Celandine (swallow grass, warthog, Chelidonium majus) is a medicinal plant that is successfully used in folk medicine to treat a number of different pathologies.In this article we will talk about how to properly use celandine for warts.
Celandine as a plant
Celandine is a herbaceous perennial plant belonging to the poppy family.People call it clean, clean, warthog.The plant blooms from early May to mid-autumn.Inside it contains a milky juice of bright yellow color.All parts of celandine are poisonous.
This plant grows as a weed in city parks, along roadsides, in forest clearings and summer cottages.Celandine was brought to the USA in 1672 and has since been cultivated there as a plant that helps get rid of viral warts.
Chemical composition
The main active components of celandine are:
- alkaloids;
- ascorbic acid;
- carotenoids;
- bitterness;
- resinous substances;
- essential oils;
- flavonoids;
- organic acids;
- saponins.
The plant contains over 20 alkaloids - nitrogen-containing substances with a complex composition that have a strong specific effect.
It is the alkaloids that make celandine poisonous.But at the same time, thanks to them, it has antiviral, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic and cauterizing properties.
How to use celandine
Before carrying out the procedure for removing warts, any greasy ointment or Vaseline is applied to healthy skin around the neoplasm.This allows you to protect it from possible burns or irritation.The surface of the growth is moistened with warm water and lightly scraped with a sterile scalpel.Only after all these conditions have been met can a herbal remedy be smeared on it.
milky juice
The milky juice of freshly cut grass is applied to the surface of the papilloma several times a day.Cauterization is carried out for 10-15 days - the duration of the course depends on the severity of the disease, the duration of existence of the neoplasms and their location.
Tincture
Wash the plant's grass, cut it and place it in a dark glass jar, filling it 2/3 full.Fill to the top with 70° ethyl alcohol.Leave at room temperature for 21 days, shaking occasionally.Strain.
Apply the resulting tincture to the problem area, 1-2 drops several times a day.When treating plantar warts, compresses with tincture are applied to them for 20 minutes.
The course of treatment should not exceed 30 days.
Oil
Place crushed celandine leaves in a jar, filling it to the top.Pour in olive or sunflower oil.Infuse in sunlight, thoroughly stirring the contents 3-4 times a day for 15 days.Strain.
The resulting oil is used to apply compresses to problem areas of the skin, which should be replaced every 12 hours.The duration of this method of burning out warts is 7–14 days.
Decoction
Some herbalists claim that in order to remove papillomas as quickly and effectively as possible, it is necessary to combine the external use of celandine preparations with the ingestion of a decoction of this plant.However, this method of treatment is not recommended, since it is associated with a high risk of poisoning, requiring immediate medical attention to the patient.That is why we do not provide a recipe for preparing a decoction of celandine intended for oral administration, and we strongly advise against using it.
Rules for the collection and procurement of medicinal raw materials
Celandine should be collected in the summer months, during its peak flowering period.Plants growing along major highways or near large production facilities should not be collected.
Considering that the plant is highly poisonous, its harvesting should be done using rubber gloves and safety glasses.
When collecting, preference should be given to plants with bright green foliage that do not have any mechanical damage or signs of disease.
Reviews
Numerous reviews from both patients and medical practitioners confirm that celandine provides fairly quick relief from warts.When used correctly, the growth should turn black and dry out.After the scab falls off, there is usually no pigmentation or scars left on the body.In cases where very large papillomas have to be removed, scar tissue may appear in their place.
Contraindications
Cauterizing warts with celandine is contraindicated if the patient has the following diseases:
- unstable angina;
- bronchial asthma;
- pregnancy and breastfeeding;
- epilepsy;
- increased individual sensitivity.
It is possible to use warthog herb to treat children only as prescribed by a doctor and with great caution.You should not apply milky juice, tincture or oil to papillomas located on the baby’s face, as in this case a deep chemical burn may occur, which will lead to the formation of a rough scar.
Side effects and disadvantages
The main disadvantages of home therapy for viral papillomas with warthog herb preparations are:
- painful procedure;
- prolonged wound healing;
- risk of purulent infection;
- the likelihood of the formation of rough scars, especially when removing large tumors;
- impossibility of precise dosing.
Side effects of treatment include the occurrence of burns of healthy skin around the papilloma.
If therapy is carried out incorrectly, the papillomas are not removed, but only injured.Over time, this can lead to malignancy of the neoplasm, i.e., its degeneration into a malignant tumor.
Pharmacy drugs
If you do not have time to collect herbs and prepare herbal medicines based on it, then you can purchase ready-made dosage forms at the pharmacy.Such preparations include oil, balm, ointment and liquid extract of celandine.
Burning warts with their help should be done with great care, since they contain a high concentration of the active substance.Avoid contact of warthog preparations with the eyes and mucous membranes to avoid causing injury.
Instructions for use
To remove papillomas using pharmaceutical products, follow the following steps:
- thoroughly wash the skin in the problem area;
- Apply Vaseline to the skin around the papilloma;
- Using a cotton swab, take a small amount of the drug and carefully apply it to the surface of the papilloma.
Application of the medicine must be repeated 2-3 times a day for 5-15 days.To enhance the effect, you can pre-steam the area of skin where viral warts are located.
Pharmaceutical products based on warthog herbs should not be used when epidermal growths are localized on the face, neck, décolleté and mucous membranes.
Are all pharmaceutical products the same?
When purchasing wart removal medications at the pharmacy, carefully study their composition.Despite the name, in the pharmacy chain you can often find medicines that have nothing to do with celandine and do not contain an extract of this plant.A small bottle contains an alkali solution and cosmetic additives.Naturally, one cannot expect the same effect from their use as from drugs with a natural extract of a medicinal plant.
Celandine vs modern methods of removing warts
Modern medicine offers various ways to get rid of papillomas in a short time.These include:
- laser therapy;
- radio wave therapy;
- cryodestruction (cryotherapy);
- electrocoagulation.
Each of these methods has both its advantages and disadvantages.But they all have common positive aspects:
- quick healing effect;
- painlessness of the procedure;
- safety;
- low likelihood of scarring and pigmentation.
Celandine makes it possible to get rid of only small skin growths that do not cause discomfort (itching, burning, pain) to a person.
Before you start trying to get rid of warts on your own, carefully weigh the pros and cons.Remember that they can be oncogenic in nature and self-medication in this case can cause much more harm than good.Only a doctor can find out what exactly a patient has, a benign wart or a malignant epithelial tumor, after conducting a biopsy and histological examination of the obtained material.
If papillomas appear on the skin or mucous membranes, it is best for the patient to contact a dermatologist for examination and the necessary examination.The doctor will select the most optimal method for removing warts in each specific case.In addition, he will prescribe antiviral and immunomodulatory therapy, which will allow the patient to fully recover and prevent relapses of the disease.
Causes of warts
Warts (papillomas) are small benign growths located on the surface of the skin or mucous membranes.Depending on the location and appearance, the following types of warts are distinguished:
- vulgar (ordinary, simple);
- plantar;
- palmoplantar;
- anogenital (condylomas).
The disease is widespread and affects people of any age and gender.Its causative agent is the human papillomavirus (HPV).The source of infection is sick people and virus carriers.The main routes of infection are:
- contact and household;
- sexual;
- vertical (from mother to child during childbirth).
Factors that increase the risk of HPV infection include:
- failure to comply with personal hygiene rules;
- promiscuous sex life;
- frequent visits to public swimming pools and baths;
- close contact with animals.
Papillomavirus enters the human body through traumatic injuries to the skin or mucous membranes.Then it penetrates into epithelial cells, where it can remain in an inactive “sleeping” state for a long time.When the immune system is weakened, HPV is activated and causes accelerated division of cells in the basal layer of the epithelium, which leads to the formation of papillomas.
The results of numerous studies have proven that human papillomavirus infection has an oncogenic effect on the human body, that is, it contributes to the occurrence of malignant tumors.Therefore, before you begin removing warts with celandine, you must consult a dermatologist.