Is Calendula safe while breastfeeding?
Here is what LactMed, the Drugs and Lactation Database published by the U.S. National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), reports about Calendula. The text below is quoted from that source — it is not our own verdict.
Summary of use during breastfeeding
Calendula (Calendula officinalis) flowers contain triterpene glycosides and aglycones, carotenoids, and essential oils. Topical application of calendula products has been used to treat sore and cracked nipples during nursing, either in homeopathic or pharmacologic preparations,[1-3] although little high-quality evidence supports this use.[4] One uncontrolled case series found that a cream containing Mimosa tenuiflora and Calendula officinalis was useful for healing cracked nipples during breastfeeding;[5] however, the lack of a control group and the presence of another ingredient makes the evaluation of Calendula's efficacy impossible. Calendula has also been used topically in combination with Echinacea angustifolia (Calendit-E) for sore nipples in a study of modest quality in which the combination was found to be more effective than breastmilk.[6,7] Oral Calendula has no specific lactation-related uses and no information is available on the oral use of Calendula during breastfeeding. Calendula is "generally recognized as safe" (GRAS) as a food by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration when used as a seasoning or flavoring. Allergic reactions, including cross-reactions to chrysanthemums, daisies and marigolds, occur rarely.
Dietary supplements do not require extensive pre-marketing approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Manufacturers are responsible to ensure the safety, but do not need to prove the safety and effectiveness of dietary supplements before they are marketed. Dietary supplements may contain multiple ingredients, and differences are often found between labeled and actual ingredients or their amounts. A manufacturer may contract with an independent organization to verify the quality of a product or its ingredients, but that does not certify the safety or effectiveness of a product. Because of the above issues, clinical testing results on one product may not be applicable to other products. More detailed information about dietary supplements is available elsewhere on the LactMed Web site.
Effects on the breastfed infant
Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.
Effects on milk supply
Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.
Levels in milk
Maternal Levels. Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.
Infant Levels. Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.
“No published information” means the studies do not exist yet — not that Calendula is known to be harmful, and not that it is known to be safe. Your prescriber or pharmacist can weigh your baby's age and whether a better-studied alternative would do the same job. Worth asking before stopping a medicine you need.
Source: Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed), National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), via NCBI Bookshelf, record “Calendula” (LM940). LactMed on NCBI Bookshelf. LactMed is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Educational summary of an authoritative source — not medical advice. Never start, stop, or change a medicine while breastfeeding without confirming with your doctor.