Lesser celandine
Lessercelandine is a plant whose parts growing above the ground are used to make medicine. Despite serious safety concerns, lesser celandine is used to treat scurvy, a disease caused by vitamin C deficiency. Lesser celandine is sometimes applied directly to the skin to treat bleeding wounds, bleeding gums, swollen joints, warts, scratches and hemorrhoids. In food, the fresh leaves of lesser celandine are sometimes used as an ingredient in salads.
How does lesser celandine work?
Lesser celandine contains vitamin C. It also has drying effects, soothes mucosal membranes and contains chemicals that can cause skin irritation. Some scientists believe that lesser celandine may prevent the growth of certain bacteria and fungi, or kill certain bacteria and fungi. Other chemicals contained in lesser celandine may help treat hemorrhoids.
How effective is lesser celandine?
There is not enough scientific data to say how effective lesser celandine is when taken orally for scurvy, or applied to the skin for bleeding wounds, bleeding gums, swollen joints, warts, scratches and hemorrhoids. Further scientific research is needed to evaluate the effectiveness of lesser celandine in these applications.
Safety and side effects
Lesser celandine is not safe and harmless when taken orally or applied to the skin. Oral ingestion can cause serious side effects such as stomach and intestinal irritation, diarrhea and irritation of the urinary tract. There are also reports of liver damage. Applying lesser celandine to the skin can cause irritation of the skin and mucous membranes. The fresh, crushed plant can cause blisters if it comes into contact with the skin for long enough.
Precautions and warnings
Pregnancy and breastfeeding: Lesser celandine is not safe to use during pregnancy and breastfeeding and should therefore be avoided. Stomach and digestive tract problems: Lesser celandine can irritate the digestive tract and aggravate conditions in the digestive tract. Lesser celandine should not be used if you suffer from a stomach or intestinal problem, which is particularly the case with infections or illnesses that cause inflammatory swelling.
Interactions
There is currently no information on interactions between lesser celandine and medicines or supplements.
Dosage
An appropriate dosage of lesser celandine depends on various factors such as age, state of health and others. At present, there is insufficient scientific data to be able to make a statement about appropriate dosage ranges for lesser celandine. For this reason, you should follow the dosage instructions on the label and/or consult a doctor or pharmacist before use.
References
- Strahl S, Ehret V, Dahm HH, Maier KP. [Necrotizing hepatitis after taking herbal medication]. Dtsch Med Wochenschr 1998;123:1410-4.