Herb Weavers Journal #96 - Celendine - 18th March 2025

Herb Weaver's Journal.

Celandine (Lesser)

As its other name of Pilewort may suggest, this plant has for years been used to treat hemorrhoids.  It is also very high in Vitamin C, so issues like scurvy were often treated with this plant too.

Applied directly to the skin it has been used as a wart preparation and to make a poultice for swollen and arthritic joints. It is not a painkiller, but does support swelling.

Often mashed down and applied to toothpaste to help with bleeding gums, it can also be applied directly to the skin to help wounds heal quicker too.

Both the leaves and flowers are edible in this plant and can be added to herbal teas, tinctures, and balms.

The lovely thing about this plant is its bright yellow flowers and that it is one of the first plants to appear as we come out of winter.

Lesser Celandine should not be confused with Celandine Poppy, the first being part of the buttercup family and the later being part of the poppy family and doing very different things.