Chelidonium

Chelidonium majus

Origin
Native to Europe, north Africa, and western Asia, and now naturalized in North America. Grows on banks and in hedgerows.

Background
Used in Western and Chinese herbalism as a muscle relaxant and antispasmodic, and to clear cataracts.

Preparation
The whole flowering plant, or the root, is chopped, pulped, and macerated in alcohol for at least ten days.

Common Names
Greater celandine, wartweed, swallow wort.

GREATER CELANDINE The freshly crushed plant exudes a sticky, orange sap, which herbalists use to treat warts and corns.

Key Symptoms

right-sided complaints; practical, dominant nature; pain in the right shoulder blade; liver and gallbladder problems; person feels better for hot drinks and eating

Because this plant flowers as the swallows are migrating, Dioscorides, the famous Greek physician of the 1st century CE, named it after the Greek khelidon, or "swallow." In traditional medicine its juice was used for skin, liver, and gallbladder disorders. The homeopathic remedy was proved by Hahnemann and published in his Materia Medica Pura (1821–34).

Remedy Profile

An aggressive, domineering personality is typically linked with Chelidonium. Those who respond well to the remedy tend also to be practical rather than intellectual people who do not like to "waste time" analyzing their emotions.

Typical physical symptoms include cravings for hot drinks and cheese. There is a feeling of heaviness, with symptoms tending to be right-sided.

Chelidonium is used mainly for liver conditions, or spleen, kidney, gallbladder, intestine, and lung complaints. It may also be given prior to surgery linked to hepatitis or gallstones.

Hepatitis

Symptoms: An enlarged liver, with pain extending to the back and right shoulder blade, and jaundiced, yellow skin. The abdomen feels distended and tight, as if bound. There may be a strong craving for, or aversion to, cheese.

Symptoms better: For a hot bath; for passing stools; for pressure on the affected area; for hot foods and drinks, such as hot milk.

Symptoms worse: For lying on the right side; around 4 a.m. or 4 p.m.

Gallstones

Symptoms: A sharp, constant pain on the upper right side of the abdomen, behind the ribs, possibly due to a gallstone trapped in a bile duct. The pain may resemble that of hepatitis. It is often exacerbated by fatty foods, and may extend to the back and right shoulder blade. There may be nausea and vomiting, and inflammation of the bile duct that may lead to jaundice or inflammation of the gallbladder.

Symptoms better: For a hot bath; for passing stools; for pressure on the affected area; for hot foods and drinks, such as hot milk.

Symptoms worse: For lying on the right side; around 4 a.m. and 4 p.m.; for fatty foods.

Headaches

Symptoms: A sensation of heaviness on the right side of the head. There may also be facial numbness and neuralgia (especially above the eye), and a yellow-coated tongue that retains teethmarks. These symptoms may be linked to an existing liver disorder .

Symptoms better: For a hot bath; for bending backward; for pressure on the affected area; for hot foods and drinks.

Symptoms worse: For lying on the right side; for movement; around 4 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Shoulder pain

Symptoms: Shoulder pain with icy coldness in the fingertips and muscles that feel sore to the touch. There may be associated nausea and perspiration.

Symptoms better: For having a hot bath; for pressure on the affected area; for bending backward.

Symptoms worse: For lying on the right side; for movement; for coughing; around 4 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Pneumonia

Symptoms: Breathlessness and pain on coughing or breathing deeply, with pneumonia that chiefly affects the right lung and, possibly, liver problems.

Symptoms better: For hot foods and drinks.

Symptoms worse: For warmth; for lying on the right side; for movement; for coughing; around 4 a.m. and 4 p.m.

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