Monday, October 02, 2006

Calendula treats local skin problems

Calendula (or pot marigold) is an annual with beautiful, edible yellow or orange flowers. Although dried flowers can be used to make herb teas, more often people toss Calendula flowers into salads.
The real forte of Calendula is for treating local skin problems. It may be used safely wherever there is an inflammation on the skin, whether due to infection or physical damage. It soothes chapped lips, scratched hands and any other irritated skin. It will also be of benefit in slow-healing wounds and skin ulcers. It is ideal for first aid treatmentof minor burns and scalds. The German Commission E (considered the world authority on herbal remedies) has approved calendula for healing cuts and burns.
Calendula has been long used throughout Europe for wound healing and ulcer treatments. Part of its healing power appears to be based on the presence of terpenes. A triterpene glycosidecalled calendulozide B exerts a marked anti-ulcerous and sedative action.
People can make Calendula into herbal cream easily. Calendula cream was more effective than steroid cream in reducing "skin toxicity", a dry, itchy, painful skin inflammation in breast cancer patients, reported the Journal of Clinical Oncology in 2004.

4 comments:

... said...

Greetings from Estonia!

Ingrid

PRan said...

Very informative blog. Keep up the good work...

Myra Langerhas said...

This is good for pimples?

Anonymous said...

New moms(and dads)will appreciate knowing that calendula cream is perhaps the most effective way of fighting diaper rash. In the commercial space, there is an excelent calendula cream by Weleda, and though expensive compared to the rest of the nappy creams out there, it's been worth every penny...