• Growth habit: An upright to rounded cool season annual growing to 18 inches tall and equally wide. The leaves are medium green, elliptic in shape and growing to 6 inches long and 2 inches wide.

• Light: Plant in full sun to lightly shaded locations.

• Water needs: Prefers a moist soil but tolerates short period of drought.

• Feedings: Apply a general garden fertilizer monthly to in ground plantings; every other week to container plantings.

• Propagation: Start from seed.

• Ease of culture: Easy.

• Hardiness: Hardy

• Major problems: Plants are susceptible to nematodes; plant in pest -free soils. Chewing insects and slugs are common feeders.

• Pruning: Trim faded blooms from plantings to keep calendulas attractive and encourage additional buds. Remove declining plants when the hot weather returns and replace with warm season annuals.

• Uses: A colorful traditional annual gardeners can count on for cool season flowers in beds and containers. Buds open November through April producing displays of over 2 inch diameter blossoms in shades of yellow to orange colors often with a dark center; flowers may be single or double depending on the variety. Petals from pesticide-free plantings are edible and sometimes added to salads, soups and rice.

• Florida native: No; native to Europe and North Africa.

TOM MacCUBBIN

Special to the Sentinel

But don’t give up hope as there are plenty remedies to help you look more youthful. Here are some tips to help you turn back your age clock.

HEALTHY DIET

Don’t leave your food choices to the last minute, according to health experts Tim Bean and Anne Lang.

They recommend taking 10 minutes every three days to make a plan. Decide what you’ll eat for the next three days. Base the menu on unprocessed “superfoods” such as wild game and fish, fresh vegetables and seasonal fruits and seeds.

They say you should plan four main meals a day (breakfast, lunch, high tea and dinner), but you can make your life easier by having the same food that you have one day, for a different meal the following day.

GREEN TEA

You don’t just have to drink it – green tea is thought to help even when applied to your skin, and many skincare products contain it.

It contains plant chemicals 20 times stronger than those found in vitamin E.

So when it’s applied to the skin, it protects from damage by free radicals.

HERBS

MANY herbs are thought to have antiageing properties. Pine Bark Extract is said to protect skin by binding elastin and collagen and preventing their breakdown, so reducing wrinkles.

W Calendula works on the skin by helping create new blood vessels. It also contains carotenoid pigments and lutein, the antioxidant effects of which fight free-radical damage.

Research also indicates that calendula stimulates collagen synthesis and cell regeneration. The active ingredients in aloe vera have healing, antiin flammatory, cell renewal and moisturising effects.

Studies suggest kigelia to be rich in derivatives of caffeic acid which has antioxidant properties.

It’s also thought to have an antiin flammatory effect on the skin and contains hormone-like substances that firms up the skin.

Gotu kola acts as an anti-inflammatory and also activates collagen synthesis and slows collagen breakdown.

Homeopathy was developed more than 250 years ago by Samuel Hahnemann. The basic principle of homeopathy is that if a substance can produce symptoms in a healthy person then it can also work (once specially prepared and diluted) and relieve the symptoms of someone who is sick. This is based on the idea of �like cures like’. For example, when you chop an onion you may get a runny nose and streaming eyes. The homeopathic remedy is Allium Cepia which is derived from onions and would be used to treat these symptoms.

It is often prescribed for hayfever or colds. Homeopaths say more people are choosing homeopathy because they are worried about the side effects of conventional drugs.

Homeopathic remedies are drawn from the plant, mineral and animal worlds. Homeopathy treats the whole person, not just a symptom or disease. Homeopaths say it therefore has the potential to help people with a wide range of physical, psychological and emotional problems.

COLD AND FLU REMEDIES

ACONITE: Used to nip colds in the bud and is considered useful in the early stages of colds, flus, fevers and sore throats.

ALLIUM CEPIA: The symptoms of the Allium Cepia cold will be similar to those you get when chopping an onion, typically with streaming red eyes and nose, watery fluid from the nose with a burning sensation on the upper lip.

GELSENIUM: This is considered to be the best remedy for flu when the symptoms include a dull and sluggish feeling with a dull ache at the back of the neck. These symptoms tend to come on gradually and will include a feeling of chills up and down the spine and aching muscles.

PULSATILLA: For use on a cold where there is a green or yellowish discharge from the nose, changeable symptoms or if a person feels tearful.

OTHER HOMEOPATHIC REMEDIES

APIS: Used to treat bee stings and bites where there is hot swelling, redness and burning pain.

ARSENICUM: Used for vomiting and diarrhoea typical of food poisoning.

ARNICA: Used after physical accidents to reduce swelling and bruising. It is considered to be ideal after dental work or surgery to speed healing.

BELLADONNA: Used for fevers when a patient is red hot but often has cold hands and feet. Belladonna is also used for inflammatory responses where there is throbbing and heat or for throbbing headaches.

CALENDULA: Used for healing cuts and wounds after teeth extraction and labour. Homeopaths say it helps promote the formation of healthy scar tissue.

HYPERICUM: Used for treating injuries to parts of the body rich in nerve-endings such as the fingertips.

NUX VOMICA: The main remedy for hangovers or any over-indulgence in food and drink. This is considered a good remedy for people who work hard and play hard.

RHUS TOX: Used for strains and sprains.

SILICA: Used to force splinters or other foreign bodies out and is considered effective at clearing the end stages of a lingering cough.

Calendula and comfrey have skin-softening properties. They can be used in a facial sauna or to make herbal or floral waters. Comfrey also reduces redness and soothes irritated skin.

Add 5 drops of В lavender oilВ  or oat extract to bath water. After the bath, apply diluted evening primrose oil or aloe vera cream.

Drink teas of В chamomile, dandelion or peppermint.

Borage, fennel, coltsfoot or calendulaВ  tea also helps improve the skin. Add 1 tsp. of herbs to 1 cup of boiling water and drink daily.

Tea tree oil has been known to penetrate into the skin’s cellular level. Add 1 drop of oil to your favorite day or night cream to help moisturize and smooth skin.

Herbal Facial Sauna

A weekly facial sauna using the herbs chamomile, lavender, and peppermint is good for dry skin.

Using a glass or enameled pot, simmer a total of 2 to 4 tablespoons of dried or fresh herbs in 2 quarts of water. When the pot is steaming, place it on top of a trivet or thick potholder on a table, and sit with your face at a comfortable distance over the steam for fifteen minutes. You can use a towel to trap the steam if you wish.

After fifteen minutes, splash your face with cold water and allow your skin to air dry or pat it dry with a towel. Then either apply a good natural moisturizer or facial oil, or apply a clay mask.

After the sauna, you can allow the herbal water to cool and save it for use as a toning lotion to be dabbed on your face with a cotton ball after cleansing.

And there we were, gathering the dried curly seeds from the spent flowers, filling the little jar I’d brought outside to overflowing, requiring me to get a half-pint jar to house the wildly abundant cosmos seeds.

“We’ll give them as Christmas gifts!” I said exuberantly, and since then, my son has been industrious, helping me gather seeds from bachelor buttons, onions, and calendula. When I do laundry, I find sunflower seeds in his pockets. They’re the good ones — infrared, a startling and gorgeous almost black-red flower — so I save them.

Calendula and cosmos grow like weeds here in Portland, so it’s easy this month to gather them and sort by color (if any of the flowers are still growing on the plants from which you harvest seeds) and store them in airtight containers. You’ll want a relatively cool place; if you keep them in the fridge, be sure to find a moisture absorber to include in the container. Buy small envelopes or, even better, recycle spice jars and old manila envelopes into homemade wildflower seed packets. Have your kids help you decorate the envelopes. Flower seeds are not just a welcome gift (at least in my house) that will grow into beautiful flowers, but these species are all beneficial to other plants, mostly edible, and attract honeybees. What’s more, you can sneak a little science into your holiday preparation. It’s way better than going to the mall!

One thing led to another, and the group and Drumm decided to try to grow calendula in Sussex House’s greenhouse, then make the petals into a therapeutic ointment for dry skin and other epidermal maladies listed in an herbal recipe book Drumm had picked up at a garage sale. “I thought it would be fun and interesting to make something as a group project,” Drumm said. She ordered the seeds and the project began in March.

By June, calendula plants were growing everywhere outside in the garden. “We planted them and �pop,’” exclaimed Sussex House member Angela Giuliano, of Andover, “Suddenly they were everywhere.” Another member, Ken Wu, also of Andover, said, “We go out and pick the flowers and then we made a jar of the calendula ointment for every one of us. That’s a lot of flowers.”
Deborah Drumm shows her class some calendula in the Sussex House garden.

Preparing the ointment

Once the flowers were ready, Drumm and the members said it was “a work in progress” to come up with a formula that worked to create the salve. Take one was a bit of a disaster, but after that, a formula was created and each member took on a role in the process of cooking the flowers in oil, then adding the wax, which they obtained at the New Jersey State Fair.

“The whole thing has been an amazing experience,” said Sussex House member Theresa Budzinski, of Hamburg. “I think it brought everyone in our group together and we learned a lot about plants which is a lot more interesting than only learning about pharmaceuticals in a group.” Of Drum, she added, “We also have the best teacher in the world.”

Kevin Karpowich, of Sparta, said he joined Drumm’s group at the urging of a friend. “This has been a great learning process,” he said, “Calendula is something I never would have known about had it not been for this group.”

Results

As for results from the ointment, the members can’t sing its praises enough. Giuliano has found relief from eczema that’s affected her for years, as well as dry lips she gets from some medicine she has to take. Wu said it worked “like magic” on a bad case of poison ivy he had on his leg. “It was so itchy and nothing worked. I’d made it worse by scratching, too, then I put the calendula ointment we made on it, and it was better within a few days.”

History

Ironically, part way through the project, one of the members in the group stumbled upon the fact that calendula was the herb of the year. Also known as pot marigold, calendula was chosen by the International Herb Association as the 2008 Herb of the Year. According to the Association, “ to receive this honored title, it has to be outstanding in at least two of the three major categories: medicinal, culinary, or decorative. Calendula’s medicinal history is busy which continues in present times. The petals can be used in the bath, ointments and salves where it contributes anti-inflammatory and anti-viral properties which help with external sores, cuts, bruises, burns and rashes.”

The experience

There are still flowers in the Sussex House garden that Drumm’s group is harvesting. “We’ll make one more big batch,” Drumm said, “And now we seem to have everything down pat. This has been a wonderful learning experience for not only the members — about herbs and how they can work — but also for me.” Some of the goals of Sussex House is to teach members how to gather feedback, look at situations themselves, learn skills and make the best choices possible, and then gather support for their choices and carry them out. “This has been a real team building experience,” Drumm said, “Everyone had roles in the process of making the ointment and worked well as a team.”

Description:
Calendula Gel contains Marigold (Calendula officinalis) which has antibiotic, anti-fungus and anti-inflammatory properties and is suggested to promote healing of minor cuts, scrapes, burns, bruises, chicken pox rash, diaper rash, eczema, insect bites, fungus, and varicose veins.

Ingredients:
Calendula Officinalis 1X 7%, Purified Water, Carbomer, Silicone Oil, Sodium Hydroxide, Sorbic Acid, Sodium Methylparaben.

Product Research:
Boiron was founded in France in 1932 by pharmacists Jean and Henri Boiron. Since then, it has grown to become the largest homeopathic manufacturer in the world. Their mission is to promote scientific homeopathy as a more compassionate, ecological, and comprehensive approach to medicine. All U.S. Boiron products are manufactured in strict accordance with FDA and HPUS regulations for homeopathic medicines.

Recommend:
For minor cuts, scrapes and skin irritation, first gently cleanse the area with mild soap, rinse and dry. For minor burns, first run cool water on the burn and dry. Then gently apply a thin layer of Calendula Gel to affected area 3 times a day or as needed.

Cautions:
For external use only. Avoid contact with the eyes. If conditions persists or grow worse, consult your physician.

Pick the calendula blossoms on a warm dry morning. If the blossoms are still damp, spread them out on a flat surface and let them dry in the sun for a few hours. It’s important that the blossoms are dry because moisture on the blossoms can cause mold to grow in the calendula oil.
Step 2
Put the calendula blossoms in a quart-size canning jar, and pour the oil over the top. Stir until all of the blossoms are covered with oil.
Step 3
Cover the jar with cheesecloth to allow any moisture to evaporate, and place the jar in a sunny window. Leave the jar of calendula oil in the window until it has turned a sunny golden color.
Step 4
Strain the calendula oil through a folded cheesecloth laid in a strainer, squeezing the blossoms with a wooden spoon.
Step 5
Pour the calendula oil into the sterilized bottles and store in a cool, dark place.

Calendula got its name because it blooms every new moon. The name “marigold” refers to the Virgin Mary, and the flower is often used in Catholic events that honor her. With a name like marigold, some probably think they can use the annual flowers from their garden. That is probably either French marigold or African marigold and is a totally different species.

For those who like the technical facts, calendula contains these medicinal ingredients: calendulin, beta-carotene and other carotenoids, isoquercitrin, narcissin, rutin, amyrin, lupeol, sterols, and volatile oils. The flowers also contain complex polysaccharides with properties that stimulate immunity.

Calendula can be taken internally or externally. Internally, calendula is especially used for gastrointestinal disorders. It protects the lining of the stomach and intestines by inhibiting the causes of swelling and inflammation, and by limiting the effects of the bacteria associated with gastritis, peptic ulcers, and stomach cancer. Taken orally calendula has been used to sooth stomach ulcers and inflammation. Some report it to be effective in fighting fever, boils, abscesses, and recurrent vomiting.

External uses are related to the antibacterial and anti-inflammatory qualities of calendula’s orange petals. These two traits have made this flower a popular treatment for a host of bodily infections. Some feel it is as effective in treating ear infections as some leading prescription drugs. Try using calendula tea to wash eyes suffering from chronic conjunctivitis (pink eye). As an ointment, it will both soothe the inflammation and reduce it by attacking the bacteria causing the swelling. It is also effective in treating other inflammations. These include hemorrhoids, vaginal itching caused by menopausal tissue changes, insect bites, diaper rash, acne, burns, scalds, eczema, and sunburn.

By using this herb on infections, healing is more pain-free, better, and faster. Cosmetic creams use calendula to lessen the appearance of wrinkles and hydrate skin. Gargling with calendula water or tea may ease the pain of a sore throat.

Calendula is also recommended for use in treating varicose veins, chronic ulcers, capillary engorgement, and congestion. Calendula flowers are edible, and may be added to salads or cooked foods. They can also be dried for use in teas. Calendula adds flavor and color to cereals, rice, and soups.

Calendula may be purchased or prepared as creams, teas, tinctures, infusions, compresses, and washes. To make calendula tea, simply pour about a cup of boiling water over 1-2 teaspoons of calendula flowers and let sit for 15 minutes. Calendula tea may be taken 3 times per day. Calendula tincture, which can be taken with water or tea, can be taken 3 times a day (in doses of 1-2 ml). To make calendula tincture, soak a cup of flowers in .5 quarts of rectified alcohol for 5 to 6 weeks. A tincture dose is 5 to 15 drops. To create a calendula salve for external application, boil 1 oz of dried flowers or leaves with 1 oz lard.

Calendula is a very safe herb. The only known reactions are in people with ragweed allergy. Do not use tincture on wounds as the alcohol base will burn the raw tissue. Be sure wounds are cleaned before applying calendula.
Though this article has covered many of the benefits of whole Calendula flowers, more are detailed on our website at More Than Alive. Visit us today and learn how bulk herbs can make a profound impact on your total body health.