Overview:
Another name for Calendula is 'English Marigold.' Calendula has a long history of use and has been considered as a 'wound healer.' Calendula has been used not only by homeopathic physicians but also by Western medicine and many surgeons. I have personally seen many surgeons using Calendula for dressing superficial to deep wounds like a diabetic ulcer, accidental injuries, stab wounds, etc.
What Are the Key Ingredients of Calendula?
This medicine contains,
-
Active Ingredient:
-
Triterpene saponins.
-
Triterpene alcohols.
-
Flavonoids like quercetin and isorhamnetin.
-
Inactive Ingredients:
-
White petrolatum.
-
Paraffin.
-
Lanolin.
What Is a Calendula Used For?
Calendula is used for:
-
Open wounds.
-
At the site of the suture, after surgery.
-
Diabetic ulcers or any skin ulcers.
-
Hemorrhoids.
-
Deep cut or stab wounds.
-
Fever.
-
Insect bites and stings.
-
Peptic ulcers.
-
A perineal tear during vaginal delivery.
-
Inflammation (oral).
-
Conjunctivitis.
-
Wound after tooth extraction.
-
Leg ulcers.
-
Bleeding from a head or scalp after an injury.
-
Antispasmodic for cancers.
-
Menstrual cramps (dysmenorrhea).
These are a few indications for Calendula. It can be used in many such open wound cases. It is also effective for burn healing and is worth keeping Calendula handy not only by a physician but everybody as well.
How Does Calendula Act as a Healing Agent?
-
Calendula has an antiseptic and anti-inflammatory action. It mainly acts on the mucous membranes.
-
The antibacterial action of Calendula helps to prevent bacterial growth and thus promotes wound healing.
-
It also has a soothing effect. Hence, it immensely helps in relieving the sore, inflamed wounds and produces a cooling effect at the site of injury.
-
Calendula also has antioxidant effects, which demonstrate the free radical scavenging activity against the radicals, and thus facilitate wound healing.
-
Calendula also fastens the wound granulation and secondary development of the skin. Hence, many patients using Calendula feel less discomfort while dressing deep wounds.
What Is the Dosage and Administration of Calendula?
When you have a Calendula plant, you can benefit from the plant by drying the petals. Dried petals are obtained by plucking from a flower and putting in a paper towel away from the sun. These petals can be used to make tea and oils. To prepare a tea, boil 1 cup of water and add some dried flowers (5 to 10 ml of the herb) to the hot water. The mixture should be allowed to steep for 10 minutes, and any type of flavoring agents such as cinnamon, honey, and vanilla could be added. This mixture can be gargled as a mouthwash for oral sores because of its antispasmodic effects.
The topical products consist of 2 to 5 grams of the herb per 100 grams of the product and have been used for topical wound healing.
Preparations and Doses:
The available forms of Calendula are,
Available Forms |
Available Dosages |
Tea |
1 cup orally three times a day or 1 to 2 grams of dried flowers per 150 ml of water, respectively. |
Liquid Extract |
0.5 to 1 ml orally three times a day or 1:1 in 40% alcohol, respectively. |
Tincture |
0.3 to 1.2 ml orally three times a day or 1:5 in 90% alcohol, respectively. |
Ointment |
Apply topically as needed. |
How to Use a Calendula?
The uses of Calendula are as follows:
-
Calendula is available in the form of a cream, liquid, and mother tincture. It can be used internally and externally both.
-
Calendula cream or ointment can be directly applied to the wound with a sterile dressing.
-
Liquid or mother tincture cannot be directly applied. You need to add 5 to 10 drops of Calendula tincture in two teaspoons of water. Soak the dressing or gauze pad in the solution for a few seconds, and then apply it to the wound and cover it with a sterile dressing.
-
Calendula is also very effective in cases of burns. Calendula mother tincture or ointment proves very effective in healing the burnt area.
What Are the Drug Warnings and Precautions?
-
Inform your doctor or pharmacist if you have been allergic to calendula. This drug contains inactive ingredients, which may cause allergic reactions or any other problems. So, it is always better to speak to the doctor or pharmacist to know more information.
-
Avoid increasing the dose by yourself or taking this medication more often than directed by the pharmacist or doctor because the dosage depends on age, response to the treatment, and medical condition.
-
Calendula causes dizziness and slowed breathing. Sedative drugs, when taken unknowingly with Calendula, can make one more dizzy. In addition, do not drive, use machinery, or do anything that needs alertness and limit alcoholic beverages while taking Calendula medication.
What Are the Side Effects of Calendula?
There are not many side effects when it is taken by mouth; however, some of the adverse effects of calendula are:
-
Avoid using calendula when you are allergic to,
-
Ragweed.
-
Daisies.
-
Marigold.
-
Plants in the Asteraceae or Compositae family.
-
-
During pregnancy, calendula should not be used as it may affect the hormone levels and result in menstruation and harm an unborn baby. So, discuss the risks and benefits of this medicine before usage with your doctor.
-
Do not breastfeed while taking this medication because it can pass through the breast milk.
-
Before undergoing any surgery, discuss the calendula use with the doctor and always inform your doctor about all the prescription, nonprescription and herbal products you use to avoid future complications.
What Are the Drug Interactions of Calendula?
-
Drug interactions increase the risk of serious side effects and cause the medicines not to work properly. So, it is better to inform your doctor about all the prescription, nonprescription, and herbal drugs you are taking.
-
Do not stop or change the dosage of the drug by yourself; always ask your doctor's approval before changing the dosage of the drug.
-
Calendula causes sleepiness and drowsiness, and medications that make us sleepy are called sedatives. When Calendula is taken with other sedative medicines, it may cause too much sleepiness. The sedative drugs that may interact with Calendula are:
-
Lorazepam (Ativan).
-
Clonazepam (Klonopin).
-
Zolpidem (Ambien).
-
Phenobarbital (Donnatal).
-
Always keep a list of all the products you are taking and share it with the doctor or pharmacist to reduce the risk of serious drug interactions.
What Are the Common Brand or Trade Names of Calendula?
The common brand names of Calendula are:
-
Marybud.
-
Bride of the sun.
-
Garden marigold.
-
Calendula officinalis.
-
Gold blooms.
-
Holligold.
-
Golden Flower of Mary.
-
Pot marigold.
-
Marigold.