David Winston and Merrily Kuhn, in Herbal Therapy, 2000, Calendula can be taken internally as a tea or tincture for chronic colitis, postmastectomy lymphodema and pain, the treatment of gastric ulcers and to promote bile production.
1-2 Tablespoons dried Calendula flowers (2-4 fresh flowers)
1 cup filtered water
To make the tea: Place Calendula flowers in heat proof cup. Pour boiling water over flowers. Let steep for 15- 30 minutes, or longer, depending on taste and desired effect. Strain herbs and enjoy.
Drink a cup of Calendula tea 3-4 times a day to aid in the healing process.
Calendula, Beet and Kale Salad
This salad is as delicious and healthy, as it is beautiful. We enjoy this salad several times a week throughout the summer and it makes a great dish to carry to a summer potluck. We took it to a friend’s house last week and the Calendula petals on the salad inspired some wonderful conversation. Yes, we can eat lots of the flowers and weeds that grow around us and they are good for us in so many ways, too!
When your garden is thriving in mid July with ample kale, Calendula and beets, try this recipe out for its delicious flavor and for its healthy benefits of vitamins and antioxidants. And, if you don’t grow kale, beets and Calendula, look for the ingredients at your local Farmer’s Market. Your local farmers and herbalists will be happy to share their goodness with you.
Ingredients:
Bunch of Freshly Picked Kale (cut into small pieces)
2-3 Beets (peeled and shredded)
6-8 Calendula flowers (petals from freshly picked flowers)
1/2 cup Walnuts (toasted and chopped)
Goat Cheese (if desired)
Balsamic Vinegar and high quality Extra Virgen Olive Oil
To make Salad: Clean and cut Kale leaves. Peel and shred beets. Chop and toast walnuts in iron skillet for 6 – 8 minutes on low to medium heat. Mix kale and beets together in large bowl. Sprinkle olive oil and balsamic vinegar and blend with kale mixture. Sprinkle toasted walnuts on salad and adorn with Calendula petals and Goat cheese as desired. Enjoy!