Calendula officinalis 1:1 extract

Calendula officinalis 1:1 extract: marigold in liquid form

Pot marigold is one of the easiest garden plants in Europe. It self seeds along vegetable beds, flowers from early summer until the first frost and carries orange heads that close at dusk. The Latin name Calendula comes from calendae, the first day of the Roman month, a nod to how reliably the plant keeps flowering. Its petals have been stirred into salves, oils and infusions for centuries and still turn up as a colouring in soups and salads.

Here that same plant has been reduced to a liquid you measure out drop by drop. What you get is a 1:1 extract in a 10 ml bottle. The ratio describes the concentration: roughly one gram of plant material has been processed into each millilitre. A 2.5:1 extract packs two and a half grams into that same millilitre, so a 1:1 sits close to the raw flower and keeps its slightly bitter, herbal taste recognisable.

How to use it

As with most herbal tinctures, you take a number of drops in a glass of water or juice, or straight under the tongue. Shake the bottle first, since part of the plant material settles over time. Start small and work out what suits you, because adding another drop is easy enough.

Storage and precautions

Keep the bottle cool, dry and dark, and out of reach of young children. If you take medication, are pregnant or are breastfeeding, speak to your doctor before use. The same category at Avalon Magic Plants holds dozens of other 1:1 extracts, among them nettle, chamomile, peppermint, ginger and dandelion.