“Flowers of the dead” to remind us of the fragility of life. The Mexican Marigold (Tagetes erecta) is an important flower in the celebration of The Day of the Dead, a day to celebrate and honor dead relatives and ancestors, which has its origins from when the Aztecs began to celebrate this day over 3,000 years ago.
The Mexican Marigold, also called Coyolxauhqui, is from Mexico, though commonly often called “African Marigold”. The marigold is one of the most important of the beautiful decorations in the celebration of the Day of the Dead, and they are often left as offerings to loved ones on home altars. Their petals are also used on this day to create a path to guide the spirits back to our world.
Marigolds have a distinct smell—either loved or hated by people—which is also said to let the departed enjoy the pleasures of life once more. To honor a loved one during this time, you may make an altar or place marigolds around the house or in the yard. Many people like to also make paper marigolds with tissue and pipe cleaners, which is fun for kids.
Beyond their symbolic uses, Mexican Marigolds are popular in traditional medicine in Mexico, and have uses as antidepressants, for digestive disturbances, respiratory health and also as tranquilizers. Externally, they are used for soothing skin conditions such as sores, ulcers and eczema. The flower petals of Tagetes spp. are important sources for carotenoids and lutein esters for food, feed and pharmaceutical industries. The petals are also commonly used in culinary dishes, such as adding the petals to fresh salads.
In a study on the ethnomedical uses of Mexican Marigold, the anxiolytic and sedative-like activities of the extract was investigated through interviews with healers and local merchants, and then confirmed through preclinical testing. In a recent systematic review on the anxiolytic and hypnotic effects of flower extracts included Tagetes erecta. The mechanism believed to be due to this effect is thought to be mainly serotonergic neurotransmission.
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Photo by Dan Herrera