The competition was steep, but in the end one herb stood out. I’d like to offer my heartfelt congratulations to calendula commonly known as the marigold—International Herb Association’s Herb of the Year for 2008! Please join me in a round of applause as I extoll the benefits of this exceptional botanical.

I was at Borders looking through the magazine section and there it was on the cover of Herbs for Health. Not a more deserving herb in my opinion.

Calendula preparations have a long history of uses as anti-inflammatories and astringents. Calendula has been used in tinctures, ointments, and washes for centuries to heal bruises, burns, cuts and minor infections.

One of the most popular uses of Calendula is as a salve or cream ingredient because it decreases the inflammation of burns, rashes sprains, stings, and varicose veins. It’s gentle enough to be used as a tea to remedy thrush in children’s mouths.

Scientific studies have been conducted and it’s been proven that there is an increase of glycoprotein, nucleoprotein, and collagen at wound sites; also, antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, and antiparasitic properties.

Calendula is said to be the poor man’s saffron. Besides adding color and flavor to foods, tincture of calendula helps inflammatory problems of the digestive system such as gastritis, peptic ulcers, regional ileitis and colitis. Calendula has long been considered a detoxifying herb, and helps to treat the toxicity that underlies many fevers and infections and systemic skin disorders such as eczema and acne.

Other uses:

•A healing mouthwash for gums after tooth extraction

•Rub the petals of a calendula flower into a bee or wasp sting,to reduce pain and reduce swelling

•Infusion of Calendula helps reduce menstrual pain and regulate bleeding

•Infusion of Calendula can also be an effective douche for yeast infections

Consider using Calendula if you have a skin inflammation. It has so many beneficial uses I’m sure you can find a way to put it to good use.