Despite the fact that the use of calendula is popular in absolutely all spheres of life, the special demand for this flower is observed in folk 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.
Healing properties of calendula leaves and flowers
People call calendula officinalis marigolds. 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. The calendula has orange and juicy yellow flower petals, which are not only able to attract attention, but also cheer up the owners.
Even our ancestors believed that if you just look at a flowering culture, thenyou 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 above-mentioned 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, it should be noted 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 more 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. Baskets contain a large number of the following substances and elements that are beneficial to the human body:
- Carotenoids. This substance is an organic natural pigment that neutralizesaction of free radicals in the body. Very valuable representatives of this class are provitamins A - the precursors of vitamin A.
- Flavonoids. Organic plant compounds that can have a healing, antispasmodic, diuretic and choleretic effect on the human body.
- Triterpenoids. These acids, containing organic compounds, provide an anti-inflammatory effect, improve the conduction of nerve impulses, and also reduce blood cholesterol.
- Sterols. Organic substances, which are derivatives of steroids, neutralize the effect 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, and 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 imperative to mention that the inflorescences of this plant are rich in the following trace elements:
- Magnesium and potassium to support the heart.
- Calcium and iron, which the body needs for normal blood formation.
- Zinc, which strengthens the immune system.
- Copper, which stops inflammation.
- Molybdenum, which prevents the demineralization of tooth enamel.
- Selenium, which prevents the formation of abnormal cells in the body.
The leaves and stems of this plant contain phytoncides, due to which this plant is used as an antibacterial agent. The leaves and stems also 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 below. The unique set of healing possibilities 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, medicinal products are prepared for the treatment of ovarian cysts and tumors, erosion of cervical fibroids, as well as tumor processes and seals in the chest. In addition, the use of medicines made on the basis of marigolds will help reduce the tone of the uterus, normalize the frequency of menstruation, and also improve the general well-being of the fair sex during menopause.
Value for the stronger sex
And what can be said about the benefits and harms of calendula for a man? For the representatives of the stronger sex, this plant is an indispensable medicine forerectile dysfunction, prostate adenoma, as well as problems with potency. In this case, it is recommended to use marigold tincture, which is made on the basis of alcohol. This drug is effective in the fight against pathogenic infections, facilitates urination, and also relieves inflammation.
For what ailments is it used?
All people who decide to use this remedy should know about the benefits and harms of calendula for human he alth. The wound healing, bactericidal, soothing, 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 he alth. These should include:
- Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, as well as the hepatobiliary system: ulcer, gastritis, colitis, hepatitis, duodenitis, constipation, jaundice, enteritis, cholecystitis, hemorrhoids.
- Skin lesions: ringworm, 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 the organs of the genitourinary system: cystitis, nephritis, thrush, trichomoniasis.
- Respiratory tract infections: bronchitis, asthma.
In addition, this plant helps relieve symptoms, improves a person's well-being with allergies, influenza, arthritis, rickets, enlarged spleen, rheumatism, malaria, cancer, toxicosis, especially with early.
Recipes of traditional medicine
Before using this or that traditional medicine recipe, you need to familiarize yourself with the benefits and harms of calendula for the human body. For the preparation of this or that remedy, all ground parts of the plant can be used in the form of decoctions, tinctures, oils, ointments, teas, juices, infusions. Based on this ingredient, you can make a compress, douching, rinsing, as well as healing drinks, bath compositions. However, before this, it is necessary to prepare 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 per season. In addition, after each such collection of baskets, the plant blooms even more intensively, and the number of inflorescences only increases.
It is necessary to collect baskets together with a peduncle. Buds have the greatest pharmacological value during the first 2 days after blooming. Once you have collected the plant material, it should be dried and dried in a ventilated area, while keeping it out of direct sunlight.
Dry calendula flowers are able to retain their healing properties forseveral years, but if the storage conditions are observed: in a dark place, in glassware.
Decoction or infusion
So, let's take a closer look at the benefits and harms of calendula infusion. We will explore contraindications later, but now we will consider the recipe for preparing a decoction. Calendula should be poured with boiling water. To do this, 1-2 cups of boiling water is taken per tablespoon of raw materials. After that, the ingredients must be wrapped in a towel or placed in a thermos until the composition has completely cooled. As they infuse, the medicinal substances of the flowers are transferred to the water, endowing it with healing powers. When the broth is infused, it should be filtered with gauze.
What will be the benefit and harm? A decoction of calendula can be used internally for gastritis, diseases of the biliary tract and liver, menstrual pain, anxiety and insomnia, as well as high blood pressure. Judging by the reviews, it helps, and side effects are extremely rare.
In diseases of the cardiovascular system, you can add the same amount of brewed valerian, lemon balm, wild rose or hawthorn to the decoction. The healing effects are enhanced by a few added drops of cranberry juice.
A decoction of calendula for flu must be diluted with a few chopped cloves of garlic. During a cough, it is recommended to use half a glass of decoction in a warm form. This is done several times a day.
For oral use, two spoonfuls of tuning three times a day. However, with inflammatoryurinary tract ailments, the use of this dose should be performed every 20 minutes. The infusion, which is made with 2 glasses of water, is less saturated and is ideal for rinsing the mouth and throat, performing enemas, as well as soaking tampons to eliminate gynecological problems.
This is the benefit of decoction of calendula inside. Harm and contraindications should also be considered. More on them later.
Ointment
Ointment, which is made on the basis of marigold extract, 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 calendula inflorescences, a chopper, and then mix with 2000 g of rendered pork fat. The finished mixture is heated in a water bath until homogeneous. After that, the mixture must be cooled and put in a glass container. This ointment is stored in the cold. The remedy 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 on the basis of this ingredient. To prepare juice, it is necessary to grind freshly picked inflorescences with a meat grinder or blender, and then squeeze through gauze or a press. For long-term storage, the juice must be sterilized in a water bath for 1 hour.
For domesticuse is taken 1-2 tablespoons of juice, which is mixed with milk or honey. A similar remedy is used 2 times a day. In the case of external use, calendula juice should 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? There are practically no harm and contraindications for this remedy. It is very effective as a general tonic. How to prepare tea? To do this, you need to connect the nails with the same amount of lime flowers, chamomile, or mint. For one tablespoon of this mixture, one glass of boiling water is taken. It is necessary to brew chamomile and calendula, the harm and benefits of which should be taken into account when drinking a drink, for 20 minutes in a warm room.
Alcohol tincture
If you want to make a tincture based on marigolds, then you will need vegetable raw materials for this. And also alcohol. Consider possible contraindications and harm. The benefit of calendula tincture is that the remedy can be used for fungal infections, skin lesions, pathologies of the mouth and throat, hair loss, and also in the fight against dandruff. However, please note that it is not recommended to use the product in its pure form. It is necessary to dilute the composition with water in the amount of 1 teaspoon of tincture per 1 glass of water.
So, how to prepare this remedy? Calendula florets are best used fresh. They are filled with alcohol. To do this, take 1part of the raw material, as well as 5 parts of alcohol, the strength of which should be 70%. The mixture should be put in a cold room, kept for two days. After that, the tincture is filtered and stored in a dark and cool room, as heat and light will destroy the biologically active elements of the plant.
Possible harm. Contraindications
So, we have considered 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. In order for the use of drugs with a plant not to cause undesirable reactions, the specific 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 disease using glycosides, which increase the activity of the heart muscle. It is also not recommended to use such products under reduced pressure, and also if you have a tendency to hypotension. Gallstone disease, pregnancy is also a contraindication to the use of calendula.
In addition, internal use of marigold preparations is contraindicated in children under 12 years of age. Taking into account the small number of contraindications, medicinal calendula is considered one of the most effective and affordable plants. In addition, growing marigolds is effortless, so you can successfully plant them at home. In pharmacies, the cost for such a remedy is quiteaffordable.
With regard to information about overdose, what pathological conditions provoked by a large amount of calendula have not been found.
