Useful properties of celandine
Celandine is one of the most effective medicines used for psoriasis. Treatment of this disease can begin at the initial signs of exacerbation, the appearance of the first rashes and the appearance of plaques. The medicinal properties of the herb allow you to quickly achieve the desired result.
The roots and stems of the plant are used as medicinal raw materials. However, it is worth keeping in mind that celandine contains toxic substances, and therefore poses a health hazard if used incorrectly. The chemical composition of the plant deserves special attention. Celandine juice contains:
- alkaloids: chelidonine, homochelidonine, protopine, chelerythrine, berberine, coptisine, protopine, allocryptopine, methoxychelidonine;
- vitamins C, A;
- essential oil;
- organic acids – citric, chelidonic, malic, succinic;
- carotene;
- flavonoids;
- saponins;
- tannins;
- fixed oils;
- resin
Due to the presence of active components of the plant, herbal medicines are a godsend for the treatment of psoriasis.
The juice of the plant has a calming, antibacterial, analgesic, antitumor effect, has a diuretic and laxative effect, and is an excellent antispasmodic, hemostatic and choleretic agent.
Celandine contains the toxic substance chelidonin, which has the ability to suppress cell division. The component is indispensable for the treatment of psoriasis, since the occurrence of the disease is caused by the overproduction of skin cells. However, if an increased dose of juice enters the body, it can cause paralysis.
Basic treatment methods
Psoriasis is a chronic disease that cannot be completely eliminated.
But it is possible to alleviate its course during exacerbations, reduce the main symptoms and prevent the development of relapses. It is important to choose the right medications and adhere to a special diet.
Treatment of psoriasis with celandine is very effective. In this case we are talking about the use of grass in a variety of variations.
Ointment
Celandine ointment is used for external use. It helps get rid of psoriatic manifestations, dry out the resulting plaques and cleanse the skin. There are several options for preparing ointment at home.
Recipe 1:
You should take 1 part of dry celandine herb, crushed into powder, and 4 parts of Vaseline. Mix the ingredients and add 2 drops of carboxylic acid to the composition.
Recipe 2:
You need to mix 1 part of freshly squeezed celandine juice and 4 parts of pork or lamb fat.
The finished homemade ointment should be stored in the refrigerator for no more than a week. Use to treat affected skin areas with psoriasis. It is allowed to apply the product 5 times a day for a monthly course of treatment. After prolonged use, it is necessary to take a two-week break and, if necessary, repeat the course of treatment.
Infusions and decoctions
To treat psoriasis at home, medicinal infusions and decoctions are used. There are simple recipes that we recommend using.
Recipe 1:
You should take 10 g of dry herbs of celandine, valerian, string and St. John's wort, mix them and pour the mixture with 500 ml of boiling water. Then leave the mixture to steep under the lid until it cools completely. Take 100 ml 2 times a day 30 minutes before meals. This remedy is effective in the early stages of psoriasis.
Recipe 2:
Take 10 g of medicinal chamomile and 10 g of celandine, pour 500 ml of boiling water and leave for an hour, then strain, pour into a glass jar and put in the refrigerator. Drink 10 ml an hour after meals. The medicine is taken at the initial stage of the disease.
Recipe 3:
It is necessary to prepare the mixture: 1 tbsp. l. celandine herbs, 2 tbsp. l. calendula, 3 tbsp. l. chopped calamus root, 2 tbsp. l. flax, 3 tbsp. l. horsetail and 4 tbsp. l. St. John's wort and tricolor violet. To prepare, take 1 tbsp. l. mixture, pour 370 ml of boiling water over it and steam in a thermos for 3 hours. Strain and cool before use. Take 2 times a day for a week, then take a 3-day break and extend the course for another week. It is recommended to prepare a fresh infusion each time. This medicine is used for advanced psoriasis.
Recipe 4:
You should take 1 tbsp. l. celandine, pour 200 ml of boiling water, place in a water bath for 15 minutes, cool, strain and take externally to treat affected areas of the skin.
Oil
Celandine oil can be purchased at a pharmacy, or you can prepare it yourself. This product moisturizes and softens the skin, relieves irritation and inflammation.
To prepare the oil, plant stems collected during the flowering period are used.
Recipe:
Dry celandine grass should be folded as tightly as possible into a glass jar and filled with vegetable oil. Olive, sea buckthorn or peach oil is best suited for this. The resulting mixture should first be placed in a warm, dark place for 1 hour, then placed in a cool, dark place for 10 days. During cooking, the container and contents should be shaken every day.
After the specified period, add the same amount of pure oil to the container with medicinal raw materials and mix. That's it, the product is ready for use. It is best to store it in the refrigerator and use it to treat problem areas of the skin. For psoriasis, it is recommended to apply it to the skin for 15 minutes once a day, then blot with a clean napkin.
Celandine juice
Celandine juice helps cope with advanced forms of psoriasis. You can buy the finished medicine at the pharmacy or make it yourself. Medicinal herbs should be collected during the flowering period in environmentally friendly places, away from roads and factories. To obtain the juice you will need the leaves and stems of the plant.
They should be washed, dried, ground with a meat grinder and transferred to a glass container. Then put the resulting mass in the refrigerator for 3 days, after which squeeze the juice out of it through cheesecloth. Over the next 3 weeks, the juice will begin to ferment, so the container will need to be released from time to time. Once the air stops accumulating, the medicine will be ready. Store juice without adding alcohol in the refrigerator. The alcohol infusion lasts much longer.
Apply as follows:
- On the first day, add 1 drop of juice to 100 ml of clean water.
- Every day, add 1 drop of medicine to the solution, and so on up to 20 drops.
- In subsequent days, the number of drops is reduced in the reverse order.
The medicine should be taken orally for a 3-week course.
Therapeutic baths
The main advantage of hot baths with celandine is that the substances reach all parts of the body. At the same time, the concentration of harmful components is quite small, which completely eliminates the possibility of harmful effects on the skin with psoriasis.
Bath decoction recipe:
You should take 3 tbsp. l. celandine, pour 500 ml of boiling water over them and place in a water bath for half an hour. Strain the broth and use as directed.
You can use celandine juice or extract. To do this, add 10 drops of concentrated juice to the finished bath. It is recommended to take a bath for 20 minutes.
You can add dry celandine herb to the bath at the rate of 1 tbsp. for 4 liters of water. This procedure takes 10 minutes. In this case, the water temperature should be no more than 45°C.
Symptoms of scalp psoriasis
• Peeling appears in small areas of the scalp, most often starting at the back of the head. Patients usually start using anti-dandruff shampoos, mistaking these manifestations for seborrheic dermatitis.
• Peeling covers a large area of the skin, itching and minor skin irritation appear.
• Itching and irritation of the skin increases, the patient scratches the skin until it bleeds. Abrasions appear on the scalp.
• The skin becomes dry, rough and inelastic, and is easily damaged. Then large red plaques and bumps appear.
• Plaques merge and extend beyond the hairline, forming a psoriatic crown (part of the forehead and behind-the-ear areas are affected).
Contraindications
Celandine contains a large number of active ingredients, and like any medicine, it has contraindications. It should not be taken if:
- pregnancy, during breastfeeding;
- bronchial asthma;
- pathologies of the cardiovascular system;
- epilepsy;
- mental disorders and neurological disorders;
- increased skin sensitivity.
The medicine is contraindicated in children under 7 years of age.
Do not forget that celandine is toxic and, if used incorrectly, can cause poisoning of the body. Signs of intoxication are heaviness in the stomach, nausea accompanied by vomiting, attacks of diarrhea, hallucinations, and fainting.
If adverse reactions occur, you should stop taking celandine-based medications and seek medical help for detoxification measures.
Reviews
Svetlana, 39 years old, Amursk : “I have been using celandine to treat psoriasis for a long time. With each exacerbation of the disease, I take hot baths, drink infusions and decoctions. There were no side effects. Relief occurs after about 2 weeks.”
Galina, 35 years old, Arkhangelsk : “I have been suffering from psoriasis for several years. When the first signs of exacerbation appear, I use celandine-based products. Ointment prepared according to an old recipe, lotions and hot baths help well. During the treatment, no complications ever occurred, and a positive result was achieved within a week.”
Alexey, 39 years old, Volsk : “Clandestine helps cope with the manifestations of psoriasis. From time to time you have to make lotions and compresses based on medicinal herbs and drink healing decoctions.”
Drug interactions and overdose
Be careful when using products with celandine, especially with infusions! Drink everything exactly according to the instructions and after consulting with your doctor. Some alkaloids found in the herb can be deadly.
If you ignore these tips, the following may happen:
- A hepatotoxic reaction may develop due to the destruction of hepatocytes;
- If a person cannot tolerate some components of the plant, then there is a risk of contact dermatitis;
- In case of oral administration of infusions and decoctions, diarrhea, nausea, flatulence, cramps, and intestinal pain may occur.
Plants containing opiates should not be added to the collection of herbs together with celandine; there will be no benefit from this. The indicated dosages must be strictly observed to avoid poisoning. Its symptoms are stomach pain, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, cramps, bloating and flatulence. The simultaneous use of folk recipes and cardiac medications for arrhythmia, sulfa drugs, and substances that lower blood glucose levels is dangerous.
