Calendula Oil for Herpes

Calendula officinalis is a yellow-orange, daisy-like flower that is widely cultivated in warm, temperate climates. It has successfully escaped from gardens and can often be seen growing along roadsides. Calendula has long been revered for its ability to heal burns, bruises and other skin injuries, and many herbalists recommend it for treating shingles, measles and other eruptive skin conditions. However, there isn't enough scientific evidence to justify its use for any of these disorders.

Herbal Properties

Even though many of calendula's chemical constituents have been isolated and their clinical proclivities defined, the traditional medicinal uses ascribed to the herb result from generations of careful observation and daily use. Through the years, calendula has been used to reduce inflammation, promote healing, reduce swelling and bleeding, stimulate menstruation and encourage sweating. Herbalists classify calendula as an astringent, a vulnerary, an anti-inflammatory, a diaphoretic, an alterative and an emmenagogue.

Formulations

Calendula can be used in a variety of ways. Fresh petals, when moistened or macerated, make effective and soothing poultices. You can steep the petals in hot water to make an infusion, or tea, which can be drunk, used as a mouthwash or dabbed on the skin. A tincture prepared by soaking the petals in 100-proof alcohol can then be added to tea or applied as a liniment. Glycerites, suppositories, ointments and salves are all useful preparations. An oil infusion, produced by soaking successive batches of fresh or dried petals in cold-pressed olive oil, is particularly useful for treating painful skin eruptions.

Specific Uses

According to Michael Tierra, L.Ac., O.M.D, author of "The Way of Herbs," externally applied calendula is a useful treatment for burns, minor bleeding, and localized irritations of the skin. Calendula oil or a poultice of its blossoms is effective for shingles. The oil can also be placed in the ear canal to cure earache. When taken internally, calendula tea helps with fevers, ulcers, menstrual cramps and diseases that cause generalized rashes, such as measles. James Green, author of "The Male Herbal," recommends a formula for genital herpes that is composed of six different herbs. Its main ingredient is calendula. And James Duke, Ph.D., author of "The Green Pharmacy," promotes calendula for the treatment of bunions, gingivitis, sunburn, ulcers, skin wounds, and bites and stings.

Antiviral Activity

While the research supporting calendula's use in viral infections is incomplete, scientific scrutiny has confirmed some of calendula's time-honored properties and revealed new ones. According to a 1997 article in Biomedicine and Pharmacotherapy, calendula extracts exhibit antiviral activity against the human immunodeficiency virus, or HIV, and a 2006 study published in BMC Cancer attributes calendula with immune-stimulating properties.

Herpes Treatment

Most herbalists, who believe that any illness is the result of systemic imbalance, approach even localized conditions from as many avenues as possible. For genital or oral herpes, a cup of calendula tea taken 3 to 4 times daily will address some of the internal issues that lead to an outbreak. Calendula oil is applied to the affected area as often as needed. Ostensibly, the oil infusion improves the absorption of calendula's active ingredients and helps to keep individual herpes lesions soft and pliable.

Precautions

Calendula is a popular herbal remedy, but there isn't enough scientific evidence to show that it is effective for herpes or any other condition. As a member of the Compositae family, calendula is related to asters, daisies and sunflowers. If you are allergic to any of these plants, you should not use calendula preparations. Due to its effects on the uterus, women who are pregnant or who are attempting to become pregnant should avoid taking calendula internally. Always consult with your health practitioner before taking a herbal remedy for any medical condition.