Greater Celandine
白屈菜 · Bái Qū Cài
Practitioner herb for ulcer pain and stubborn cough
What it does
Greater celandine calms severe stomach and ulcer pain, and quiets stubborn coughs from bronchitis or pertussis. In TCM, it relieves pain, suppresses cough, and resolves toxins. The active alkaloids are potent and toxic, so doses stay low and short-term. Western herbal medicine has largely retired it due to documented liver injury reports.
How to take it
Decoct 3–9g of dried celandine in water for 25 minutes. Drink 1 cup, 1–2x daily, max 1 week. Stop if you notice liver-related symptoms like dark urine.
See a practitioner before using. Modern alternatives are usually safer
Safety
- Toxic. Multiple cases of acute liver injury reported with extended use
- Strictly short-term only. Watch for jaundice or dark urine
- Skip during pregnancy
- Don't combine with other liver-stressing botanicals or alcohol
- Talk to your doctor before starting, especially if you take medication
Where it comes from
Greater celandine (Chelidonium majus) is native to Europe and naturalized across temperate Asia. The bright orange sap from cut stems was used historically to remove warts. In TCM, the dried herb treats stubborn pain and cough patterns, but several recent case reports of liver toxicity have caused European herbal medicine to retire it. Chinese medicine still uses it short-term and with strict dosing, primarily for cases not responding to safer alternatives.