Gentian

Gentian

Latin Name: Gentiana lutea
Family: Gentianaceae

Part used: Dried rhizomes & roots.
Energetics: Very bitter, astringent.
Iris: Haematogenic.
Interactions: Please check with your Healthcare Provider.

Avoid alongside Herb

Esomeprazole

CONTRA-INDICATIONS

  • Pregnancy
  • Hyperacidity
  • Gastric ulcers
  • Duodenal ulcers
  • Stomach irritation
  • Predisposed individuals may experience headaches when taking Gentian, especially on an empty stomach - if this occurs, take during meals, not prior to meals.

ACTIONS

  • Bitter to the liver and pancreas
  • Aperitif
  • Cholagogue
  • Sialagogue
  • Appetite stimulant
  • Digestive
  • Increases gastric juices by 25% without altering pH
  • Anthelmintic
  • Antispasmodic
  • Anti-inflammatory
  • Detoxifier
  • Anti-fungal 
  • Anti-bacterial
  • Emmenagogue
  • Febrifuge.

Main Constituents

  • Xanthones
  • Iridoids
  • Alkaloids
  • Phenolic acids
  • Pectin
  • Gum
  • Nitric Oxide
  • Tannin
  • Triterpenes
  • Bitter glycosides (amarogentin, gentiopicrin)
  • Mucilage
  • Inulin
  • Vitamin C
  • Iron

Main Uses

Gastro-intestinal bitter tonic
Digestive System: Feeble digestion in the elderly, Jaundice - promotes flow of bile, Aperitif to increase appetite and stimulate the release of hydrochloric acid. Reduces vomiting, Bitter taste in mouth, Diarrhoea with yellow stool, Nausea, Antidote to some types of food poisoning.
Skin: Dermal ulcerations
Circulatory: Alkalosis
Mental/Emotional: Depression
Nervous system: Travel sickness. Nervous exhaustion
Endocrine: Amenorrhoea.
Immune System: Post-influenza, ME.

Infections:
Bacteria: Helicobacter, Salmonella, Shigella, Staphylococcus aureus.
Fungi: Aspergillus flavus, Botrytis cinera, Candida, Fusarium, Penicillium.

More About Gentian

Being one of the most bitter botanicals known, Gentian root was a favourite item in formulas among 19th century doctors.
The bitter taste ultimately has a cooling effect on the whole organism, on the other hand it is also stimulant, so is usually given over shorter periods of time, such as 4 weeks.
It is an antipyretic, antiseptic and detoxifier, which improves the tone of the digestive and urogenital organs and is useful during colds and flu.
Gentian promotes the appetite and increases hydrochloric acid. The bitter glycoside, amarogentin, stimulates the digestion of protein and fat and encourages bile flow.
It is a tonic to the gastrointestinal tract and membranes and also encourages the portal circulation. It is a nerve tonic and is given in states of nervous exhaustion and debility as a supportive tonic, as well as for PMS and menopausal mood swings.
The emmenagogue action can bring on a period and regulate menstruation but is better over short-term use once a cycle has been achieved.

Recipes:


Gentian Digestive Bitters:

Ingredients:

  • Gentian Root
  • 80%-90% proof vodka

Method:

  • You can use any size jar, to make as much or as little bitters as you need.
  • Fill a jar 1/3 of the way with gentian root.
  • Pour 80- to 90-proof vodka over the root, and fill the jar to its neck.
  • Cover and place a jar in a cool, dark location for 1 month. (Tip the jar and herbs upside down every other day or so.)
  • Strain into another bottle, or several small bottles with dropper lids.
  • (Use one dropper of gentian bitters with each meal that contains fat and/or protein. Dilute in about 1-ounce of water. Preferably, drink before, during or, if you forget, after the meal.)

References


Obesity-Associted Diseases

Potential of Gentiana lutea for the Treatment of Obesity-associated Diseases.
In the present review, we describe the potential of root powder of yellow gentian (Gentiana lutea) for the prevention of obesity and diabetes including complications related to this disease.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31538881/

Psoriasis

Gentiana lutea Extract Modulates Ceramide Synthesis in Primary and Psoriasis-Like Keratinocytes.
The treatment with GE partly rescued the reduced expression of ELOVL4 in psoriasis-like HPKs and augmented CERS3 expression. This study has shown that GE modulates ceramide synthesis in keratinocytes. Therefore, GE might be a novel topical treatment for skin diseases with an altered lipid composition such as psoriasis.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32316273/

Neuroprotective

Amarogentin from Gentiana rigescens Franch Exhibits Antiaging and Neuroprotective Effects through Antioxidative Stress.
These results indicated that antioxidative stress play an important role for antiaging and neuroprotection of amarogentin. Interestingly, amarogentin exhibited neuritogenic activity in PC12 cells. Therefore, the natural products, amarogentin from G. rigescens with antioxidant activity could be a good candidate molecule to develop drug for treating neurodegenerative diseases.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32831994/

Antinociceptive/Anti-inflammatory

Comparison of the anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects of Gentiana macrophylla Pall. and Gentiana straminea Maxim., and identification of their active constituents.
The extracts of Gentiana macrophylla Pall. and Gentiana straminea Maxim. possessed significant antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378874112006757

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