A popular garden plant, Marigold has been valued for many centuries for its' exceptional healing powers and is particularly remarkable in the treatment of wounds. When used for medicinal purposes, it is commonly referred to as 'Calendula'. In this book, therefore, the terms Marigold and Calendula are used interchangeably.
In appearance, Marigold looks like a large yellow or orange coloured daisy, each floret being about ½" (1.25cm) long. A hardy annual, the plant produces its' bright flowers throughout the summer and the flower heads may grow up to 3" (7cm) in diameter. Marigolds' simple fruits are closely curled in the middle of the flower head, almost in the form of a ring. Hence in Germany, its' common name is ringelblume, meaning ringed flower.
The plant grows to a height of approximately 20-28" (50-70cm). The stem is erect and branched, bearing alternate, light green, lance-shaped leaves and both stem and leaves are covered with fine hair. Marigold is described by some as without a marked scent, but others find its' odour rather heavy, while its' taste is bitter.
Calendula officinalis, the botanical name, originates from the Latin word calends (which comes from calare, to call).
The Roman writer Varro said that the term calends derived from the priest's practise of calling the citizens together on the first day of the month to inform them of the time of the various sacred days and festivals. Eventually the posting of the calendar in public places replaced this custom, and calends came to refer to the whole month, rather than just the first day. Marigold may have acquired its' botanical name, Calendula, from its' reputation for blooming on the first day of every month. The word officinalis indicates that the plant is useful in medicine.
What to Buy
To ensure the best healing results, always purchase Marigold that has been organically grown. Alternatively, you can grow your own Marigold successfully from seed. It is also possible to buy dried flower petals from an accredited herbalist. Calendula preparations are easily obtained from many pharmacies and drug stores, whether homeopathic or naturopathic treatments are sold and from some stores that sell herbs or health foods.
Marigold is self-seeding and once planted, it largely takes care of itself. It thrives in a sunny position and will grow in any good soil, though it prefers one that is rich and moist.
Where to Find Marigold
Calendula officinalis is the main medicinal species used by herbalists but at last 100 wild species of Marigold can be found in Morocco, Portugal, Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, India, Algeria, Mexico, Africa, Australasia, Asia Minor and Palestine. It has been grown in Britain since Roman times and cultivated in temperate regions of the United States since the 18th century.
Commercial Growers
Marigold is grown for commercial purposes mainly in Egypt where the climate allows two or three crops to be produced each year. It is also grown commercially in South America, Hungary, France, Spain, Germany and to a small extent, in Britain. Commercial growers are both organic and chemically assisted types of husbandry.
Requirements for Growth
Marigold grows readily all over the garden and should be sown in March of April directly where it is to flower. The seeds germinate quickly and the seedlings should be thinned out as they emerge, preferable to about a hands width apart. If you start them off indoors, however, the little seedlings can easily be transplanted to their new flowering positions when they appear in the spring. Once planted, Marigold grows sturdily and requires little care, although cutting off the deadheads of the plant immediately will then encourage growth of further flowers, often until the first frosts in the autumn.
A further sowing can be made in late August. This results in plants that will over winter to flower early in the following year.
Marigold has a long history of medicinal use, stretching back to the Roman's and the ancient Greeks, who drank Marigold tea to relieve nervous tension and sleeplessness. It has also been used in cooking, dying cloth and skin care and was a well-known symbol of good luck.
A puzzle from John Gay's The Shepherd's Week runs thus:
'This riddle, cuddy, if thou cans't, explain'.
What flower in that which bears the Virgin's name.
The richest joined with them the same'
The answer is quite straightforward. The Virgin is Jesus's mother, Mary. Combined with gold, the most precious of metals, the answer is Marigold. It is thought that the plant's name may have a much earlier derivation, being a corruption of the Anglo-Saxon name given to the Marsh Marigold, merso-meargealla, a different plant to the medicinal Pot Marigold. The Marsh Marigold is poisonous unless cooked. Subsequently, Old English writers referred to the Marigold as Golds or Ruddes, and the plant also acquired a series of common, or folk names, including Garden Marigold, Gold-bloom, Mary Gowles and Jackanapes-on-horsebacke ('jackanapes' meaning a cheeky child). In 17th century England 'marygold' was a slang term for the gold coin known as a sovereign and during the reign of Queen Mary (1689-94), for the sovereign herself.
Ancient Uses and Folklore
Originally a native plant of ancient Egypt, and first introduced into Britain by the Romans, Marigold is one of the earliest cultivated flowers. It was also known to the ancient Greeks, who used it's petals for decoration, to colour foods and cosmetics and as a material dye, in addition to it's medicinal uses. An infusion of the herb was drunk to alleviate the symptoms of nervous tension and to prevent sleepless nights. Marigold has been cultivated in European gardens since about the 12th century. By the 14th century, the plant had become endowed with almost magical powers. A medieval author called Macer, who described Marigold in his Herbal, thought that merely to look at it would improve eyesight and draw out evil 'humours' from the head:
'Gold [Marigold] is bitter in savour, Fayr and zelw [yellow] is his flowr Ye golde flour is good to sene, It makyth ye syth bryth and clene, Wyscely to lokyn on his flowers, Drawyth owt of ye heed wikked, Hirors [humours].'
Marigold features widely in the literature of the 16th and 17th centuries. Its' blooming was one of the well-observed characteristics. In 1578, for example, A Niewe Herball by Dodoens, translated into English by Henry Lyte, stated that Marigolds' flowers, 'Do close at the setting downe of the sunne and do spread and open againe at the sunne rising.' The poet Francis Quarles wrote of the 'sun-observing Marigold,' while in The Winter's Tale, William Shakespeare also describes the actions of the Marigold flower, which 'goes to bed wi' the sun, and with him rises weeping.'
The plant is often called Pot Marigold, a name that does not refer to the containers in which it may be grown, but to its' traditional use in the cooking pot. So Fuller wrote in his Antheologie of 1655 that, 'We all know the many and sovereign virtues in your leaves, the Herbe Generalle in all pottage [soups].' The herbalists of this time clearly recognised Marigold for its' use in medicine. Stevens in 1699, for example, wrote that Marigold helped 'headache, jaundice, red eyes, toothache and ague.' The herb was also used to treat skin problems.
Only Marigold's flower heads are used medicinally. The bright petals contain powerful natural chemicals that give the herb its' amazing healing properties, so always ensure that you use the most vibrant orange flowers available.
Marigold is well known as a wound-healing, antiseptic and stimulating remedy, but in fact modern herbalists rely upon this plant for a wide range of uses. Mindy Green in her book Calendula, has compiled an impressive list of some of Marigold's other potential actions, including alterative, analgesic, anthelmintic, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, aperient, astringent, bactericide, carminative, cholagogue, depurative, diuretic, emmenagogue, febrifuge, stomachic, styptic and tonic.
Flower Heads
The vivid orange to yellowish flower heads of the Marigold are similar in structure to daisies, and grow up to 3' (7cm) across. The brighter the colour of the flower, the greater the amount of active constituents its' petals contain.
Chemical Constituents
When their chemical composition is examined, Marigold petals are found to contain carotenes (pigments resent in their orange colouring), flavonoids, resin, saponin, sterols, triterpenes, bitter glycosides and volatile oils.
Some of the substances, in combination with the high resin content, provide Marigold with its' powerful anti-inflammatory action. It is a good remedy for inflamed skin and for a range of microbial and parasitic infections. The plant has an estrogenic action, which is probably due to its' sterol and saponin content, which is why it makes a useful regulator of hormones in the female body.
Shelf Life of Flowers
Dried flowers last 6-12 months; fresh flower heads should be used immediately to ensure maximum potency.
Marigold's astringent action is reportedly due to its' high resin component, and possibly to other water-soluble constituents. Marigold is known to reduce blood seeping from capillaries and, in particular, one of its' chemicals has been found to promote the clotting of blood. Its' added ability to help wounds heal over makes Marigold a premier choice for cuts and grazes.
Shelf Life of Seeds
Seeds last 1-2 years, but with suitable storage facilities the seeds will usually keep for much longer.
Marigolds' wide-ranging and powerful properties make it a very useful plant. It is also a particularly safe remedy, which makes it suitable even for babies, young children, invalids and for the elderly. It has been used by sages, herbalists and healers throughout the centuries. One such healer was the 12th century mystic Abbess Hildegarde of Bingen.
How Marigold can help
Ideal of healing cuts, scrapes, lacerations, surgical wounds and scars, small infected wounds, animal bites and scratches.
Useful for skin conditions such as acne, shingles, chickenpox, dermatitis, eczema sores, impetigo spots and other systemic fungal, bacterial and viral conditions.
An effective aid to healing minor first degree burns, such as sunburn.
Helps to soothe bee, wasp and insect stings.
An aid to healing cold sores.
An antiseptic remedy for mouth and throat infections.
Soothes toothache.
Has a wide number of uses in childbirth, including the healing of episiotomies. Relieves sore nipples in nursing mothers.
Ideal for complaints such as candida, leucorrhea and trichomoniasis.
A safe remedy for babies' complaints, such as diaper rash or an inflamed navel or penis.
Antiseptic action helps speed children's recovery from mumps and measles.
A useful remedy for bruises.
An excellent treatment for varicose veins and ulcers.
How Marigold Affects the Body
Marigold can help many of the bodys' systems, because it works to clear and heal the toxins that are the cause of many conditions and diseases.
Applied externally to the skin, Marigold is primarily a wound-healer, but it also has an anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial effect.
Taken internally, it affects the body in a number of ways:
Marigold improves the circulation.
Its' estrogenic effect balances the female reproductive system. For example, it may be used in cases of painful or scanty menstruation.
It helps counteract bacterial, fungal and viral inflammatory conditions of the digestive system, including peptic ulcers, gastritis and candida.
Within the urinary system, Marigold has a safely diuretic and detoxifying action.
Marigold is a potent purifier of the body and gives invaluable support to the lymphatic and immune systems.
By colour, action and flavour, Marigold is a prime liver and gallbladder herb. It can help to treat a number of conditions and diseases arising in these organs and in other digestive organs, for example the stomach itself. It will clear, cool and detoxify the digestive system.
Main Effects
Although Calendula has a wide number of effects, some of them are useful for therapeutic purposes, including:
Reduces swelling and irritation, soothing the area treated.
Antimicrobial
Calendula stimulates cells that protect the body from infection. This process is known as 'phagocytosis.'
Summary
Like many medicinal herbs, Marigold has a broad range of effects. The general public knows Marigold mainly for its' wound-healing properties, but herbalists use it in a much more wide-ranging manner. Marigold benefits most of the body's systems and has an important role to play in the treatment of a large number of conditions. This herb makes a very safe remedy and further investigation may reveal further ways for this wonderful healing flower to be utilised. In the meantime, the general public may use it more readily for its' many existing benefits.
Marigold and Aids
Laboratory experiments have shown that a solvent extract of Marigold flowers can inhibit the replication of human immunodeficiency virus type I (HIV-I). This positive outcome seems to be due to Calendula's effect upon a viral enzyme called RT (reverse transcriptase), which is the target of some existing HIV drug treatments, such as AZT. The results of these studies, which appeared in Biomed Pharmacother suggest that Calendula officinalis may be of some therapeutic use in the treatment of AIDS and should be explored further.
Proven Results
Despite its' long historical usage, medical studies of Marigold's effectiveness have been extremely limited. Some scientific studies, however, have been carried out and a number of interesting new findings have emerged:
One study in Eastern Europe suggests that in cases of Duodenitis and Duodenal ulcers, Calendula may alleviate pain.
Applying Marigold to surgical wounds stimulated the production of epithelium (cells that cover the body and line hollow structures within it).
In recent laboratory experiments, low concentrations of organic extract of Calendula protected approximately 90% of cells from death attributable to HIV.
As with other medications, in pregnancy it is best to confirm with your herbalist that it is safe to use Calendula. This is of particular importance here because Marigold can stimulate uterine contractions. It may also increase pressure within the eye in people with glaucoma.
Furthermore it has been suggested that it could alter the structure of cell membranes in the body, which may lead to hemolysis (destruction of red blood cells) and subsequent harmful effects.
Possible Side Effects
There have been no reports of serious reactions to the use of Marigold in Western medical literature. However, from the Russian Federation there has been one report of anaphylactic shock in the case of some gargling with Calendula. Anaphylaxis is a condition where the body has an abnormal reaction to a particular substance, which causes a compound called histamine to be released from the body's tissues.
This release of histamine causes symptoms of an allergic reaction, such as the sneezing and streaming eyes experienced by many hay fever sufferers.
Anaphylactic shock, however, is a much more serious reaction, which can cause swelling, circulatory collapse and even heart failure. In the case of a massive shock reaction to any substance, call an ambulance, or immediately take the person to the nearest hospital emergency department.
There is always a very small risk of an allergic reaction when taking a herbal medication, but it does not happen often. It is much more likely to occur in people who have already shown an allergy to other herbs such as Chamomile, Feverfew or Dandelion pollen.
Local reaction to Calendula is also rare and is usually limited to a dermatitis rash in the specific area that has been treated.
Marigold is one of the safest herbs and has many uses for babies, children and the elderly. Care has to be taken with women who are pregnant, however, because it is believed to stimulate labour.
Pregnancy
During pregnancy, do not take the herb internally because it may stimulate the uterine muscles and help bring on labour. It is safe, however, to use Marigold externally in pregnancy. The herb comes into its own after childbirth. It is a well-known treatment for promoting the healing of episotomy wounds and tears in the perineum, either on its' own or with other recognised herbal remedies. For example, Arnica can be used to help treat bruising and may be alternated with Marigold. Use Marigold ointment on any birthing scars, including a Caesarian section scar.
If nipples are sore or cracked, Marigold ointment offers safe relief. It can also be used as a preventative; try gently rubbing ointment into the nipple to ward off soreness.
Sometimes a high temperature develops after childbirth. A dilute tincture of Marigold in combination with a strong infusion three times a day will help to reduce these feverish and flu like symptoms. Mastitis can also appear after birth or during breastfeeding. Treat the same way as above to reduce local inflammation. You should consult a doctor if you have mastitis.
Case Study: Varicose Veins
Daisy is a pensioner who has suffered from varicose veins and ulcers for longer than she can remember. The problem was made worse because Daisy thought that she had tried every remedy possible. Eventually she acquiesced to her nurse's suggestion to try Calendula. Ointment was applied to her varicose veins twice a day for about three weeks.
Although her condition has not yet cleared entirely, the improvement is marked and she feels much happier in herself.
Babies and Children
From among the vast array of herbs available, Marigold stands out as one that is mild and safe to use for babies and toddlers. However, consult a doctor for any persistent condition in a child under 12 years.
Marigold ointment is one of the best treatments for diaper rash. Also Marigold powder is a valuable replacement for conventional baby talc. However, the skin of a baby also needs fresh air, so a little time without a diaper, perhaps lying on a cotton towel with a rubber sheet beneath, is of great benefit. Fresh air and Marigold ointment together will provide a wonderful solution.
Elderly People
Pressure sores or bed sores (decubitus ulcers) often afflict the elderly, or those confined to bed. Applying Marigold ointment and/or powder regularly to the area will help treat or prevent them.
Marigold is composed of a host of beneficial substances that act upon the bodys' systems in a wide ranging manner. The experience of centuries and more recent scientific research gives us some fascinating information.
Studies conducted mainly in Eastern Europe have analysed the chemical composition of Marigold. Mindy Green in her book Calendula states that its' constituents include acids, carotenes, carotenoid pigments, cholesterol, esters, flavonoids, glycosides, gum, lactones, mucilage, resin, saponins, sesquiterpenes, tocopherols, triterpenoids (faradiol) and volatile oil.
In addition, fatty acids, protein and sterols are found in Marigold seed and salicyclic acid in the fresh plant.
Some of the effects of these ingredients are well known:
Flavonoids work as antioxidants, neutralising harmful substances in the body. They have an antibacterial action, because they improve the efficiency of macrophages, scavenger cells that remove bacteria from the blood.
Salicylic acid, which in its' chemical form is used in aspirin, is known to destroy bacteria and fungi. It also relieves pain.
Volatile oil is known to stimulate circulation of the blood and cause sweating.
Triterpene glycosides, terpene derivatives and polysaccharides are believed to give Marigold its' anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties.
Main Effects
The principal actions of Marigold can be traced to the qualities of its' individual chemical components. In summary, the main effects of Marigold are:
Wound healing.
Anti-inflammatory.
Anti-bacterial.
Despite its' long tradition of wound healing, however, the precise nature of how Marigold heals has yet to be scientifically demonstrated.
Research Results
Although some work has been conducted into the therapeutic effects of Marigold, principally in Europe, it is clear that much further investigation needs to take place. There has been some interesting research that shows promise in anti-HIV therapy and this may stimulate further study into Calendula. Considering the centuries of beneficial results from using this plant, however, there has been surprisingly little scientific enquiry into Marigold and, indeed, many other healing plants. There will be great opportunities in the future to discover more, if science is prepared to embrace the healing potential demonstrated by a wide range of healing herbs over countless years.
