Despite the fact that the use of calendula is popular in absolutely all areas of life, a special demand for this flower is observed precisely in traditional medicine. Absolutely everyone can take advantage of the unique healing qualities of this plant. It is necessary to take into account the benefits and harms of calendula for the human body. It is about this in detail in the article.
The healing properties of calendula leaves and flowers
In the people, calendula officinalis is commonly called marigold. This culture is a beautiful plant with strong and juicy stems, long leaves, as well as attractive flowers that look like chamomile. Unlike many other medicinal plants, marigolds have a bright appearance. Marigold has orange and juicy yellow inflorescences, which are not only able to attract attention, but also to cheer up the owners.
Even our ancestors believed that if you just look at the flowering culture, you can forget about sorrows, as well as improve your eyesight.
So, what will be the benefits and harms of calendula? First of all, it is necessary to pay attention to the fact that the inflorescences of the plant actually have the aforementioned ability, since they contain carotene, from which vitamin A is synthesized in the human body. To achieve a therapeutic effect, it will not be enough just to admire the beauty of calendula flowering. In parallel with this, it is necessary to take funds that are made on the basis of marigold inflorescences. The orange color of this culture has the ability to stimulate the nervous system; in color therapy, flowers are used to eliminate depression, as well as nervous fatigue.
If you decide to use this plant for medicinal purposes, then you need to familiarize yourself with the benefits and harms of calendula. However, you should pay attention to the fact that the medicinal properties of the plant are not limited to this. Almost all varieties of marigolds in their composition have valuable elements that help fight a variety of diseases. Let's talk in more detail about this.
Pharmacological properties
So, we continue to consider the benefits and harms of calendula. The most pronounced healing power of marigolds lies precisely in the flowers of this culture. The baskets contain a large number of the following substances and elements that are useful for the human body:
- Carotenoids. This substance is an organic natural pigment that neutralizes the action of free radicals in the body. Very valuable representatives of this class are provitamins A - precursors of vitamin A.
- Flavonoids. Organic plant compounds capable of providing a healing, antispasmodic, diuretic and choleretic effect on the human body.
- Triterpenoids. These acids containing organic compounds provide an anti-inflammatory effect, improve the conductivity of nerve impulses, and also lower blood cholesterol.
- Sterols Organic substances that are derivatives of steroids neutralize the action of cholesterol, and also reduce its amount in the blood.
- Essential oils inhibit the activity of various pathogenic microorganisms.
- Salicylic acid has a pronounced antiseptic, antirheumatic, analgesic, as well as anti-inflammatory effect.
- Coumarins. The pharmacological activity of these substances is antispasmodic, anticoagulant and antitumor action.
Other valuable trace elements
What else can be said about the benefits and harms of calendula for the body? Considering this issue, it is mandatory to mention that the inflorescences of this plant are rich in the following trace elements:
- Magnesium and potassium, which support the work of the heart.
- Calcium and iron, which the body needs for normal blood formation.
- Zinc, which strengthens the immune system.
- Copper, which stops inflammatory processes.
- Molybdenum, which prevents the demineralization of tooth enamel.
- Selenium, which prevents the formation of atypical cells in the body.
The leaves and stems of this plant contain phytoncides, so this plant is used as an antibacterial agent. Also leaves and stems contain tannins. Marigold seeds are used to make fatty oils.
Value for beautiful people
Now consider the benefits of calendula for women. The harm and contraindications of this plant will be described a little below. The unique set of healing opportunities that this culture has has made it simply an indispensable ingredient in procedures for healing the entire body of the fair sex. This medicinal plant is very effective in the fight against gynecological problems.
Speaking about the benefits and harms of calendula for women, it should be noted that on the basis of this plant, therapeutic agents are prepared for the treatment of cysts and ovarian tumors, erosion of cervical fibroids, as well as tumor processes and lumps in the chest. In addition, the use of drugs made on the basis of marigolds will help reduce uterine tone, normalize the frequency of menstruation, and improve overall well-being of the fair sex during menopause.
Value for the stronger sex
But what about the benefits and harms of calendula for men? For representatives of the stronger sex, this plant is an indispensable medicine for erectile dysfunction, prostate adenoma, as well as for problems with potency. In this case, it is recommended to use tincture of marigolds, which is made on the basis of alcohol. This drug is effective in the fight against pathogenic infections, facilitates urination, and also relieves inflammation.
What ailments are used for?
The benefits and harms of calendula for human health should be known to all people who decide to use this tool. Wound healing, bactericidal, sedative, anti-inflammatory, analgesic properties of the plant have found use in the treatment of a large number of different ailments. Treatment with calendula is indicated for existing pathological processes that threaten human health. These include:
- Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, as well as the hepatobiliary system: ulcer, gastritis, colitis, hepatitis, duodenitis, constipation, jaundice, enteritis, cholecystitis, hemorrhoids.
- Damage to the skin: dermatomycosis, furuncle, acne, wounds, warts, gangrene, bruises, necrosis.
- Diseases of the cardiovascular and nervous system: dizziness, nervous irritability, hypertension, arrhythmia, heart failure, tachycardia.
- Diseases of the ENT organs, which are caused by the activity of streptococci and staphylococci: tonsillitis, tonsillitis, pharyngitis.
- Dental diseases: stomatitis, periodontitis, periodontal disease, gingivitis, bleeding gums.
- Infections and inflammation of the kidneys, as well as organs of the genitourinary system: cystitis, nephritis, thrush, trichomoniasis.
- Respiratory tract damage: bronchitis, asthma.
In addition, this plant helps to relieve symptoms, improves the well-being of a person with allergies, flu, arthritis, rickets, enlarged spleen, rheumatism, malaria, cancer, toxicosis, especially with early.
Traditional medicine recipes
Before using this or that prescription of traditional medicine, it is necessary to familiarize yourself with the benefits and harms of calendula for the human body. To prepare this or that remedy, all terrestrial parts of the plant in the form of decoctions, tinctures, oils, ointments, teas, juices, infusions can be used. Based on this ingredient, you can make a compress, douching, rinsing, as well as healing drinks, bath formulations. However, before this it is necessary to prepare the raw materials.
Collection rules
Under natural conditions, the plant blooms with the advent of the warm season, and flowering lasts until late autumn. That is why you can collect inflorescences several times a season. In addition, after each such collection of baskets, the plant blooms even more intensely, and the number of inflorescences only increases.
Collect baskets with a flower stalk. The buds during the first 2 days after blooming have the highest pharmacological value. When you collect the plant material, it should be dried and dried in a ventilated area, while protecting from direct sunlight.
Dry calendula flowers are able to maintain their healing properties for several years, but if storage conditions are met: in a dark place, in a glass bowl.
Decoction or infusion
So, in more detail we will familiarize ourselves with the benefits and harms of calendula infusion. We will investigate contraindications later, and now we will consider a recipe for preparing a decoction. Calendula should be filled with boiling water. To do this, 1-2 cups of boiling water is taken per tablespoon of raw material. After this, the ingredients should be wrapped in a towel or placed in a thermos until the composition has completely cooled. As they are insisted, the medicinal substances of the flowers are transferred to water, endowing it with healing power. When the broth is infused, it should be filtered with gauze.
What will be the benefits and harms? Calendula broth can be used orally for gastritis, diseases of the biliary tract and liver, menstrual pain, anxiety and insomnia, as well as for high blood pressure. Judging by the reviews, it helps, and side effects occur extremely rarely.
With diseases of the cardiovascular system, the same amount of brewed valerian, lemon balm, rose hip or hawthorn can be added to the decoction. The healing effects increase a few drops of cranberry juice added.
A decoction of calendula with influenza must be diluted with several chopped cloves of garlic. During coughing, it is recommended to use half a glass of broth in a warm form. This is done several times a day.
For oral administration, two tablespoons of the mood are used three times a day. However, with inflammatory diseases of the urinary tract, the use of this dose should be performed every 20 minutes. The infusion, which is prepared from 2 glasses of water, is less saturated, it is ideal for rinsing the mouth and throat, performing an enema, as well as soaking swabs to eliminate gynecological problems.
This is the benefit of a decoction of calendula inside. Harm and contraindications should also be considered. About them later.
Ointment
The ointment, which is made on the basis of marigold extraction, is a powerful anti-inflammatory bactericidal agent that can quickly heal wounds on the body, eliminate irritations, rashes, and destroy various pathogenic microorganisms that provoke damage to the skin.
To prepare the ointment, you need to take 100 g of dried marigold inflorescences, a chopper, and then mix with 2000 g of pork ghee. The finished mixture is heated in a water bath until smooth. After this, the mixture must be cooled and put in a glass container. This ointment is stored in the cold. An agent is used externally for the treatment of problem areas on the skin.
Tea and juice. Value recipes
Now consider the benefits and harms of calendula tea, as well as juice made from this ingredient. To prepare the juice, it is necessary to grind the freshly picked inflorescences with a meat grinder or blender, and then squeeze through cheesecloth or press. For long-term storage, the juice must be sterilized in a water bath for 1 hour.
For internal use, take 1-2 tablespoons of juice, which is mixed with milk or honey. A similar remedy is used 2 times a day. In case of external use, the juice from calendula must be diluted with boiled water in a ratio of 1: 2 - for rinsing. And also 1: 3 - for enemas and douching.
And what will be the benefits of calendula tea? Harm and contraindications for this tool are practically absent. It is very effective as a general strengthening agent. How to make tea? To do this, you need to connect the nails with the same amount of linden flowers, chamomile, or mint. For one tablespoon of such a mixture, one glass of boiling water is taken. Brew chamomile and calendula, the harm and benefits of which should be taken into account when drinking the drink, it is necessary for 20 minutes in a warm room.
Alcohol tincture
If you want to prepare a tincture based on marigolds, then for this you will need plant materials. As well as alcohol. Consider possible contraindications and harm. The use of calendula tincture is that it can be used for fungal infections, skin lesions, pathologies of the oral cavity and throat, for hair loss, as well as in the fight against dandruff. However, note that in its pure form, the product is not recommended. Dilute the composition with water in the amount of 1 teaspoon of tincture in 1 glass of water.
So, how to prepare this tool? Calendula inflorescences are best used fresh. They are filled with alcohol. For this, 1 part of the raw material is taken, as well as 5 parts of alcohol, the strength of which should be 70%. The mixture must be placed in a cold room, maintained for two days. After this, the tincture is filtered and stored in a dark and cool room, since heat and light will destroy the biologically active elements of the plant.
Possible harm. Contraindications
So, we examined the benefits of calendula flowers. Harm and contraindications should also be known to you if you are going to use this plant for medicinal purposes. So that the use of drugs with a plant does not cause undesirable reactions, the specificity of the effects of its components should be taken into account.
Calendula treatment is contraindicated in the presence of an allergic reaction, in the treatment of heart ailments using glycosides, which increase the activity of the heart muscle. It is also not recommended to use such drugs under reduced pressure, and also if you have a tendency to hypotension. Gallstone disease, the period of pregnancy are also a contraindication to the use of calendula.
In addition, the internal intake of preparations based on marigolds is contraindicated in children whose age is less than 12 years. Given the small number of contraindications, calendula is considered one of the most effective and affordable plants. In addition, growing marigolds will not require effort, so you can successfully plant them at home. In pharmacies, the cost of such a tool is quite affordable.
As for information about an overdose, what pathological conditions provoked by a large number of calendula were not found.