Learning Herbs: Calendula Herb Challenge – Week 2

Welcome back to week 2 of the June Herb Challenge.

This week we’re gonna learn a bit more about the herb calendula and get started on another herb project. This weeks challenge will take a bit of time to make, but don’t worry, most of the time involved won’t include you. I’ll explain more below, but you will need this project in the last weeks project so don’t skip it!

Okay, so let’s move on to this weeks info on calendula.

Calendula

Last week I talked about how calendula is a great herb for the skin, and we focused on extracting its benefits with oil. This week I wanna talk a bit more about using calendula on the skin, but I also want to introduce taking calendula internally as well as how to extract it’s properties using a different menstrum than oil.

Herbal Actions

Like I said last week, calendula has antiseptic, anti-inflammatory and astringent actions on the body and these actions are great for skin issues, but did you know this amazing herb does even more?

Two other actions calendula has is that it helps to relieve muscle spasms and it prevents hemorrhaging. These particular actions are beneficial when calendula is taken internally rather than externally. For example, if a person is struggling with Crohn’s disease or a bad case of diarrhea and is having severe intestinal cramping, calendula is a great herb to try out to see if it will help. Another example is someone who has gastric ulcers that are inflamed. Many times, ulcers can bleed, and boy can they bleed a lot! Not only can calendula slow down that bleeding, but it can help with the pain as well.

Now you may be wondering how this works as I said that calendula’s actions on the body are more localized than systemic. Well, this is still true in the examples above. Taking calendula internally doesn’t automatically put it on a systemic level. It’s still acting locally… on the bleeding ulcers or on the smooth muscle of the intestines. An herb that acts systemically is one that affects multiple body systems, not just one.

Okay, so at this point, let’s take things one more step forward with this herb, but first, let me ask you a question. Have you ever used an herb before that someone promised you would work for a particular issue, but when you tried it, it didn’t work? That can be really discouraging, especially if you’re really wanting to go with a more natural option for health and healing. Well, if that’s ever happened to you, let me tell you why the herb you used may not have worked.

Herbal Energetics And Tissue Constitutions

Herbs are not a one-size-fits-all approach. There’s not always one herbal answer for every problem you may experience. In fact, there are usually several. So how do you know which herb is right for your issue? You have to do a bit of research and learn about “herbal energetics” and “tissue constitutions”. Let me explain.

“Herbal energetics” are the subtle shifts in temperature and moisture that an herb induces in the body of an individual, and “tissue constitution” refers to the state of imbalance a person’s body is currently in. (Definitions from The Herbal Acadamy of New England)

When it comes to the examples I mentioned above… you know, the ulcers and the Crohn’s disease, these are tissue constitutions that are excited (ulcers) and constricted (diarrhea). They tend to be hot and very moist which means you need herbs that are the opposite of those conditions… cool and dry, in order to bring balance back to the body. That’s what herbalism is after all… an effort to bring the body back into balance through the actions of various plants.

Now in order to balance these two conditions, we need to look into the energetics of the herbs we’re considering using. Calendula just so happens to be a dry, cooling herb so it would be great for either of these conditions. But, if calendula happened to be a hot or moist herb, it wouldn’t be good for these conditions and most likely wouldn’t work. In fact, it may make things worse.

All of this is just to say… there’s more to herbs than matching an herb with a problem. Sometimes that works, but it can be very hit and miss. Understanding more of the chemistry behind the herb is really helpful if you wanna get things right the first time around.

Okay, so that’s enough info for this week. Let’s move on to our project.

Week 2 Project – Calendula Tincture

Tinctures are probably one of my favorite ways to use herbs. Not only are they concentrated which makes them strong and powerful, but they don’t take large amounts to be effective which is a plus.

Another reason I like tinctures so much is that they tend to work quicker than other preparations… as quickly as two weeks where other herbal preparations can take a month or more to start bringing about balance in the body. Again, this isn’t one-size-fits-all. It depends on the herb your using and what you’re using it for. I’m speaking in general terms here, and I’m speaking about alcohol tinctures, not glycerin tinctures.

Speaking of alcohol, using alcohol with herbs is one of the best ways to extract certain constituents from the plants. Alcohol does a really good job of getting inside the plant material and drawing the good stuff out. Some of the constituents alcohol is known to extract from plant material are alkaloids, glycosides, flavinoids, saponins, tannins, and resins. When it comes to calendula, alcohol will extract the carotenoids, glycosides, flavinoids, saponins, and resins.

This calendula tincture can be used in a variety of ways. Below I’ve listed several different options you have so you can make the most of this weeks project.

• additive in soaps
• additive in salves, creams, and lotions
• in homemade mouthwash
• in a wound wash
• in a sore throat spray or gargle

Alright, let’s move on to our project.

Making a Calendula Tincture

Fill a glass mason jar 1/2 full of dried calendula blossoms, pressed, not packed into the bottom of the jar.

Pour alcohol over calendula, filling jar. Stop when alcohol is 1 inch from the very top of the jar.

Cut a square of parchment paper. Place this between the jar and the lid and band. This prevents the alcohol from coming in contact with the lid which can lead to lid erosion and chemicals in your tincture.

Label your jar with the following and place it in a cool, dark place for 2 weeks. Shake it 1-2 times daily.

Calendula Tincture in Brandy

Start: (date – today’s date)

End: (date – 2 weeks from today’s date)

 

After two weeks, strain tincture through a fine sieve lined with fabric making sure to squeeze as much of the alcohol from the calendula blossoms. Pour strained tincture into your 4 oz. dropper bottle. Label as follows and store.

Calendula Tincture in Brandy

End date (date you strained tincture)

 

Testing Your Tincture for Potency

Marilene Richardson of SongCroft Farm suggests testing your calendula tincture for quality by applying one drop of tincture to the surface of a hand-held mirror and waiting until the alcohol dries off. Once dry, there should remain a raised droplet of sticky, golden resin.

Bonus Calendula Recipe

The recipe below can be used with the calendula tincture from today’s project, and is adapted from one of Rosemary Gladstar’s personal recipes and makes 2 – 4 oz. bottles. This is my go-to recipe for throat infections like strep throat. Enjoy, experiment, and have fun!

Rosemary Gladstar’s Triple Strength Throat Spray

• 1 cup boiling water
• 1 tablespoon echinacea root
• 1 tablespoon sage leaf
• calendula tincture (see below for amount)
• 3-5 drops eucalyptus essential oil

Add echinacea root and sage to boiling water, cover, and let steep for 30-45 minutes. Once cooled, pour into 4 oz. glass spray bottles until the bottle is ¾ full. Add your calendula tincture to fill up the remaining 1/4 of the bottle. Then, add essential oil to each bottle.

Week 2 Mini-Quiz

Okay, so below are questions to answer to see what you remember from the above info. Just like last week, try to answer them without looking back, but if you need to,go for it.

1. Name one of the two new herbal actions of calendula that was mentioned this week?
2. What is one condition/illness/problem that the action you chose would be helpful with?
3. What are the energetics of calendula?
4. What is the goal of herbalism?
5. How long do you need to consistently take a tincture for before expecting to see results?
6. Name one plant constituent that alcohol extracts?

Okay… all done! Great job!

Next Week

This was a big week, full of heavy information and a more intense project, so awesome job sticking with it and completing it all. Next week we’ll tackle some more calendula information and we’ll try out a whole new project… all with this wonderful herb!

If you’re just coming across this herb challenge and you’d like to participate, CLICK HERE to learn more about the challenge itself, to access the materials list for the challenge projects, and to access each week of the herb challenge.

Okay! So in the comment section below, tell me one thing you learned about calendula this week. Also share one way you’re planning on using this tincture in your family, and as always, if you have any questions about this weeks lesson, leave them below. I’ll respond to them ASAP!

References: 

http://www.herbmentor.com

http://www.herbworld.com/learningherbs/calendula.pdf

https://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/m/marigo16.html

The Green Pharmacy Herbal Handbook by James A. Duke, Ph.D.

The How To Herb Book by Velma Keith and Monteen Gordon

Practical Herbalism by Philip Fritchey, MH, ND, CNHP

Herbal Recipes for Vibrant Health by Rosemary Gladstar