Celandine, Greater ~ Chelidonium majus

Celandine, Greater

Latin name: Chelidonium majus

Family:  Papaveraceae

Part used:  entire fresh plant

Habitat:  Europe

Main constituents:  alkaloids, choline, histamine, vitamin C

Energetics: bitter, acrid, cooling

Main herbal actions: cholagogue, choleretic, hepatoprotective, alterative, diuretic

Minor herbal actions: antibacterial, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, digestive stimulant, antitussive, antitumor

Main medicinal uses: jaundice, chronic liver, gallbladder, and spleen disease; eczema, corns and warts, bronchospasm, bronchitis, whooping cough, yeast (Khalsa)

Minor medicinal uses: prevents formation of biliary calculi

Preparations: infusion: 2-3 Tbsp fresh or 1 Tbsp dried plant/cup water; 1:1.4 tincture: 10-20 gtt tid-qid, capsules: capsules: 2-15 grams qd (Khalsa)

Contraindications: pregnancy

Toxicity: side effects may include dry mouth and dizziness

Sources: Sharol Tilgner, N.D.: Herbal Medicine from the Heart of the Earth; Wren, R.C. Potter’s New Encyclopedia of Botanical Drugs and Preparations

Module 2 lecture

• Latin name: Chelidonium majus ( in Poppy family)
• Part Used: Leaf
• Cholagogue, Choleretic, Hemoprotective, alterative, diuretic
• Khalsa uses it for Yeast infections.  It kills Candida in the gut.
• Jaundice, Chronic liver, gallbladder and spleen diseases, Eczema, corns and warts, bronchospasm, bronchitis, whooping cough
• Dose: 2-15 grams/day (Khalsa)
• Liver remedy

Celandine Latex

• used to put on warts