Marigold essential oil helps wounds heal by killing off bacteria, viruses and fungi. The beautiful, bright orange flowers (called pot marigolds or calendulas) often perform veritable healing miracles for all types of skin lesions, including nail bed infections, scars and abscesses. You have to try it to believe it!
You Will Need
Preserving jar (4 cups/1 L)
Funnel
Fine-mesh sieve
Dark bottle (4 oz/125 mL)
0.35 oz freshly picked marigold flowers 10 g
7 tbsp 70% ethyl rubbing alcohol 100 mL
How to Make It Place marigold flowers in a preserving jar. Pour ethyl alcohol over top. Seal tightly and place the jar in a warm spot. From time to time during the next 2 weeks, vigorously shake the jar. Using a funnel and a fine-mesh sieve, strain into a dark bottle, pressing flowers to remove liquid.
Tips If you don’t have fresh marigold flowers, make a simple cleanser by combining 20 drops calendula mother tincture (a homeopathic medicine available at some pharmacies) with 7 tbsp (100 mL) cooled boiled water, or 0.9% isotonic saline solution (also called sterile saline solution; look for it at pharmacies).
Look for 70% ethyl rubbing alcohol at drugstores. It is not the same as isopropyl rubbing alcohol.
When to Use It For cleaning open wounds.
How to Use It Wash the wound with the cleanser or place a compress moistened in the cleanser on the wound.
Shelf Life The cleanser will keep for about 1 year in the fridge.
Courtesy of THE ESSENTIAL GUIDE TO HOME HERBAL REMEDIES: Easy Recipes Using Medicinal Herbs to Treat More Than 125 Conditions from Sunburns to Sore Throats by Melanie Wenzel 2014 © www.robertrose.ca Reprinted with publisher permission. Available where books are sold.
Please consult a doctor before beginning any course of treatment.
This original healthy living article first appeared in the Fall 2019 issue of City Style and Living Magazine.
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