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Calendula officinalis [Calen.]   Common name: Marigold. Family: Compositae. Calendula is our wound medicine prepared from the tall Marigold growing in the wild non-acidic soil. This plant is also called the Herb of the Sun. Like the African Daisies, the marigold opens its petals on a sunny morning but closes them on a wet day. It has a peculiar smell, apparently an anathema to the eel-worm and root crops can be protected from this pest by the companion planting of marigolds. The term officinalis shows the marigold’s connection to the holy men, monks cultivated it as a cure for gout and as a possets and drinks as a comforter for the heart. It’s uses in medicine go back even earlier than the 16th century. Calendula excels all other others for open cuts which will heal by first intention without stitching. Apply calendula tincture in warm dressing on all cuts. It can nip a bit at first, but stops the bleeding quickly and it is remarkable how calendula closes the cuts up so promptly and rarely leaves a scar. I remember when my son stepped on a piece of broken glass bottle left on the bottom of a pool and sustained a nasty cut on the sole of his foot. I got him to the room as quickly as possible, cleaned the cut with calendula and a firm bandage was applied. Four days later he was walking and swimming as if nothing had ever happened. Since then, over the years I had treated several severe cuts and wounds, from kids walking through glass doors, open knees on sea rocks, cartwheels lading on metal chairs to an open forehead sustained by the impact of a loft door. Calendula cleans as well as knits, and is most useful when children scrape their knees from a tumble on gravel paths. Caution must be taken that the wound is properly cleaned and all gravel removed, as its knitting power is so remarkable that there will be a risk of the wound to close over residues of gravel or sand remaining. The Calendula tincture is diluted for use by adding one teaspoonful to a pint of boiled water; I have found ordinary tap water will do just as well, without bothering to boil it, as long as the wound is not too deep or badly infected. Calendula inhibits the growth of micro – organism. Why boil the water, therefore? Yes, it is so, pus will never make its appearance in a clean wound, and it will disappear rapidly in an infected wound, if Calendula is used as a dressing. If the wound is deep, one can syringe it gently with diluted Calendula and lightly pack with gauze soaked in Calendula 1 in 25; then cover the area with dry gauze, cotton wool, and bandage. The wounds need to be dressed only once a day; and they heal up rapidly. It inhibits their growth and even if wounds are already badly infected, I have seen offensive, purulent