Calendula is an herbal plant with a bright yellow and orange flower that is believed to possess medicinal properties. These flowers have been used in brightening up salads and coloring food and fabric naturally.
One way of harnessing the healing powers of this herb is by drinking calendula tea. Below are some of its benefits.
May Contain Antifungal And Antimicrobial Properties
Calendula extract may have antimicrobial and antifungal properties. It was found to be effective against 23 strains of Candida yeast – a common fungus that can cause oral, vaginal, and skin infections. It may also inhibit the growth of leishmania, the parasite responsible for leishmaniasis — a disease that may produce skin sores or affect internal organs, such as your spleen, liver, and bone marrow.
Loaded With Antioxidants
Antioxidants are compounds that neutralize the harmful effects of oxidative stress in your body that have been linked to multiple conditions, including obesity, metabolic syndrome, and type 2 diabetes.
Calendula tea is packed with powerful antioxidants such as triterpenes, flavonoids, polyphenols, and carotenoids.
Eye Health
Calendula tea can be an effective remedy for conjunctivitis or pink eye (inflammation or infection of the transparent membrane (conjunctiva) that lines our eyelid and covers the white part of your eyeball) and other inflammatory conditions of the eye. When used for the eyes, calendula tea has anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antispasmodic, astringent, and wound healing effects.
Strain the tea through a coffee filter and use it as an eye rinse for itchy eyes due to allergies, dryness, and viral pink-eye.
Helps Ease Sore Throat
Traditionally, calendula flower tea is used internally as a gargle for reducing inflammation of the mucous membranes of the mouth and throat, for soothing sore throats, laryngitis, and tonsillitis.
Helps Fight Acne
Calendula tea contains two compounds – narcissin and rutin – which help regenerate the antioxidant glutathione. In turn, glutathione stops some of the inflammatory reactions that damage the skin when it has been exposed to UV light. Calendula also soothes the skin and keeps irritations from getting worse.
For an acne facial wash, simply wash the face with calendula tea as part of a natural anti-acne regime.
Helps Break A Fever
Calendula tea can potentially help break a fever by causing a sweat. For this, the dosage is no more than 2 to 3 cups per day.
Other Traditional Uses Of Calendula Tea
Hair rinse – Use as a hair rinse for itchy scalp.
Antiseptic, healing spray – Use as a spray for eczema. diaper rashes, or other skin irritation.
Menstruation regulator – Calendula tea can help regulate the menstrual cycle but because of its ability to induce menstruation, don’t take calendula tea internally while pregnant.
Digestive aid – Calendula tea helps soothe digestion and can be especially helpful for gastric ulcers.
How To Make Calendula Tea
For this recipe, we’ll be using dried calendula flowers. The flowers can be easily dried at home and stored in mason jars until needed to make tea.
Ingredients:
- A cup of water
- A tablespoon of dried calendula flowers
Bring a cup of water to a boil. Add one tablespoon of dried petals to a tea ball and steep for 10-12 minutes. Enjoy the goodness of calendula tea.
