Springtime

A few spring flowers have made an appearance over the past three weeks. I wonder how many other species would have been seen before the widespread use of pesticides and other chemicals that are used to protect the local crops.

There is an area within the north settling pond where Greater Celandine thrive. I have always looked forward to their appearance in early spring. They are known locally as 'Mayblobs' and have some useful herbal properties.

The aerial parts and roots of Greater Celandine are used in herbalism. The above ground parts are gathered during the flowering season and dried at high temperatures. The root is harvested in Autumn between August and October and dried. The fresh rhizome is also used. Celandine has a hot and bitter taste. The latex has a narcotic fragrance.
Preparations are made from alcoholic and hot aqueous extractions (tea). The average daily dosage is 2 to 4 g, equivalent to 12 to 13 mg total alkaloids. For fluid extracts, the daily dosage is 1 to 2 ml of 1:1 25% alcoholic extraction, up to 3 times per day. For hot tea infusions, 1.5 desert spoonfuls left in boiling water for 10 minutes can be taken 3 times a day.
It was formerly used by gypsies as a foot refresher; modern herbalists use its purgative properties. In Russia it's used as an herb helping to remove warts, papillomas and other skin malformations.
Greater celandine acts as a mild sedative which has been used historically to treat asthma, bronchitis, and whooping cough. The herb's antispasmodic effect improves bile flow in the gallbladder and has been reputed to treat gallstones and gallbladder pain. As far back as Pliny the Elder and Dioscorides (1st century AD) this herb has been recognized as a useful detoxifying agent. The root has been chewed to relieve toothache.