Chelidonium Majus

The greater celandine (Chelidonium majus L.) belongs to the poppy family (Papaveraceae). The plant can be found in under growth, hedges and along the waysides in Europe, Asia and North America, and is particularly fond of sheltered, shady places. The greater celandine is a sort-lived, sturdy and has a thick, fleshy main root with stems approx. 12" to 35" tall. The leaves are yellowish-green and hairy; the golden yellow flowers with four petals appear from May to August. The botanical name comes from the Greek "chelidon", meaning a swallow. The plant begins to flower when the swallows return from their migration and stops when the birds fly away again. It owes it's Dutch name "stinkende gouwe" to the unpleasant smell of it's golden-yellow milky sap. At the beginning of this century this smell was compared with the first motor cars, which were called "stinkende gou(au)we". The milky sap was used in the middle ages to treat skin disorders such as warts, eczema and corns, and the plant was also used for blood diseases, blindness and even during the plague. Nowadays it is particularly used for liver and gallbladder trouble. The greater celadine is poisonous; a fairly large dose can be dangerous, and so it may only be used externally, or internally under medical supervision. Scientific research has shown that the active alkaloid in the plant, chelidonine, is the same as papverine. It has an anti-convulsive and calmative effect on the bile ducts and bronchia. Chelidonium tincture is produced from the fresh roots. For warts, corns, calluses, etc. the tincture or the fresh sap is applied to the affected parts of the skin.

The following A. Vogel remedies contain greater celandine :

Chelidonium majus Æ
Chelidonium D2, D4