Greater celandine's therapeutic uses
Greater celandine (Chelidonium majus) is a herb known for its historical medicinal applications, particularly in Central and Eastern European folk medicine. The plant's orange-colored sap has been traditionally used to address various health issues, including dyspepsia, skin conditions like warts, and respiratory ailments such as bronchitis and whooping cough. Additionally, some studies suggest that greater celandine may possess anticancer and antimicrobial properties, and it has been explored for its potential to alleviate gallbladder-related digestive problems.
However, the herb also contains toxic compounds that pose significant health risks, particularly concerning liver damage. While there are some reports of its effectiveness for treating skin issues, including warts, experts generally advise against its internal use due to the potential for severe liver injury. This caution is important as individual susceptibility to the herb’s toxic effects can vary. Overall, while greater celandine has been historically utilized for a range of therapeutic purposes, safety concerns have led to recommendations against its use, particularly in internal applications.
Greater celandine's therapeutic uses
- DEFINITION: Natural plant product used to treat specific health conditions.
- PRINCIPAL PROPOSED USES: None
- OTHER PROPOSED USES: Dyspepsia, warts and other skin conditions, respiratory health, anticancer, antimicrobial, antiviral
Overview
The herb greater celandine (Chelidonium majus), a relative of the poppy, contains an orange-colored juice that has been used medicinally for thousands of years. It has been applied topically for eye and skin problems. It can also be taken internally for bronchitis, jaundice, indigestion, cancer, and whooping cough. Traditional herbalists seem to disregard a major problem with consuming this herb: it can damage the liver. Greater celandine contains toxic constituents, and it is not recommended for use. The herb has, however, been popularly used in Central and Eastern European folk medicine for centuries.
Therapeutic Dosages
A typical dosage of greater celandine extract is standardized to supply 4 milligrams of the substance chelidonine three times daily. However, experts advise against its use. For the treatment of warts, greater celandine is applied directly to the wart and allowed to dry.
Therapeutic Uses
Test-tube and animal studies provide weak evidence that greater celandine may both stimulate and relax the gallbladder. In Europe, it is commonly believed that minor gallbladder problems are a cause of indigestion. On this basis, celandine was approved in 1985 by Germany’s Commission E, which evaluated the usefulness of three hundred herbs as a treatment for dyspepsia, or nonspecific digestive distress. While there is some supporting evidence for this use, in view of the safety risks associated with celandine, using it for this purpose (or any other) is not recommended.
Preliminary evidence suggests that celandine constituents may also have cancer-preventive and antimicrobial properties. Celandine has traditionally been advocated as a topical treatment for warts. Some studies have indicated that the topical use of greater celandine may be as effective as cryotherapy and salicylic acid. Greater celandine may also be beneficial for other skin conditions, including eczema, psoriasis, and corns. Traditionally, greater celandine was used for treating respiratory conditions, such as asthma, bronchitis, and whooping cough, but more scientific study is necessary.
Safety Issues
Numerous case reports indicate that the use of celandine can lead to severe, potentially fatal liver injury. It should be noted that most people who use greater celandine do not develop liver problems. It may be that specific individuals have an exceptionally high level of susceptibility. However, since it is impossible to determine who would be at risk in advance, experts recommend that the internal use of greater celandine should be avoided entirely.
Bibliography
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"Enlarged Liver." Mayo Clinic, 5 Mar. 2023, www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/enlarged-liver/symptoms-causes/syc-20372167. Accessed 24 Sept. 2024.
"Greater Celandine – Health Information Library." PeaceHealth, 23 May 2015, www.peacehealth.org/medical-topics/id/hn-2101000. Accessed 24 Sept. 2024.
"Greater Celandine - LiverTox." NCBI, 24 May 2022, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK548684. Accessed 24 Sept. 2024.
Song, J. Y., et al. "Immunomodulatory Activity of Protein-Bound Polysaccharide Extracted from Chelidonium majus." Archives of Pharmacal Research, vol. 25, 2002, pp. 158-164.
Stickel, F., et al. "Acute Hepatitis Induced by Greater Celandine (Chelidonium majus)." Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology, vol. 38, 2003, pp. 565-568.
Zielinska, Sylwia, et al. "Greater Celandine's Ups and Downs−21 Centuries of Medicinal Uses of Chelidonium majus From the Viewpoint of Today's Pharmacology." Frontiers, 11 Apr. 2018, www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2018.00299/full. Accessed 24 Sept. 2024.