Myth, history and tradition of marigold

Marigold, a plant rich in history, has always been a symbol of “concentrated well-being”. Since ancient times, it has been revered and utilized for its numerous health benefits. Many ancient writers have praised its myriad virtues.

Its scientific name is Calendula officinalis, derived from the Latin word Kalendae, referring to the first day of the month in the Roman calendar, alluding to its monthly blooming during the summer. Both the Romans and the Greeks often referred to it as Solsepium, meaning “follower of the sun”, as its flowers open and close with the rising and setting of the sun.

An ancient Greek legend has shaped the perception of this plant over the centuries, portraying it as a symbol of submission and sorrow. According to the tale, Aphrodite raised Adonis, the son of Myrrha and Thia, as Myrrha had been transformed into a tree by the gods as punishment. Aphrodite fell in love with the young Adonis, leading to a furious Mars, the god of war, who sought revenge by sending a boar to mortally wound Adonis. Injured, Adonis was protected by Aphrodite, who hid him in a box and entrusted him to the care of Proserpina, the queen of the Underworld. However, Proserpina, curious about the box’s contents, opened it and also fell in love with the young and handsome Adonis. When Aphrodite asked for the box back and Proserpina refused, Aphrodite appealed to all the gods of Olympus to rectify the injustice. Zeus decided that Adonis should spend part of the year with Aphrodite among the living and the other part with Proserpina in the realm of the dead.

When Adonis returned to the Underworld, Aphrodite wept bitterly, and from her tears arose a Calendula plant, destined, like Adonis, for alternating periods of life and death.

Marigold has long been associated with pain, resentment, and, particularly for Mexicans, it symbolizes death. Legend has it that the marigolds brought by conquerors flourished in Mexican territory due to the bloodshed of the indigenous people during colonization. For the English, marigolds symbolize jealousy. According to folk beliefs, they are spinsters who, never being loved by anyone, transform into yellow marigolds out of anger upon death.

However, the flower’s sad and melancholic association with the pains of love, jealousy, and resentment finds its nemesis in its excellent healing properties.

 

Before delving into its numerous healing virtues, let’s provide a brief botanical description.

Marigold is widespread as a wild plant in the regions of Southern Europe, especially along the Mediterranean coasts and in hilly areas, meadows, and uncultivated land.

It is an annual herbaceous plant with a taproot and numerous lateral roots; the stem, variably branched, can sometimes reach 70-100 cm. The entire plant is covered with rough hairs and glands. The leaves are alternate to the stem, with a serrated margin. The flowers, inserted at the end of the branches, are grouped in heads, surrounded by bracts covered with glandular hairs. The fruits are achenes of variable shape, from curved and winged to simple, all rough or armed with thorns.

The drug consists of flower heads, flowering tops, and leaves.

What is the best period to harvest Marigold?

Flowers and flowering tops are preferably harvested in April-June and September-November. The heads are cut with nails just below their insertion, and the flowering tops are obtained by collecting the branches when most of the heads are open. The leaves are harvested from March to November, picking them one by one.

How to preserve them?

All parts of the plant are dried away from the sun by arranging them in thin layers and frequently removing them; they are stored in the dark in glass or porcelain containers.

The special properties of Marigold…

It is considered an excellent antiseptic, antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory, healing, cholagogue, and emmenagogue. Marigold has remarkable moisturizing, emollient, and soothing properties. Its fresh flowers, lightly chopped, can be applied as a soothing agent in all cases of skin inflammation. The infusion prepared with the flowers is excellent as a lotion for delicate skin. Marigold leaves have callifugous properties: they are applied fresh several times a day to the affected area, carefully protecting the surrounding skin.

 

Herbalist’s Tips. Let’s conclude with some “do-it-yourself” remedies.

Detoxifying Herbal Tea: Pour a teaspoon of flowers into a teacup of hot water. Cover and filter after 10 minutes. Drink, sweetening with honey, three cups a day.

Skin purifying tonic: Macerate 30 grams of flowers in half a liter of hot water, cover and filter after 20 minutes. Add the juice of a lemon and use morning and evening. In addition to toning the tissues, the preparation cleanses the pores, freeing them from blackheads.

Infusion against stubborn acne: In a coffee cup of hot water, pour a teaspoon of flowers and cover; filter after 5 minutes. Drink a cup in the morning on an empty stomach and one in the evening before going to bed.

Wrinkle and emollient oil for children: Macerate 20 grams of marigold flowers in 250 grams of olive oil for 10 days, keeping the bottle in the dark. Filter with a cloth and squeeze very well. This oil is excellent for soothing children’s irritations.

To facilitate menstruations: Pour two tablespoons of flowers into half a liter of hot water and boil for a minute. Cover and filter after 5 minutes. Drink throughout the day, starting the treatment 8 days before menstruation.

Let’s conclude with a culinary recipe…

The recipe of Marigold Vinegar

Ingredients:

– Marigold flowers

– Wine vinegar

Directions:

Carefully clean the marigold flowers, then let them dry in the sun for about ten days. After this time, place them in a tightly sealed jar and pour vinegar over them. Close the jar and let it all rest for 40 days. Filter and bottle. This vinegar, with its unique taste, is excellent for dressing all kinds of salads.

Dr. DI LEVA LUISANA