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Calendula Salve 

Calendula Salve has provided relief for my daughter’s dry, cracked hands.

You may have seen calendula salves in a wide range of organic and natural stores. It is becoming more popular and has so many incredible benefits; it should be a staple in everyone’s home!

Here you will learn all about calendula, the benefits that come from this salve, and how to make your own DIY calendula salve with an easy-to-follow recipe. 

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What is Calendula? 

Calendula (Calendula officinalis) is a flower also known as Pot Marigold. It is in the Asteraceae or Compositae family and is commonly used in Ayurvedic practices for a variety of skin problems. 

You can find these bright orange and yellow colored flowers all over the world nowadays. It is fairly easy to grow your own too! 

This flower is mostly used in teas and bath and body products but is also a great spice too. Typically, you will use the flower petals or grind the petals into a powder. 

Benefits of Calendula Salve

Calendula salve has been used traditionally for centuries as a natural remedy and can have some incredible healing properties. 

First off, calendula is known for having antibacterial, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory properties, making it an effective ingredient to help heal your skin. 

One study found that repeatedly using a calendula ointment every couple of hours helps reduce swelling, bruising, and redness. This was used on top of standard care [source]. 

It aids in healing minor skin irritations and wounds, such as cuts and scrapes. The salve works very well at soothing dry or cracked skin, burns, rashes, and boils. Sometimes, it can also help with scars too! 

Calendula salve can also be used for topical use for things such as sunburns, bug bites, rashes, and more. There have been some studies about it as a sunscreen, but there is not enough research to determine how effective it is. 

If you have particularly sensitive skin, a calendula salve might just be what you need! Calendula salves have also been known to help with some cases of eczema and psoriasis and work as a great diaper cream for little ones [source]. 

Because of its antifungal and anti-inflammatory properties, it can also help with treating acne all over the body too! Use it in a salve, facial lotion, or body soap. 

In general, many studies have shown that calendula is effective for all types of skin problems and can even help with making your skin firm and glowing again [source]. 

Is Calendula Salve Safe to Use? 

Generally, calendula is very safe to use, making it a great salve to have on hand for a number of skin issues. 

If you are allergic to plants in the Asteraceae/Compositae family, you should probably avoid calendula; otherwise, it should work just fine. 

Always test the calendula salve on a small patch of skin, usually on the foot or forearm, before applying it anywhere else. 

It is also best not to put it directly on a fresh, open wound. While there are great potential healing properties, it is safer to wait until the wound has closed up some before applying, just in case. 

DIY Calendula Salve Recipe

This calendula salve will last for months and can be used for many different things.

This recipe will make 3 1 oz tins. 

Supplies 

  • 1 cup infused calendula oil 
  • 2-3 tablespoons beeswax pellets
  • 5-10 drops of essential oils (optional) I use doTerra brand
  • Microwave safe bowl 
  • Spatula 
  • 3 1oz tins

Directions

  1. Pour the beeswax pellets into the calendula-infused oil. Microwave for 30 seconds and then stir for 30 seconds. Repeat until all the pellets have melted. 
  2. Add in a couple of drops of essential oil. (if using) 
  3. Pour the mixture into a tin or glass container. 
  4. Let it sit without the lid on for 4-5 hours or until it fully hardens. Once it is hard, then you can put the lid on. 
  5. Keep it in a dark place without much humidity, and it can last up to a year. 

Notes

  • The infused calendula oil can be made with any type of carrier oil. This recipe used extra virgin olive oil, which is why it had a darker color. You can use coconut oil, avocado oil, jojoba oil, etc. 
  • You do not have to use essential oils. 
  • If you want this to be a vegan recipe, swap out beeswax pellets for candelilla wax.
  • If you do not want to use the microwave, you can use the double boiler method to heat up the oil and beeswax. 
  • Use more beeswax pellets if you want a harder salve and less if you want a softer ointment. 
  • You can use a variety of essential oils to make it smell good and have more healing properties. 
  • For a prettier salve, you can add dry calendula leaves to the top before it hardens. 
  • You can use an infused oil that has more than just calendula. Lavender and calendula-infused oil have even more healing properties. 

Making your own homemade calendula salve is easy, and you can customize it based on your individual needs. Calendula salve is excellent for common skin problems and is a great product to add to your first aid kit. And if you can make it yourself, that’s even better!