CALENDULA ARVENSIS
INTRODUCTION:
While mainstream media is hammering us with soap operas, scandals and sports, somehow they forget the devastating effects of digging for fossil fuels and releasing it into the atmospehere, the global warming, the melting ice caps, and the messed up biotopes slowly turning, say a country like Turkey, into a desert. Perhaps I am wrong and it all just miraculously went away!? Because if it didn't, we are headed towards trouble of epic proportions. Anyways, this is just me being a drama queen. I bet everything is just fine, let the shopping go on! But if my ominous predictions of the future prove right, the knowledge on nature could be your life line one day. And even if you think I'm raving mad, the same knowledge might seriously reduce your food- and medicinal bill, if you only look in the right direction: That would be somewhere around your feet! My seventh article introduces the Field marigold:
QUOTE:
"A nation that destroys its soils destroys itself."
~ Franklin D. Roosevelt
CALENDULA ARVENSIS:
Common names: English: Field marigold. Turkish: Aynısefa, Nergis, Altıncık, Öküzgözü and Ölü çiçeği, where the most common name seems to be 'Aynısefa'. The name 'Calendula' derives from Latin Kalendae, corresponding to the first days of each month of the Roman calendar. Other sources claim 'Calendula' to be a modern Latin diminutive of Calendae, meaning "little calendar", "little clock" or possibly "little weather-glass". The common name "Marigold" refers to the Virgin Mary. Whatever the case, do not confuse Calendula with plants from the Tagetes family, also called Marigold!
The Field Marigold is an annual flower, currently covering basically every roadside, yard and waste place up in the village of KayaKöy. Free food and medicine at our feet! Intuition tells me the Field marigold has not received nearly as much attention or research as it truly deserves. It is the wild version of the domesticated Pot marigold which most research promotes as a superhealer, included in many expensive beauty products and face creams: Anti-aging, anti-oxidant and an extremely potent skin healer. As for KayaKöy the locals mostly use Calendula to feed goats!
MYTHOLOGY & HISTORY:
* During the 1600’s Calendula was highly regarded as a remedy for smallpox and measles and it has been used as symbol of constancy in love as a flower for weddings or in love potions.
* Hang a calendula wreath, bouquet or garland over entry doors to prevent evil from entering.
* Scatter petals under the bed for prophetic dreams and for protection while sleeping.
* Carry calendula petals into court for favorable legal proceedings.
* Take a bath in calendula infused water to receive an extra dose of respect and admiration.
MODERN RESEARCH:
Calendula is one of the most famous and versatile herbs in western medicine: Known to reduce inflammation and heal tissue, discharge overflowing biproducts from the body, act on the respiratory system, increase menstrual flow to such a degree it might cause abortions. It helps in cell growth, aids tissue formation and hastens wound healing hence it is used for variety of skin problems and beauty products. Recent plant pharmacological studies have suggested that Calendula extracts also might have anti-viral and anti-tumor properties, but this research is still theoretical. Only the common deep-orange flowered variety is considered to be of medicinal value.
EDIBLE USES:
As an edible, the leaves are very rich in vitamins and minerals, similar to Taraxacum officinale (Dandelion) in nutritional value. Flowers can be pickled and petals can be used fresh in salads or dried and used to color cheese or as a replacement for saffron.
OTHER USES:
Calendula has been used traditionally for abdominal cramps and constipation, also considered a cleansing and detoxifying herb taken internally in treating fevers and chronic infections. Above all, Calendula, is used externally as a remedy for skin problems and is applied to bites and stings, acne, sprains, wounds, sore eyes, varicose veins, reducing inflammation, controlling bleeding, and soothing irritated tissue. An application of the crushed stems to corns and warts will soon render them easily removable. Within permaculture it seems to attract a lot of bees and butterflies to promote pollination. It also makes a good companion plant with tomatos, especially the Pink ones. And of course, an excellent goat feed!
IMPORTANT NOTE:
The Field marigold is common as weed and a lot healthier than most stuff you can find in stores, and yet I have been unable to find it the vegetable markets. Either I missed it or it has simply disappeared due to lack of interest or knowledge. Another theory is that due to the sheer potency of this flower, causing allergic reactions to people unaccustomed to 'controversial' food, as well as causing abortions, therefore removed from the common market.
It is, however, obtainable as a salve from the herbal stores by the fish market in Fethiye. And by the fields and roadsides surrounding us if you are brave enough to harvest. Before foraging always do your research well and ask the locals, or you might end up with a poisonous Buttercup in your belly! I advise extreme caution when foraging wild plants due to the abundance of look-alikes and possibly poisonous plants still unaccounted for. Harvest and use wild plants at your own risk!
CONCLUSION:
Causing abortions, allergic reactions (which I have experienced myself) I would not properly recommend this plant as part of a daily diet. But small doses seems ok, like tea, making pickles or fresh petals added to salads or external use as a poultice seems a sensible use.
Personally I think of it as Sage, everybody knows Sage is good and healthy, but if you eat a full meal of only Sage you are bound to vomit. It's simply too potent!
INTRODUCTION:
While mainstream media is hammering us with soap operas, scandals and sports, somehow they forget the devastating effects of digging for fossil fuels and releasing it into the atmospehere, the global warming, the melting ice caps, and the messed up biotopes slowly turning, say a country like Turkey, into a desert. Perhaps I am wrong and it all just miraculously went away!? Because if it didn't, we are headed towards trouble of epic proportions. Anyways, this is just me being a drama queen. I bet everything is just fine, let the shopping go on! But if my ominous predictions of the future prove right, the knowledge on nature could be your life line one day. And even if you think I'm raving mad, the same knowledge might seriously reduce your food- and medicinal bill, if you only look in the right direction: That would be somewhere around your feet! My seventh article introduces the Field marigold:
QUOTE:
"A nation that destroys its soils destroys itself."
~ Franklin D. Roosevelt
CALENDULA ARVENSIS:
Common names: English: Field marigold. Turkish: Aynısefa, Nergis, Altıncık, Öküzgözü and Ölü çiçeği, where the most common name seems to be 'Aynısefa'. The name 'Calendula' derives from Latin Kalendae, corresponding to the first days of each month of the Roman calendar. Other sources claim 'Calendula' to be a modern Latin diminutive of Calendae, meaning "little calendar", "little clock" or possibly "little weather-glass". The common name "Marigold" refers to the Virgin Mary. Whatever the case, do not confuse Calendula with plants from the Tagetes family, also called Marigold!
The Field Marigold is an annual flower, currently covering basically every roadside, yard and waste place up in the village of KayaKöy. Free food and medicine at our feet! Intuition tells me the Field marigold has not received nearly as much attention or research as it truly deserves. It is the wild version of the domesticated Pot marigold which most research promotes as a superhealer, included in many expensive beauty products and face creams: Anti-aging, anti-oxidant and an extremely potent skin healer. As for KayaKöy the locals mostly use Calendula to feed goats!
MYTHOLOGY & HISTORY:
* During the 1600’s Calendula was highly regarded as a remedy for smallpox and measles and it has been used as symbol of constancy in love as a flower for weddings or in love potions.
* Hang a calendula wreath, bouquet or garland over entry doors to prevent evil from entering.
* Scatter petals under the bed for prophetic dreams and for protection while sleeping.
* Carry calendula petals into court for favorable legal proceedings.
* Take a bath in calendula infused water to receive an extra dose of respect and admiration.
MODERN RESEARCH:
Calendula is one of the most famous and versatile herbs in western medicine: Known to reduce inflammation and heal tissue, discharge overflowing biproducts from the body, act on the respiratory system, increase menstrual flow to such a degree it might cause abortions. It helps in cell growth, aids tissue formation and hastens wound healing hence it is used for variety of skin problems and beauty products. Recent plant pharmacological studies have suggested that Calendula extracts also might have anti-viral and anti-tumor properties, but this research is still theoretical. Only the common deep-orange flowered variety is considered to be of medicinal value.
EDIBLE USES:
As an edible, the leaves are very rich in vitamins and minerals, similar to Taraxacum officinale (Dandelion) in nutritional value. Flowers can be pickled and petals can be used fresh in salads or dried and used to color cheese or as a replacement for saffron.
OTHER USES:
Calendula has been used traditionally for abdominal cramps and constipation, also considered a cleansing and detoxifying herb taken internally in treating fevers and chronic infections. Above all, Calendula, is used externally as a remedy for skin problems and is applied to bites and stings, acne, sprains, wounds, sore eyes, varicose veins, reducing inflammation, controlling bleeding, and soothing irritated tissue. An application of the crushed stems to corns and warts will soon render them easily removable. Within permaculture it seems to attract a lot of bees and butterflies to promote pollination. It also makes a good companion plant with tomatos, especially the Pink ones. And of course, an excellent goat feed!
IMPORTANT NOTE:
The Field marigold is common as weed and a lot healthier than most stuff you can find in stores, and yet I have been unable to find it the vegetable markets. Either I missed it or it has simply disappeared due to lack of interest or knowledge. Another theory is that due to the sheer potency of this flower, causing allergic reactions to people unaccustomed to 'controversial' food, as well as causing abortions, therefore removed from the common market.
It is, however, obtainable as a salve from the herbal stores by the fish market in Fethiye. And by the fields and roadsides surrounding us if you are brave enough to harvest. Before foraging always do your research well and ask the locals, or you might end up with a poisonous Buttercup in your belly! I advise extreme caution when foraging wild plants due to the abundance of look-alikes and possibly poisonous plants still unaccounted for. Harvest and use wild plants at your own risk!
CONCLUSION:
Causing abortions, allergic reactions (which I have experienced myself) I would not properly recommend this plant as part of a daily diet. But small doses seems ok, like tea, making pickles or fresh petals added to salads or external use as a poultice seems a sensible use.
Personally I think of it as Sage, everybody knows Sage is good and healthy, but if you eat a full meal of only Sage you are bound to vomit. It's simply too potent!
