What Is Greater Celandine?

Greater celandine (Chelidonium majus) is a plant commonly grown in Asia, Central and Southern Europe, and North America. An extract derived from the plant has a long history of use in traditional Chinese medicine. Often touted as a natural treatment for cancer, greater celandine is also purported to fight health concerns ranging from asthma to atherosclerosis.

Although research suggests that greater celandine may offer certain benefits, there's also some evidence that it might be toxic to the liver and using it may cause other harmful side effects.

What Is Greater Celandine Used For?

In alternative medicine, greater celandine is said to boost the immune system and be a natural remedy for a number of health conditions, including:

• Gallbladder disease
• Dyspepsia
• Angina
• Asthma
• Atherosclerosis
• Constipation
• Coughing
• Eczema
• Gout
• High blood pressure
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Menstrual problems
• Osteoarthritis
• Toothache

In addition, greater celandine is said to relieve pain, promote detoxification, stimulate the immune system, and fight cancer.

There's some evidence that greater celandine may offer certain benefits in the treatment of the following conditions. However, research on the health effects of greater celandine is fairly limited.

Dyspepsia

Dyspepsia, also known as indigestion, can have a number of causes. This herb has been examined in human studies as part of an herbal preparation for the treatment of dyspepsia.

In one double-blind randomized, placebo-controlled multi-center trial involving 120 participants, gastrointestinal symptoms improved in the group who was treated with a greater celandine-containing herbal preparation for four weeks.

A meta-analysis examining the effects of an herbal preparation containing greater celandine showed similar results, with an improvement of gastrointestinal symptoms associated with herbal treatment.

Cancer

In laboratory tests on human cancer cells, scientists found that greater celandine may fight cancer by inducing apoptosis, a type of programmed cell death involved in stopping the spread of cancer cells.

A greater celandine extract shows potential as an anti-cancer drug, according to a research review published in BMC Cancer in 2006. For the review, investigators analyzed seven clinical trials on the use of a proprietary greater celandine extract in the treatment of cancer.

Although the review's authors found that the extract had beneficial effects on several types of cancer, they caution that most of the trials were of poor quality and state that "independent rigorous studies are urgently needed" before greater celandine can be recommended in the treatment of cancer.

Eczema

Preliminary research indicates that greater celandine may help treat atopic dermatitis, a form of eczema. In a 2011 study published in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology, for instance, researchers tested the effects of greater celandine on a group of mice with atopic dermatitis.

Results revealed that greater celandine significantly reduced the severity of several eczema symptoms, including itching and inflammation. However, it's unknown whether greater celandine might have the same effect on eczema in humans.

Authors of an extensive 2018 research review published in Frontiers in Pharmacology examined studies about the various uses of greater celadine. In concluding they wrote, "we are quite convinced that in the near future, at least some of the already known and evidence-based properties should and would find their place in officially recognized therapeutic procedures."

They added, however, that much more research is needed regarding the safety and effectiveness of greater celadine.

Possible Side Effects

Little is known about the safety of long-term or regular use of greater celandine and how it might interact with medication. Greater celandine may trigger a number of side effects, including nausea, dizziness, fatigue, and fever.

Greater celandine may harm liver health. In a report published in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology in 2009, for instance, scientists warn that several cases of acute hepatitis have been linked to greater celandine consumption in previously published studies.

A 2017 report published in the European Review for Medical Pharmacological Sciences in fact concluded that the risks of greater celadrine use outweigh the potential benefits.

It's also important to note that self-treating a chronic condition with greater celandine and avoiding or delaying standard care may have serious health consequences.

Selection, Preparation & Storage

Widely available for purchase online, greater celandine is sold in many natural-food stores and in stores specializing in dietary supplements. It is almost always sold in extract form, although it is sometimes also sold as a tea.

There is not enough known about greater celandine to establish a safe or effective dose.

Also, keep in mind that supplements like greater celandine are largely unregulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). According to government standards, it is illegal to market a dietary supplement as a treatment or cure for a specific disease or its symptoms. Likewise, these products are not tested by the FDA for safety or effectiveness.

In some cases, the product may deliver doses that differ from the specified amount for each herb. In other cases, the product may be contaminated with other substances.

Some consumers look for products that have been certified by ConsumerLabs, The U.S. Pharmacopeial Convention, or NSF International. These organizations don't guarantee that a product is safe or effective, but they do provide a certain level of testing for quality.