Calendula officinalis is an annual plant native to the northeastern and northwestern United States and southeastern and southwestern Canada. Its flowers range in color from creamy white to deep orange and are one to three inches across. Calendula herb is a versatile plant, prized for the colors and flavors extracted from its flowers and for its potential use in emerging medical treatments.
Growing Calendula
Although calendula is native to cooler climates, it adapts to warmer areas and is frequently planted as an ornamental in flower beds, borders and containers. It grows well in loose, sandy soils and self-seeds from year to year. Start seeds indoors and transplant them out when the soil can be worked in the spring, or direct sow them after the soil has warmed. Keep the seeds moist, but not overly wet until they emerge, and thin the plants to avoid overcrowding. Calendula herb will grow in shade or full sun, but does not like extreme heat or deep shade.
Cancer Treatment
Scientists continue to explore the uses of plants to fight disease and improve health, and promising research using calendula extracts demonstrates effectiveness in fighting cancer. Specifically, calendula officinalis offers the potential to inhibit tumor cell growth and encourage the activation of infection fighting lymphocytes, according to research conducted at the Universidad de Granada in Spain and published in the journal "BMC Cancer" in 2006. Researchers found that the benefits on tumor cell inhibition are not limited to a single type of tumor cell tissue. While more research is needed in this area, the results of this study offer hope that calendula extracts may be useful in future battles against cancer.
Skin Treatment
Medline Plus notes that calendula extracts are effective in treating minor cuts, burns and wounds, and can be found in soothing cream treatments for children and adults. Additional research conducted by the Centre Léon Bérard's Department of Radiation Oncology and published in the "Journal of Clinical Oncology" in 2004 demonstrated that calendula is an effective topical treatment for pain, irritation and redness in women undergoing post-operative breast cancer radiation therapy.
Other Uses
Calendula has long been used in the food and cosmetics industries. The government of Alberta, Canada notes that calendula powder and oils are used to add color to foods, hair and cloth dye, and to add aroma to perfumes and soaps. Calendula flowers have a peppery, sometimes bitter taste, and are used in cooking and baking. Use the full flowers as a colorful garnish in savory foods such as cheese balls, and add the petals to soups, salads and baked goods such as biscuits to provide color and flavor.
References
- USDA: Plants Profile -- Calendula officinalis
- National Institutes of Health: Calendula Produces Anti-Tumor Activity and Lymphocyte Activation
- Medline Plus: Calendula
- National Institutes of Health: Calendula's Effectiveness in Preventing Acute Dermatitis During Breast Cancer Irradiation Treatment
- Government of Alberta Canada: Agriculture and Rural Development -- Calendula
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