Home :: Celandine :: Herbs

Celandine is an Ingredient in an antiretroviral drug that may act against the Epstein-Barr and herpes viruses. Ukrain, derived from celandine, is available by prescription in Europe but not approved for use in the United States. Celandine products available in the United States (manufactured as herbal nutritional supplements or topical herbal treatments) haven't been tested by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Common doses of celandine

Celandine comes as extract, tincture, and tea. (In Eastern Europe, it's also available as a prescribed injection.) The dose depends on the product used and the intended purpose.

The dose of Ukrain (used in Europe to treat tumors) depends on the person's immune status. The drug is given by intravenous injection, with single doses ranging from 5 to 20 milligrams depending on tumor mass, speed of tumor growth, extent of the disease, and the person's immune status. In several studies, people received Ukrain injections every other day.

Why people use celandine herb

• Cancer
• Colonic polyps
• Digestive disorders
• Eye irratation
• Gallstones
• Hepatitis
• Jaundice
• Live disease
• To soften calluses and corns

Side effects of celandine

Call your health care practitioner if you experience any of these possible side effects of celandine:-

• Dizziness
• Drowsiness
• Fatigue
• Nausea
• Restlessness
• Insomnia

Celandine also can cause :-

• damage to an embryo
• low blood pressure
• possible liver damage

Interactions

Combining herbs with certain drugs may alter their action or produce unwanted side effects. If you're using Ukrain, don't take:

• digitalis drugs, used to treat heart failure . morphine and related drugs
• oral drugs used to lower blood sugar
• sulfa drugs such as Bactrim.

Important points to remember

• Don't use celandine if you're pregnant or breast-feeding.
• Don't give this herb to children.
• Don't use celandine for more than 2 weeks at a time.
• If you have, or suspect you may have, a serious liver or stomach disorder, don't use this or any other herbal supplement or fresh herb.
• Know that the C. majus plant is highly toxic. Contact with the sap causes skin inflammation. Oral consumption can cause abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, fainting, severe stomach inflammation, other serious stomach problems, coma, and even death.
• Be aware that oral ingestion of celandine has led to poisoning and death.
• Don't use herbal extracts in your eyes or on your skin unless the FDA has approved them for such use. Eye or skin contact may lead to blindness, infection, or skin sores.
• Don't take celandine instead of prescribed drugs for diagnosed ailments.
• Be aware that greater celandine isn't related to lesser celandine (Ranunculus ficaria).

What the research shows

Research indicates that Ukrain (derived from celandine) has been effective against cancers of the esophagus, breast, cervix, testes, urethra, and ovaries; colorectal cancer; malignant melanoma; optic nerve tumors; and, in AIDS patients, Kaposi's sarcoma.

Scientists believe Ukrain might one day play an important role In treating cancer and other diseases, but they must conduct more research before the Food and Drug Administration can approve such use.

Because of the serious risk of complications from self-treatment of liver, digestive, and eye diseases and skin inflammation, medical experts don't recommend celandine supplements or topical agents. They also caution against using this herb to self-treat or prevent diseases and against ingesting Chelidonium majus, the plant that celandine comes from

Other names for celandine : -

Other names for celandine include celandine poppy, common celandine, felonwort, garden celandine, greater celandine, rock poppy, swallow wort, tetter wort, and wart wort.

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