Marigold Tagetes

Source: France. Latin: Tagetes Glandulifera.

Origin of tagetes oil
Known in Africa as 'Khakibush', it is now also grown in France and North America. A weed with deeply divided deep-green feathery leaves and numerous yellowish-orange carnation-like flowers. The leaves and flowers are a good insect repellent and are often seen hanging from native huts to deter swarms of flies and mosquitoes. In a 5% dilution Tagetes oil has been used to kill maggots in open wounds. The roots and seeds have been found to help rid the body of poisons. After the Boer war in South Africa, Australian troops brought plants to their native land where it grew profusely. Tagetes is an ingredient of many foot treatment preparations and is also used extensively in French perfumes.

Extraction
Tagetes oil is extracted from the leaves, stalks and flowers, picked when the seeds are just starting to form.

Chemical composition
The main chemical components are: Tagetone, Limonene, Valeric acid and Ocimene etc.

Precautions
Tagetes oil is very powerful oil and should be used sparingly. It should be avoided during pregnancy, not used on a sensitive skin and may cause photosensitivity and cases of dermatitis have been reported.

Therapeutic properties
The therapeutic properties of Tagetes oil are: anti-infectious, anti-microbial, antibiotic, anti-spasmodic, anti-parasitic, antiseptic, insecticide and sedative.

Uses
Tagetes oil is valuable in keeping insects at bay, and can help with parasitic and fungal infestation.
It could help with chest infections, coughs and catarrh, dilating the bronchi, facilitating the flow of mucus and dislodging congestion. Tagetes oil is useful in cases of skin infections, and has a healing effect on wound, cuts, calluses and bunions.

Summary
Tagetes oil can be useful for treating the respiratory system, infections of the skin and as an insect repellent.

Burners and vaporizers
In vapor therapy Tagetes oil can help with: coughs, bronchitis, chest infections and as an insect repellant.
Blended oil or in the bath as a blended massage oil or diluted in the bath, Tagetes oil could assist with: wounds, cuts, coughs, chest infections, parasitic and fungal infestations, but keep the precautions above in mind.

Tagetes oil blends particularly well with Clary sage, Jasmine, Lavender, Lemon, Myrrh, and Tangerine.

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