CALENDULA OFFICINALIS

SOURCE INFORMATION

Scientific Classification

• Kingdom: Plantae
• Order: Asterales
• Family: Asteraceae
• Genus: Calendula
• Species: C. officinalis

Origin

• Calendula Officinalis is native to Southern Europe, particularly in Mediterranean regions, but has since spread across temperate zones globally.
• The plant’s vibrant orange and yellow flowers have been used for centuries in traditional medicine for their healing and antiseptic properties.

Historical Use

• Historically, Calendula has been employed in folk remedies for skin ailments, such as wounds, burns, and rashes.
• It gained widespread use in homeopathy for its ability to treat wounds and promote rapid healing without infection.
• Calendula was also used during the American Civil War for treating battlefield wounds.

DRUG PATHOGENESIS

• Calendula primarily targets skin and mucous membranes.
• It has a remarkable ability to promote healing of wounds and is also helpful for catarrhal conditions and promoting healthy tissue recovery after surgery or trauma.

PHYSICAL CONSTITUTION

• Patients needing Calendula are often sensitive to external injuries or prone to wounds that heal slowly or poorly.
• They may have a tendency to catch colds easily, especially in damp or humid weather.
• This remedy is particularly beneficial for individuals with a constitutional tendency towards erysipelas or suppurative conditions.

DIATHESIS

• Calendula is indicated for individuals prone to skin infections, wounds, and ulcerations.
• These individuals often exhibit a constitutional weakness in tissue repair and may experience excessive pain or discomfort from even minor injuries.

KEY CHARACTERISTICS

• Promotes rapid healing by encouraging healthy granulation.
• Beneficial for open wounds, lacerations, burns, and ulcers.
• Reduces pain and inflammation in injuries.
• Helps with deafness worsened by damp weather.
• Tendency to develop suppurative conditions (formation of pus).

DETAILED ORGAN SYMPTOMS

HEAD

• Nervousness and an easily frightened disposition.
• Tearing headaches with a feeling of weight on the brain.
• Swollen submaxillary glands, painful to the touch.
• Effective for lacerated scalp wounds.

EYES

• Particularly beneficial in injuries to the eyes that tend to suppurate.
• Helps in post-surgical recovery.
• Treatment of blennorrhœa of the lachrymal sac (inflammation and discharge from the tear sac).

EARS

• For deafness worse in damp surroundings and eczema-like conditions of the ear.
• The patient may hear better on a train or in noisy environments but struggles with distant sounds.

NOSE

• Useful for coryza (cold), particularly affecting one nostril with green discharge.
• Symptoms include sore nostrils and chronic irritation from thick discharge.

STOMACH

• Hunger immediately after nursing or meals.
• Tendency towards bulimia, heartburn, and nausea that is felt in the chest.
• Vomiting with a sinking sensation in the stomach, often accompanied by epigastric distention.

RESPIRATORY

• Cough with green expectoration.
• Associated with hoarseness and respiratory issues accompanied by a distended inguinal ring.
• Useful for catarrhal conditions of the respiratory tract.

FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM

• Treats warts on the os externum (cervical opening) and menstrual suppression.
• Alleviates uterine hypertrophy, where there is a sensation of fullness and dragging in the pelvis.
• Relieves endocervicitis (inflammation of the cervical lining) and menorrhagia.

SKIN

• Promotes favorable cicatrization (scar formation) with minimal suppuration.
• Effective for superficial burns, scalds, and ulcers.
• Treats conditions like erysipelas, pustules, and wounds that are slow to heal.

FEVER

• Coldness and shuddering in the back, with skin that feels warm to the touch.
• Worse in the evening with heat and a general sensitivity to cold air.

MODALITIES

• Worse: Damp, heavy, or cloudy weather. Cold air and open wounds.
• Better: In a dry, warm environment.

RELATIONSHIP WITH OTHER DRUGS

Complementary: Hepar sulph, which assists in suppurative conditions and wound healing.

• Similar Drugs: Arnica (for bruises and trauma), Hypericum (for nerve injuries), and Hamamelis (for venous issues).

DOSAGE

• Locally: Applied topically in the form of tinctures, creams, or aqueous solutions for wounds, ulcers, and burns.
• Internally: Tincture to third potency; also used in potencies for constitutional or systemic issues.
• Burns and sores: Calendula cerate is used to treat these conditions.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is Calendula primarily used for?

• Calendula is mainly used for the treatment of open wounds, burns, ulcers, and slow-healing skin conditions.
• It promotes rapid healing and reduces infection risks.

Can Calendula be used internally?

• Yes, Calendula can be taken internally in the form of a tincture or in homeopathic potencies, especially for catarrhal conditions and promoting tissue healing.

What are the key characteristics of a Calendula patient?

• A sensitive, nervous, and cold patient who is prone to wounds, ulcers, and suppurative processes. They are also often worse in damp weather.

How is Calendula applied topically?

• Calendula tinctures and ointments can be applied directly to wounds, burns, and abrasions to promote healing.