calendula officinalis
Simply put, the lymphatic system delivers nutrients to every cell in the body, and ‘takes the trash out’ from every cell in the body. Ever experienced a city on strike? The mass of garbage that isn’t taken away on the usual schedule builds up QUICKLY, making the root cause increasingly difficult to ignore. Insufficient lymph movement is like that. Problematic, and compoundingly so.
A VIP in the world of lymphatics, calendula prevents the accumulation of harmful bacteria by encouraging healthy lymphatic circulation throughout the the body. When bacteria is flushed swiftly through the system, it lacks the time & freedom to wander & spread infection. This makes the lymphatic system a cornerstone of the immune system.
Demulcents are plants that boast a wealth of complex polysaccharide molecules that are the basis for carbohydrate mucilage: this means that when combined with water, they become slimy & gummy. When it comes to irritated, inflamed or lacerated tissues, this is both soothing and reparative. In a less inflamed state, tissue can relax and glue itself back together.
This ability to clear bacteria & prevent infection, combined with its notoriety as a demulcent make calendula a stellar anti-inflammatory. All of this culminated in its skill as a vulnerary, or a plant that heals wounds. This is why you’ll find calendula in most balms & salves for the healing skin & scarring, and in many skincare products.
The lining of the GI tract is skin too- so consuming calendula, and, thus combining it with the water in our saliva & gut when eating, elicits those same soothing, lubricating, anti-inflammatory & reparative responses internally. Think food allergies & intolerances, leaky gut, IBD & ulcers. These internal irritations manifest in systematic inflammation elsewhere in the body in the forms of various autoimmune disorders, chronic skin problems and joint pain. The wide-reaching results that emerge from healing gut irritation has a positive ripple effect on these ailments as well, a potential not to be overlooked.
Containing lutein, beta-carotene, & rutin, this antioxidant-rich superstar has long been tossed into soups & stews to evoke its prowess in the realms of lymph circulation, immunity, bacterial balance, inflammation, and digestive & skin health.
To receive maximum benefits, it’s important to use the whole flower, including its base. We grind all of it up and blend it into our salts so you can simply sprinkle calendula on everything you eat! We also recommend stirring our salts into your drinking water. By combining calendula with water, you elicit that subtle, gut-healing mucilaginous effect outlined above. Learn more about the ionizing effect that the salt has on your water in the salt section of this page!
We get these golden blossoms from Wilson Herb Farm in Greensboro, VT, Zack Woods Herb Farm in Hyde Park, VT & Generation Herbs in Craftsbury, VT.*
