Calendula
In short
Summary of findings for quick reference
Calendula flower is one of the classic topical skin plants of the European household tradition. The reliable written record begins in the Salernitan Tractatus de herbis around 1300, runs through the Renaissance herbals of Fuchs and Gerard, and continues today in the living Ringelblumensalbe of the German speaking and Alpine regions. The use is consistently external, for minor inflammations of the skin and the care of minor wounds, and the plant part throughout is the flower, Calendulae flos.
The clinical picture is modest and the trials are small. The best single trial, Pommier and colleagues in 2004, was a phase III study in 254 breast cancer patients in which a Calendula officinalis ointment reduced acute radiation dermatitis compared with trolamine. A smaller study, Lavagna and colleagues in 2001, looked at caesarean wound healing, but it used a mixture of Hypericum and Calendula oils with the field marigold Calendula arvensis, so it is a multi herb, different species study rather than evidence for the flower of Calendula officinalis. The honest reading is a traditionally well established, well tolerated topical plant with a thin clinical base, not a proven treatment.
Where tradition meets the regulator is the European monograph. The EMA HMPCEuropean Medicines Agency, Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products (HMPC) lists Calendulae flos, the flower of Calendula officinalis, as a traditional herbal medicinal product for the symptomatic treatment of minor inflammations of the skin and mucosa and as an aid to the healing of minor wounds, and Commission E and ESCOP cover the same flower. This is traditional use, external only, not an authorised efficacy claim. One caution belongs here: calendula is in the Asteraceae or daisy family, so people allergic to ragweed, chrysanthemums or other daisy family plants can cross react to it.
Clinical evidence ↔ Historical significanceWe display two separate evidence categories: clinical evidence from modern trials and historical significance from documented healing tradition. Both are valuable, but they answer different questions.Read more
In every encyclopedia entry we evaluate two distinct categories of evidence. Clinical evidence as used in trials meets a narrower but scientifically essential bar. At the same time, the hundreds of thousands of plant species worldwide have only partially been captured and tested in modern studies.
Alongside the trial picture our researchers compile a comprehensive overview of where and since when a plant has been used across different traditions of natural medicine. When a plant has been used as a medicinal plant in many cultures across many generations, that historical significance deserves to be visible too.
Our position: a truly informative overview emerges only when both categories sit side by side. We communicate transparently what counts as what.
Overview
Calendula (Calendula officinalis), also called pot marigold, is one of the most familiar herbs of the Central European cottage garden. The bright orange to yellow flower heads are made into salves, infused oils, teas, and compresses, and have been part of the household pantry across the German-speaking world for generations.
Research has focused on the triterpenoids (especially faradiol esters) and flavonoids in the petals. The European Medicines Agency Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products (EMA HMPCEuropean Medicines Agency, Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products (HMPC)) lists calendula for traditional use in minor skin inflammation and as supportive care in wound healing. The German Commission E monograph also covers internal and external use for inflammation.
History
Calendula is a classic plant of Central European monastic medicine and the traditional cottage garden. It has been cultivated in the German-speaking world since the Middle Ages. Ringelblumensalbe (calendula ointment) is among the oldest and most enduring household remedies for skin care.
The plant has kept its place in modern phytotherapy. The European Medicines Agency Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products lists calendula flower in its register of traditional herbal medicinal products, and the German Commission E reviewed the flowers in a positive monograph. Calendula is one of the few garden plants to make the journey from monastic medicine into formal regulatory recognition.
Mechanism
The mechanistic research focuses on the triterpenoids in the flower heads. Faradiol esters in particular have been studied in the lab for anti-inflammatory activity and are considered the lead phytochemical markers for calendula. Flavonoids and carotenoids contribute to the broader profile.
In vitro work shows anti-inflammatory and wound-healing-supportive effects of calendula extracts on skin cells. How these laboratory results translate to the everyday use of a calendula ointment is not fully established, but it aligns with the long traditional pattern of topical use.
The clinical evidence base for calendula is small but targeted. A 2004 trial by Pommier et al. compared a calendula ointment to standard care for acute radiation dermatitis during breast cancer radiotherapy and reported advantages in skin tolerability. A smaller 2001 report by Lavagna et al. looked at a combined Hypericum and Calendula oil for wound healing after caesarean section. The calendula it used was the related species Calendula arvensis, not Calendula officinalis, and it was part of a multi-herb formulation, so it does not stand as evidence for Calendula officinalis on its own.
Further clinical work has examined calendula mouth rinses for the prevention of oral mucositis in cancer patients (Patrick et al.). The underlying trials are small and heterogeneous, so calendula is best understood as traditionally well established with supportive, promising clinical evidence rather than a proven treatment.
Evidence
| Outcome | Class | Grade | Effect | Studies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Topical wound healing supportTopical calendula in minor wound healing rests mainly on a long traditional record and the EMA HMPC traditional-use listing. The often cited 2001 trial by Lavagna et al. used a multi-herb Hypericum and Calendula oil and the related species Calendula arvensis, so it is not counted as evidence for Calendula officinalis alone.Adults with minor skin wounds; post-surgical (caesarean) | EmergingEmerging research. Early small trials suggest an effect but await replication. | CEvidence quality grade C. Mixed or limited evidence. Small trials, signals, or traditional use under an EMA HMPC traditional-use monograph. This is an evidence rating, not a product endorsement. | Small Improvement | |
| Oral mucositis prevention (radiation/chemotherapy)Calendula mouth rinses studied for oral mucositis prevention (Patrick et al.). Small, heterogeneous trials; promising signal in supportive oncology care.Cancer patients receiving radiotherapy or chemotherapy | EmergingEmerging research. Early small trials suggest an effect but await replication. | CEvidence quality grade C. Mixed or limited evidence. Small trials, signals, or traditional use under an EMA HMPC traditional-use monograph. This is an evidence rating, not a product endorsement. | Small Improvement | |
| Skin inflammation soothing (incl. radiation dermatitis)EMA HMPC lists traditional use for minor skin inflammation; Pommier et al. 2004 RCT on acute radiation dermatitis in breast cancer reported improved skin tolerability vs standard care.Adults with minor inflammatory skin conditions; radiotherapy patients | TraditionalTraditional use. Long-standing folk practice or EMA HMPC traditional-use monograph. | CEvidence quality grade C. Mixed or limited evidence. Small trials, signals, or traditional use under an EMA HMPC traditional-use monograph. This is an evidence rating, not a product endorsement. | Traditionally used | |
| Topical antimicrobial activityIn vitro work suggests mild antimicrobial activity of calendula extracts; clinical translation is not established.In vitro / preclinical | EmergingEmerging research. Early small trials suggest an effect but await replication. | DEvidence quality grade D. Preliminary signal. A single small trial, pilot result, or laboratory or animal model. Clinical relevance unclear. This is an evidence rating, not a product endorsement. | Early Findings |
Usage
Forms and preparation
For a tea, place one to two teaspoons of dried calendula flowers in a cup and pour freshly boiled water over them. Cover the cup for ten minutes, then strain. For a compress, make a stronger infusion, let it cool, and soak a clean cotton cloth in it. For an oil maceration, loosely fill the dried flowers into a clean jar, cover them completely with a good plant oil (for example organic sunflower or olive oil), and let them steep for two to four weeks in a warm, sunny spot. Then strain and store cool. The classic calendula ointment is made from this oil maceration combined with beeswax.
Dosage
For topical use, calendula ointment is traditionally applied two to four times daily on dry, irritated, or minor sore skin. Compresses with a cooled infusion can be applied several times daily for ten to fifteen minutes each. Internally, one to two cups of tea per day sit within the traditional range. Topical use is well tolerated and can be continued over longer periods. If the skin does not improve within a few days or shows signs of infection, stop self-application and speak with your doctor.
Safety
Look-alikes
Toxic look-alikes
Tagetes (Studentenblume / French and African marigold)
A different genus (Tagetes) within the Asteraceae family. In English both are sometimes called "marigold", which leads to confusion. Tagetes has a noticeably different, stronger scent and a different, less extensive medicinal tradition. The classic calendula household remedy uses only Calendula officinalis.
FAQs
How do you make calendula ointment at home?
Start with an oil maceration: loosely fill a clean jar with dried calendula flowers, cover them completely with a plant oil (for example sunflower or olive), and let it steep for two to four weeks in a warm, sunny spot. Then strain. For the ointment, melt the finished calendula oil with beeswax in a water bath (about 10 g of wax per 100 ml of oil) and pour into clean jars. Stored cool, the ointment keeps for several months.
Is calendula the same as tagetes (French/African marigold)?
No. True calendula (Calendula officinalis) and tagetes (French or African marigold) both belong to the Asteraceae family but are different genera. In English, both are sometimes called "marigold", which causes confusion. For traditional skin care, only calendula is meant; tagetes has a different and less extensive medicinal tradition.
Can I use calendula during pregnancy?
Topical use as an ointment or compress is traditionally considered unproblematic and is often recommended by midwives in the German-speaking world, for example on dry skin. Concentrated internal use (tinctures at higher doses) is generally avoided during pregnancy because older sources describe a potential uterine-stimulating effect. If uncertain, speak with your midwife or doctor.
How often can I apply calendula ointment?
Traditionally the ointment is applied thinly two to four times a day on the affected skin. Topical use is well tolerated and can be continued for longer periods. If you see no change or the spot becomes inflamed, stop self-application and have it checked by a doctor.
When do you harvest calendula for personal use?
In a Central European garden, calendula flowers from June through October. Pick the flowers in late morning on a dry day, then dry them in a shaded, airy spot. Stored dry and dark, the flowers keep for a year. For a continuous harvest, pick the open flower heads regularly; the plant will keep producing.
Legal notice: The depiction of historical significance and traditional use is context within our encyclopedia and not a health claim for any product, not a treatment promise, and not a substitute for medical advice. What may be stated on product labels, product pages, or in advertising is governed by the applicable legal requirements.