Chelidonium majus

Chelidonium majus [Image]. [2014]. Retrieved from: http://www.luontoportti.com/suomi/en/kukkakasvit/greater-celandine

Common name: 
Greater Celandine 
(Bone, 2003, p. 261). 

Latin binomial:
Chelidonium majus
(Bone, 2003, p. 261). 

Family:
Papaveraceae 
(Bone, 2003, p. 261). 

Parts used:
Aerial parts 
(Bone, 2003, p. 261).  
 

Active constituents:

• Alkaloids including
• Chelidonine
• Chelerythine
• Comptisine
• Protopine
• Chelidonic acid
• Essential oil
• Saponin
• Yellow latex with carotenoid latex 

(Hoffman, 1983, p. 199).  

Actions:

• Anti- spasmodic
• Cholagogue
• Anodyne
• Purgative
• Diuretic 

(Hoffman, 1983, p. 199).

• Choleretic
• Mild laxative
• Anti-inflammatory
• Antiviral
• Vulnerary   

(Bone, 2003, p. 261).  

Indications:

• At a therapeutic does this herb is great for the use of infections of the gallbladder, and gall stones
• It may be used as an anti-spasmodic remedy in stomach pain
• Externally the orange latex from the stem may be used in the treatment of uerrucae, skin tumours and tinea 

(Hoffman, 1983, p. 199).  

Contraindications/Cautions:
Do not exceed the recommended does, at higher doses the plant is poisonous, causing powerful purging of the digestive tract (Hoffman, 1983, p. 199).  

Dosage:

• Decoction: put 2 teaspoons full of the her or 1 teaspoon full of the root in a cup of cold water, bring to the boil and then remove from the heat to let stand for 10 minutes. Take one cup twice a day. 
• Tincture: 1-2 ml of the tincture three times a day 

(Hoffman, 1983, p. 199).

Combinations: 
In gallbladder disease it combines well with Barberry and Dandelion  
(Hoffman, 1983, p. 199).

References:

Bone, K. (2003) A clinical guide to blending liquid herbs; herbal formulations for the individual patient. Churchill, Livingstone: Missouri.

Hoffman, D. (1983) The holistic herbal. Element books: Dorset.