Background

Lesser celandine is a plant. The parts that grow above the ground are used to make medicine.

Despite some safety concerns, people take lesser celandine by mouth for hemorrhoids and scurvy, a condition caused by lack of vitamin C.

Lesser celandine is sometime applied directly to the skin for bleeding wounds and gums, swollen joints, warts, scratches, and hemorrhoids.

In food, fresh leaves of lesser celandine are sometimes used in salads.

Don't confuse lesser celandine with greater celandine (Chelidonium majus) or jewelweed, otherwise known as wild celandine. Also, don't confuse lesser celandine with Scrophularia nodosa, since both are sometimes called figwort; or with amaranth and bulbous buttercup, since these are also known as pilewort.

Safety Safety definitions

Eating small amounts of fresh leaf sheaths of lesser celandine is POSSIBLY SAFE.

However, lesser celandine is POSSIBLY UNSAFE when fresh parts of the plant are used on skin. Putting lesser celandine on the skin can cause mucous membrane and skin irritation. The fresh, bruised plant can cause blisters if it is in contact with the skin long enough.

Lesser celandine is LIKELY UNSAFE when fresh plant parts besides the leaf sheaths are taken by mouth. Taking it by mouth can cause side effects such as severe irritation of the stomach and intestines, diarrhea, and irritation of the urinary tract. Liver damage has also been reported.

It is not known if taking dried lesser celandine or lesser celandine extract is safe.

Special Precautions & Warnings:

Pregnancy and breast-feeding: It's LIKELY UNSAFE to take lesser celandine by mouth if you are pregnant or breast-feeding. Don't use it.

Effectiveness

Dosing & administration

The appropriate dose of lesser celandine depends on several factors such as the user's age, health, and several other conditions. At this time there is not enough scientific information to determine an appropriate range of doses for lesser celandine. Keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe and dosages can be important. Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult your pharmacist or physician or other healthcare professional before using.

Interactions with pharmaceuticals

It is not known if Lesser Celandine interacts with any medicines. Before taking Lesser Celandine, talk with your healthcare professional if you take any medications.

Interactions with herbs & supplements

There are no known interactions with herbs and supplements.

Interactions with foods

There are no known interactions with foods.

Action

Lesser celandine contains vitamin C. It also contains chemicals that have a drying effect, can soothe mucous membranes, and cause skin irritation. Some researchers think that chemicals in lesser celandine might kill or prevent the growth of bacteria and fungus. Other chemicals might help treat hemorrhoids.