| Marigold or tagetes (Tagetes minuta) is in the daisy | | | | where it grew profusely. It is an ingredient of many |
| family of botanical plants. The oil is obtained through | | | | foot treatment preparations and is also used in some |
| distillation of the fresh flowering plant. An absolute is | | | | perfumes. |
| also made from the flowering herb. Known in Africa | | | | How Can We Benefit from Tagetes Oil Today? |
| as 'Khaki bush', it is now also grown in France and | | | | In a 5% dilution, tagetes oil has been used to kill |
| North America and is a weed with deeply divided | | | | maggots in open wounds, while the roots and seeds |
| deep-green feathery leaves and numerous | | | | have been found to help rid the body of poisons. |
| yellowish-orange carnation-like flowers. Tagetes oil is | | | | Tagetes oil is valuable in keeping insects at bay, and |
| extracted from the leaves, stalks and flowers, picked | | | | can help with parasitic and fungal infestation. It is used |
| when the seeds are just starting to form. This oil is not | | | | for chest infections, coughs and catarrh, dilating the |
| to be confused with Calendula officinalis which has | | | | bronchi, facilitating the flow of mucus and dislodging |
| very different properties. | | | | congestion and can be used in cases of skin infections. |
| Marigold is a strongly scented annual herb about 12 | | | | It has a healing effect on wounds, cuts, calluses and |
| inches in height with bright orange, daisy-like flowers | | | | bunions. Tagetes oil can be diluted 50-50 and applied |
| and soft green oval leaves. Tagetes oil has a wild, | | | | on location; it can be inhaled and diffused. Tagetes |
| sweet, fruity almost citrus-like smell and is yellow to | | | | blends particularly well with clary sage, jasmine, |
| reddish-amber in color. It is of medium viscosity that | | | | lavender, lemon, myrrh, and tangerine. There are some |
| can turn thick and even gel-like if exposed to the air | | | | reports of dermatitis with tagetes so it should be used |
| for a long time. | | | | with care and in moderation. |
| Traditionally in China the flowers of the African | | | | Want to know more about essential oils and how they |
| marigold are used for whooping cough, colds, colic, | | | | can help us stay healthy? Consider becoming a |
| mumps, sore eyes and mastitis. The leaves and | | | | certified clinical aromatherapist. The Institute of Spiritual |
| flowers are a good insect repellent and are often seen | | | | Healing and Aromatherapy teaches classes |
| hanging from native huts to deter swarms of flies and | | | | throughout the United States on aromatherapy and |
| mosquitoes. After the Boer war in South Africa, | | | | energy healing. |
| Australian troops brought plants to their native land | | | | |