Calendula
Oh, Calendula. How do I love thee?
Let me count the ways.
Easy to grow. Abundantly flowering. Offering remedies for skin issues, gut health, and lymphatic stagnation. This cheery herb is favored by many. The color combo itself, with flowers hued the sunniest of oranges and brightest of yellows, next to that green. That green! What would you call that green? I think it’s nature’s best combination. Each time I see that orange and green together, I cannot help but smile. That, in itself, is medicine.
But, pluck that flower head and the journey continues. You can drop it into your soup pot to ensure a sunny disposition and good health, or use the petals to adorn your salad. You can make a tea to soothe irritated mucous membranes or help bring down a fever. Calendula tincture supports immunity, gently moving the lymph and easing stagnation that may be predisposed to or the residual after-effect of infection. The extract highlights the herb’s bitter principle, positively affecting liver function, which in turn supports healthy skin, hormone balance, and digestion. Calendula hydrosol offers a soothing, sweet, and floral mist, safe enough for babies’ bums.
I continually infuse dried calendula into sunflower oil, using the alcohol intermediary step to help draw out the beneficial resins in the plant. This oil is then featured in the Lavender Calendula Infused Oil, Lavender Geranium Facial Oil, Lavender Geranium Body Butter, Citrus Salt Scrub, and the newest butter: the Sunny Butter Whipped Shea Magic.
Why? Why does it show up in so many products? Because it is that helpful.
Topically, calendula oil on its own, or made into creams, salves, ointments, and balms, helps treat bruises, burns, sores, skin infections, cradle cap, and rashes. It promotes the formation of granulation tissue, a vital part of the body’s wound healing process. It makes a wonderful massage oil, reducing inflammation while offering the skin an antioxidant-rich treatment. Facial oils and creams with flavonoids help neutralize damaging free radicals, reducing the potential for fine lines, wrinkles, and dull skin. In other words, calendula shares its vibrant glow with you!
If you’re blessed to have this growing in your yard, appreciate its beauty, and turn to it for its healthful benefits.
What’s new?
We just bought a copper alembic still! My sweetheart and partner in this lucky life, Jordy Morgan, has turned the detail-oriented part of his Virgoan mind to steam and hydro distillation. I am so excited to see where he takes this.
We’re eager to start working with local farms and gardens, distilling small batches of herbs to create delightfully soothing hydrosols. We’re dreaming up other ways to work with herbs through this preparation, and I’m excited to share the journey with you as it unfolds.
If you have any aromatic, organically grown herbs on your property and are interested in collaborating to create a place-centric hydrosol, let us know!
