Large celandine

Poppy – Papaveraceae.

Common names: yellow grass, golden grass, cleaning grass, swallow grass, devil’s milk, witch grass, wart grass.

Parts used: herb and root.

Pharmacy name: celandine herb – Chelidonii herba (formerly: Heiba ​​Chelidonii), celandine root – Chelidonii radix (formerly: Radix Chelidonii).

Botanical description.This is a perennial plant with a powerful (sometimes finger-thick) root. Depending on the habitat, its height ranges from 30 cm to 1 m. All parts of the plant (even the roots) secrete a yellow milky juice, which is very pungent in taste and irritating. The stem is branched, slightly pubescent, also covered with pubescent alternate bluish-green, pinnate below, pinnate-lobed leaves above. Brilliant golden yellow flowers with four petals and numerous stamens are collected in an umbrella-shaped inflorescence. The elongated pod-like fruits bear seeds that have white appendages, which are very fond of ants, which is why celandine seeds are often brought to unusual places. Celandine blooms almost all year round, from (March) April to October (November), but mostly in May-June. Common within dwellings, on roadsides, near hedges, in bushes.

active ingredients.The yellow milky juice of celandine contains all kinds of alkaloids close to the opium group. One of them is considered cytotoxic (destroying cells). In addition, the plant contains saponins, flavonoids, some essential oil, carotenoids, a cardiac stimulant and enzymes. Healing action and application. According to the composition of celandine, it can be judged that this plant has a slightly sedative, anti-spasmodic (on the bronchi, intestines) and choleretic effect. The excitatory effect on the vessels leads to a slight increase in blood pressure. Therefore, celandine is used for sluggish bowel movements, stomach diseases and bile stasis. The German National Health Service also points to these areas of application. But you need a doctor’s advice. Most likely, he will prescribe a variety of products in the form of drops, because celandine tea is not always safe. In addition, the active ingredients are destroyed during long-term storage and are contained in pharmaceutical raw materials in different quantities. Celandine grass or roots are an integral part of many medicinal teas for the treatment of diseases of the stomach, intestines and gallbladder. Who wants to be treated for these diseases with natural celandine, must undergo a 3-4-week course of treatment. But be sure to check with your doctor first!

  • Celandine tea: Scald 2 teaspoons of celandine herb with 1/4 liter of boiling water and soak for 10 minutes. After straining, the tea is ready to drink. During the entire course, take a cup 2-3 times every day.

The idea of ​​​​the action of celandine would be incomplete if we did not mention the use of fresh milky juice of celandine to reduce warts. For those who lubricate the warts several times every day with fresh celandine juice, they disappear after a few days. However, it is still unclear why this does not occur in other patients even with longer use.

My special advice. The action of celandine is often overestimated. Therefore, I advise you to use this raw material in mixtures where its action is supported by other medicinal herbs used against diseases of the stomach, intestines and gallbladder. In this sense, the combination with wormwood, peppermint and cumin is quite reliable.

  • Mixed tea: Celandine 10.0 Peppermint 10.0 Cumin 5.0 Wormwood 5.0

Two teaspoons of the mixture pour l / 4 liters of boiling water and leave for 10 minutes. After straining, drink non-hot tea in small sips. It will be necessary to take 2 times a day for a cup or take a 2-3-week course in the same doses.

Use in homeopathy. The homeopathic product Chelidonium is prepared from the raw root. It is believed that the product supports the activity of the liver and gallbladder, so it belongs to the most frequently recommended remedies. Chelidonium is also prescribed for influenza, bronchitis and pneumonia, somewhat less often for neuralgia and muscular rheumatism. Assign a remedy in dilutions D 1 -D6, give every day several times 5-10 (up to 15) drops.

Application in folk medicine.The use of celandine has been known since ancient times. Already Theophrast (372-287 BC) wrote that he prescribed this remedy for jaundice, liver tumors, gallstone disease and constipation. This information was used by later authors of herbalists and in medieval herbalists, from which the knowledge of traditional medicine was drawn. New is the use of celandine in asthmatic attacks, in this area it is being praised more and more. Here, its action is determined by the sedative and anticonvulsant substances present in the composition of the raw material. Also, the external use of celandine is increasingly practiced. This refers not only to the reduction of warts with raw juice, but also to other skin diseases that are treated with decoction (tea) from celandine. This is explained, apparently, by the fact that some alkaloids have a bactericidal effect.

Side effects. Even if no side effects appear during treatment at the above doses, it is still better to use raw materials only after consulting a doctor. And since the celandine contains all kinds of alkaloids, it is rightfully considered a poisonous plant.