Calendula, marigold, is a genus of about 15–20 species of annual and perennial herbaceous plants in the daisy family Asteraceae. They are native to southwestern Asia, Western Europe, Macaronesia and the Mediterranean. Other plants are also known as marigolds, such as com marigold, desert marigold, Marsh marigold and plants of the genus Targets.
The name calendula is a modern Latin diminutive of calendae, meaning "little calendar", "little clock" or possibly "little weather-glass". The common name "marigold" refers to the Virgin Mary.
Calendula has long been available in an 'infused oil', where the flowers are soaked for some time in a carrier such as Olive oil to extract their magnificent healing properties. Now, an essential oil has been made available through the important Supercritical Carbon Dioxide distillation process, imparting all the healing properties of Calendula in a highly concentrated pure essential oil. This makes it finally possible to easily add the healing properties of Calendula oil to any blend or recipe.
Calendula essential oil (also know and Marigold) is distilled from the deep orange colored flowers we're all familiar with as an annual plant in many home gardens. The plant has a long history of use in wound care and skin care recipes. And its use has a significant body of data available through extensive scientific research over the last decade.
Calendula oil also shows very potent anti-oxidant effects, along with protective effects to organ systems. Possible mechanism of action of the flower extract may be due to its antioxidant activity and reduction of oxygen radicals." With this activity, the essential oil is not only an excellent choice for wound healing (and dermatitis of all types) but in daily-care recipes as well. One of the 'foundations' of skin aging is that free-radicals speed visible aging of our skin, and these highly-regarded antioxidants may have a significant effect at slowing this process.
Few herbs have a more sunny and cheerful disposition than the humble Marigold. Their orange yellow flowers look like little herbal suns. No wonder one of the vernacular names for Marigold is ''Maidens of the Sun''. Nor is it surprise that Culpeper gives the astrological ruler ship to the Sun in Leo. Just looking at them confers an infectious ''joie de vireo'', which Culpeper praises as their ability to ''gladden the heart''. Marigold is quite a miracle herb, but since it is such a common garden flower it receives scant attention as a medicinal herb. Marigold is a well loved garden plant, though some people resent its tendency to spread and consider it invasive. However, as a garden plant, Marigold protects other herbs and plants against fungal infections and insect attacks. It also provides cheer throughout the year-at least in mild climates, where it flowers almost all the year round until the frost kills it. But as soon as spring arrives it revives and its sunny flowers are unstoppable once again, except on rainy days when they stay closed. This is why the Romans called this herb ''Calendula''- in their mild climate it spread its cheer for the entire duration of the calendar year.
Benefit & Use: One of Marigold'' vernacular names is ''Death Flower'' and in older herbals one reads that they are often planted on graves. This is probably due to their seemingly immortal life force, which symbolizes the undying spirit and will give cheer to the departing souls. This immortal quality is also invoked in many a love charm intended to make love last forever so it shall never wilt. Emotionally, Marigold can be used to lift the spirit and ''gladden the heart'' to let the sunshine in and dispel gloom and doom.
Calendula species have been used traditionally as culinary and medicinal herbs. The petals are edible and can be used fresh in salads or dried and used to color cheese or as a replacement for saffron. A yellow dye has been extracted from the flowers.