Marigold
- Calendula
officinalis
Flowering
all summer long, and sometimes in mild winters,
with vivid orange flowerheads, similar in structure
to daisies. An annual hardy plant growing up to
2 feet high, with fantastic alien-like curved seeds
- somewhat resembling a spiky/nobbly cat claw!
In
the 12th century just looking at the sunny starburst
of bright orange petals was considered enough to
lift the spirits and encourage cheerfulness, and
by the 17th century Marigold was highly regarded
as a remedy for smallpox and measles. In folklore,
as a symbol of constancy in love, it appeared as
a wedding strewing herb and in wedding bouquets
and love potions.
In
The New Herball (1551), William Turner expressed
his disdain with the marigold being used as a treatment
to highlight fair hair : “some use it to make their
heyre yellow with the floure of this herbe, not
beyne content with the natural colour, which God
hat gyven them.”
The
golden petals make an excellent remedy for inflamed
and angry skin and are highly valued in treating
a wide range of skin problems - cuts, grazes, boils,
infected sores, wounds, eczema, acne, and inflammations.
An infusion of marigold petals can be used as a
skin rinse for inflamed and irritated skin. As a
potent antiseptic it is effective at combatting
a wide range of bacterial and fungal infections
such as ringworm, thrush and athletes foot. Add
a few drops of tea tree essential oil to an infused
marigold oil for an effective athletes foot treatment.
A
cleansing, detoxifying herb with antiseptic and
healing properties which help prevent the spread
of infection, speed up the rate of repair and heal
damaged tissue - making it useful for burns : submerge
the area of the burn in cool water, into which you
have added a few teaspoons of marigold tincture.
Marigold
is mildly oestrogenic and can be used to reduce
period pain and regulate menstrual bleeding. It
is also used for treating conjunctivitis and poor
eyesight, or tired eyes - an infusion of marigold
used as a cool compress makes a calming remedy for
troubled eyes.
The
infused oil is soothing and healing and can be effectively
used to treat nappy rash, cracked and rough skin,
varicose veins, breast tenderness and sore nipples.
An infusion of the petals can be used as a gargle
for mouth ulcers, and a tincture of marigold is
suggested by Barbara Griggs as a remedy for toothache
: “Soak a small pad of cotton wool in tincture of
Marigold and press it to the afflicted tooth or
gum. Keep it in place, re-moistening it from time
to time, until the aching stops...” [from The
GreenWitch]
In
Welsh folklore, if the marigold flower did not open
before seven, it was considered a prediction that
there would be thunder that day, and in Devon and
Wiltshire they believed that to pick marigolds meant
thunder followed soon.
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