3 Uses for Calendula this summer (eat it, infuse it, make lotion with it)

Calendula is an amazing flower with many benefits.

Use #1: use fresh calendula petals on your summer salad! Make sure you know the source of the flowers. 

Use #2: infuse dried calendula flowers in oil

  • Add dried flowers to olive, jojoba, almond, or fractionated coconut oil on a low heat for 2-3 hours.
  • After infusing, strain out the flowers, store in an airtight jar, and add to any natural beauty recipe that calls for oil.

calendula flowers infused in oil on the stove

Use #3: Summer Lotion Bars:

Great to use on the hands and feet. Infuse with calendula, for its anti-inflammatory, vulnerary, lymphatic, antimicrobial, and antispasmodic benefits. Calendula-infused oil is soothing and healing.

Here's a list of tips for making summer lotion bars... some are my own tips and some come from Stacy Karen of No Fuss Natural:

  • start with a base of lotion: equal amounts of shea butter, coconut oil and beeswax (Stacy discusses other ingredients in her tutorial.) 
  • lotion bars can be poured into soap, candy or chocolate molds (or ice cube trays), or dropped into "sticks" (like our Beesilk stick). 
  • 👉 some good herbs for infusing into your lotion mixture: dandelion flowers, plantain, calendula, rose petals, lavender, sunflower petals, or chamomile  Make sure the herbs are dried herbs, not fresh!
  • kokum butter can be used as your butter ingredient (this would replace cocoa butter or shea butter)
  • put all the ingredients (including herbs, if using) except beeswax and any essential oil you might use, in a double boiler. See photo below. 
  • an alternative to using a double boiler or oven is to melt the ingredients in a very low-temperature crockpot (if you're using herbs). You want the temperature to be warm, not extremely hot. 
  • strain the herbs using a fine mesh cheesecloth. Squeeze as much liquid out as you can. Discard the herbs.
  • melt in the beeswax using a double boiler
  • stir in essential oils, if using
  • pour into molds
  • if pouring into a stick/tube, use a medicine dropper for less mess
  • allow to cool completely. For easy pop out, freeze for 30 minutes first

Check out my Instagram video to see what fresh Calendula, and Calendula seeds, look like. https://www.instagram.com/tv/ByGywt5BBHU/

Renee of MadeOn Skin Care shows what calendula looks like and how to use it in skin care

 

Summer Lotion Bars with Calendula:

Lotion bars with infused calendula recipe

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