Calendula Salve Recipe

Calendula Medicinal Actions

Calendula has been used in traditional herbalism for its anti-inflammatory, antifungal, and antibacterial properties. As a salve, it works well on dry and chapped skin, minor cuts and scrapes, sunburn, and general skin irritation. It is gentle enough for most skin types and one of those preparations worth keeping on hand simply because it has so many small, everyday uses.

Dehydrate Flowers

Spread the flowers out onto a wire rack. Feel free to use dehydrator trays and place them in the dehydrator, it is not necessary to turn the dehydrator on.

Just let the flowers dry naturally until completely dry and crispy.

In most climates the leaves will dry in less than a week, more humid climates might take longer.

Dried flowers will keep for up to a year in an airtight container stored out of direct sunlight before potency begins to decline.

Dried flowers can also be used to be a calendula sugar scrub for removing dead skin.

Storing Dried Flowers

Put the entire dried flower head into an airtight container and leave sit out of sunlight.

Do not remove the petals from the rest of the flower head. There are important and healing oils in the green base. Using only the petals results in a weaker medicinal salve.

Choosing Your Oil

Calendula salve requires calendula infused oil first and foremost.

The oil you use depends on what you have on hand. I use olive oil or grapeseed oil most often, choosing based on what’s available in the kitchen. Grapeseed oil tends to be more frugal and has a lighter feel on the skin. Olive oil is widely available and works well for most purposes. Sweet almond oil or jojoba are also good options. Avoid oils prone to going rancid quickly since the shelf life of your finished salve depends partly on the stability of the carrier oil.

This infused oil can also be used for a calendula cocoa butter balm for even for deep, soothing relief.

Quick Fresh Flower Method

Place 1/4 cup chopped fresh calendula blossoms (the entire flower head – petals & green base) and ½ cup oil of your choice (olive, almond, avocado, etc.) in a bowl.

Use this bowl as the ‘top’ of a double boiler. Place the bowl over a pan of simmering water and let it infuse for at least 30 minutes.

The point here is not to fry the herbs but merely keep the oil and herbs warm.

Strain the herbs from the oil and proceed with the salve recipe.

Slow Solar Method

While fresh herbs can be used for this method, the chances of mold increase greatly. Using dried calendula flowers prevents mold from growing.

Place 2 Tablespoons dried chopped calendula flower heads in a jar. Cover with ¼ cup oil of choice. Place the lid on the jar and place it on a sunny windowsill.

Let infuse for 3 to 4 weeks.

Strain the flowers from the oil and put the infused oil in a clean, labeled jar or proceed with salve making.

Storing Salve

Most any clean container will work for storing your finished calendula salve. Small glass jars work, metal tins or plastic containers are widely available. Feel free to use old candy tins that have been washed well.

All oils can eventually go rancid, use up your salve within 1 year.

Be sure to label the salve (they all look alike and are easy to get infused if not labeled).

Dried flowers older than a year may still be usable, though they may be less potent. Give them a smell test before infusing, if they still have fragrance they are worth using.

Calendula Salve Uses

Simply spread the salve onto clean wounds as needed to help with healing. Use on sunburned skin to find relief from the sting.

Spread on to extremely dry or chapped skin to find soothing, softening relief.