Calendula is one of the most versatile medicinal plants you can keep on hand, used topically as an oil, cream, or salve for skin healing, brewed as a tea, or swished as a mouth rinse. The bright orange flowers of Calendula officinalis contain compounds that reduce inflammation and speed tissue repair, and the plant lends itself to simple preparations you can make at home or buy ready-made. Here’s how to use it effectively in each form.
Calendula for Skin Healing
The most common use for calendula is on minor wounds, burns, rashes, and dry or irritated skin. Creams and gels containing calendula extract at concentrations between 3% and 10% have shown measurable benefits for wound healing in research settings. A 10% calendula gel improved wound contraction, while lower concentrations (3%, 5%, and 7%) all showed soothing and healing effects on skin.
In a randomized trial on acute hand wounds, the calendula group healed in an average of 8.6 days compared to 13.2 days in the control group. That’s roughly 35% faster. The calendula group also had a higher daily healing rate: 9.5% per day versus 6.2%.
To use a store-bought calendula cream or ointment, clean the wound or irritated area first, then apply a thin layer two to three times daily. Look for products that list calendula extract (not just fragrance) among the first several ingredients. For mild skin irritation, diaper rash, or minor scrapes, a calendula balm or salve works the same way.
How to Make Calendula-Infused Oil
Calendula-infused oil is the base for most homemade salves and balms, and it’s straightforward to prepare. You’ll need dried calendula flowers and a carrier oil like olive oil, sweet almond oil, or jojoba oil. Fresh flowers contain moisture that can introduce mold, so always start with fully dried petals.
A common ratio is 1 part dried flowers by weight to 10 parts oil by volume. For example, 25 grams of dried calendula to 250 milliliters of oil. Place the flowers in a clean glass jar, pour the oil over them until they’re fully submerged, and seal the lid.
You have two options from here:
- Slow infusion: Set the sealed jar in a sunny window, covered with a paper bag to block UV light that can degrade the oil. Shake it once a day for four to six weeks, then strain through cheesecloth.
- Quick method: Place the jar in a slow cooker on the lowest setting for four to six hours, or use an electric pressure cooker’s yogurt setting for eight to ten hours. Strain when cool.
The finished oil will be golden and faintly herbal. Store it in a dark glass bottle in a cool place. It keeps for about a year. You can use it directly on skin or melt it with beeswax to make a thicker salve.
Brewing Calendula Tea
Calendula tea has a mild, slightly earthy flavor and is traditionally used for soothing digestive discomfort and supporting the immune system from the inside. To make it, place 1 to 2 tablespoons of dried calendula flowers in a mug and pour one cup of hot (not boiling) water over them. Cover the mug with a small plate or saucer to keep the volatile compounds from escaping, and let it steep for 15 to 20 minutes. Strain and drink.
The longer steep time compared to regular tea is intentional. Calendula’s beneficial compounds extract slowly, so a quick five-minute steep won’t pull out much. You can drink calendula tea daily. The flavor is gentle enough to blend with chamomile, ginger, or a bit of honey if you find it too plain on its own.
Calendula as a Mouth Rinse
One of the lesser-known uses for calendula is as a mouthwash for gum health. In a six-month clinical study, a calendula-based mouth rinse reduced plaque scores by over 93%, gum inflammation scores by nearly 89%, and bleeding on probing by 86%. Even within the first three months, users saw plaque reduction of about 28% and gum inflammation reduction of 29% compared to baseline. These improvements were significantly greater than the control group’s results at every time point.
You can make a simple calendula mouth rinse by brewing a strong tea (use 2 tablespoons of flowers per cup, steeped 20 minutes), letting it cool completely, and swishing it around your mouth for 30 to 60 seconds before spitting. A fresh batch every day or two is best, since homemade rinses lack preservatives.
Using Calendula During Radiation Treatment
Calendula ointment has been studied specifically for skin reactions during radiation therapy. In a large phase III trial involving breast cancer patients, those who applied calendula cream prophylactically had significantly fewer cases of moderate-to-severe skin reactions, less radiation-related pain, and fewer interruptions to their treatment schedule compared to the standard topical treatment.
One practical note: patients in multiple studies described calendula cream as thicker and harder to spread and absorb than standard creams. If you’re considering it during radiation treatment, discuss it with your oncology team first, since timing of application around treatment sessions matters. The conventional concentrations found in commercial calendula skin products (flower extract up to 0.8%, flower oil up to 0.1%) have been reviewed and deemed safe for topical use.
Who Should Avoid Calendula
Calendula belongs to the Asteraceae family, the same plant family as ragweed, chrysanthemums, daisies, chamomile, arnica, and yarrow. If you have a known allergy to any of these plants, there’s a risk of cross-reactivity. The compounds responsible for these allergic reactions are a group of chemicals called sesquiterpene lactones, which are shared across many plants in this family. Reactions are rare but can include contact dermatitis (redness, itching, rash) when applied to skin.
To test your sensitivity, apply a small amount of calendula oil or cream to the inside of your forearm and wait 24 hours. If you see redness or feel itching, skip it.
For pregnancy and breastfeeding, the picture is nuanced. Calendula is classified as “generally recognized as safe” by the FDA when used as a food flavoring. Topical calendula has been used on cracked nipples during nursing, though strong clinical evidence for that specific use is limited. There’s no reliable safety data on drinking calendula tea during pregnancy or breastfeeding, so most herbalists recommend sticking to topical use only during those periods.
Choosing the Right Form
The form you choose depends on what you’re trying to address:
- Cream or salve: Best for wounds, rashes, dry skin, minor burns, and everyday skin care. Apply directly to the affected area.
- Infused oil: Ideal as a moisturizer, massage oil, or base for DIY products. Also works well for cradle cap in infants when applied gently to the scalp.
- Tea: For digestive comfort, mild immune support, or simply as a daily herbal drink.
- Mouth rinse: For gum inflammation, bleeding gums, or as a complement to regular oral hygiene.
Store-bought calendula products vary widely in quality. Look for products made with Calendula officinalis specifically, not ornamental marigolds (Tagetes species), which are a different plant entirely despite sharing the common name. Products listing calendula among the first few ingredients, or specifying extract concentration, are generally more effective than those where it appears far down the ingredient list.