COMMON NAMES:
Also known as tetterwort, Garden Celandine, Chelidonium, True Celandine, and Swallow Wort.

LATIN NAME:
Chelidonium majus

HISTORY:
A native of the poppy family, this plant is a native of Europe, and was brought to North America by settlers in 1672 as a remedy for skin ailments. Its use as a medicinal plant can be traced back to Ancient Greece, where it was revered as a wonderful juice for sharpening eye sight and relieving tooth aches. Historically, it was used topically to remove warts and other skin problems.

HERBAL PROPERTIES AND USES:
Preparations of the herb are usually made from teas and tinctures. It is used as a common purgative by herbalists, as well as a method for removing warts and other skin malformations. This plant also has mild sedative properties, allowing it to be used as a treatment for upper-respiratory issues such as asthma and bronchitis. Greater Celandine is also an antispasmodic herb, which has been reputed to aid in gallbladder function through increasing the flow of bile in the organ. It is also a general immune-system booster and a nervine sedative. The plant has been used for hundreds of years for its abilities to cleanse the liver and stimulate the gallbladder. It has also been indicated to improve eczema and jaundice. Greater Celandine is also believed to relieve stomach cramps and poor digestion.

Greater Celandine Cultivation and Growing Methods

ANNUAL/PERRENIAL PLANT:
Hardy perennials or biennials

PARTS USED:
Leaves and roots

SOIL REQUIREMENTS:
Does well in most types of soils.

SUN REQUIREMENTS:
Does best in partial shade or full sun.

GROWING ZONES:
Does well in Europe and North America. USDA Zones 5-8.

PLANTING TIME:
From seeds, you can directly plant after the danger of the last frost has passed.

POLLINATION:
Self seeds and requires weeding to control them taking over a garden.

FLOWERING/SEEDING TIME:
From seed, this plant seeds quickly, in about three weeks.

HARVESTING:
To harvest the seeds, wait until the pods have dried on the plant, break them open once dried and remove the seeds. Leaves can be harvested throughout the drying season.

DRYING METHODS / YIELD:
The seeds can then be dried in the sun for a few days and stored.

PLANT YIELD:
Approximately 1 /4 pound of seed will be yielded per plant.

PRESERVATION / PACKAGING METHODS:
Can be dried and stored as any herb or spice in an air-tight container.

ESSENTIAL OIL USE:
n/a

PLANT CHEMICALS:
The principle alkaloid in the plant and its roots is coptisine. It also contains berberine, sanguinarine and chelerythrine.

IS THIS AN EDIBLE PLANT:
Yes, but can be toxic in large amounts, as it contains isoquinoline alkaloids.

CAUTIONS / CONTRAINDICATIONS:
Can cause severe irritation of the mucous membranes. Women who are pregnant or breast feeding should not use this herb. It also not recommended for children or for individuals with liver disease.

DRUG INTERACTIONS:
Consult your health-care provider if you are taking other medications.

Clinical Research About Greater Celandine

• Potential antioxidant activity, cytotoxic and apoptosis-inducing effects of Chelidonium majus L. extract on leukemia cells. Nadova S, Miadokova E, Alfoldiova L, Kopaskova M, Hasplova K, Hudecova A, Vaculcikova D, Gregan F, Cipak L. Neuro Endocrinol Lett. 2008 Oct;29(5):649-52.
• Acute hepatitis induced by greater celandine (Chelidonium majus). Hardeman E, Van Overbeke L, Ilegems S, Ferrante M. Acta Gastroenterol Belg. 2008 Apr-Jun;71(2):281-2.
• Nucleases isolated from Chelidonium majus L. milky sap can induce apoptosis in human cervical carcinoma HeLa cells but not in Chinese Hamster Ovary CHO cells. Nawrot R, Wo?un'-Cholewa M, Goz'dzicka-Józefiak A. Folia Histochem Cytobiol. 2008;46(1):79-83.
• Stickel F, Schuppan D. Dig Liver Dis. 2007 Apr;39(4):293-304. Epub 2007 Feb 28. Review.

 

References

1. http://www.rxlist.com/greater_celandine/supplements.htm
2. Blanchan, Neltje (2005). Wild_Flowers_Worth_Knowing" Wild Flowers Worth Knowing. HYPERLINK "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_Gutenberg" Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation.
3. Gruenwald, Joerg (2000). PDR for Herbal Medicines.
4. Golob, Peter; Caroline Moss, Melanie Dales, Alex Fidgen, Jenny Evans and Irene Gudrups (1999).
5. Natural Standard Drug Monograph.
6. http://www.naturalstandard.com/naturalstandard/monographs/monoframeset.asp?monograph=/monographs/herbssupplements/aux3-greatercelandine.asp. Accessed June 16, 2009.
7. Howard, Michael (1987-05-21). Traditional Folk Remedies. Century Paperbacks. Ebury Press. pp. 146–147.
8. Chevallier, Andrew (1996). The encyclopedia of medicinal plants. New York: DK Publishing. p. 185.