The plant celandine (Chelidonium) belongs to the dicotyledonous genus and belongs to the Poppy family. The name of the species is large celandine (Chelidonium majus). There are various popular names for the plant. For example, puree, yellow milk, podtinnik. The name of the genus from the Latin language can be translated as "swallow grass". Celandine got this name because of popular belief. It is believed that swallows with the sap of this plant treat their young, who were born blind.
In nature, celandine can be found in Europe, America, as well as in the Mediterranean. It was introduced to America only in the 17th century as a remedy for warts. It grows very well in our climate, it can be found everywhere.
Even in ancient Greece, doctors confirmed that celandine herb has healing properties. In those days, plant sap was used to treat eye diseases. This continued until the 18th century. But celandine has other medicinal properties that people have learned about over time. Popular names are associated with the fact that the plant helped with warts and in the treatment of skin diseases.
General characteristics of celandine
Celandine has a straight stem that branches. The height ranges from 50 cm to 1 m. At the break, a thick sap is released, which, upon contact with air, turns orange with a reddish tint. The lower leaves growing at the roots are deeply pinnate-separated. They consist of several pairs of lobes that are round or ovoid. The upper lobe is three-lobed, and is large in comparison with the rest. Above, the leaves are green, and on the back, they are bluish. The upper leaves are sessile, and the lower ones are arranged on petioles. The flowers are correct, have 4 petals. Color - yellow with a golden tint. The diameter of one flower is up to 25 mm. They gather in umbrellas. The flowers do not have nectaries, but they have a lot of pollen, which attracts insects. The fruit of the plant is a pod-shaped capsule. Seeds are black, small.
Planting celandine in open ground
Celandine reproduces both by seeds and by segments of rhizomes. The best conditions for growing celandine are bright sun. But it is quite allowed to grow even in the shade or in partial shade. Since the plant is quite unpretentious, you can not pick up a certain soil before planting celandine. Its texture will not play an important role for planting. The place may even be damp and dark.
Many gardeners and gardeners prefer to plant celandine grass in places where practically nothing will grow. This can be near a barn or along a fence.
Celandine seeds that have just been harvested are recommended to be sown before winter. If you use last year's seeds, you must take into account that they will have poor germination. But celandine can be sown in the spring.
Before planting celandine, it is necessary to dig up the ground to a depth corresponding to one bayonet of a shovel. Then it is harrowed. It is recommended to plant celandine seeds in the ground by about 5 cm.If you sow the seeds towards the end of April, shoots will appear in 2 weeks.
In mid-July, celandine will begin to bloom, and by the end of summer, fruits will appear. But if you sow the seeds before winter, then the seedlings will appear earlier than those sown in April. If an adult plant has already overwintered, it will begin to grow in the first half of May. In the middle of the month, flower formation will begin. Closer to August, flowering stops.
Caring for celandine in the garden
Special care for celandine is not required, it is an unpretentious plant. After the emergence of seedlings, you need to wait for them to get a little stronger. The seedlings can then be planted about 30 cm apart to provide them with a place to feed. Watering celandine is necessary only if the drought lasts a long time.
From time to time, you can apply fertilizer in the form of an infusion of cow dung. Manure must be filled with water and left to infuse for several days. It needs to be stirred from time to time. Next, the infusion is filtered and diluted with water in a ratio of 1: 6. Among the advantages, it can be noted that there will be no need to control weeds. Even wheatgrass does not grow near celandine.
Celandine is an excellent insecticidal agent. The grass must be collected during flowering, and then dry well, grind into powder. They pollinate the beds to get rid of such pests as cruciferous flea and onion fly.
Collection and storage of celandine
Celandine should be harvested during flowering. The bush must be pulled out of the ground by the roots, and then cleaned of earth and grass residues. The plant is washed under water, tied, in bundles of about 12 bushes each. The bunches need to be hung out to dry. The place should be shaded and dry. In addition, good air circulation must be ensured. You can dry celandine in a special dryer. But the temperature should not exceed 60 degrees. It is important to dry the plant as quickly as possible. In this case, it retains the juice. You cannot dry it for a long time, as it will become brown or mold.
When the bundles are dry, each bundle must be wrapped in a piece of cloth to protect it from dust. You can use paper. But the top of the plants should be left slightly open. This is necessary in order for the plant to have access to air.
The bundles are wrapped and then hung in a ventilated dry place. If you dry the celandine correctly and follow all the conditions for its storage, then you can use the raw materials for 6 years. A dry plant can also be stored in cardboard boxes, but it will only last for 3 years.
When working with celandine, do not touch your face with your hands. This is especially true for the lips and eyes.
Types and varieties of celandine with photos
Among the plants introduced into culture, there is not only great celandine, but also Asian celandine (Chelidonium asiaticum). But some experts are sure that this is not a separate species, but a subspecies of the plant. Although back in 1912, scientific analyzes were carried out, as a result of which this species was recognized as separate.
There is also spring celandine (Hylomecon vernalis = Hylomecon japonicum). Its other name is forest poppy. It is a perennial plant with large yellow flowers. Belongs to the Poppy family. Yet this plant represents a monotypic genus. In culture, it is grown as an ornamental plant.
Healing properties of celandine
It is important to remember that celandine herb is poisonous. It contains about 20 isosinoline alkaloids, including the dangerous chelidonine, which in its structure is similar to papaverine, as well as morphine. In addition, the composition contains a component such as homohelidonin. It is a convulsive poison that has a strong local effect as an anesthetic. Sanguinarine is a component that has a short-term narcotic effect on the body, which ends with convulsions, salivation, and the excitation of intestinal motility. A component such as protopin tones the uterine muscles.
Celandine contains ascorbic acid, carotene, bitterness. The plant contains flavonoids, resins and various acids. Due to its composition, celandine is a choleretic agent, has a bactericidal effect, relieves spasms and inflammation. With herpes, fresh plant sap can cauterize the blisters.They reduce warts, calluses, age spots.
Thanks to the healing effect, the use of celandine is effective in removing polyps from the intestines. Sometimes various gynecological disorders and eye diseases are treated. But the treatment is carried out exclusively under the supervision of a doctor. If there is inflammation in the nasopharynx, stomatitis or any other gum disease develops, it is recommended to rinse the mouth with a decoction of the plant.
Since celandine has a sedative effect, it is used as an additive in the composition of sedative preparations used for insomnia, neuroses, stress. With gallstone disease, colitis, gastritis, the plant's ability to relieve spasms helps.
The herb is quite effective for atherosclerosis, hypertension, and various lung diseases. This also applies to asthma. With the help of this remedy, rheumatism, food poisoning, skin diseases (eczema, acne, psoriasis) are treated.
For burns, celandine-based products help relieve pain.
Contraindications
Despite all the benefits of celandine in the treatment of various diseases, one must not forget that this is a poisonous plant. If celandine poisoning begins, the following symptoms appear:
- The mucous membranes are irritated and very inflamed;
- The person starts vomiting, diarrhea, he is very nauseous;
- Pressure drops;
- There may be hallucinations and loss of consciousness.
Since celandine-based products contain a large amount of alkaloids, they should never be used by pregnant women, young mothers who are breastfeeding. Cannot be taken by children. Such drugs are contraindicated for people suffering from epilepsy and various mental disorders, angina pectoris, and problems such as cardiac decompensation. With severe dysbiosis or constipation, they are also not recommended.
As a result of external use, the skin can be damaged.
We must not forget about the danger of the remedy. Even if you do not suffer from any of the listed problems and are not pregnant, it is still mandatory to consult a specialist. In addition, in no case should you deviate from the dosage recommended for a particular disease. Caution and adherence to the rules of admission will help protect yourself from severe poisoning with toxic substances.
