Celandine

Since time immemorial, celandine has been used as a medicinal plant. This herb is said to be useful for treating cataracts, cleansing the liver, removing warts, and as a choleretic, antispasmodic, sedative, analgesic, and antibacterial agent. Is celandine really capable of such miracles? Now we’ll find out.

What is celandine

Celandine is a perennial herbaceous plant belonging to the poppy family. Widely distributed in the temperate climate of Eurasia. As a rule, it grows throughout Europe with the exception of northern Scandinavia and Iceland. And also this plant can be seen in the Canary Islands, Madeira, Morocco, northern Algeria, New Zealand and North America. The southern border of the celandine range passes through Turkey, Iran, Kazakhstan and southern China. And the easternmost point where this grass grows is called the Japanese islands. As a rule, it grows along roads, on the outskirts of moist forests, especially beech and hornbeam. Often found in gardens and parks. Celandine loves fertile soil enriched with humus. And around the XNUMXth century in Europe, celandine was grown as an ornamental plant.

This is a small plant, it is rarely higher than 75 cm. Its light green leaves are divided into 5-7 oval-shaped segments. On the underside, slightly “hairy”. The first yellow flowers (up to 2 cm in diameter) appear on the bushes in spring and do not disappear until early autumn. When the grass fades, narrow elongated “capsules” with black shiny seeds are visible on it. In places where the stem is damaged, orange-yellow juice oozes, which is both poison and medicine. It is because of this juice that the plant is popularly called yellow milkweed, yellow spurge, devil’s milk. Although other names are known, for example, swallow grass (appears at about the same time when swallows arrive, besides, the Latin name translates as “swallow”), warthog (removes warts), boletus (grows near fences), nutcracker (ripe seed pods click) or cleansing herb (clears the skin of lichen).

Interestingly, in ancient times, celandine was considered a magical plant. In Rus’, for example, they believed that this herb accumulates the power of fire and protects from evil. It was customary to carry the leaves of this plant with you, wrapped in sacking – for good luck and to protect against unfair accusations.

Chemical composition and useful properties

Celandine juice contains a large amount of alkaloids (almost 20 items). Their concentration in leaves and stems ranges from 0,5 to 1,5%, but the maximum amount of these substances is in the roots (up to 3-4%). In addition, celandine juice is rich in carotenes, ascorbic acid, essential oils, organic acids, tannins, phenolic compounds, flavonoids, choline, lectins, glycogen, pectin, various enzymes and other useful chemical compounds.

Most of the medicinal properties of celandine are determined by the alkaloids contained in the plant. One of the strongest effects of celandine is the relaxation of smooth muscles. That is, the plant extract affects the gastrointestinal tract, gallbladder, ureter, uterus, promoting the outflow of bile and active excretion of urine, eliminating constipation and menstrual pain.

Heleritrin and sanguinarine contained in the stems have antiviral and bactericidal activity (including useful for getting rid of staphylococci and streptococci). And chelidonin acts on the nervous system like morphine, but it does not cause euphoria (only anesthetizes).

The juice also contains a substance that blocks the reproduction of the papillomavirus and prevents the growth of warts.

In addition, the alkaloids contained in the plant are useful for protecting against viruses, have antitumor activity, antimicrobial, analgesic, sedative, diuretic, anti-inflammatory properties.

Benefits for the body

Today, celandine is mainly used to treat the liver, spleen, gallbladder, kidneys, intestines, and some lung diseases. In addition, homeopathic preparations based on this herb are prescribed for people with cholelithiasis and hepatitis. Next, let’s talk about the most famous and best studied properties of the plant.

Protection for the liver and gallbladder

Celandine contains substances that help cleanse the liver. This plant is useful for detoxifying the body. It has natural protective properties that not only help maintain the proper condition and performance of the liver, but also protect cells from damage. Celandine extract reduces inflammation in the body, it is useful for the treatment of fibrosis and the prevention of toxic hepatitis. Celandine stimulates the gallbladder, dysfunction of which is known to cause various diseases, including indigestion. Clinical studies have confirmed the herb’s effectiveness in treating gallbladder inflammation. But before starting herbal medicine, it is important to consult a doctor.

Improves digestion

It is useful to take celandine for violations of the digestive system. This herb relieves abdominal cramps, bloating, relieves indigestion. It helps the body produce more bile and other digestive enzymes, which are responsible for the efficient digestion of food. Some studies indicate that celandine extract is useful for the treatment of stomach ulcers, irritable bowel syndrome and some chronic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.

Treats eczema

The juice of the plant is traditionally used to treat many skin diseases, including atopic dermatitis. In 2011, scientists conducted an experiment, the result of which indicated that celandine juice is useful for treating eczema. This experiment was carried out on rats, but still proved the ability of the plant to reduce the symptoms of eczema, including inflammation and itching.

Celandine tinctures have been used for centuries to treat many skin conditions, including ringworm, corns, and warts.

Antimicrobial agent

Celandine is effective in gum and tooth diseases caused by bacteria. Laboratory experiments have shown that the plant extract has powerful antibacterial activity against several strains of bacteria, including streptococci. Researchers suggest that the antimicrobial abilities of celandine are associated with the substance chelerythrin contained in the plant. Other studies have confirmed the herb’s effectiveness against the herpes simplex virus.

Anticancer agent

Celandine has anti-cancer properties. At one time, a study was conducted with the participation of patients with different types of cancer. Each of the participants in the experiment received a certain portion of the celandine extract. It turned out that under the influence of the phytopreparation, the reproduction of cancer cells slows down and the survival rate of patients with cancer increases. Although, for the sake of fairness, it should be noted that not all researchers agree that celandine is really so effective for treating cancer. At one time, a preparation for the treatment of oncological diseases “Ukraine” was made from the extract of celandine. But later, many researchers doubted its effectiveness, and in many countries this medication was completely banned because of the danger. But on the other hand, no one undertakes to deny that there are substances in celandine that have antioxidant activity, which is also a factor in protecting against cancer.

Removes warts

Modern science has confirmed that celandine juice is an effective cure for warts and papillomas. But these abilities of the plant have been known to man for more than a century. In ancient times, people knew that if you regularly apply orange juice of celandine to a wart, then sooner or later it will disappear. Today, many scientists confirm the effectiveness of such a folk remedy, but at the same time they remind: grass juice should not be applied to healthy areas of the skin (burns are possible).

For such a treatment, you should break a branch of a fresh plant and wait until a drop of juice appears, then apply it to the wart. If it is not possible to get fresh celandine juice daily, you can prepare medicinal vinegar. To do this, pour 10 g of a fresh plant with a glass of vinegar and leave for a month in a glass vessel (keep in a dark place, shake the jar with the contents every 3 days). The resulting remedy is useful to moisten the warts.

Other benefits of celandine

• antifungal agent;
• relieves spasms;
• treats arthritis and gout;
• treats diseases of the genitourinary system;
• has analgesic properties;
• lowers blood pressure;
• useful in tuberculosis.

Use in folk medicine

Celandine has been used in European and Chinese folk medicine for centuries. Soon after the plant was brought to North America, the Indians also began to use it as a medicine. In ancient Greece and Rome, swallow grass was used to get rid of intestinal parasites and reduce body temperature, and in medieval Europe, jaundice and other liver diseases were treated with plant juice. By the end of the XNUMXth century, when researchers learned much more about the chemical composition of the plant, the scope of its application also expanded significantly. And already in the twentieth century in different countries they began to cultivate this herb.

In Russia and the Baltic countries, celandine is known primarily as a herbal remedy for cleansing the body. In Latin American countries, this plant has been used since ancient times to treat the liver, indigestion, gallbladder diseases, hepatitis and skin diseases. In Asia, this herb is known as an anti-inflammatory agent. Medicines from this plant were used to treat bronchitis, whooping cough, and also to remove toxins. At different times in European countries, celandine was used to purify the blood, treat jaundice, remove stones from the liver and gallbladder. In the old days, toothache was also treated with celandine (leaves were applied to the aching tooth), and powder from the dried plant was poured onto wounds to speed up their healing.

Young shoots in herbal medicine are used in the form of decoctions, aqueous or alcoholic extracts. Celandine in this form is especially useful for the kidneys, liver, bile ducts, treatment of rheumatism, intestinal colic, abdominal pain, migraine, swelling. Infusions and tinctures from celandine are antispasmodic, diuretic, choleretic, analgesic, sedative, antiallergic, antiviral, antifungal agent.

Plant juice today is used only externally (to remove warts, warts, papillomas, corns, calluses, fungi, psoriasis, to cauterize herpes and polyps). Alcohol tincture of the herb in folk medicine is used to strengthen the immune system and prevent cancer.

Use in cosmetology

Our grandmothers, it seems, knew how to prepare a beauty remedy from every herb. Celandine was also included in the list of herbs useful for hair and face. Women regularly rinsed their hair with a decoction of this plant to give them a beautiful shine, activate growth, and also to get rid of dandruff. With the same decoction, it is useful to wipe the skin of the face, especially problematic (with acne, pustules, inflamed areas).

Mask for problem skin

Mix a teaspoon of peach or olive oil, one yolk, a little oatmeal and 10 drops of celandine juice. Keep on face for 5 minutes. Apply no more than 1 time per week. This tool is useful for lightening age spots, acne treatment.

Mask for oily skin

Prepare a mixture of 2 teaspoons of sour cream, 1 teaspoon of green clay and the same amount of celandine juice. Apply to cleansed face and keep for 15 minutes. This mask is useful for regulating sebaceous glands, preventing and treating acne.

How to prepare

For medicinal purposes, the aerial part of the plant and its root are used. Greens are harvested in May-June, besides, it is better to collect only young shoots. It is desirable to dry leaves and stems at a temperature of 30-60 ° C separately from other plants. The roots are dug up in autumn or early spring and also dried at a temperature not exceeding 60 ° C. Store the dried raw material in a hermetically sealed package, protecting it from moisture. From 6 kg of fresh leaves and roots, approximately 1 kg of dry raw materials will be obtained.

Daily rate and dosage

Researchers say that you should not consume more than 12-30 mg of alkaloids per day, that is, no more than 2-5 g of dry celandine grass.

A safe decoction of celandine is prepared from half a tablespoon of grass and a glass of hot water (the mixture is steamed for 30 minutes). Take this infusion no more than three times a day and no more than 2 tablespoons (can be diluted in a glass of water).

When applying celandine juice externally, it is important that it does not get into the eyes, as it causes severe burning and can damage the mucous membrane.

Противопоказания

Celandine and preparations containing herb extract should not be drunk during pregnancy, as they stimulate uterine contractions. The plant is prohibited for gastric ulcer, acute catarrh of the gastrointestinal tract, asthma, epilepsy, patients with angina pectoris. It is important to know that celandine contains compounds that cause drowsiness.

Overdoses of celandine provoke dyspepsia, nausea, constipation, lethargy, dryness and burning in the mouth, headaches, dizziness, impaired consciousness, convulsions, sometimes even paralysis. Despite the fact that this herb is used to treat the liver, an overdose can, on the contrary, damage the organ. You can not use celandine for longer than 2 months.

How else can you use

The use of celandine is not at all limited to herbal medicine. The juice of this plant is used in the process of blackening metals. It is necessary for the manufacture of yellow and luminescent paint. If you process metal products with celandine, you can not be afraid of corrosion. And the juice of the plant is useful for disinfection.

“Everything is a poison and everything is a medicine, only the dose determines the difference.” It’s hard to find a better description for celandine than this quote from Paracelsus. This herb has the most controversial reputation among herbalists. It has many useful properties, but if you neglect the advice of herbalists, ignore dosage recommendations, you can cause serious harm to the body.

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