As we arrive at the Summer Solstice—the longest day of the year—the world is filled with light, warmth, and growth. It’s a time to pause and notice what’s flourishing, both in the garden and within ourselves. And among the herbs that thrive under the sun’s peak is Calendula officinalis, a golden flower revered across cultures for its healing, soothing, and sun-infused nature.
At Wise Earth Botanicals, Calendula is one of our favorite seasonal allies—not just for its vibrant color and resilience in the heat, but for its wide-ranging support for skin, digestion, and lymphatic flow. Let’s take a deeper look at why Calendula is such a powerful Solstice plant.
Why Calendula Belongs to the Solstice
Calendula is more than just a pretty flower. Native to Southern Europe and widely cultivated around the world, Calendula has earned a place in traditional herbal medicine cabinets for centuries. But it’s also a plant steeped in solar symbolism and seasonal relevance.
The name Calendula comes from the Latin calendae, meaning “first day of the month”—a nod to its consistent blooming cycle, often aligned with solar and lunar rhythms. In folklore, Calendula was believed to offer protection, enhance clarity, and support spiritual brightness. People would hang the flowers in their homes or scatter petals in sacred rituals to invoke warmth, clarity, and healing.
Calendula thrives in the high sun of midsummer. The flowers open with the light and close at dusk. In this way, it mirrors the rhythm of the Solstice—marking the moment the sun stands still before the days slowly begin to shorten again.
This is why Calendula is considered a solar herb. It carries the energetics of the sun: warming, gently drying, circulatory, and illuminating.
Energetics and Herbal Actions of Calendula
Calendula’s actions are both physical and energetic, making it a favorite among herbalists for skin, digestion, and internal cleansing.
Here’s what it offers:
Skin Support
Calendula is one of the best topical herbs for wound care. It speeds the healing of cuts, scrapes, minor burns, and rashes, thanks to its vulnerary (wound-healing) and anti-inflammatory actions. Its antimicrobial and antifungal properties also make it an excellent ally for fungal infections, diaper rash, and irritated skin.
Lymphatic Flow
Calendula is a lymphagogue, meaning it helps stimulate the flow of lymphatic fluid. This can be especially helpful for those with sluggish lymph, swelling, or a tendency toward stagnation—physically or emotionally. It’s a gentle, non-aggressive way to support the body’s natural detox systems.
Digestive Health
Used internally, Calendula acts as a bitter herb, supporting digestive secretions, reducing inflammation in the gut, and assisting in the breakdown of food. It has traditionally been used to soothe ulcers, leaky gut, and other forms of intestinal inflammation.
Alterative Action
Calendula is also considered a mild alterative, meaning it helps cleanse the blood and eliminate metabolic waste—often resulting in clearer skin and more balanced elimination. It works especially well when paired with other detoxifying herbs such as burdock or red clover.
Calendula in Wise Earth Botanicals Formulations
At Wise Earth Botanicals, we grow our own high-quality Calendula—organically cultivated of course! You’ll find this sun-kissed herb in several of our best-selling remedies:
• Healers Skin Salve – this salve offers gentle, effective care for cuts, scrapes, rashes, insect bites, burns, dry skin, and more
• Superfood Serum – our antioxidant, hydrating rich potion for youthful skin
• Daily Detox – a daily formula to assist gentle internal cleansing
• Womb & Yoni Massage Oil – this blend supports natural lubrication, encourages healthy circulation, and nurtures connection to pleasure and sensual vitality
• Yoni Steams – with Calendula petals to support tone, circulation, and ease for the intimate areas
Each product is made with care, intention, and the whole plant—not isolated extracts—so you get the full spectrum of benefits Calendula has to offer.
A Simple Solstice Practice with Calendula
You don’t need a ceremony to celebrate the Solstice, but you might enjoy a small ritual to connect with the energy of the season:
- Brew a cup of Calendula tea and sip it while sitting in the sun
- Make a solar infusion by placing fresh or dried Calendula flowers in spring water and letting it steep under the sun
- Rub a few drops of Calendula-infused oil on your belly or heart center as a daily act of care
- Journal about what in your life is blooming—and what still needs tending
Calendula reminds us that healing can be soft and steady. It doesn’t need to be dramatic to be powerful. Sometimes, it’s the daily rituals, the consistency, and the quiet warmth that lead to the most lasting changes.
Final Thoughts
As you move through the high summer days, consider what this golden flower has to teach: how to follow the light, how to move stagnation without force, how to protect and repair while still being open.
Calendula offers all of this—and more.
Explore our full line of Calendula-rich remedies
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