Greater Celandine (Chelidonium majus) for Immunity: Benefits, Risks, and Safe Use

Aug, 24 2025

If you’ve heard that Greater celandine is the secret to stronger immunity, hit pause. The plant is potent, and that cuts both ways. The sap has a history in folk remedies, some lab data looks promising, and a few combo products use it for tummy troubles. But there’s a catch: real liver safety concerns and no solid human trials showing it prevents colds or boosts immune function. Here’s the clear-eyed version-what it might help, where the hype runs ahead of the evidence, and how to stay safe if you’re still curious.

• There are no high-quality human trials showing greater celandine improves immune defense or prevents infections.
• Regulators have flagged liver injury risks with oral celandine; avoid self-experimenting, especially if you have any liver issues.
• Some GI symptom relief is reported in combo formulas (like STW‑5/Iberogast), but even those carry liver warnings in Germany.
• If you’re determined to try it, do it under medical supervision, short-term, and with liver enzyme monitoring.
• For immunity, safer options with better evidence: sleep, vaccines, vitamin D (if low), exercise, zinc at cold onset, and probiotics.

What greater celandine is-and where the immunity claim comes from

Greater celandine (Chelidonium majus) is a poppy-family plant with bright yellow flowers and a bitter, orange sap. Chemically, it’s rich in isoquinoline alkaloids-chelidonine, chelerythrine, sanguinarine, protopine, and coptisine. In test tubes and animal models, these compounds show antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antispasmodic effects. That’s the seed of the “immunity” narrative: if it dampens inflammation and stops microbes in lab dishes, maybe it helps you fight infections.

Here’s the problem. Those lab signals haven’t translated into good human trials for immune outcomes. No robust randomized studies show fewer colds, faster recovery, or improved antibody responses with greater celandine. Meanwhile, liver safety issues have popped up in real people using it.

European regulators and pharmacopoeias have looked closely at Chelidonium. Case reports of hepatitis after oral use led to warnings and restrictions. Germany’s drug regulator required a liver warning on Iberogast (a multi-herb GI formula that contains a small amount of celandine). And the EU herbal committee has been cautious on oral celandine products due to liver risk.

European regulators have documented cases of liver injury with Chelidonium majus; they advise caution and, in some contexts, do not support oral use because the benefit-risk balance is unfavorable. - EMA/HMPC public communications and national safety updates

So where does it stand? As a topical folk remedy for warts, the sap has history but can irritate skin and eyes. As a GI spasm reliever, it appears in combination formulas that have mixed but promising data. For “immunity,” we’re still missing the one thing that matters: solid human evidence.

Evidence check: what it does (and doesn’t) do for immunity and well-being

Let’s separate outcomes people care about:

• Immune support (fewer colds, faster recovery): No high-quality human trials. You’ll find lab studies against microbes and immune cells, but that’s not the same as fewer sick days in real life. On this specific job, the evidence is weak.
• Digestive relief (spasms, dyspepsia): A few randomized trials of the multi-herb formula STW‑5 (Iberogast), which includes a small celandine fraction, show symptom relief for functional dyspepsia and IBS. Reviews in gastroenterology journals have called the effect modest but clinically noticeable. This support is for the formula-not celandine alone.
• Pain or inflammation: Lab and animal models suggest antispasmodic and anti-inflammatory actions, likely via smooth muscle effects and alkaloid activity. Human data are limited and indirect.
• Safety: This is the big one. Multiple case reports link oral celandine to elevated liver enzymes and acute hepatitis. National bodies, including Germany’s BfArM, have pushed warnings for celandine-containing medicines. The Natural Medicines database classifies oral chelidonium as “Possibly Unsafe” due to hepatotoxicity. If you have liver disease, drink heavily, or take other liver-stressing meds, steer clear.

What about dose makes the poison? Higher-dose homemade tinctures and long-term use appear riskier. Even with commercial products, individual susceptibility varies. That’s why “it worked for my neighbor” isn’t a green light for you.

Bottom line on the science: the immune claim is mostly marketing and mechanistic speculation. The GI claim has some support-through a combination product that still carries a liver warning. If immune resilience is the goal, put your energy into interventions with proven payoff.

How to use celandine as safely as possible (if you still want to try)

If curiosity is tugging at you, treat celandine like a strong, high-variance tool. Set guardrails. Here’s a safe-use blueprint.

1. First, decide if you should skip it.
   • Liver issues (past or present), unexplained jaundice, or abnormal liver tests.
   • Pregnancy or breastfeeding.
   • Age under 18.
   • Heavy alcohol use.
   • Medications with liver risk (e.g., high-dose acetaminophen) or narrow therapeutic windows.

   If any of these fit, don’t use celandine.

2. If you still proceed, choose the lowest-risk format.
   • Avoid DIY tinctures or unstandardized powders. These can overshoot alkaloids.
   • Consider discussing a regulated combo formula used for GI symptoms (e.g., STW‑5) with your clinician-only if you’re targeting digestive issues, not immunity.
   • Topical sap for warts is old-school folk medicine. It can be caustic and stain skin; safer options exist (salicylic acid, cryotherapy). Talk to a dermatologist instead.
3. Put safety monitoring in writing.
   • Get baseline liver enzymes (ALT/AST, bilirubin) before starting any oral product that includes celandine.
   • Recheck in 1-2 weeks. Stop immediately if you develop fatigue, dark urine, itching, right‑upper‑abdomen pain, or yellowing skin/eyes.
   • Keep any trial short (think days to a couple of weeks, not months).
4. Don’t stack with other hepatotoxic herbs or drugs.
   • Avoid kava, comfrey, high-dose green tea extracts, or excessive acetaminophen during any celandine trial.
   • Be careful with alcohol-best to avoid it entirely while testing any product that includes celandine.
5. Quality signals on labels.
   • Look for standardized extracts with stated alkaloid content, GMP manufacturing, batch/lot numbers, and a short, verifiable ingredient list.
   • Be wary of “immune booster” claims without citations. Bold promises, no references = walk away.

Red flags that mean stop immediately: dark urine, pale stools, skin/eye yellowing, persistent nausea, right‑sided abdominal pain, unusual fatigue or itching. If any of those show up, stop the product and call your clinician the same day.

Smarter, safer plays for real immune support

If your actual job-to-be-done is “get sick less and recover faster,” these options deliver more for less risk.

• Sleep 7-9 hours. A study in Sleep found adults sleeping under 6 hours were far more likely to catch a cold after exposure compared with 7+ hours. Sleep is the cheapest immune upgrade you can buy.
• Get vaccinated. Flu vaccine effectiveness often lands around 40-60% depending on the season. That’s a big chunk of risk you can remove in one shot.
• Vitamin D if you’re low. A BMJ meta-analysis reported modest protection against acute respiratory infections, especially in people who were deficient. Ask for a 25(OH)D blood test before supplementing.
• Exercise, moderately. Regular, moderate aerobic activity is linked to fewer sick days. Think brisk walks or cycling most days, not punishing marathon training when you’re run-down.
• Zinc acetate lozenges at first sniffle. When started within 24 hours, several analyses suggest cold duration can shorten by roughly two days. Watch for nausea; don’t use intranasal zinc.
• Probiotics. Certain Lactobacillus/Bifidobacterium strains appear to trim the risk and duration of upper respiratory infections. Look for products with strain-level detail and CFU counts.

These steps are boring-and they work. None carry the liver risk clouding celandine.

Quick checklist, decision help, table, and mini‑FAQ

Use this as your field guide.

• Goal clarity: If your goal is “better immunity,” celandine isn’t the tool. If your goal is “digestive discomfort,” talk to a clinician about safer first lines; combo formulas with celandine exist but need liver caution.
• Safety screen: Any liver history, pregnancy, heavy alcohol, or interacting meds? Skip celandine.
• Product filter: GMP label, standardized extract, batch number, and clear dosing instructions-or don’t buy.
• Monitoring plan: Baseline labs, a short trial window, and a hard stop at any warning symptom.
• Plan B: Sleep, vitamin D if low, exercise, zinc at onset, and vaccines.

Mini‑FAQ

• Is greater celandine the same as “celandine poppy” or “lesser celandine”? No. Greater celandine (Chelidonium majus) is different from lesser celandine (Ficaria verna) and from wood poppy (Stylophorum). Don’t mix them up.
• Can it boost my immune system? There’s no good human evidence for immune benefits. If that’s your goal, it’s not the right tool.
• Is celandine safe for the liver? That’s the main concern. Case reports link it to hepatitis. National agencies have added warnings. If you have any liver risk, avoid it.
• What about Iberogast-should I worry? It contains a small celandine fraction and has a liver warning in Germany. If your doctor recommends it for GI symptoms, use the lowest effective dose for the shortest time and report any liver‑type symptoms fast.
• Can I drink celandine tea? Not a good idea. Tea is unstandardized and still exposes your liver. If someone online says “it’s natural, it’s safe,” that’s not how risk works.
• Is the sap good for warts? It’s a folk remedy, but it can burn or stain skin. Drugstore salicylic acid or clinic cryotherapy are safer and more predictable.
• Can I combine it with alcohol or acetaminophen? Bad plan. Both stress the liver. Combining increases risk.

Next steps / Troubleshooting

• I already took celandine and now I feel off. Stop it. If you have dark urine, yellowing skin/eyes, or persistent nausea, contact your clinician or urgent care today and ask for liver enzyme tests.
• I keep getting colds every season. Lock in sleep, get vaccinated, check vitamin D, and add a probiotic for 8-12 weeks. Keep zinc acetate lozenges on hand for the first 24 hours of symptoms.
• My digestion is the main issue. Start with diet (smaller meals, less fat/spice), peppermint oil enteric‑coated capsules, and stress reduction. If still struggling, ask your clinician about short‑term options; if a combo formula with celandine is considered, set a lab monitoring plan.
• I want a plant‑based immune aid without liver risk. Consider well‑studied options first: probiotics (with named strains), elderberry for short‑term cold support (evidence mixed but low risk), and green tea. Stay realistic: nothing replaces sleep and vaccines.
• How do I judge any new “immune” supplement? Demand human outcome data, not just lab studies. Look for peer‑reviewed trials, clear dosing, and safety monitoring. No data, no credit card.

Sources behind the guidance

For safety, see communications and monographs from the European Medicines Agency’s HMPC, Germany’s BfArM safety updates (2018 liver warning for Iberogast), and the Natural Medicines database (Chelidonium majus listed with liver risk). For GI data on STW‑5, see randomized trial summaries and reviews in gastroenterology journals. For immune strategies: Sleep journal research linking short sleep to higher cold risk, CDC vaccine effectiveness summaries, the BMJ meta‑analysis on vitamin D and respiratory infections, and clinical reviews of zinc lozenges and probiotics.