AKA: Centaurium Erythraea

Also goes by: Centaury Gentian, Century, Centory, Red Centaury, Filwort, Feverwort, Lesser Centaury, Christ’s ladder, Canchalagua, Bitter Herb, Common Centaury

Centaury, a member of the gentian family, comes in several different varieties and can be found in Europe, North Africa, and the American Continents. All the differing varieties have been used to help the gastrointestinal system. It is a annual or biennial plant that has a fibrous, woody root and a rosette base from which a stiff erect stem is produce. This stem can reach upwards of twenty inches depending on the species and location. It produces lance shaped leaves which are pale green and smooth and a cluster of rose colored star-like flowers at its crown.

The plant can thrive in wet pastures, dry pastures, fields, waste areas, neutral soil, or even alkaline soil. It loves light, growing best in full sun. The herb is harvested in the wild around July, when the flower is just starting to break out, and then it is dried for use. The plant has a slight odor which disappears when it is dried. Centaury is found to contain a bitter principle (erythro-centaurin), a bitter glucoside (erytaurin), valeric acid and wax

The ancients used this plant to draw out snake poisons and to treat infections and fevers. The United States National Formulary, a reference book for pharmacists, recognized the plant as a beneficial drug. Many people also take the plant in the form of aperitif wine (vermouth) in order to help with digestion of feed. 

Benefits and Uses

• Digestive Tonic (gas, bloating, heartburn, dyspepsia, lack of appetite, constipation and Colic)
• Liver cleanser
• Blood Purifier

Centaury has many functions and it is considered to be a great tonic and aromatic stomachic that can use help with gastrointestinal disturbances and strengthen stomach function when it is taken before eating. It helps stimulate gastric secretions. Centaury has a strong bitter principle that helps relieve dyspepsia, languid digestion, and indigestion. It also helps with heartburn, gas pains in the intestines and stomach, bloating, constipation and colic.

Centaury can also help improve a person's appetite and it has been used to help strengthen the appetite as well as the digestive system during a slow convalescence. It has also been used to help treat anorexia and other conditions that bring about a poor appetite.

Centaury can also help stimulate bile production and flow from the gallbladder, which helps facilitate the digestion of foods and remove toxins from the liver and gallbladder. Centaury’s role as a cholagogue (bile stimulator) also helps purify the blood and ease complaints from jaundice and hepatitis.

The herb is also considered to be a diaphoretic, meaning that it helps stimulate perspiration. This is useful to help cool the body, lower fevers and expel toxins from the body via the skin. This capability makes Centaury useful for the treatment of intermittent fevers and feverish illnesses and explains why the plant was once used to help treat malaria.

Other Uses
Centaury is thought to help strengthen the kidneys, making it beneficial for bladder control in elderly people, or others who experience problems with bedwetting and urinary control. It has also been used to expel worms from the intestines. It can also be used externally as an antiseptic to destroy body vermin and lice and as a treatment for dandruff. It has also been used as an application to help heal wounds and sores.

Recommended Dosage
Take two capsules once or twice a day with water during a meal.

Warnings
Centaury should not be used by women who are pregnant and overuse of the herb will cause vomiting.

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