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 from the poppy family.People call it pure, pure, warthog.The plant blooms from early May to mid-autumn.It contains bright yellow milky juice inside.All parts of celandine are poisonous.
This plant grows as a weed in city parks, roadsides, forest clearings and cottages.Celandine was brought to the USA in 1672 and has been cultivated there ever since as an herb to help 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 performing the wart removal procedure, any 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 gently scraped with a sterile scalpel.Only after all these conditions are met, it can be smeared with herbal medicine.
milk 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 neoplasms and their location.
Tincture
Wash the grass of the plant, cut it and put it in a dark glass jar, fill it to 2/3.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 placed on them for 20 minutes.
The course of treatment should not exceed 30 days.
Oil
Put crushed celandine leaves in a jar, fill it to the top.Pour olive or sunflower oil.Infuse in sunlight, thoroughly mixing the contents 3-4 times a day for 15 days.Strain.
The obtained oil is applied to problem areas of the skin, which should be changed every 12 hours.The duration of this method of burning warts is 7-14 days.
Decoction
Some herbalists claim that for the fastest and most effective removal of papillomas, it is necessary to combine the external use of celandine preparations with the intake of a decoction of this plant.However, this method of treatment is not recommended, as it is associated with a high risk of poisoning, which requires immediate medical assistance for the patient.That is why we do not give a recipe for the preparation of celandine decoction intended for oral use, and we expressly do not advise 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.
Since the plant is very poisonous, its harvesting should be done with rubber gloves and protective glasses.
When collecting, preference should be given to plants with light green leaves that have no mechanical damage or signs of disease.
Reviews
Numerous reviews of patients and doctors confirm that celandine provides fairly quick relief from warts.When used properly, the growth should turn black and dry.After the scab falls off, there is usually no pigmentation or scarring left on the body.In cases where very large papillomas have to be removed, scar tissue may appear in their place.
Contraindications
Cauterization of nipples with celandine is contraindicated if the patient has the following diseases:
- unstable angina pectoris;
- bronchial asthma;
- pregnancy and breastfeeding;
- epilepsy;
- increased individual sensitivity.
For the treatment of children, it is possible to use the warthog plant only according to the doctor's recommendation and with great caution.Milk juice, tincture or oil should not be applied to papillomas on the baby's face, because 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 of viral papillomas with warthog preparations are:
- painful procedure;
- prolonged wound healing;
- risk of purulent infection;
- the likelihood of creating rough scars, especially when removing large tumors;
- impossibility of precise dosing.
Side effects of treatment include the appearance of burns on healthy skin around the papilloma.
If the 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. degeneration into a malignant tumor.
Pharmacy drugs
If you do not have time to collect herbs and prepare herbal medicines based on them, then you can buy ready-made dosage forms at the pharmacy.Such preparations include oil, salve, ointment and liquid extract of celandine.
Burning warts with their help should be done with great care, because they contain a high concentration of the active substance.Avoid contact of warthog preparation with eyes and mucous membranes to avoid injury.
Instructions for use
To remove papillomas with pharmaceutical products, follow these steps:
- thoroughly wash the skin on the problem area;
- 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 must be repeated 2-3 times a day for 5-15 days.To improve the effect, you can first steam the area of the skin where the 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 you buy drugs to remove warts 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 the extract of this plant.The small bottle contains an alkaline solution and cosmetic additives.Of course, one cannot expect the same effect from their use as from medicines with natural extracts of medicinal plants.
Celandine vs modern wart removal methods
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 its advantages and disadvantages.But they all have common positive aspects:
- quick healing effect;
- painlessness of the procedure;
- security;
- low probability of scarring and pigmentation.
Celandine allows you 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 yourself, 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 after a biopsy and histological examination of the obtained material can determine exactly what the 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 the necessary examination.The doctor will choose 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 disease relapses.
Causes of warts
Warts (papillomas) are small benign growths that are located on the surface of the skin or mucous membrane.Depending on the location and appearance, the following types of warts are distinguished:
- vulgar (common, simple);
- plantar;
- palmoplantar;
- anogenital (condylomas).
The disease is widespread and affects people of all ages and sexes.Its causative agent is the human papilloma virus (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:
- non-observance of personal hygiene rules;
- promiscuous sex life;
- frequent visits to public pools and bathrooms;
- close contact with animals.
The papilloma virus enters the human body through traumatic injuries to the skin or mucous membrane.Then it penetrates into 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 cell division 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 papillomavirus has an oncogenic effect on the human body, that is, it contributes to the formation of malignant tumors.Therefore, before you start removing warts with celandine, you must consult a dermatologist.