Marigold: Uses, herbal medicine, Synonyms, Effects, and Side Effects

The marigold is native to Central, Southern and Eastern Europe; the drug material comes from wild collections in North Africa (Egypt) and Eastern Europe (e.g. Poland and Hungary). Other cultures can be found in the Mediterranean countries and, to a lesser extent, in Germany. The plant is also a famous garden and cut flower.

Calendula flowers in herbal medicine

The marigold (Calendula flos) flower heads collected at the time of flowering or the essential oil are used as drugs. Sometimes the drug is differentiated between Calendulae flos sine calyce (only ray florets) and Calendulae flos cum calyce (flower heads).

 

Characteristics of the marigold

Marigold is an aromatic 1-2-year-old plant with soft, lanceolate, glandular leaves. The plant forms 4-7 cm large flower heads equipped with numerous bright yellow or orange rays and tubular flowers.

Marigold as medicine

Part of the drug is, in particular, the dried whole or broken flower heads with a diameter of 4-7 cm with many ray florets and few tubular florets as well as freed from the sepals single flowers (Calendula flos sine calyce).

The drug is easily recognizable due to the characteristic female ray florets, which are shiny yellow-red and have tridentate tips. The tubular flowers are rarer and much smaller. The fruits of the marigold are curved in the shape of a punt with a prickly back and should not be included in the drug.

 

How does a marigold smell and taste?

Marigold gives off a faint, unidentifiable odour. The taste of marigold flowers is slightly salty and bitter.

Marigold – application

The tinctures, infusions, and ointments prepared from marigold blossoms are used internally and locally for inflammatory changes in the mouth and throat mucous membranes.

External use of marigolds

Externally, preparations made from calendula flowers can be applied to:

• poorly healing wounds
• Burns
• dry skin
• Juckflechte (Eczema)
• Thrush (infectious disease of the skin and mucous membranes caused by fungi of the genus Candida) and
• certain ulcers

 

Internal use for digestion

The effectiveness of the drug as an anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic agent for the internal treatment of inflammation of the stomach lining (gastritis), the gallbladder (cholecystitis), the bile ducts (cholangitis) or spasms of the digestive tract is cited in many sources, but has not been scientifically proven.

Folklore uses of marigold

The flowers of marigolds were already used in ancient times to treat tumors, as a diaphoretic and as a means of increasing the “menstrual flow”. used. Today preparations made from marigolds are used as

• diuretic (diuretic)
• diaphoretic (diaphoretic)
• Remedy against worms (anthelmintic)
• menstrual stimulant (emmenagogue) and
• as a means of treating liver disease

used. However, there is no scientific justification for these areas of application.

 

Homeopathic use of Calendula

The homeopathic use largely corresponds to the official areas of application. Accordingly, marigold flowers are used in homeopathy to treat poorly healing wounds, skin suppurations, bruises, tears and defects, burns and frostbite of the skin.

Ingredients of marigold

The main active components in marigold flowers are up to 0.9% Flavonoids (in ray flowers the proportion is 0.88% compared to the tubular flowers are considerably higher at 0.25%) and various saponins. Essential oil, mainly from sesquiterpenes, is found in tubular flowers with a proportion of around 0.64% and in ray flowers with 0.02%.

Other components include triterpenes, coumarins, carotenoids, polysaccharides, bitter substances and phenolic acids.

Marigold: indication

Medical uses of marigold include:

• Inflammation of the oral mucosa, inflammation of the throat mucosa
• Wounds
• Burns
• dry skin
• Eczema
• Soor
• Ulcers
• Inflammation of the gastric mucosa, gastritis
• Gallbladder inflammation
• Cholecystitis
• Bile duct inflammation
• Cholangitis
• cramps

Calendula – dosage

Infusions, tinctures, gels, powders, baths and ointments are prepared from the flowers of the marigold for external and, more rarely, internal use. There is also a standard approval that is used by various manufacturers to prepare marigold tea. Marigold flowers are often included in tea blends as an ornamental drug.

Marigold: what dose?

The average daily dose varies depending on which dosage form you are referring to. The simple drug’s daily dose is around 1-2 g of marigold flowers in 150 ml of water.

When using the tincture, 2-4 ml of the tincture can be mixed with 250-500 ml of water, and when using the ointment, 2-5 g of the drug is added to 100 g of ointment.

 

Marigold – Prepared as a tea

To make tea, pour boiling water over 1-3 g of the drug (1 teaspoon equals about 0.8 g), let it steep for 5-10 minutes and then strain it through a tea strainer.

Marigold flowers should be kept dry and protected from light.

Contraindications

Allergy sufferers should not use preparations made from marigold flowers.

Marigold – Synonyms

German plant name: Marigold

German synonyms of the plant: Garden marigold, gold flower, gold rose, marigold, solstice flower, dead flower, rain flower, feminine, St. Mary’s rose, marigold rose, wake-up crumbs

Latin plant name: Calendula officinalis L.

Latin synonyms of the plant: Caltha officinalis

German drug name: Marigold flowers

German synonyms of the drug: Gold flower petals, gold rose petals

Latin drug name: Calendula flower

Latin synonyms of the drug: Calendula flower without calyx, Calendula flowers without calyx, Calendula flowers, Female

English name: Marigold, Common Marigold, Pot Marigold, Garden Marigold, Marybud, Goldbloom

Plant family Latin: Asteraceae

Plant family German: Korbblütler

 

Marigold – effect

Flavonoids, saponins and triterpenes have anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antiviral and antifungal properties, i.e. those directed against fungal infections. Due to these effects, they are probably responsible for the wound-healing effect of marigold flowers.

The essential oil of the marigold blossoms also has an antibacterial effect. Marigold flower extracts are also known to contribute to forming fresh connective tissue and small blood vessels on wounds (granulation tissue) and have immunostimulating properties.

Marigold: side effects

Allergic reactions and skin inflammation (contact dermatitis) are occasionally described, particularly in the case of preparations in which the enveloping calyx has been processed.

There are currently no known interactions with other agents.