botanical name(s): Calendula officinalis
synonyms: marigold, pot marigold garden marigold, holigold, marigold, Mary bud, goldbloom, ringelbiume, souci des champs, fleurs de tous les mois, mejorana, claveton, flaminquillo, fior d'ogni
part(s) used: flowerhead petals, stalk
qualities: bitter, sweet, salty, pungent, neutral, dry
affinities:
actions: anti-inflammatory, antihemorrhagic, diaphoretic, emmenagogue, stimulant, styptic, vulnerary
dosage:
» tincture: 2 - 4 ml.
» external liniment: 1 part tincture to 4 parts water
specific indications:
» external: for wounds and injuries to prevent suppuration and promote rapid healing
» internal: to aid local action, and in chronic suppuration, capillary engorgement, varicose veins, old ulcers, splenic and hepatic congestion (Felter and Lloyd, p. 403)
therapy:
» external: stimulates vasomotor contraction; prevents formation of pus; reduces the probability of gangrene; promotes prompt healing of wounds, abscess cavities, burns and scalds; acne; ulcerative skin diseases; vaginitis, cervicitis, endometritis, vaginal abrasions, erosion of the os uteri; non-specific urethritis; gonorrhea; leukorrhea; lacerated perineum; uterine subinvolution; ecchymoses; varicosities. As a rule, in most of these disorders, its internal use has been advised at the time of using it locally (Felter, p. 263); crural ulcer; varicose veins; hemorrhoids; anal eczema; proctitis; lymphadenoma; inflamed cutaneous lesions (British Herbal Pharmacopoeia, p. 45)
» internal: gastric and duodenal ulcer; amenorrhea; dysmenorrhea; epistaxis
AHPA Botanical Safety Rating: 1
toxicity: 1
» use with caution during pregnancy (Farnsworth) due to emmenagogue and abortifacient effects (Brinker, p. 115)
» contraindications: do not apply to wounds with infections; not to be used near the eyes or for wounds of the eye, especially puncture wounds
constituents: triterpenes, pentacyclic alcohols, the calendulosides, flavonoids, volatile oil and chlorogenic acid
drug interactions:
»sedative effect (Boyadzhiev) increases hexobarbital sleeping time due to saponoside components (Lee et al)
footnotes
Boyadzhiev T. 1964. Sedative and hypotensive effect of preparations from the plant Calendula officinalis. Nauchni Tr. Vissh. Med. Inst. Sofia, 43:15-20. (CA. 63:1114a)
Brinker, F.J. 1986. The Toxicology of Common Botanical Substances, 2nd ed. Portland, OR: National College of Naturopathic Medicine.
British Herbal Medical Association. 1983. British Herbal Pharmacopoeia. West Yorks, England: The British Herbal Medical Association.
Farnsworth NR, Bingel AS, Cordell GA, Crane FA, Fong HHS. 1975. Potential Value of Plants as Sources of New Antifertility Agents I. J. Pharm. Sci., 64:535-98.
Felter, H. W., and Lloyd, J. U. 1983. King's American Dispensatory, Vols. I and II. Portland, OR: Eclectic Medical Publications.