Centaury Common

Guarded. Gentians - Gentianaceae. Common names: herb for fever, stomach herb. Parts used: grass. Pharmacy name: centaury herb - Centaurii heiba (formerly: Hertoa Centaurii).

Botanical description.

This beautiful plant is sometimes difficult to detect, since its flowers open fully only in bright sun. A tetrahedral stem 10-50 cm tall grows from a light tap root. The basal rosette of leaves is difficult to find, since by the time of flowering it usually dies off, and in the vegetative state is hidden in dense grass.

Stem leaves are opposite, oblong-ovate or lanceolate, with noticeable longitudinal veins. Numerous flowers are collected in an umbrella-shaped inflorescence formed by individual forked branches. The calyx is tubular, with 5 sepals, the corolla has a whitish tube and 5 pinkish limbs; in sunlight, the petals bend in the shape of a star.

Blooms from (June) July to September. It grows in bright clearings in the forest and in wet meadows. It is not found particularly often, but is quite strictly confined to its favorite habitats.

Collection and preparation. The entire plant is collected, cut above the rosette, tied into bunches and hung to dry in a ventilated place. Raw materials come to Germany from Morocco, the former Yugoslavia, and Bulgaria.

Active ingredients. The main active ingredients of the herb are the bitter glycosides amarogentin and gentiopicrin. The flowers and stem of the plant are especially rich in them; there are fewer of them in the leaves, which is why the basal rosette is not cut off when harvesting.

In addition, the herb contains flavonoids, sterols, and a small amount of alkaloids of the pyridine and actinidine groups.

Healing action and application. Tea made from centaury herb is successfully used for loss of appetite, weakened stomach function due to decreased secretion of gastric juice, disorders of gastric emptying, flatulence, cramps and lethargy of the stomach and intestines.

Bitters begin to act upon contact with the mucous membrane of the mouth, as a result of which a useful reflex arises, then immediately after entering the body they tone and stimulate the gastrointestinal tract. However, it is necessary to clearly distinguish, as with the use of any pure bitters, what kind of disturbances in the functioning of the stomach we are talking about. With a dry, poorly digestible (sluggish) stomach, bitters such as centaury are quite indicated, but with increased acidity, manifested by sour belching, be careful.

In this case, mixtures with other medicinal herbs are indicated - caraway, fennel, anise, lemon balm, chamomile and peppermint, and if a calming effect on the nerves innervating the stomach is necessary, valerian and St. John's wort can be added to enhance the effect. It should be mentioned that pure bitters, including centaury, help increase blood circulation. This was proven by Professor Glatzl using the example of gentian.

Centaury has, in addition, a very specific area of ​​application, namely anorexia nervosa - a psychogenically caused lack of appetite in girls. And one more remarkable property of centaury: tea made from it helps with nervous exhaustion, which is often complained about by people who are overworked both physically and mentally, for example, working women housewives and mothers of many children. It also helps patients with gallstone disease - it “calms” the gallbladder and prevents pain.

This medicinal plant has recently been used as a remedy for migraines. The German National Health Service lists decreased secretion of gastric juice and loss of appetite as a possible area of ​​application for centaury; Stomach and intestinal ulcers are considered contraindications.

Use in folk medicine.

Popular wisdom teaches: “Medicine must be bitter, otherwise it is useless.” Gore