Abby's

Volume 1 Issue 3

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Calendula: A Staple in the Medicine Cabinet By Angelique M. Saffle The orange blossoms were stunning and grew exceptionally tall this past summer in our company's organic Calendula farm. I invited my brother to join the harvest - his first real experience at getting his hands on these amazing plants. We were an hour into picking, knee and waist deep between the rows of flowers, when he turned to me and said, "You know, my knees have been aching and all of a sudden they are tingling. It's odd - they actually feel better!" My brother wears wornout cargo shorts most summer days and on this afternoon his knees were covered with Calendula resins. I just smiled to myself as he experienced, first-hand, one of God's natural healing wonders. "Flower power" from nature to us! Calendula is known in herbalist circles as the "mother of the skin". It is a safe and gentle plant, possessing no known drug interactions or adverse effects for long term use. Calendula in an oil or salve form is the perfect herb for many skin issues on the face and body and should be a "staple in everyone's medicine cabinet." The calendula flower is composed of "sticky stuff" my brother was feeling on his legs. The resins contain a potent array of powerful antioxidant compounds which help protect skin from free-radical damage. Calendula increases collagen & elastin and plays an active role in keeping the skin younglooking and healthy. It also helps that calendula feels good when you apply it. Soothing & nourishing on contact, it can be used safely by all ages. Traditional applications include use on dry & aging skin, sunburn, eczema, psoriasis, radiation burns, recent or hard-to-heal wounds, insect bites, varicose & spider veins. One of the most potent ways to use Calendula resins and ensure penetration into deeper layers of the skin is via an oil. We use our pure calendula oil at home as our daily moisturizer to keep our skin healthy and radiant-looking. This multi-tasker can be used head to toe - including a few drops on the face to rejuvenate dry, aging skin & assist with rosacea. It is effective on chapped lips and extremely sensitive skin which makes Bodyceuticals Calendula facial care & lip balm customer favorites. Calendula can also be used in sensitive areas as the oil's warm and nourishing constitution makes it useful as a lubricant and helpful for hemorrhoid discomfort. It doesn't burn or sting when applied as other essential oils can sometimes do. Its raw, almost nutty scent is pure and inviting. It is 100% food grade and for this reason, it is a staple product for new mothers dealing with breastfeeding issues, stretch marks, and their infant's diaper rash. Calendula is popular with men as a grooming product and is used as a shaving oil, for razor burn and as an aftershave treatment. Calendula salve is popular among those prone to athletes' foot. Calendula's anti-inflammatory constituents Page 10 | Abby's Magazine - www.AbbysMag.com may provide relief for the uncomfortable, itchy skin that often accompanies fungus. For our friends who live in Florida or those traveling someplace warm this summer season, remember to bring your calendula with you. It is called the "Flower of the Sun" by herbalists for a reason. Its ability to nourish and soothe sunburn and sun-damaged skin is outstanding and rivals aloe vera to soothe over-exposed skin. Our friends in Hawaii tell us it's the best thing for sunburn, especially for the travelers who aren't used to strong tropical rays. So if you've got sunburn, get your calendula. You'll be glad you did if you end up getting "too much of a good thing"! Angelique M. Saffle is president and founder of Bodyceuticals Calendula Skincare. She is also an organic farmer, co-owns a health food store and has been in the Health and Wellness industry for over 20 years. She can be reached at: Angelique@bodyceuticals.net

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