Chelidonium majus, Celandine

Also called Hirundinaria or Swallow-wort
Herbarum Vivae Eicones, Otto Brunfels, 1530

Icones Plantarum Medcio-oeconomico, Vietz, 1800

Kohler's Medizinal Pflanzen, 1887
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Botanical name:
Chelidonium majus

Parts used:
Whole plant in flower; Root

Temperature & Taste:
Cold (classed as Warm), dry. Bitter, pungent

Classifications:
2F. PURIFYING.   2G. CLEANSING.   2K. RESOLVENT
4b. OPTHALMIC

Uses:
1. Clears Liver Heat, Clears Damp-Heat, Opens Obstructions:
-obstruction of the Liver and Spleen: used for Jaundice, Cholecystitis, Gall Stones, Hepatitis, Liver Swelling

2. Promotes Sweat, Resists Poison:
-Cold, Flu, Infectious diseases (both to prevent and cure)

3. Clears Heat, Stops Cough:
-heat-type Cough, chronic Bronchitis, Asthma, Whooping Cough

4. Moves the Blood, Clears Stasis:

5. Preserves Health:
-‘The Essence hereof preserves from old age, or makes age look youthful’ (Salmon)
-often credited with preserving youth.

6. Externally:
-externally for the eyes, sores and ulcers of them (diluted juice or infusion)
-chewed to relieve Toothache
-juice is applied to Warts and Corns, Ringworm, Itchy Skin, Tinea, Eczema, Herpes, as well as Tumors and Cancers
-internally and externally for chronic and filthy sores and ulcers, especially of the legs
-decoction is gargled for Toothache; or the root can be chewed.
-‘Some ... writers believe that this agent is superior to Arnica or Hamamelis, as an external application to bruises and sprains’ (Ellingwood)
-Breast Cancer, apply the juice with an equal amount of Goose dung
Benefits the Sight:
-clears the Eyes, quickens the Sight (juice boiled with Honey and applied: Dioscorides)
-sore, red eyes; Films and Cloudiness of the Eyes (juice applied with milk or the ointment applied to the eyelids)
-Cataracts; the fresh juice, preserved with Olive oil is applied to advanced cases of Cataract daily for up to 4 months to cure (Meyer)
-often regarded as superior to Eyebright for the Eyes.


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Main Combinations:
1. Infection of Epidemic diseases (including Plague), Celandine  ... available in PRO version
2. To prevent and cure in Epidemic diseases:
i. Celandine with  ... available in PRO version
ii. Celandine with  ... available in PRO version
iii. Celandine with  ... available in PRO version
3. Jaundice:
i. Celandine with  ... available in PRO version
ii. Celandine with  ... available in PRO version
iii. Celandine with  ... available in PRO version
4. Jaundice and Liver obstruction, with Aniseed, decocted in wine (Gerard)
5. Gall Stones, Cholecystitis:
i. Celandine with  ... available in PRO version
ii. Celandine with  ... available in PRO version
6. For the eyes, combine Celandine with Eyebright and Fennel seed
7. Fractures, Celandine with ... available in PRO version
8. As a bath for Eczema, Celandine with Elecampane, Artichoke leaf, Chicory, Broom flowers, Lavender and Nettle
9. Itch, Celandine  ... available in PRO version
10. Distilled water to apply to the Eyes: Celandine with Fennel seed, Rue, Eyebright, Clove, Camphor and Aloes; steeped in Wine and Rose water and distilled. For Heat, Pain, Redness, Inflammations, Cloudiness of the Eyes; also Fistulas, Cataracts etc.

Major Formulas:
Tincture of Celandine
Infusion for Jaundice (Riverius)
Decoction for Jaundice
Decoction for the Gall Bladder (2)
Decoction to Cleanse the Sight (Riverius)
Syrup of Betony (Bononiense)
Electuary for the Eyes (Grulingus)
Confection of Eyebright (Confectio Humain) (Mesue)


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Cautions:
1. Avoid during pregnancy
2. Toxic in overdose

Main Preparations used:
Dehydrated Juice, Distilled Water of the herb, Salt of the Ashes