Calendula is a plant that is especially valued in traditional medicine due to its healing properties. Even in ancient times, on its basis, made healing potions that were used to treat various diseases. With the help of a plant, it is possible to cure inflammatory pathologies of internal organs and malignant tumors. In official medicine, medicinal marigolds are used to make tinctures and decoctions.
What is Calendula officinalis
Calendula is an annual herbaceous plant, which can reach a height of 20-50 cm. The plant has an upright stem, and the flowers are collected in large baskets. The flowers are colored orange-red or yellow, and the fruits have the shape of seeds.
Many grow a plant in garden plots as an ornamental crop and for medicinal purposes. Based on it, prepare tinctures, oils and ointments, which can be bought at the pharmacy. Calendula blooms from June to October, and its bright flowers adorn the garden plot. In addition, they serve as a good honey plant.
The benefits of calendula for the body
The plant is used for the treatment of various diseases, because it has the following properties:
- anti-inflammatory;
- antimicrobial;
- choleretic;
- sudorific;
- wound healing;
- immunomodulatory.
Calendula stimulates the secretion of gastric juice, cleanses the body from the accumulation of toxic substances in it. In addition, with plant-based products, it is possible to slow the growth of malignant cells and destroy altered tissues.
Medicinal nails are used to treat pathologies:
- respiratory organs;
- skin;
- digestive organs;
- the liver;
- heart and vascular system;
- female reproductive system;
- oncology.
Calendula-based products are used to treat diseases such as thrush in children. In addition, with their help it is possible to alleviate the condition of the child with various injuries of the skin, diaper rash.
Medicinal properties of calendula
Preparations of marigold have a pronounced antiseptic and anti-inflammatory effect. With their help, it is possible to cure sore throat, stomatitis and other diseases of the oral cavity. In addition, Calendula has a calming effect on the body, so the products based on it are used to reduce nervous excitability, fight insomnia and anxiety.
The plant is very useful in the treatment of cuts, burns and other types of damage. In such situations, calendula ointment is used, which helps speed up the regeneration process. In addition, the healing properties of plants are widely used in the treatment of peptic ulcer.
Infusion of marigold helps to alleviate the patient's condition with diarrhea and other disorders of the digestive system. To achieve this effect is possible due to tannins, which have a pronounced astringent effect. Calendula contributes to the secretion of bile and lower blood pressure. In addition, infusions and decoctions based on it have a diuretic effect and are effective in the treatment of inflammation of the bladder.
Collection and preparation of medicinal raw materials
For the preparation of medicines mainly use flowers and much less grass. The plant blooms profusely, and the flowers open every 3-5 days, so you must completely remove them from the bushes. This method helps further profuse flowering and avoids the appearance of seeds.
Dry the collected flowers should be in the shade under a canopy, spreading them in a thin layer. In addition, they need to constantly stir up. Store the harvested raw materials should be in paper bags or cardboard boxes for 1 year. It should be remembered that after 4 months the content of carotenoids in calendula decreases several times.
Recipes of traditional medicine
In alternative medicine, calendula is used to prepare decoctions, tinctures, ointments and extracts, with the help of which one can cope with various pathologies.
The plant helps to alleviate the condition in such diseases as sore throat. It is necessary to add a teaspoon of alcohol tincture in 200 ml of warm water and use the solution for gargling several times a day.
At home, you can take alcohol tincture of calendula 35-40 drops per day with a small amount of water, which will help restore normal blood pressure indicators. In addition, it is recommended to brew 2 tablespoons of grass with a glass of water, insist, strain and pour a glass of boiled water. This drug is recommended to drink 10-20 ml several times during the day in case of pathologies of the heart and vascular system, which are accompanied by edema and shortness of breath.
Calendula decoction
To prepare the calendula decoction, pour 2 tablespoons of flowers into an enamel bowl and pour them with a liter of water. Put the resulting mass on the fire, boil and simmer for 15 minutes. After the means is poured into a thermos, leave for 50 minutes and filtered.
Calendula decoction is recommended for the treatment of acne and acne, inflammatory lesions of the respiratory and oral cavity.
In addition, this tool is effective for various failures in the digestive system, hypertension and cardiac disorders. With the help of calendula decoction, it is possible to alleviate the patient's condition in case of biliary tract pathologies.
DIY Calendula Ointment
To prepare the ointment, you need to grind 50 grams of calendula into powder and combine them with 200 grams of melted lard. Put the mixture in the water bath, stir it constantly and simmer until the mass has a uniform consistency. The prepared means to store in a cold place and use as intended.
Calendula ointment is considered an effective treatment for wounds that do not heal for a long time. In addition, it improves blood circulation in the skin, makes it supple and protects against chemical attack. The tool helps to accelerate the healing of tissues with burns, cracks and abrasions.
Alcohol tincture
With the help of tincture can cope with headaches, improve performance and get rid of insomnia. With hypertension, it is recommended to take the drug in courses for 3 weeks, but it is possible for a longer time. In addition, calendula tincture helps in the treatment of gastrointestinal pathologies, rickets, ulcers, arrhythmias and cancer.
To make calendula tincture you need:
- 10 grams of calendula pour 100 ml of 70% alcohol and infuse for 2 weeks.
- Filter the prepared tool and take several times a day for 20-30 drops.
With the help of tincture can cope with inflammatory processes and purulent skin lesions. It helps speed up tissue regeneration and wound healing. This tincture can be used for lotions or lubricate it with acne, scratches and cuts.
Calendula Flower Oil
Calendula oil is used to treat wounds, burns and frostbite, as well as a cosmetic. To prepare the oil you need:
- Pour fresh calendula flowers in a glass jar to 1/3 of the volume and fill the container to the brim with olive or sunflower oil.
- The resulting mixture is infused for 1-2 weeks in a dark place, shaking occasionally.
Cooked oil can be taken orally for nervous disorders, pathologies of the digestive tract and liver. The dosage is 1 tablespoon several times a day before meals.
Pharmaceutical preparations with calendula
Marigold flowers are used to prepare infusions intended for external and internal use in the treatment of various pathologies. Pharmaceutical alcohol tincture helps accelerate the healing of wounds and cracks, as it activates tissue regeneration. In addition, this tool can be diluted in water and use the solution for gargling and ingestion for choleretic effect.
Canephron is available in the form of tablets, which are indicated for the treatment of gastritis, gastric ulcers and inflammatory processes occurring in the gallbladder and biliary tract. In addition, this tool stimulates the regenerative processes in the body.
Calendula homeopathic ointment contains vaseline and plant tincture. The drug is widely used in the fight against diaper rash, cracks in the heels and skin, because it has a pronounced anti-inflammatory effect.
Ointment "Dr. Tayss Calendula" contains extract of flowers, corn oil cobs and lard. The drug has a bactericidal, antimicrobial and wound-healing effect. With the help of ointment, it is possible to destroy pathogenic microorganisms, arrest the inflammatory process and restore tissue after burns.
Contraindications and side effects
There are some contraindications to the use of calendula, and this is due to the presence in it of potent substances. It is not recommended to use plant-based products for women during pregnancy, especially its juice, since there is a high probability of developing severe toxicosis and vomiting.
Calendula patients who suffer from hypotension are banned. The fact is that calendula products cause a decrease in blood pressure.
Calendula preparations are not recommended to be combined with other medicines that have a calming effect. The plant ointment contains a large amount of active substances that can cause allergic rashes on the skin. It is for this reason that if a person has hypersensitivity to the plants of the Compositae family, it is necessary to abandon the use of calendula means for treating dermatitis.
