Calendula Officinalis: Nature's Golden Healer
From ancient Roman ceremonies to modern wound care - the remarkable journey of pot marigold.
When you glimpse the vibrant orange-gold petals of Calendula officinalis dancing in a garden breeze, you're witnessing one of nature's most enduring healers. Known as pot marigold, this humble flower has been trusted for over 800 years to mend wounded skin, soothe inflammation, and restore what was broken.
Yet behind its cheerful appearance lies a sophisticated botanical pharmacy - one that modern science is only beginning to fully understand.
A Golden Thread Through History
Calendula ranks among the oldest cultivated flowers, first described in the third century B.C. Ancient Romans and Greeks used calendula flowers in many rituals and ceremonies, sometimes wearing crowns or garlands made from the flowers. The nickname marigold given to calendula derives from "Mary's Gold", referring to the use of the flowers in early Christian events.
But calendula's true calling emerged in medieval times. The plant has been in cultivation and used for medicinal purposes since the 12th century, when herbalists discovered what ancient healers had long suspected - this golden flower possessed remarkable healing powers.
Gerard's Herbal considered the flower warming "almost in the second [of the four degrees established by Galen], especially when it is drie", and recommended it for amenorrhea, toothache, and notably, "to strengthen and comfort the hart, and to withstand poison, as also to be good against pestilent agues".
The plant's very name reveals its enduring nature. Calendula's name derives from the Latin calendae, referring to its long blooming season—in certain locales, it is said to bloom nearly every month of the calendar year. The Latin specific epithet officinalis refers to the plant's medicinal and herbal uses.
Beyond the Apothecary: Calendula in Daily Life
Medieval cooks knew calendula's secrets too. The most common use in historic times was culinary, and the plant was used for both its color and its flavor. They were used for dumplings, wine, oatmeal and puddings. In English cuisine Calendula were often cooked in the same pot with spinach, or used to flavor stewed birds.
According to sixteenth-century Englishman John Gerard, every proper soup of Dutch cuisine in his era would include Calendula petals. Also known as "poor man's saffron," the petals are edible and can be used fresh in salads or dried and used to color cheese or as a substitute for saffron.
But perhaps most intriguingly, In historic times Calendula was more often used for magical purposes than medicinal ones. One 16th-century potion containing Calendula claimed to reveal fairies. An unmarried woman with two suitors would take a blend of powdered Calendula, marjoram, wormwood and thyme simmered in honey and white wine used as an ointment in a ritual to reveal her true match.
The Science Behind the Magic
Modern research has vindicated centuries of traditional use, revealing calendula as a sophisticated therapeutic agent. The flower contains flavonoids, triterpenoids, glycosides, saponins, carotenoids, volatile oil, amino acids, steroids, sterols, and quinines. These chemical constituents confer multifaceted biological effects such as anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, antihelminthic, antidiabetes, wound healing, hepatoprotective, and antioxidant activities.
The Wound Healing Champion
The most compelling modern research focuses on calendula's wound-healing properties. A comprehensive systematic review of 14 studies found that calendula extract showed faster resolution of the inflammation phase with increased production of granulation tissue in test groups. These findings were consistent in five animal studies and one randomized clinical trial.
Calendula may facilitate wound healing by increasing both wound angiogenesis and collagen, nucleoprotein, and glycoprotein metabolism, leading to improvements in both local circulation and granulation tissue formation.
In practical terms, this means calendula doesn't just mask symptoms - it actively supports your skin's natural repair mechanisms.
Clinical Evidence That Matters
Recent clinical trials have provided compelling evidence for calendula's therapeutic effects:
Surgical Wound Healing: In a randomized controlled trial, calendula-containing ointment was studied on 72 qualified primiparous females for cesarean wound healing. According to the findings, applying calendula ointment to the wound after a cesarean significantly boosted the rate of wound healing.
Venous Ulcers: Two clinical control studies on venous ulcers demonstrated decreased ulcer surface area compared to controls.
Anti-inflammatory Action: Studies showed that calendula cream (20% or 30% w/w), when applied topically, led to a significant decrease in TNF-α and suppression of COX-2 - key inflammatory markers.
European Medicine Agency Approval
The scientific evidence has been so compelling that the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has approved calendula's lipophilic and aqueous alcoholic extracts as traditional medicinal products for the treatment of minor inflammation of the skin and as an aid in the healing of minor wounds.
This official recognition places calendula alongside established pharmaceutical treatments, acknowledging its proven therapeutic value.
The Molecular Mechanisms
Recent research has begun to unravel exactly how calendula works at the cellular level:
Cellular Proliferation: Calendula contributes to maintaining calmed, hydrated skin by encouraging the development of collagen, a necessary protein for radiant skin.
Anti-inflammatory Pathways: Calendula extract nanoemulsion has an anti-inflammatory impact on skin cells, with all three concentrations tested (3, 5, and 7%) showing beneficial effects on healing and soothing wounds when applied to albino rats.
Enhanced Blood Flow: Preparations made from the flowers accomplish healing by enhancing the amount of blood and oxygen delivered to the wound site, which encourages the body to produce new tissue.
Modern Applications and Future Potential
Today's herbalists and dermatologists use calendula for an extensive range of conditions, backed by growing scientific evidence:
Proven Applications: Wounds, burns, and rashes; eczema, acne, insect bites, scrapes, bruises, chickenpox, cold sores; cervical dysplasia, diaper rash, cracked nipples from breastfeeding, and postpartum perineal tears⁷.
Advanced Delivery Systems: Calendula-based drug delivery systems are known for their enhanced efficiency and minimal side effects, signalling a promising area for future research. These extracts can be utilized in drug delivery systems as natural biomaterials, offering benefits for various health conditions⁸.
Multifaceted Therapeutics: Beyond wound healing, calendula demonstrates anti-ulcer, anti-HIV, immune-stimulant properties. Internally, it is used for mucous membrane inflammations, peptic and duodenal ulcers, spasms of the GI tract, duodenal and intestinal mucosa, dysmenorrhea (painful menstruation) especially in nervous or anemic women, splenic and hepatic inflammations⁹.
Safety Profile: Some concern exists as to whether use of calendula can lead to sensitization and potential for developing contact dermatitis; however, this risk appears to be insignificant, and in fact, the herb has been found to be highly effective for the prevention of acute dermatitis of grade 2 or higher in patients undergoing postoperative irradiation for breast cancer. Known sensitivity to the Composita family can theoretically pose this risk; however, adverse effects from topical use have not been widely observed despite its widespread use⁵.
The Calendula Renaissance
We're witnessing a renaissance in calendula research. This plant possesses a variety of bioactive compounds, including steroids, terpenoids, triterpenoids, phenolic acids, flavonoids, carotenoids, and essential oils. These compounds confer significant anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anticancer properties to Calendula, making it a promising candidate for treating various skin conditions⁸.
The National Garden Bureau has named 2025 the Year of the Calendula - recognition that this ancient healer deserves renewed attention in our modern world¹⁰.
Looking Forward
As we face growing concerns about antibiotic resistance and the side effects of synthetic pharmaceuticals, calendula offers a time-tested alternative backed by rigorous science. A combination of traditional and modern knowledge could result in new wound-healing drugs with a significant reduction in unwanted side effects⁶.
The golden petals that once adorned Roman ceremonies and revealed fairy magic to medieval maidens continue their healing work today - now supported by peer-reviewed research and official medical recognition. In our pursuit of wellness, sometimes the most sophisticated solutions have been growing in our gardens all along.
Calendula officinalis stands as a testament to the wisdom of traditional medicine and the power of modern science to validate ancient knowledge. As we continue to unlock its secrets, this humble flower reminds us that nature's pharmacy often provides exactly what we need - we just need to know where to look.
References
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Shahane K, et al. (2023). An updated review on the multifaceted therapeutic potential of calendula officinalis L. PMC. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10142266/
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Givol O, et al. (2019). A systematic review of Calendula officinalis extract for wound healing. Wound Repair and Regeneration, 27(5), 548-561. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31145533/
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Shafeie N, et al. (2015). Comparison of Different Concentrations of Calendula Officinalis Gel on Cutaneous Wound Healing. Biomedical and Pharmacology Journal, 8(2). https://biomedpharmajournal.org/vol8no2/comparison-of-different-concentrations-of-calendula-officinalis-gel-on-cutaneous-wound-healing/
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Calendula in modern medicine: Advancements in wound healing and drug delivery applications. (2024). ScienceDirect. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772417424000712
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