I loved delving into learning about healing herbs when I was writing Better Basics for the Home. What a gift to us from the herbal world, and what a loss for us that so few of us know about what these gifts are.
Calendula stood out with many of the herbalists I spoke to as one nature’s wonders for healing skin problems. Calendula flowers are highly emollient, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antifungal, and antiviral. They are immune system stimulants and are rich in carotenoids. Calendula is healing for eczema, psoriasis, varicose veins, acne, and more.
Here’s a good and very healing calendula skin recipe from Better Basics for the Home:
Ingredients
1/2 cup avocado oil
small handful dried organic calendula flowers
6 tablespoons aloe vera gel
Heat the oil and calendula in a double boiler on low for 30 minutes. Cool. Strain out the flowers and stir in the aloe vera gel. This recipe is very healing to use on the skin during times of lot of sun exposure, such as on vacation.
Shelf life: 2 weeks refrigerated
Caution: Don’t use calendula if you are pregnant.
By Annie B. Bond, best-selling and award-winning author of five green living books, thousands of blogs, and all the tips in the Greenify Everything app. Called “The Godmother of Green” by Martha Stewart Sirius Radio.
