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Important Legal Stuff
The information contained within this eBook is for educational purposes only. It is not intended to treat,
diagnose, prescribe or cure. Any attempt to diagnose or treat an illness should be done under the
supervision of a health care professional. The author is not responsible for actions taken by the reader in the
use or preparation of any of the information contained within this eBook.
No part of this publication may be sold in whole or in part without the prior written permission of the author.
This is a free eBook, so it is perfectly fine to share with family and friends. However, please do not copy or
duplicate entire recipes or pages from this book onto your blog or website without express prior permission
from the author. Thank you for respecting the author's expended time and effort by abiding by these
guidelines.
There are a few affiliate links in this book. That means that if you click on the link to MountainRoseHerbs or
Bulk Herbs and buy something, the author earns a small commission. This is at no additional cost to you, but
does help fund her blogging hobby and slightly out-of-control heirloom seed collecting habit.
All images © by Jan Berry, 2013
Table of Contents:
Introduction.......................................................4
Drying Calendula..............................................5
Calendula Vinegar............................................6
Uses for Calendula Vinegar.............................7
Calendula Tea..................................................8
Uses for Calendula Tea....................................9
Calendula Soap...........................................15
Calendula Tincture..........................................10
Calendula Powder........................................16
Calendula Infused Oil......................................11
Calendula Face & Body Cream....................17
Calendula Salve..............................................12
Calendula Ice...............................................18
Calendula Lip Balm.........................................13
Calendula & Foods.......................................19
Calendula Infused Witch Hazel.......................14
Calendula For Animals.................................20
Things To Do With Calendula
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Introduction:
Calendula, or pot marigold, is one of the easiest to grow herbs and
useful in so many ways!
If you'd like to grow your own, a good place to buy seed is Baker
Creek Heirloom (rareseeds.com.) Your local garden center may
have some as well.
Calendula is not the same as your common garden marigold, so
make sure you are buying Calendula Officinalis.
Once established in your garden, calendula will often reseed itself
and come back year after year, offering up an abundance of blooms
over a long growing season.
It repels tomato hornworms, asparagus beetles, and aphids which
makes it an exceptional companion plant in your vegetable garden.
Its flowers are anti-microbial, anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory and
particularly suited for soothing a variety of skin complaints. Because
of its gentle, but effective, action, calendula is an important
component in your herbal medicine chest.
Please note that pregnant women should not ingest calendula since
internal use could possibly trigger menstruation. Also, if you have
chronic health problems or you're on medication, other
contraindications may apply.
The information collected in this little eBook is the product of years of
dabbling in home remedies and is intended for informational
purposes only. It is not a replacement for qualified medical or
veterinary care.
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Drying Calendula:
Calendula flowers can be dried in a dehydrator, but I dry most of my
herbs & flowers by collecting them on a dry & sunny mid-morning
and spreading everything out in a single layer on paper towels or
flattened brown paper bags on my kitchen table.
A calendula flower with plenty of active constituents will be
somewhat sticky from the high resin content. Be sure to spread them
out well and flip the flowers over every day or so.
Leave them otherwise undisturbed for about two weeks, or until
completely dry.
Label and store in mason jars. I keep mine in my downstairs
storeroom/pantry that stays fairly cool, dark and dry all year around.
If you don't have a source of organic calendula flowers at home, you
can always order some online. Two of my favorite places to buy
herbs are Mountain Rose Herbs and Bulk Herb Store, or you may be
able to get your local health store to order some for you.
Most of the recipes in this book can be used with either fresh or dried
calendula.
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Calendula Vinegar:
Calendula's antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties can be
extracted into vinegar for a variety of useful purposes.
You want to be very sure to use unsprayed, organic calendula
flowers. If you don't have a pure source, you can buy dried flowers
online via Mountain Rose Herbs and Bulk Herb Store, or your local
health store may be able to help you find some.
To make: Gather fresh calendula flowers, lightly rinse (if needed) and
fill a jar quite full of them. Alternatively, you can use roughly a fourth
as many dried flowers.
Heat up some vinegar to almost a simmer and pour over the
calendula flowers in the jar. What type of vinegar is up to you: plain
white vinegar or apple cider vinegar work equally well for most
external purposes.
(*Heating the vinegar just jump-starts the process, so if you have raw
vinegar you don't wish to heat, you can skip that step.)
Let cool, then cover the top of the jar with plastic wrap. Cap tightly
and store in a cabinet for around four weeks, shaking periodically.
After that time, strain out the plant material and it's ready for use.
If you don't use a plastic cap or layer of plastic wrap between a metal
lid and vinegar, the acidity will eventually eat away at the top and
lend a yucky metallic taste to your concoction, so be sure not to
overlook that important detail. Shelf life is around a year.
On the next page, I'll tell you a few uses for this vinegar!
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Uses for Calendula Vinegar:
Here are a few ways to use your calendula vinegar:
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Dilute one part vinegar with around two parts of water
and store in a spray bottle in the fridge for a cooling, skin
soothing treatment for sunburn.
For a cuticle smoothing rinse that will restore shine to
your hair, dilute with an equal amount of water and pour
over hair after shampooing. (The amount of water is just
a guideline. Experiment to find the right water:vinegar
ratio for your hair type.)
Make a homemade vinaigrette: Combine 3 tablespoons
oil, 2 tablespoons calendula vinegar, 1 tablespoon
crumbled bacon, 1/2 tablespoon chopped onion, 1
teaspoon maple syrup and salt and pepper to taste.
Shake together in a jar and let stand for twenty or thirty
minutes so the flavors meld together. Shake again and
pour over your salad. (Infused white wine vinegar works
great in this recipe.)
Calendula vinegar can be dabbed directly on bug bites
with a cotton swab, to help alleviate the itching. For
children, or those with sensitive skin, dilute with water
first.
Add a cup or so to your bath or a quarter cup to a foot
bath. Calendula vinegar's anti-fungal properties makes it
especially useful for treating athlete's foot and other
fungal skin infections.
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Calendula Tea:
There are several ways to make calendula tea.
Boiling Water Method: Place a tablespoon or so of dried
calendula flowers in a heat proof mug or glass and then pour a
cup or so of boiling water over them. Cover with a saucer and
let steep for 15 to 20 minutes. Strain & sweeten to taste.
Alternatively, you can pack fresh flowers into a mason jar and
pour boiling water over them. Let the tea infuse until it's cool
enough to drink and then strain.
Sun Tea: Fill about one-fourth of a jar with dried calendula
flowers or pack it full with fresh flowers. Pour water into the jar,
until it's filled. Cap and place in a sunny spot for five or six
hours. Strain before use.
Calendula tea can be used internally for treating sore throat,
gastric ulcers and congested lymph nodes, among other things,
but is more commonly used externally.
Because it can stimulate menstruation, pregnant women should
not drink calendula tea. If you are on medications or have other
health issues, be sure to check with your doctor and do further
research before taking calendula internally, as it may be
contraindicated for your particular health situation.
Make herbal teas in small batches, store extra in the
refrigerator and discard (or freeze) what you haven't used
within a day or two.
On the next page, I'll talk about a few uses for calendula tea!
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Uses For Calendula Tea:
Calendula is loaded with antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory
properties and is exceptionally useful for any type of irritated
skin condition. Here are a few ways you can use your tea:
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use as a gargle for sore throat
use as a mouth rinse for blisters, inflamed gums or thrush
dip small cloths or rags into the infusion and use as a
compress for scraped, itchy, scratched or otherwise
inflamed skin conditions
use with homemade wipes to help heal irritated diaper
areas
strain through a coffee filter and use as an eye rinse for
itchy eyes due to allergies, dryness and viral pink eye
wash your face with calendula tea nightly, if prone to
acne and breakouts
pour some in a foot bath for fungal conditions such as
athlete's foot
use as a hair rinse after shampooing to help itchy scalp
freeze into ice cubes (see page 18)
drinking calendula tea can make you sweat and
sometimes helps to break a fever. (Not for pregnant
women. If you are on medication, have health problems,
or symptoms grow increasingly worse, check with your
medical professional before trying herbal home
remedies.)
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Calendula Tincture:
A calendula tincture is helpful for bug bites, chicken pox and
other itchy skin conditions.
To make, fill a mason jar with fresh calendula flowers (jar size
depends on how many flowers you've gathered up) then cover
with an 80 proof or higher alcohol like vodka or brandy.
If you don't have fresh flowers, use dried instead – keeping a
roughly 1 part dried herb to 5 parts alcohol ratio in mind.
It's a good idea to keep a layer of plastic wrap or wax paper
between the tincture and the lid, if it's metallic.
Cap and store in a cool, dark place for two or three weeks
before straining, making sure you shake it at least once a day, if
possible.
Dab the straight tincture directly on itchy spots as needed. You
can also dilute a dropperful in a glass of water and use as a
mouth rinse or gargle for sore, inflamed throat and gums.
Calendula tincture can be added to bath water or a hair rinse to
help itching or irritated scalp and skin conditions.
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Calendula Infused Oil:
By letting herbs and flowers infuse in oil for a certain amount of time,
we're able to extract many of the beneficial properties into an easy
to use and apply form.
In the case of calendula flowers, we are transferring their antiinflammatory and anti-microbial properties to our oil.
To make, fill a jar about ¼ to ½ full with dried calendula flowers and
pour olive or some other light oil, such as sunflower or sweet almond
oil, over them – all the way almost to the top of the jar.
Cap and store in a dark cupboard for four to six weeks, shaking
periodically, then strain and use.
If you'd like to infuse your oil in a quicker manner, set the uncovered
jar gently into a pan of warm water and heat slowly over medium
lowish heat. Let the oil stay in the heated water, with the burner still
on low, for two to three hours, then remove.
After removing from the heat, you can use it right away or, for better
results, let it infuse several days longer in a dark cabinet.
To make a double infused (and more powerful) oil, take your freshly
strained oil and repeat the process with a new batch of dried flowers.
We are going to use this oil to make a salve and lip balm, but it can
also be used, as is, for skin irritations or as an ingredient in lotions
and soaps.
For ear aches, put two to three drops in your ear and hold a heated
rice bag or hot water bottle over it. (Don't use if you suspect your ear
drum is ruptured or you have swimmer's ear. Consult a doctor if pain
persists.)
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Calendula Salve Recipe:
This recipe uses the infused oil we made above. It's the perfect all
purpose salve that can be used for:
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diaper rash
scrapes
scratches
sores
bruises
mild burns
You can use this on your pets as well!
To make you'll need:
• 3.5 ounces of calendula infused oil
• .5 ounces of beeswax pastilles
Add the oil and beeswax pastilles into a heat proof container. Set it
gently into a pan containing several inches of water (just like we
used when we infused our calendula oil.)
Gently bring the temperature up to medium-lowish heat and let the
container stay in the makeshift double boiler until the wax is melted.
Remove from heat and pour into tins or jars. This size of a batch will
fill two 2 ounce tins, as pictured. I buy my tins and small jars from
Specialty Bottle or Mountain Rose Herbs.
You can use my tutorial on How to Create Your Own Round Labels if
you wish to make pretty labels.
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Calendula Lip Balm:
While you can certainly use plain calendula salve on dry, chapped
lips, I like to use a formula designed especially for lips. The addition
of shea butter and castor oil lends a creamy glossiness and allows
the healing goodness to stay on longer.
You can also use the lip balm as an anti-itch stick or to spot treat dry
skin areas.
For a vegan version, use candelilla wax, just substitute roughly half
as much as the amount of beeswax called for. (So, in this recipe, use
around ½ tablespoon of candelilla wax.)
To make this lip balm, you'll need:
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2.5 tablespoons (or 1 oz by weight) calendula infused oil
½ tablespoon castor oil
1 tablespoon mango, shea or cocoa butter (.5 oz by weight)
1 tablespoon beeswax (.4 oz by weight)
Place the oils, wax and butter in a heat proof jar or measuring cup.
Set the cup down into a pan filled with a few inches of water.
Place the pan on your oven burner and bring the water to just under
a simmer over medium-low heat.
Heat until the wax and butter are melted then turn off burner and
remove from heat.
If you'd like, you can add a few drops of peppermint or
spearmint essential oil for scent.
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Calendula Infused Witch Hazel:
Witch hazel is a wonderful product with a variety of uses. We can
boost its natural anti-inflammatory properties by infusing it with
calendula.
To make this: First, fill a jar with fresh calendula (or fill it around onefourth of the way if using dried calendula flowers.) Pour witch hazel
over the flowers until the jar is full.
Cap with a non-metallic lid (or place a layer of plastic wrap between
the cap and the jar) and let sit in a cool, dark place for around two
weeks, shaking periodically.
Strain and then store in a glass jar with a non-metallic lid. It should
stay fresh for at least a year, if not longer.
Some ways to use your infused witch hazel:
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Use daily as a toner for acne prone skin. For even more acne
fighting power, add thyme to your infusion.
Keep some in the refrigerator to spritz or dab on sunburn.
(Make sure to label so no-one mistakes it for being edible!)
Carefully dab under your eyes to help firm up the skin and
reduce the appearance of under-eye bags. (Don't let any get
into your eyes!)
Witch hazel is an active ingredient in preparation H, so can be
used for treating hemorrhoids as well.
Apply to itchy skin and rashes caused by poison oak and
poison ivy.
Rub on bruises several times a day, to help speed up healing.
TheNerdyFarmWife.com
Calendula Soap:
This is a mild, unscented bar that is gentle enough to use on almost
everyone from babies to grandmothers. (Always do a small patch
test first though, to be sure.)
It's made with calendula infused olive oil (page 11) and calendula tea
(page 8.)
This is a Cold Process Soap recipe. An overview of directions can be
found in my Soapmaking 101 post.
The recipe can be resized to fit your desired mold by using the lye
calculator HERE.
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21 ounces olive oil (use part calendula infused olive oil)
14 ounces coconut oil
5 ounces sunflower oil
2 ounces castor oil
13 ounces of calendula infused water (tea)
5.98 ounces of sodium hydroxide (lye)
At trace add up to one additional tablespoon of calendula infused
olive oil.
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Calendula Powder:
To turn your dried calendula flowers into a useful, antimicrobial
powder, place a few flowers into a small coffee grinder and
pulse until thoroughly ground up.
Rub the small pieces through a very fine wire mesh strainer.
Return the coarser pieces to the grinder then process and sift
again until you have a small bowl of super soft powder.
Make sure that it is well sifted and silky to the touch, with no
rough pieces remaining.
Uses for this powder:
Things To Do With Calendula
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Make a homemade, anti-microbial foot or body powder
using about ½ cup arrowroot or cornstarch, ¼ cup baking
soda, and a few teaspoons each of kaolin clay and
calendula powder. Add a few drops of essential oil, if
desired. Lavender, tea tree and peppermint are all good
choices.
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Mix with equal parts cosmetic clay and add enough
water, witch hazel, honey, or tamanu oil to make a paste.
To use this as a cleansing masque or moisturizing facial
treatment, rub gently on your face and leave on for about
ten minutes, before rinsing off thoroughly.
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Mix calendula powder with water to make a paste that is
perfect for applying to bug bites, bee stings or other itchy
spots.
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Use for dusting on animals with signs of mange or other
skin conditions. (See page 20.)
TheNerdyFarmWife.com
Calendula Face & Body Cream:
This cream has similar benefits as the salve, only it's more intensely
moisturizing. It's great for rough, dry patches of skin such as elbows,
knees and heels.
To make this, you'll need:
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4 ounces calendula tea (see page 8)
3 ounces calendula infused oil (see page 11)
1 1/2 ounces shea butter (or mango or cocoa butter)
1/2 ounce beeswax pastilles
2 tablespoons stearic acid (palm-derived emulsifying agent)
rosemary antioxidants (a natural preservative)
Make your tea and set aside to cool.
Weigh out 3 ounces of calendula infused oil into a heat proof
measuring cup. Add the shea butter, beeswax pastilles and stearic
acid.
There are a few things to remember when making homemade
creams: First, since they lack the preservatives and chemicals
common in store bought creams, they are quite perishable and have
a short shelf life of two to three months at the most.
Set the cup into a saucepan filled with a few inches of water and
heat on medium-low heat until everything is melted.
Use the utmost care in sterilizing everything that touches the cream.
I use the sanitize cycle in my dishwasher to pre-wash all utensils,
bowls, jars, everything!
Remove from the pan, add a few drops of rosemary antioxidants,
then pour into a mixing bowl to cool. When the oils and the tea are
around body temperature, you're ready to combine the two.
Use clean fingers, or better yet a sterile spoon, to scoop out your
finished cream, avoiding any “double dipping” when you apply it.
Using a hand mixer, turn the beaters on low and slowly drizzle in the
strained tea. As the cream starts to thicken, increase the speed to
high. Beat for around 10 to 15 minutes. (Depending on your mixer.)
Things To Do With Calendula
Refrigeration is recommended; it occasionally may affect the texture,
if so, just stir before use.
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Calendula Ice:
Calendula ice is simply calendula tea that has been frozen –
most often in ice cube trays, for convenience. (See page 8, for
directions on how to make the tea.)
Once the tea is solidly frozen, pop the cubes out of the tray and
store in a single layer in a clearly labeled freezer bag or
container.
To thaw, you can either set an ice cube or two down in a cup
and place in your refrigerator overnight, or you can melt the
desired amount in a small saucepan that has been set over low
heat. Once thawed, you can use the tea per the list on page 9.
However, there's a few other uses for calendula ice that I want
to share!
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For rashes, chicken pox, small scrapes and general booboos: lightly rub a calendula ice cube over the area. It will
help cool and soothe at the same time. (Be sure not to
hold the ice directly in one place for too long; keep it
moving.)
As an alternative, you can wrap an ice cube or two in a
soft cloth and hold on the injured/irritated area.
Calendula ice cubes are also a great way to cool down
regular ice tea! Just drop a few in your glass, instead of
cubes made from plain water, and pour your tea over
them. (If pregnant, avoid ingesting calendula.)
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Calendula & Foods:
Calendula is a beautiful edible flower, perfect for garnishing and
jazzing up a variety of dishes.
You can shred and add a few petals to:
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fresh salsa
scrambled eggs
bread
muffins
cupcakes
frittatas
fresh salads
quiche
Just remember, it's not recommended that pregnant women
consume calendula, especially in the first trimester.
Recipe in Photo: Fresh Peach Salsa with Calendula Garnish
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4 peaches
juice of 1 lime
2 teaspoons honey
1/8 tsp chipotle chili powder
1 tablespoon chopped onion
1 to 2 tablespoons diced bell pepper
2 or 3 tablespoons chopped tomato
optional: chopped cilantro to taste
Combine all ingredients together. Adjust amounts, depending on
personal taste preferences. Refrigerate several hours to let flavors
meld.
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Calendula For Animals:
Calendula is generally safe for a variety of animals such as birds,
chickens, cows, horses, rabbits, dogs and goats; however, if you
have any questions or your pet is pregnant or on meds, it's a good
idea to check with a vet before self-treating.
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For minor cuts, hot spots, scrapes and other mild wounds or
skin irritations, you can use the plain calendula salve found on
page 12. (Make sure not to add essential oils to the formula &
only use for a short time, if the salve is intended for a cat.)
Use calendula tea as a soothing rinse for flea bites, eczema
or dry, itchy coat. It can also be used on areas that are sore
and inflamed. I gently pat a solution of calendula tea diluted
with water on my albino dog's nose, to relieve the sunburn
and chapping he's prone to.
Calendula tea makes a great disinfecting rinse/spray if your
animal gets a cut or scrape.
Calendula vinegar, diluted with 2 or 3 parts water, makes a
nice final rinse for itchy coats after a bath.
Calendula tea can be strained through a coffee filter and used
as an eyewash for mild cases of conjunctivitis. (Consult a vet
if the condition lingers or worsens.)
For animals with chronic colitis or fungal infections, you can
feed the tea internally, but be aware that it is not
recommended for use in pregnant animals and should also be
used on a very limited basis with cats. Check with a holistic
vet for further guidelines for your animal's specific needs.
Finely powdered calendula and goldenseal root (see page 16)
makes a wonderful dusting for chickens, ducks and other
critters with raw areas, feather loss or signs of mange or
mites.
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End Notes:
Thank you for downloading this free eBook!
I hope you found it helpful and inspiring. Please, feel free to pass the
file or link along to interested family and friends as well!
There are a few affiliate links scattered throughout the book & my
website to Mountain Rose Herbs or Bulk Herb Store. That means if
you click on the link and purchase something, I earn a small
commission. This is at no cost to you, but does help support me and
lets me keep doing what I'm doing!
About the Author:
If you ever have any questions, comments, or suggestions, please
let me know!
Jan Berry lives on a seven acre hobby farm in the middle of the Blue
Ridge Mountains. She spends her days homeschooling her two
children, hanging out with her handsome husband, wrangling three
rascally goats and keeping up with the antics of thirty-five chickens,
four ducks, three bunnies, three dogs and one cat.
You can find me at:
She enjoys growing a variety of herbs and flowers and loves coming
up with creative, new ways to use them.
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Facebook
Google+
Instagram
Pinterest
Her sweet tooth drives her never-ending experiments in the kitchen
which sometimes produce yumminess and, due to her perpetual
scatterbrainedness, occasionally a fire, or three.
She likes to while away her spare time playing Word Hero, Tetris and
Skyrim, among other games.
and of course TheNerdyFarmWife.com!
You can find her at TheNerdyFarmWife.com!
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These eBooks are available on my site as well:
Favorite Lavender Recipes (free to newsletter subscribers)
Things To Do With Roses ($3.99)
Things To Do With Dandelions (free)
Things To Do With Calendula
Naturally Sweet Treats ($3.99)
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