Celandine (swallow weed, warthog, Chelidonium majus) is a medicinal plant used successfully in traditional medicine to treat many different pathologies.In this article we will explain how to correctly use celandine against warts.
Celandine as a plant
Celandine is a perennial herbaceous plant belonging to the poppy family.People call it clean, clean, warthog.The plant flowers 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 glades and in summer cottages.Celandine was introduced to the United States in 1672 and has since been cultivated there as an herb 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 more than 20 alkaloids - nitrogenous substances of complex composition that have a powerful specific effect.
It is the alkaloids that make celandine toxic.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 wart removal procedure, a fatty ointment or petroleum jelly is applied to the 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 are met can an herbal remedy be applied to it.
milky juice
Milky juice of freshly cut grass is applied several times a day to the surface of the papilloma.Cauterization is carried out for 10-15 days - the duration of treatment depends on the severity of the disease, how long the neoplasms have existed and their location.
Dyeing
Wash the herb from the plant, 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 containing tincture are applied for 20 minutes.
The duration of treatment should not exceed 30 days.
Oil
Place the crushed celandine leaves in a jar, filling it to the top.Pour in olive or sunflower oil.Infuse in the sun, stirring the contents well 3 to 4 times a day for 15 days.Strain.
The resulting oil is used to apply compresses to problem areas of the skin, which must be replaced every 12 hours.The duration of this method for burning warts is 7 to 14 days.
Decoction
Some herbalists claim that in order to eliminate 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, as it is associated with a high risk of poisoning, requiring immediate medical attention for the patient.That is why we do not offer a recipe for preparing a decoction of celandine intended for oral administration, and we strongly advise against its use.
Rules for collecting and supplying medicinal raw materials
Celandine should be harvested during the summer months, during its peak flowering period.Plants growing along major roads or near large production facilities should not be collected.
Since the plant is very toxic, its harvest should be carried out with 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.
Notice
Numerous reviews of patients and doctors confirm that celandine quickly relieves warts.When used correctly, the growth should turn black and dry out.Once the scab falls off, there is usually no pigmentation or scarring left on the body.In cases where very large papillomas need to be removed, scar tissue may appear in their place.
Contraindications
Cauterization of warts with celandine is contraindicated if the patient suffers from 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 the 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 herbal preparations are:
- painful procedure;
- prolonged wound healing;
- risk of purulent infection;
- the likelihood of rough scar formation, especially when removing large tumors;
- impossibility of precise dosage.
Side effects of treatment include the appearance of burns on healthy skin around the papilloma.
If the treatment is carried out incorrectly, the papillomas are not removed, but only injured.Over time, this can lead to malignancy, that is, its degeneration into a malignant tumor.
Medicines in pharmacy
If you do not have time to collect herbs and prepare herbal medicines, you can purchase ready-made dosage forms at the pharmacy.These 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 active substance.Avoid contact of warthog preparations with eyes and mucous membranes to avoid causing injury.
Instructions for use
To remove papillomas using pharmaceutical products, follow the following steps:
- wash the skin of the problem area thoroughly;
- Apply petroleum jelly to the skin around the papilloma;
- Using a cotton swab, take a small amount of the medicine and carefully apply it to the surface of the papilloma.
Application of the drug should be repeated 2-3 times a day for 5-15 days.To enhance the effect, you can pre-steam the area of the 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 buying drugs to remove warts in the pharmacy, carefully study 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 an extract of this plant.A small bottle contains an alkaline solution and cosmetic additives.Naturally, one cannot expect the same effect from their use as from drugs containing a natural extract of a medicinal plant.
Celandine vs modern methods for removing warts
Modern medicine offers different 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 positive aspects in common:
- rapid healing effect;
- painless of the procedure;
- security;
- low risk of scarring and pigmentation.
Celandine allows you to get rid of only small skin growths that do not cause discomfort (itching, burning, pain) in 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 carrying out a biopsy and histological examination of the material obtained.
If papillomas appear on the skin or mucous membranes, it is better 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.Additionally, he will prescribe antiviral and immunomodulatory treatment, 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 (condyloma).
The disease is widespread and affects people of all ages and genders.Its causative agent is the human papilloma virus (HPV).The source of infection is sick people and carriers of the virus.The main routes of infection are:
- contact and housekeeping;
- sexual;
- vertical (from mother to child during childbirth).
Factors that increase the risk of HPV infection include:
- non-compliance 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 lesions of the skin or mucous membranes.Then it enters the 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 infection with the human papilloma virus has an oncogenic effect on the human body, that is, it contributes to the appearance of malignant tumors.Therefore, before you start removing warts with celandine, you should consult a dermatologist.