Also known as: Chelidonium Majus, Tetterwort, Herbe à Verrues, Racine de Chélidoine
Growing on easy, sandy soils, the Greater Celandine herb is often found near dwellings or roadways, on old walls, in forests and bushes, from plains to mountains, having delicate bright yellow flowers. When breaking the stem or branches of the plant, a yellow juice will start flowing, becoming orange through oxidation. This orange, slightly acrid juice is traditionally used directly on the skin for rashes, eczema or scabies, accelerating the healing process and for warts, the treatment lasts seven consecutive days.
The complex chemical composition gathers substances with calming antispasmodic action, similar to papaverine, while being approximately ten times less toxic. By stimulating the intestinal peristalsis, Greater Celandine is beneficial for various conditions of the digestive tract, such as: irritable bowel syndrome, upset stomach, constipation and even stomach cancer (*although further research is needed), while in traditional Chinese medicine is used as a pain reliever and expectorant. Acting as a depressant of the central nervous system and myocardial function, Greater Celandine has similar effects to morphine, being sedative and narcotic. With detoxifying properties, Greater Celandine is recommended by modern herbalists in gallbladder problems as it increases the biliary secretion, but there are some concerns that it may worsen bile duct obstruction.
Although some evidence suggests that people with liver disorders may benefit from using this plant and that the infusion of half teaspoon of dry plant for one cup of boiling water can act as a hepatic protective, decreasing triglyceride levels and mitigating liver pains, recent research reveals that Greater Celandine can cause hepatitis.
Asthma, chest pain, fluid retention, gout and osteoarthritis are among other uses of Greater Celandine and chewing its fresh root is said to soothe toothache. The herb is available in natural food stores in many forms, and can be purchased as herbal tea, tincture, lotion or capsules.
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