INCI Name

Description

What is it?

Dried whole flowers and petals are used. Same as Marigold flowers.  Calendula is one of the best known and versatile healing herbs and is rich in herbal history, widely used by herbalists throughout the centuries. Calendula is believed to have originated in or near the Mediterranean and is now naturalised all over the world. The herb is also known as common Marigold or ‘pot Marigold’ because the dried flowers were traditionally used in soups and stews to help ward off illness.

Action/Benefits

• The Calendula Tincture is specially made for its preservative effects as it is made with 96% Organic Rye alcohol.
• Disinfects wounds.
• Effective in treating cellulite.
• Leaves can be used externally as astringent and an antiseptic.
• Helps to treat arthritis and gout.
• An astringent effect on weeping eczemas and other skin problems.
• Contains betulin, which curbs or kill viruses, such as the papilloma virus, which causes warts.
• Strengthens skin tissue.
• Tones the scalp.
• Prevents hair loss.
• Makes hair soft and shiny.

Which products to use it in

• Used for its healing and tissue regenerating properties for all skin types and conditions, including sensitive skin and for babies.
• Calendula is good to use in all cases where cell regeneration is required such as in cases of sunburn, sores, where skin has been removed and also where the skin is red and irritated. Also works well as a regular wash for spots, acne and boils.
• Use either a strong Infusion or the Tincture combined with Arnica Tincture for sprains, bruises, burns, frostbite and cold sores.
• For excellent Healing Balms, add calendula tincture with Calendula CO2 Extract to your Balm recipe. Due to its carotene content, Calendula Balm is excellent for healing chapped skin on hands and feet. The carotene is a powerful antioxidant and so works well to fight the free radicals, the cause of the chapped skin.
• A simple Calendula Balm Compress can be made by applying a generous amount of Balm onto the affected hand or foot, cover it with a cotton gloves or cotton socks, then a plastic glove or bag, and finally with another cotton glove or cotton sock. Leave on overnight, repeat a few nights in a row and you will see an improvement in less than a week.
• A strong Infusion is helpful for use in Wound Compresses and you can dilute the Tincture in water for an especially effective Wound Wash. 
• Caution: If you are going to use a Calendula Compress to help treat eczema, never leave it on the affected area for more than 1 hour as some people may have an allergic reaction to it if left on for a longer period of time.
• For an Antiseptic Mouth Wash, use a strong Infusion or up to 10% Calendula Tincture diluted in water or other ingredients.
• For an effective Wound Wash, dilute 3-6% of the Tincture in water.

Water or oil-soluble?

Water soluble.

Can I add it to ready-made products?

You can add it to all ready made products, like creams, lotions and shampoos but beware that all of them become thinner when you add an alcohol based product to a product based on emulsifiers, detergents and gels.

Recommended Dosage/How to use in products

• As a preservative substitute use up to 20%.
• Deodorant sprays you can use up to 80% as a blend of tinctures.
• In toners and face spritzers for oily skin use up to 30% as a possible blend of tinctures.
• Toners for other skin types use up to 20% as a possible blend of tinctures.

For an in depth article on how to use Herbs in your products please refer to the Skin Care Library at the bottom of this page.

Storage and Shelf Life

Store in a cool dark place and the Tincture will keep for up to 6 years.

Tips/Extra Information

1. Calendula Tips: In Skin Care products it is a good idea to use the Botanical CO2 Extract and the Tincture or Infusion or so as to gain the benefits of both the fat-soluble (Essential Oil, carotene and resin) and the water-soluble (viscous and saponins) constituents of the plant. The combined action of these constituents produces better results.
2. Genuine Essential Oil of Marigold is not available and what is mistakenly sold as Oil of Marigold is in fact made from Tagetes (African Marigold).

Recipe

30% Calendula Tincture
30% Comfrey Tincture
30% St John’s Wort Tincture
10% Arnica Tincture

This blend of Tincture can be used for all kinds of healing purposes. Add to creams, lotions, gels and ointments.

Related/Synergistic Products

Adding to a ready-made cream base

Add 3-5% Tincture, or 1-3% CO2 Extract

Healing balms

add 5-10% Calendula Tincture together with 2-3% Calendula CO2 Extract to your Balm recipe. Use also 10-20% Calendula Oil.

Treating sprains and bruises

Combine it together with Arnica Tincture.

For scar tissue

Combine it together with comfrey products, comfrey tincture or macerated comfrey oil.

Adding to creams,lotions gels etc

Combine the calendula tincture, calendula CO2 extract, calendula macerated oil and calendula flowers (as infused in the water).

 

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