- Papaveraceae
- Aerial parts
- Europe · western Asia
- Dried herb
Celandine
Chelidonium majus
Select sizeThe plant
An upright perennial of the poppy family found on walls, hedge banks and waste ground across Europe, with soft lobed blue-green leaves and small four-petalled yellow flowers through spring and summer. Every part of it exudes a vivid orange-yellow latex when broken. It is greater celandine, Chelidonium majus — quite unrelated to lesser celandine, which is a buttercup. Aerial parts are cut in flower and dried.
What's in it
Celandine is an alkaloid plant, and the alkaloids are the reason for the strong cautions.
Chelidonine
A benzylisoquinoline alkaloid, related to those in opium poppy.
Sanguinarine
A potent benzophenanthridine alkaloid, also in bloodroot.
Coptisine and berberine
Yellow protoberberine alkaloids — the latex colour.
Chelerythrine
Another benzophenanthridine, cytotoxic in quantity.
How it works
Celandine is in the poppy family and its alkaloid profile shows it — chelidonine sits in the same broad class as papaverine. The orange latex is a concentrated alkaloid suspension, which is why it stains and why it irritates skin. More seriously, there is a documented association between oral celandine preparations and hepatitis, well enough established that several European regulators have acted on it. This is a plant with a long traditional record and a genuinely modern safety file, and the second should be read alongside the first.
In the tradition
Used across European folk practice from Pliny onward, most often applied externally to the skin rather than drunk. It appears in Gerard and Culpeper and remained a hedge-bank plant people knew by sight.
The latex is a concentrated alkaloid suspension.
- 1Not for self-directed internal use. Greater celandine has been associated with liver injury and its internal use is restricted in the UK and EU.
- 2Use only under the direction of a qualified herbal practitioner, at the preparation and amount they specify.
- Greater celandine has documented reports of liver toxicity. Do not take internally without professional supervision.
- Do not use if you have any liver condition, or are taking medication processed by the liver.
- Not suitable during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
- Stop immediately and seek medical advice if you notice yellowing of the skin or eyes, dark urine, or unexplained fatigue.
A food supplement, not a substitute for a varied diet. Speak to your doctor before use if you are pregnant, breastfeeding or taking medication.
Common questions
How do I prepare celandine?
Not for self-directed internal use. Greater celandine has been associated with liver injury and its internal use is restricted in the UK and EU. Full directions are in the How to use panel above. See also: Infusion vs decoction.
What is celandine?
Celandine (Chelidonium majus) belongs to the Papaveraceae family; the aerial parts are used. Origin: Europe, western Asia. Snap a stem and it bleeds bright orange latex. That latex is the plant announcing what it is.
How should I store dried celandine?
Keep it in an airtight container in a cool, dry place away from sunlight and moisture. Dried herbs are at their best for around a year.
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