Calendula

(Calendula officinalis)

calendula flowers one open and one opening

What It Is

Calendula is a flowering plant from the daisy family, often known as pot marigold. Its bright orange and yellow petals have traditionally been used in food preparations, teas, and herbal infusions, and are the primary source of calendula’s naturally occurring plant compounds.

Traditional & Culinary Use

Calendula has a long history of use in traditional food and herbal practices, particularly in preparations intended to support comfort within the digestive tract. It has commonly been infused into teas or included in gentle formulations valued for their calming and supportive qualities.

These uses reflect calendula’s role as a familiar, plant-based ingredient associated with steadiness and ease rather than intensity.

What Research Has Explored

Scientific research has explored calendula in relation to digestive physiology, tissue comfort, and oxidative balance. Studies have examined its naturally occurring flavonoids, triterpenoids, and carotenoid-related compounds to better understand how they interact with tissues that are regularly exposed to mechanical and chemical stress — including those lining the digestive tract.

This body of research helps provide context for calendula’s traditional association with soothing and supportive roles in food and herbal use. In everyday dietary applications, calendula is used in a gentle, food-based manner rather than as a concentrated or therapeutic intervention.

How It Interacts With the Body

Calendula contains naturally occurring compounds that participate in cellular and oxidative processes within the body. These interactions are understood to contribute to tissue comfort and support the body’s ability to navigate everyday environmental and metabolic stressors.

When consumed as part of foods or infusions, calendula is generally considered to support a calm digestive environment through background physiological support, rather than through direct or forceful effects.

Who Commonly Chooses It

Calendula is often chosen by people who describe their digestion as sensitive or easily unsettled, or who prefer ingredients that feel gentle, grounding, and supportive rather than stimulating.

It is commonly included in dietary patterns focused on long-term digestive comfort and resilience.

Important Context

Calendula has been both widely studied and traditionally used, but its effects depend on preparation, amount, and overall dietary context. Research helps explain how calendula’s compounds behave within biological systems, rather than predict specific outcomes for individuals.

This ingredient is shared for educational purposes, to support general understanding of calendula as a food-derived ingredient. 

Research references

For those who wish to explore the research context in more depth:

Supplamize context

Calendula can be selected as an optional active in certain Supplamize blends, including: