Celandine (swallowgrass, warthog, Chelidonium majus) is a medicinal plant that is successfully used in folk medicine to treat various pathologies.In this article we will talk about how to properly use celandine for warts.
Celandine as a plant
Celandine is a perennial herbaceous plant from the poppy family.People call it clean, clean, warthog.The plant blooms from early May to mid-autumn.Inside there is 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 in summer cottages.Celandine was brought to the United States in 1672 and has been cultivated there ever since as a plant to eliminate viral warts.
Chemical composition
The main active ingredients 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 the wart is removed, a greasy ointment or petroleum jelly is applied to the healthy skin around the new growth.This will allow 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 when all these conditions are met can a herbal remedy be applied to 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 the existence of the neoplasms and their location.
tincture
Wash the grass of the plant, cut it off and fill it 2/3 full in a dark glass jar.Fill to the brim with 70° ethyl alcohol.Let stand at room temperature for 21 days, shaking occasionally.Stress.
Apply the resulting tincture 1-2 drops to the problem area several times a day.When treating plantar warts, compresses with tincture are applied to them for 20 minutes.
The duration of treatment should not exceed 30 days.
oil
Put crushed celandine leaves in a jar and fill it to the top.Pour in olive or sunflower oil.Leave to infuse in sunlight and stir the contents thoroughly 3-4 times a day for 15 days.Stress.
With the resulting oil, compresses are applied 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 taking a decoction of this plant.However, this method of treatment is not recommended as it is associated with a high risk of poisoning and requires immediate medical attention to the patient.For this reason, we do not offer a recipe for preparing a decoction of celandine for oral administration and strongly advise against using it.
Rules for the collection and procurement of medical raw materials
Celandine should be harvested in the summer months, during its flowering period.Plants growing on major roads or near large manufacturing facilities should not be collected.
Since the plant is very poisonous, harvesting should be done with rubber gloves and safety glasses.
When collecting, preference should be given to plants with light green foliage that do not show mechanical damage or signs of disease.
Reviews
Numerous reviews from patients and doctors confirm that celandine relieves warts relatively quickly.If used correctly, the growth should turn black and dry out.After the scab falls off, there is usually no pigmentation or scarring left on the body.If very large papillomas need to be removed, scar tissue may form in their place.
Contraindications
Cauterizing warts with celandine is contraindicated if the patient suffers from the following diseases:
- unstable angina pectoris;
- bronchial asthma;
- pregnancy and breastfeeding;
- Epilepsy;
- increased individual sensitivity.
The use of warthog herb to treat children is possible only after a doctor's prescription and with great caution.You should not apply milky juice, tincture or oil to papillomas on the baby's face, as in this case a deep chemical burn may occur, leading to the formation of a rough scar.
Side effects and disadvantages
The main disadvantages of home therapy of viral papillomas with warthog herb preparations are:
- painful procedure;
- prolonged wound healing;
- risk of purulent infection;
- the likelihood of the formation of coarse scars, especially when removing large tumors;
- Impossibility of exact dosage.
Side effects of treatment include the appearance of burns of healthy skin around the papilloma.
If the therapy is incorrect, the papillomas are not removed, but only injured.Over time, this can lead to the malignancy of the neoplasm, i.e.h.to its degeneration into a malignant tumor.
Medicines from the pharmacy
If you do not have time to collect herbs and prepare herbal medicines from them, you can purchase ready-made dosage forms at the pharmacy.These preparations include oil, balm, ointment and liquid celandine extract.
Burning warts with their help should be done with great caution, as they contain a high concentration of the active ingredient.Avoid contact of warthog preparations with eyes and mucous membranes to avoid injury.
Instructions for use
To remove papillomas using pharmaceutical products, do the following:
- Thoroughly wash the skin in the problem area.
- Apply petroleum jelly to the skin around the papilloma.
- Using a cotton swab, take a small amount of the drug and gently apply it to the surface of the papilloma.
The use of the drug 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.
Medicines based on warthog herbs should not be used if epidermal growths are localized on the face, neck, décolleté and mucous membranes.
Are all medicines the same?
If you buy medications for wart removal at the pharmacy, carefully examine their composition.Despite the name, in the pharmacy chain you can often find drugs that have nothing to do with celandine and do not contain the extract of this plant.A small bottle contains an alkali solution and cosmetic additives.Of course, one cannot expect the same effect from their use as from medicines containing a natural extract of a medicinal plant.
Celandine vs. modern methods of wart removal
Modern medicine offers various ways to get rid of papillomas in a short time.This includes:
- laser therapy;
- radio wave therapy;
- cryodestruction (cryotherapy);
- Electrocoagulation.
Each of these methods has both advantages and disadvantages.But they all have common positive aspects:
- quick healing effect;
- painlessness of the procedure;
- Security;
- low chance of scarring and pigmentation.
Celandine makes it possible to remove only small skin growths that do not cause discomfort (itching, burning, pain) to a person.
Before you try to get rid of warts on your own, you should carefully weigh the pros and cons.Remember that they can be of an oncogenic nature and self-medication in this case can do much more harm than good.Only a doctor, after a biopsy and histological examination of the obtained material, can find out what exactly a patient has, a benign wart or a malignant epithelial tumor.
If papillomas appear on the skin or mucous membranes, it is best for the patient to contact a dermatologist for examination and necessary examination.The doctor will select the optimal method for removing warts in each individual 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 that are located on the surface of the skin or mucous membranes.Depending on their 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 all ages and genders.Its pathogen is the human papillomavirus (HPV).The source of infection are sick people and virus carriers.The main routes of infection are:
- contact and household;
- sexually;
- vertical (from mother to child during birth).
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.
The papilloma virus enters the human body through traumatic injuries to the skin or mucous membranes.It then penetrates 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 leads to accelerated cell division in the basal layer of the epithelium, resulting in the formation of papillomas.
The results of numerous studies have shown that infection with the human papillomavirus has an oncogenic effect on the human body, that is, it contributes to the development of malignant tumors.Therefore, before you start removing warts with celandine, you must definitely consult a dermatologist.