CELANDINE
Chelidonium majus
COMMON NAMES: Garden celandine, greater celandine, tetterwort, chelidonium.
CAUTION: Large doses are poisonous.
FEATURES: Celandine is a pale green, evergreen perennial with stems 1–2 feet in height; leaves round and
smooth, 1½–2½ inches long; the flowers are bright yellow, umbellate, on long, often hairy, stocks.
Indigenous to Europe and naturalized in the United States. It grows wild along fences, roadsides, and in
waste places, etc., flowering from May to October. When the plant is cut or wounded a noticeable,
unpleasant yellow sap flows out; it is of offensive odor, nauseous, and bitter tasting with a biting
sensation when put to the mouth.
The fresh reddish brown root is the part most used; drying diminishes its activity.
Celandine is often considered the same as lesser celandine, which is pilewort; they are different
medicinally and botanically.
SOLVENTS: Alcohol, water.
MEDICINAL PARTS: Herb, root.
BODILY INFLUENCE: Alterative, cathartic, diuretic, diaphoretic, expectorant, purgative, vulnerary.
USES: It is used internally in decoctions or tinctures for hepatic affections or liver complaints, and has a
special influence on the spleen. It is often used in dropsy and skin complaints.
Culpeper knew of its virtues long ago, and we quote: “The herb or root boiled in white wine and drunk,
a few aniseeds being boiled therewith, openeth obstructions of the liver and gall, helpeth the yellow
jaundice.”
Celandine has had much recognition. The herbalist of ancient times cleansed the eyes of film and
cloudiness that darkened the sight with the juice of this plant diluted with breast milk. Of the powdered
root, ½–1 dram; of the fresh juice, 20–40 drops (in some bland liquid); of the extract, 5–10 drops.
EXTERNALLY: Application for progressive spreading ulcers, malignant running sores, and other spreading
skin conditions such as tetters, ringworm, or cancers effects speedy recovery if used daily. The fresh juice