Lesser Celandine – a small 10-20 cm tall plant, perennial ephemeroid. The stems and leaves are very soft, light green, bare, shiny, the shoots are almost dormant. It has two types of buds: one is on the roots, like tubers, and the other is at the base of the leaves.

The leaves are arranged alternately, without leaflets, on long petioles, round or almost round (2-4 cm in length and width), with relief, with a heart-shaped base.

Flowers one by one at the top of the stem, actinomorphic (symmetrical), quite large (25-35mm in diameter), bright yellow, with 6-9 elongated, shiny petals. A nectar container is placed at the base of the petals. The fruit is a cluster of nuts. Early flowering and vegetative plant (April-May).

The whole plant is considered medicinal, more often its surface part. The plant is harvested at the beginning of the flowering period. Dry it by spreading it in a thin layer on sieves. Ready drugs are stored in paper bags. Shelf life of drugs - 1 year.

You should know that the root buds, which are collected after the seeds of the plant have matured, are highly poisonous. The chemical composition of this plant has been studied relatively little or rather insufficiently. However, it is known that the leaves of the plant contain saponins, protoanemonin (anemonin in dried leaves), carotene, ascorbic acid. Starch, sugar found in the roots. The plant also contains the alkaloids cholerythrine and helidonine.

Medicinal significance

The Lesser Celandine has diuretic, expectorant, mild diarrhoea, anti-inflammatory, wound-healing, blood-cleansing properties. They help dissolve sputum in case of a strong cough.

In folk medicine, of course, the Lesser Celandine is much more important, it is used to treat many diseases - bronchitis, tracheids, constipation, hemorrhoids, skin rashes, diathesis, acne, gingivitis, stomatitis, polyarthritis, abrasions, wounds, etc. Folk healers use both the surface part of the plant, as well as the roots, but on the condition that the plant is young and has not started ripening seeds. Decoctions of various recipes with mazpureniti in the composition are used to treat skin warts and scabies.

The collected plant can be crushed, mixed with pig fat and used as an ointment, in Belarusian folk medicine, such an ointment is used in cases of snake bites. Tea from this plant is used for various skin diseases. By mixing the drugs of Lesser Celandine with the drugs of chamomile (1:1), you can make a decoction for baths to treat skin diseases locally, as well as sitz baths in case of hemorrhoids.

The mature Lesser Celandine is used to treat inflammatory diseases of the respiratory organs, especially bronchitis, with increased sputum production. The whole plant can be used as the first spring blood purifier.

By taking fresh roots of the plant and making extracts in lard or butter, an ointment is obtained, which can be applied as a compress to breast tumors and hemorrhoidal nodes. The ointment also acts as an analgesic and anti-inflammatory agent, from the breaking sensation in colds, scrofula, glandular tumors, acne and skin inflammation.

In folk medicine, decoctions of the surface part of the plant are used to rinse the oral cavity - in case of periodontitis and gum injuries, as well as for compresses and rinsing, this decoction is used to treat purulent and non-healing wounds.

A decoction of Lesser Celandine in milk is used in case of yellow disease, spring avitaminosis, bronchitis and diathesis. Folk healers recommend using the juice of the plant, mixed with milk, to purify the blood, as well as to supplement vitamin C.

Not recommended for use

The plant should not be given to children, pregnant women and lactating women. It is necessary to avoid an overdose of the plant, as side effects are possible - stomach and intestinal irritation, as well as kidney damage.

Always remember that once the plant has flowered and the seeds are ripening, the plant becomes highly poisonous. The leaves of the plant are less harmful because when they dry, the poisonous substances partially evaporate and disintegrate, but it is not worth the risk!

Medicinal Recipes

Until flowering, the leaves of the plant are used fresh in salads, soups, because they contain a large amount of vitamin C. It is also used as a metabolism booster.

Tea for cleansing the skin: 2-3 teaspoons of drug leaves, pour 1/4L of water, heat until it starts to boil and separates the thickness. Drink 2-3 sips during the day. Can also be used as applications and compresses to cure skin warts.

Baths for skin care

For the previous recipe, add the same amount of chamomile. Sitz baths will also help to treat hemorrhoids.

Solution for the treatment of hemorrhoids: 2 tablespoons of leaves, pour 0.5L of boiling water, leave for 3 hours. As the mixture cools down, the layers are separated. It is used locally, as compresses, for the painful area.

Against cough, constipation and jaundice: decoctions are used orally and externally in case of cough, whooping cough, constipation, scrofula, hemorrhoids. For this purpose, pour 0.5 L of hot water over 2 tablespoons of the drug, keep it in a hot water bath for 2 hours. Use one tablespoon 3 times a day.

Ointment for hemorrhoids: 3 tablespoons of dry and crushed drug, mixed with 1 tablespoon of butter or fat. Apply at night, applying topically.

Diet recipes

Salad from Lesser Celandine

100 gr. Lesser Celandine greens, 200 gr. boiled potato, 20 gr. vegetable oils, salt, vinegar and mustard.

Salad from Lesser Celandine with egg

120 gr. Lesser Celandine , 2 eggs, 40 gr. cream, salt, vinegar.

Wash the leaves of the Lesser Celandine for 5 minutes before use.

Salad from Lesser Celandine and dark Lungwort

60 gr. Lesser Celandine greens, 60 gr. lakach, 20 gr. tomato sauce, salt, mustard.

Boil Lesser Celandine in salt water, chop and mix with fresh lakaci, add tomato sauce and mustard.

Lesser Celandine paste

100 gr. Lesser Celandine , 200 gr. butter, salt, mustard.

Boil the greens of Lesser Celandine in salt water, grind in a meat grinder, mix with butter and mustard. Used on sandwiches and as an addition to first and second dishes.

Lesser Celandine soup

100 gr. Lesser Celandine , 200 gr. potatoes, 80 gr. oatmeal, 40 gr. cream, salt, 1L water.

Add potato to boiled flakes and cook until done. Salt, add the greens of the leek, cook for another 5-10 minutes. Add cream before serving.

Fruit soup of Lesser Celandine roots

It is prepared in the same way as the previous soup. Root fruits are washed and put whole in boiling soup and cooked until ready.

Lesser Celandine marinade

Wash the greens of mazpurenita, boil for 5 minutes in 5 cups of water (volume) and cover with marinade and boil again for 5 minutes. Store in a cool and dark place.

Pickled Lesser Celandine

Wash and boil the leaves of the Lesser Celandine in salted water, as mentioned in the previous recipe. Salt with the calculation of 10 gr. salt per 100 gr. nymph leaf. Store in the refrigerator.

Salted root fruits of Lesser Celandine

Root plants are washed, boiled in five times the volume of water, sprinkled with 20% salt solution and boiled again. Store in the cold.

Dried Lesser Celandine

The leaves of the Lesser Celandine are dried and ground into powder. Used as an additive in soups and sauces.