Calendula essential oil is
a soothing therapeutic oil
distilled from pot marigold.
Its uses are varied -- from
soothing minor skin disorders
like pimples and dry chapped
lips to curing snakebite.
Calendula's medicinal properties
have been explored for centuries.
It was discovered that a great
deal of calendula's effectiveness
lies in its antioxidant properties.
As an antioxidant, calendula
extracts protect the body
from damage caused by an immuno-suppressing
function called oxidation.
Calendula essential oil has
been proven to aid in wound
healing. Combined with olive
oil, it becomes an excellent
salve even for serious burns,
bruises and cuts.
Can the Oil be Used for Psioriasis?
Psoriasis is an extremely
difficult skin disease to
treat. It is a dermal infection
characterized by inflamed
lesions on the skin covered
by a silvery white scale.
Psoriasis may be noncontagious,
but it could also be deadly,
especially if left untreated.
Studies show that an estimated
four hundred people die of
psoriasis-related diseases
every year in the United States
alone. Occurrences of psoriasis
are most common among Caucasian
females, and rare among those
with darker skin. Often, psoriasis
strikes at an advanced age,
and there are indications
that it may be a genetic disease.
How can calendula essential
oil help in treating this
disease? This oil's antiseptic
and anti-inflammatory properties
may be the answer. Calendula
could ease the inflammation
of the lesions and slow the
spread of the disease. Related
to this, calendula extracts
are used as additives in antiseptic
mouthwashes and gargles that
treat and prevent mouth sores.
Calendula extracts have also
been proven to help in treating
hemorrhoids.
Other Properties of Calendula
Oil
There is almost no way to
get 100% pure marigold calendula
essential oil. This makes
calendula essential oil an
infusion and not a pure extract.
Nonetheless, the warm golden
oil is said to be completely
non-toxic and highly effective
in treating nearly every sort
of skin disorder. Oil distilled
from various breeds of calendula
may vary in efficiency, but
in general marigold calendula
is recognized to be the most
therapeutic kind.
Calendula essential oil is
a popular element of an aromatherapy
massage. Aside from its antiseptic
and anti-inflammatory properties
and its ability to help heal
wounds, it refreshes and regenerates
the skin. Some recipes use
calendula essential oil to
treat dermatitis, sore feet,
ringworm, and diaper rash!
It is something that seems
so innocuous, but has such
a lot of diverse uses.
About the Author
J. Martin is the webmaster
of the Aromatherapy
Spot, your source for
information on aromatherapy.
This article came from the
aromatherapy
essential oils section
of the site.
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