Calendula (Calendula officinalis) is a flowering plant in the daisy family that has been traditionally used for treating wounds, digestive issues, and menstrual pain since the 13th century. Its petals contain flavonoids with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, and it can be used in oral and topical products or consumed as tea.
What is calendula?
Calendula (Calendula officinalis) is a flowering plant in the daisy family that has been traditionally used since the 13th century to treat wounds, digestive problems, and menstrual pain.[6] The flower petals can be compounded to prepare oral and topical products for medicinal purposes. Calendula can also be consumed as tea. Calendula petals contain flavonoids, compounds which possess antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that protect cells from being damaged by radicals, or unstable molecules.[7] Therefore, it is thought that calendula can fight inflammation. Additionally, calendula is often used to help wounds heal by promoting blood flow to the area.[8] Calendula should not be confused with the marigold plant, a different orange flower often grown in gardens, which is part of the genus Tagetes.
What are calendula’s main benefits?
Calendula has been commonly used for its anti-inflammatory and wound healing effects. Additionally, calendula has been used for conditions like diaper dermatitis in children, vaginal candidiasis, and radiation-induced dermatitis. However, there is limited clinical data to support the use of calendula for medicinal purposes. A case report showed that the use of calendula tincture in a 52-year-old woman with chronic anal fissures achieved improvement and no rectal bleeding after applying the tincture three times a day for 4.5 months.[9]
One study showed that women who had an episiotomy had more improvement in redness and edema when applying calendula ointment three times a day, compared to control.[10] Although calendula has demonstrated efficacy for acute wound healing with calendula, studies of chronic wound healing have more varied results. For instance, two studies found venous ulcers improved with the application of calendula, while another clinical trial saw no improvement in diabetic leg ulcers.[3]
Calendula has been used and studied for the treatment of vaginal candidiasis, and it was found that 5 grams of calendula vaginal cream was just as effective as clotrimazole 1% cream when applied each night for 7 nights with the applicator.[1] Similarly, one clinical trial found that calendula vaginal cream was effective in the treatment of bacterial vaginosis.[2]
There is conflicting evidence concerning calendula’s efficacy for radiation-induced dermatitis, and its effectiveness for skin reactions to chemotherapy has not been consistently observed.[11] For instance, there was no statistically significant difference between calendula and an aqueous cream in breast cancer patients with radiation-induced dermatitis.
What are calendula’s main drawbacks?
There are few high-quality clinical trials for calendula; therefore, it should be used with caution. There are few reports describing serious adverse reactions to calendula. However, allergic reactions and contact sensitization have been reported for other members of the daisy family (Asteraceae), to which calendula also belongs.[12] Additionally, a clinical trial that studied the effect of calendula versus metronidazole on bacterial vaginosis reported a greater occurrence of vaginal itching with the calendula preparation.[2]
How does calendula work?
Calendula’s anti-inflammatory effects are thought to come from its high flavonoid or antioxidant content.[7] Its wound-healing effects may come from calendula's ability to enhance blood flow to the affected area, promoting healing and the generation of new tissue, which has been demonstrated in animal studies.[8]
What are other names for Calendula Officinalis?
Note that Calendula Officinalis is also known as:
- Garden Marigold
- Pot Marigold
Frequently asked questions
What is calendula?
Calendula (Calendula officinalis) is a flowering plant in the daisy family that has been traditionally used since the 13th century to treat wounds, digestive problems, and menstrual pain.[6] The flower petals can be compounded to prepare oral and topical products for medicinal purposes. Calendula can also be consumed as tea. Calendula petals contain flavonoids, compounds which possess antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that protect cells from being damaged by radicals, or unstable molecules.[7] Therefore, it is thought that calendula can fight inflammation. Additionally, calendula is often used to help wounds heal by promoting blood flow to the area.[8] Calendula should not be confused with the marigold plant, a different orange flower often grown in gardens, which is part of the genus Tagetes.
What are calendula’s main benefits?
Calendula is primarily recognized for its anti-inflammatory and wound healing properties and has applications in conditions such as diaper dermatitis, vaginal candidiasis, and radiation-induced dermatitis, though clinical evidence that supports its medicinal use is limited. Some studies indicate positive outcomes for acute wound healing and specific conditions like episiotomy recovery, whereas results for chronic wounds and radiation-induced dermatitis are mixed.
Calendula has been commonly used for its anti-inflammatory and wound healing effects. Additionally, calendula has been used for conditions like diaper dermatitis in children, vaginal candidiasis, and radiation-induced dermatitis. However, there is limited clinical data to support the use of calendula for medicinal purposes. A case report showed that the use of calendula tincture in a 52-year-old woman with chronic anal fissures achieved improvement and no rectal bleeding after applying the tincture three times a day for 4.5 months.[9]
One study showed that women who had an episiotomy had more improvement in redness and edema when applying calendula ointment three times a day, compared to control.[10] Although calendula has demonstrated efficacy for acute wound healing with calendula, studies of chronic wound healing have more varied results. For instance, two studies found venous ulcers improved with the application of calendula, while another clinical trial saw no improvement in diabetic leg ulcers.[3]
Calendula has been used and studied for the treatment of vaginal candidiasis, and it was found that 5 grams of calendula vaginal cream was just as effective as clotrimazole 1% cream when applied each night for 7 nights with the applicator.[1] Similarly, one clinical trial found that calendula vaginal cream was effective in the treatment of bacterial vaginosis.[2]
There is conflicting evidence concerning calendula’s efficacy for radiation-induced dermatitis, and its effectiveness for skin reactions to chemotherapy has not been consistently observed.[11] For instance, there was no statistically significant difference between calendula and an aqueous cream in breast cancer patients with radiation-induced dermatitis.
Has calendula been studied in children?
Quick answer:
Topical calendula has been studied in children for management of diaper dermatitis and was found to be as effective as olive oil and aloe cream but less effective than bentonite. The studies reported no adverse effects from using topical calendula in children.
Topical calendula has been studied in children for the management of diaper dermatitis, or diaper rash. Multiple studies have compared the efficacy of calendula ointment to other topicals, such as olive oil, aloe extract, and bentonite; calendula ointment was found to be just as effective as olive oil and aloe cream, but not as effective as bentonite. These studies reported no adverse effects for the application of topical calendula in children.[5][13]
What are calendula’s main drawbacks?
Calendula has few high-quality clinical trials supporting its use, so it should be approached with caution due to potential allergic reactions and contact sensitization. Additionally, a study indicated that calendula may cause more vaginal itching than metronidazole in treatment of bacterial vaginosis.
There are few high-quality clinical trials for calendula; therefore, it should be used with caution. There are few reports describing serious adverse reactions to calendula. However, allergic reactions and contact sensitization have been reported for other members of the daisy family (Asteraceae), to which calendula also belongs.[12] Additionally, a clinical trial that studied the effect of calendula versus metronidazole on bacterial vaginosis reported a greater occurrence of vaginal itching with the calendula preparation.[2]
How does calendula work?
Calendula works primarily through its anti-inflammatory effects, which are attributed to its high flavonoid and antioxidant content. Additionally, it may promote wound healing by enhancing blood flow to the affected area, as shown in animal studies.
Calendula’s anti-inflammatory effects are thought to come from its high flavonoid or antioxidant content.[7] Its wound-healing effects may come from calendula's ability to enhance blood flow to the affected area, promoting healing and the generation of new tissue, which has been demonstrated in animal studies.[8]
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