Celandine
Celandine is a plant whose root, root stem and dried parts growing above the ground are used to make medicine. Celandine is used for various digestive tract problems including upset stomach, stomach flu, irritable bowel syndrome, constipation, loss of appetite, stomach cancer and intestinal polyps, as well as liver and gallbladder disorders. Other uses include the treatment of menstrual cramps, coughs, pain, breast lumps, chest pain, water retention, arteriosclerosis, high blood pressure, asthma, gout and osteoarthritis, as well as detoxification of the body. Some people apply celandine directly to the skin for warts, skin rashes, eczema, genital warts and scabies. Celandine is applied to the gums to relieve toothache and pain after tooth extraction. The fresh root is chewed to relieve toothache.
How does celandine work?
The chemicals in celandine may slow the growth of cancer cells, but may also be harmful to normal cells. Preliminary research suggests that celandine may increase the flow of bile acid. Celandine may also have some pain-relieving properties.
How effective is celandine?
Celandine may be effective when used in combination with other plant extracts to treat digestive disorders. This combination (Iberogast) contains bitter loop flower, angelica root, chamomile flowers, caraway fruit, milk thistle fruit, lemon balm leaves, peppermint leaves, celandine and licorice root. Research suggests that taking 1 ml of this combination three times a day for 4 weeks can significantly reduce heartburn, stomach pain, stomach cramps, nausea and vomiting. There is not enough scientific data to make a statement about the effectiveness of celandine in the treatment of cancer. New research suggests that a specific product (Ukrain) made from celandine may be useful in the treatment of certain forms of cancer. Some studies show that intravenous administration of this product under medical supervision could improve survival rates in some patients suffering from colorectal cancer, bladder cancer, pancreatic cancer or breast cancer. However, these studies have been criticized because the study design was flawed. Some researchers suspect that the dosages of this product, which are high enough to shrink tumors, may also be too toxic for medical use. There is also insufficient scientific data on the effectiveness of celandine for warts, skin rashes with blistering, scabies, inflammatory pain and swelling, loss of appetite, gastrointestinal flu, high blood pressure, gout, arthritis, digestive tract cramps, irregular menstrual periods and toothache. Further scientific research is needed to evaluate the effectiveness of celandine in these applications.
Safety and side effects
Celandine may not be safe and harmless when taken orally as it can cause serious liver problems. When applied to the skin, celandine can cause allergic skin reactions. Not enough is known about the safety and safety of intravenous use of celandine products.
Precautions and warnings
Pregnancy and lactation: Not enough is known about the use of celandine during pregnancy and lactation. For this reason, pregnant and breastfeeding women should avoid celandine. Blockage of the bile ducts: Some celandine extracts appear to increase the flow of bile acid. There are concerns that this could exacerbate an existing blockage of the bile ducts. Liver disorders including hepatitis: There is evidence that celandine can cause hepatitis. For this reason, celandine should not be used if you suffer from liver disease.
Interactions
Care should be taken when combining celandine with the following medications:
Medications that can damage the liver
Celandine could damage the liver. The use of celandine in combination with medicines that can also damage the liver can increase the risk of liver damage. For this reason, you should avoid celandine if you are taking medication that can damage the liver.
Dosage
The following dosages have been investigated in scientific studies:
Oral
- For the treatment of indigestion, 1 ml of a specific combination product containing bitter loopflower, angelica root, chamomile flowers, caraway fruits, milk thistle fruits, lemon balm leaves, peppermint leaves, celandine and licorice root (Iberogast) was used three times a day over a period of 4 weeks.