Calendula tincture recipe (6 ways to use it)

Calendula tincture is an effective herbal formulation with a large spectrum of uses. This calendula extract alleviates inflammations, sore throat or clean scrapes, rashes, or stings. 

It makes a great addition to your first aid kit whenever you go camping, hiking, or exposed to the outdoors. 

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Calendulas (Calendula officinalis or pot marigolds)  decorate gardens with orange and yellow flowers that shine and light up every corner. In addition, they are an integral part of the medicine cabinet of any herbalist.

Easy to grow from seeds, calendulas belong to one of the most popular herbs used internally and externally in herbal medicine.

I love to use calendulas in skincare to make calendula oil, salve or calendula cream. Moreover, they are very effective in haircare thus using them to make these shampoo bars or hair growth oil.

However, if you want to use their power internally, you can make a traditional herbal tea or turn them into a calendula tincture.

What is calendula tincture?

tincture of calendula is a concentrated extract made by soaking calendula petals in alcohol for several weeks. A slow maceration enables pot marigold to relieve its active substances into a solvent. A few drops of tincture contain a potent concentrate with long shelf life. 

Making calendula tincture is a great way to implement calendula in your daily routine. With its large spectrum of uses, calendula extract is a handy healer one can carry anywhere. 

Other tinctures you may want to try:

spruce tips tincture

Stinging nettle roots tincture

Lemon balm tincture

Rosemary tincture

Herbal tincture has many advantages

• simple dosing
• fast onset of action – ethanol helps faster absorption of active substances into the blood and the whole body
• concentrated tinctures can be diluted in water to hide the taste
• compact
• portable – convenient for travel and for carrying in a handbag so you can administer your herbs wherever you are
• Tinctures are a great option for those who lead a busy lifestyle and don’t have time to prepare herbal teas daily.
• long shelf life (ethanol acts as a preservative) – up to 5 years

  

Ingredients

The process of making a marigold tincture recipe is easy and requires just two ingredients

Calendula petals

use dry or fresh calendula petals.

Chop the petals into smaller pieces to increase the surface area for the maceration and get the maximum medicinal properties from the herb.

You can also grind them or bruise them in a mortar and pestle to help maximize the extraction process.

Alcohol

select alcohol 40% = 80 proof ethanol, ethyl alcohol or grain spirit,  

Alternatively, use vodka, rum, or brandy

Ratio

the ratio for dry herbs: 1:5 (one weight part of the calendula petals and 5 weight part of alcohol)

the ratio for fresh herbs 1:2

Tools

Sterilized glass jar with a plastic lid 

Glass funnel

Dropper bottles

cheesecloth

How to make calendula tincture

First step

Place calendula petals in a sterilized glass jar

Second step

Pour over alcohol of your choice to cover the petals completely You might have to push down the petals a bit and some still may float, but that’s ok.

Third step

Close the jar tightly. If you don’t use jar with plastic lid place parchment paper between the lid and the jar to prevent the rubber seal from dissolving

Fourth step

Label the jar and place your jar in a cool dark place. Shake it occasionally. Check the alcohol level and make sure the herb is submerged completely. If needed add additional alcohol.

Let calendula release their medicinal properties for 4-6 weeks

Fifth step

Strain the calendula petals from the alcohol. Ideally, pour the tincture into a dark bottle with a dropper.

Sixth step

Label the bottle 

Benefits of marigold tincture

Calendula tincture reduces inflammation of the mucous membranes of the mouth and sore throat. (1)

Tincture of calendula soothes a sore throat and stops infections, laryngitis and tonsillitis, coughs, dryness of the lungs, and digestive upsets (2)

Similarly, works this violet sore throat spray.

Cleanse lymphatic system

The lymph is filtering and eliminating waste products and bacteria and therefore helps keep our immune system strong. Tincture of calendula raises immunity by stimulating lymphatic drainage (3)

ease cramps

its spasmolytic effect is used to ease abdominal cramps and constipation (4)

wound healing

You can apply it locally to reduce pain and swelling (inflammation) and to treat poorly healing wounds and leg ulcers. Or apply to the skin (used topically) for nosebleeds, varicose veins, hemorrhoids, and inflammation of the rectum (5)

This marigold tincture recipe has excellent antimicrobial activity against fungi and most of the bacteria tested while comparing with Fluconazole (6)

ease acne

Calendula tincture contains astringents such as tannins that are used topically on the skin to ease acne. Calendula tincture reduces inflammation and prevents the further spread of infection over the skin. It also promotes rapid healing of the skin (7).

Calendula tincture uses

for gargling

to soothe a sore throat and stop infections

fill the clean spray bottle with two tablespoons of calendula tincture, two tablespoons of raw honey or Manuka honey, and one tablespoon of warm water. Mix it well. Apply three times a day with 2-3 sprays in affected areas.

Calendula mouthwash

for infected gums and other mouth problems.

You can dilute a few drops of tincture in a glass of water and use as a mouthwash for sore, inflamed throat and gums.

ease pain

To ease abdominal and menstruation pain use 20 drops 3 times a day of tincture. Apply in the forms of drops under the tongue or drops diluted in juice, water or tea

Calendula tincture for skin

acne

You can apply directly on the skin to ease acne or impetigo-simply 

add a few drops of the tincture to any kind of neutral skin cream or face wash you use every day just before applying it to your face

Alternatively, make acne mask from calendula tincture, cinnamon, and essential oils

wound healing

apply locally on wounds, varicose veins, hemorrhoids, and inflammation of the rectum (hemorrhoids)

in a bath

Calendula tincture can be added to bath water or a hair rinse to help itching or irritated scalp and skin conditions.