Marigold

This is wonderful plant that produces beautiful bright golden yellow/orange flowers throughout the growing season. It has a very long tradition of medicinal and culinary use stretching back to the Romans and Greeks.

There are many stories about how it got its name. One such is that it is a corruption of the Anglo-Saxon merso-mear-gealla, the Marsh Marigold and it was known in Old English as Golds or Ruddes. It was however later associated with the Virgin Mary, it being supposedly dedicated to her by the famous seer and healer Hildegrade of Bingen. Its scientific name Calendula refers to its reputation that it will flower on the calends (first few days) of each month of the Roman calendar.

The flowers have long been associated with the Sun and considered to be warming and cheering to the heart. This not only comes from their appearance but also from the  fact that they close in the evening and open again in the morning or as Shakespeare puts in Winter’s Tale:

“The Marigold that goes to bed wi’ th’ sun,

And with him rises weeping.”

Medicinal Properties

As mentioned Marigolds are considered a remedy for the heart. They where classed as a cordial herb, which are herbs that had the reputation to be able to comfort a troubled heart and raise the spirits. Today we might consider these herbs to be antidepressants. Other cordials include Borage, Motherwort and Rose.

It is as a healing plant, applied topically in creams and ointments, that it is often used in modern times. This is due to its ability to stimulate tissue growth as well as being antiseptic.  

However it can also be used internally for a wide range of conditions:

It is a bitter herb supporting the digestion and liver;

It has an affinity for the female reproductive system and can be used for menstrual problems;

It acts on the immune system and lymphatics, which make it an excellent herb for any infection, especially fungal infections;

Its anti-inflammatory effects can be used whenever there is inflammation in the digestive tract, eg gum disease, ulcers, collitis and haemorrhoids.

And the list goes on!

Green Man Marigold Project

Over the coming months I am going to show you how to grow, harvest and use Marigolds.

Starting with demonstrating how to sow the seeds, I will go on to show how to pot them on, plant them out and harvest the flowers.

All of this will lead up to, how to make a Marigold Healing Balm which can be used for cuts, grazes, burns, spots etc.

I hope this will be of interest; it is my hope that over time I will be able to demonstrate other simple herbal remedies. Please let me know what you think and if you have any suggestions of other  herbal remedies you would be interested in.

(Pics from http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Calendula_officinalis)