Calendula

Traditional wound healing and skin soothing herb with anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties for comprehensive skin health

Scientific nameCalendula officinalis FormulaVarious triterpenes and flavonoids Molecular weightVariable natural compounds g/mol CASVarious natural compounds

60 absorption score

9 safety / 10

20 USD per month

4 documented interactions

Check it against something

Evidence level C

Calendula with:

80 out of 100

Works better together Take together — same timing window amplifies the synergy.

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What it does

mechanism and evidence for each claim

Wound healing and tissue repair

Accelerates wound healing and promotes healthy tissue regeneration

Triterpenes and flavonoids stimulate collagen synthesis and cell regeneration Evidence B-grade 3-14 days

Anti-inflammatory skin support

Reduces skin inflammation, redness, and irritation

Anti-inflammatory compounds reduce inflammatory mediators in skin tissue Evidence B-grade 1-7 days

Antimicrobial skin protection

Natural antimicrobial support preventing skin infections

Antimicrobial compounds protect against bacterial and fungal skin infections Evidence C-grade 1-5 days

Skin soothing and comfort

Gentle soothing relief for irritated and sensitive skin

Soothing compounds provide immediate comfort and reduce skin sensitivity Evidence B-grade Minutes to hours

Dermatitis and eczema support

Traditional support for various skin conditions including dermatitis

Anti-inflammatory and healing properties address multiple skin condition symptoms Evidence C-grade 1-4 weeks

Others take these for the same thing

Same goal, different mechanism — check any of them against this one

Collagen Peptides Skin health & joint support 5-15g B 85% Bone Broth Collagen Gut healing & collagen support 20-40g powder B 85% Vitamin B7 (Biotin) Hair, skin & nail health 300-5000 mcg A 80% Vitamin B3 (Niacinamide) Energy & skin health (no flush) 100-1000 mg A 88% Marine Collagen Anti-aging & skin health 5-15g A 95% Astaxanthin Superior antioxidant & skin protection 4-12mg B 20%

Every pair we checked

12 combinations scored by the engine

Calendula + Caffeine No documented interaction either way No known interaction 70

Calendula + Creatine Monohydrate No documented interaction either way No known interaction 70

Calendula + Calcium Carbonate No documented interaction either way No known interaction 70

Calendula + Whey Protein No documented interaction either way No known interaction 70

Calendula + Lactase No documented interaction either way No known interaction 70

Calendula + Bovine Collagen No documented interaction either way No known interaction 70

Calendula + DHA No documented interaction either way No known interaction 70

Calendula + Turmeric No documented interaction either way No known interaction 70

Calendula + Fish Oil (EPA/DHA) No documented interaction either way No known interaction 70

Calendula + Aloe Vera Synergistic skin healing and soothing support Works better together 75

Calendula + Vitamin D3 Enhanced antioxidant and skin healing support Works better together 75

Calendula + Chamomile Enhanced anti-inflammatory and skin soothing effects Works better together 80

Dosage

As needed topically

DailyTopical or 200-400mg oral

Topical wound healingApply 2-3 times daily to affected area

Topical inflammationApply 2-4 times daily as needed

Oral skin support200-400mg daily

Sensitive skinApply as needed for comfort

Before you take it

VeganYes

When to expect it

First EffectsMinutes to hours for soothing effects, 1-3 days for healing benefits

Peak Benefits1-4 weeks for sustained skin health and healing support

Deficiency DevelopmentNot applicable - herbal supplement

Toxicity OnsetVery rare, excellent safety profile

How to measure it

Not typically necessary

MarkerGenerally not needed - assess through skin improvement

OptimalImproved wound healing and reduced skin inflammation

Deficient belowNot applicable for herbal supplement

FrequencyMonitor through skin health and healing improvements

What people actually reported to the FDA

CAERS, 1 reports naming it as the suspect

Most reported effects

Convulsion 1

Hypersensitivity 1

Rash 1

Respiratory distress 1

Swelling face 1

Named as the suspect 1 reports of 3 that mention it at all

Serious outcome 100% hospitalisation, emergency room or worse

Hospitalization1

Visited Emergency Room1

Reports are voluntary and unverified — they record what someone experienced while taking something, not what the compound caused. Counts skew towards products people take a lot of, and a serious outcome is more likely to be reported than a mild one, so these are not rates. How we filter them →

What actually reaches you

The label counts the carrier, your body does not

Absorption High 60 of 100 · absorbs well relative to other forms

Delivered daily 180 mg

Cost per 100 mg delivered $0.37 comparative — uses the absorption score, not a measured percentage

Works better with

3 documented

Chamomile

Enhanced anti-inflammatory and skin soothing effects

Both provide complementary anti-inflammatory and calming effects · level C

Aloe Vera

Synergistic skin healing and soothing support

Both provide skin healing and protective effects · level C

Vitamin E

Enhanced antioxidant and skin healing support

Complementary antioxidant protection and tissue healing · level C

What not to take with Calendula

1 documented

Skin Irritating Substances

May not work as well with harsh skin irritants

Gentle healing vs. strong irritating effects · minimal significance

Medication interactions

Discuss these with a pharmacist before combining

sedative-medications Minor

May enhance sedative effects with oral use

What to do: Monitor for increased sedation

topical-medications None

Generally compatible with topical treatments

What to do: Safe concurrent topical use

no-major-interactions None

Generally safe with most medications

What to do: Safe concurrent use

Available forms

bioavailability compared

Calendula Extract (Topical and Oral) 60

Calendula Extract (Topical and Oral): Excellent wound healing, Gentle and safe, Anti-inflammatory, Traditional use

Food sources

before you supplement

Fresh calendula flowers (edible) Natural compounds and antioxidants · 50

Calendula tea Moderate active compound content · 45

Calendula oil (topical) Concentrated lipophilic compounds · 70

Standardized extracts Concentrated active compounds · 60

Too little

deficiency signs

Not applicable (herbal supplement, not essential nutrient):
General symptoms addressed by calendula:
Slow wound healing and poor tissue repair
Chronic skin inflammation and irritation
Frequent skin infections and poor healing
Sensitive skin with easy irritation
Poor skin recovery from damage or injury

Too much

toxicity signs

Extremely safe with minimal side effects:
Rare allergic reactions in sensitive individuals
Mild contact dermatitis in allergic individuals
Very rare digestive upset with oral use
Excellent overall safety profile

Who benefits most

wound-healing-cuts-scrapes

Excellent wound healing support for cuts, scrapes, and minor injuries

Topical application 2-3 times daily

skin-inflammation-dermatitis

Anti-inflammatory support for skin inflammation and dermatitis

Topical application 2-4 times daily

sensitive-irritated-skin

Gentle soothing support for sensitive and easily irritated skin

Topical application as needed

eczema-skin-conditions

Traditional support for eczema and various skin conditions

Topical application 2-3 times daily

general-skin-health

Overall skin health maintenance and protection

Topical application or 200-400mg oral daily

Where to buy it

compare forms first

Look for Calendula at Topical or 200-400mg oral per serving. The form that matters here is Calendula Extract (Topical and Oral).

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How it works

Triterpenes and flavonoids stimulate collagen synthesis and tissue regeneration
Anti-inflammatory compounds reduce inflammatory mediators and skin irritation
Antimicrobial properties protect against bacterial and fungal skin infections
Soothing compounds provide immediate comfort and reduce skin sensitivity
Promotes angiogenesis (blood vessel formation) supporting wound healing
Enhances epithelialization and tissue repair processes

Key findings

what the evidence supports

Strong evidence for wound healing and tissue repair
Good research on anti-inflammatory skin effects
Excellent safety profile with minimal side effects
Extensive traditional use validation for skin conditions

Sources: NIH Examine.com · data reviewed 2026-08-02

Compiled by Denis, who maintains this database and holds no medical qualification — every figure here is sourced or derived, never asserted. How we calculate it →

Common questions

What are the benefits of Calendula?

Documented effects: Wound healing and tissue repair; Anti-inflammatory skin support; Antimicrobial skin protection; Skin soothing and comfort. Accelerates wound healing and promotes healthy tissue regeneration

How much Calendula should you take per day?

The common daily range is Topical or 200-400mg oral. By goal — topical wound healing: Apply 2-3 times daily to affected area; topical inflammation: Apply 2-4 times daily as needed; oral skin support: 200-400mg daily; sensitive skin: Apply as needed for comfort.

When is the best time to take Calendula?

As needed topically. First effects are typically reported within Minutes to hours for soothing effects, 1-3 days for healing benefits.

What are the side effects of Calendula?

At excessive doses: Extremely safe with minimal side effects:, Rare allergic reactions in sensitive individuals, Mild contact dermatitis in allergic individuals, Very rare digestive upset with oral use, Excellent overall safety profile. Safety rating at normal doses is 9 out of 10.

What should you not take with Calendula?

Separate it from Skin Irritating Substances by two to four hours. May not work as well with harsh skin irritants

Does Calendula interact with medications?

Documented interactions with sedative-medications, topical-medications, no-major-interactions. Discuss these with a pharmacist before combining.

How do you know if you need Calendula?

The marker is Generally not needed - assess through skin improvement, optimal range Improved wound healing and reduced skin inflammation. Common deficiency signs: Not applicable (herbal supplement, not essential nutrient):, General symptoms addressed by calendula:, Slow wound healing and poor tissue repair, Chronic skin inflammation and irritation.

Taken for

31 Skin & Hair

Bovine Collagen · Marine Collagen · Collagen Peptides