Centaury
Botanical Description & Habitat
Centaurium umbellatum, C. erythraea, Erythraea centaurium, and Centaurea minor
Family
Gentianaceae
Common Names
European centaury
Lesser centaury
Habitat
Indigenous to Europe in pastures, woodlands and moorlands, and cultivated in North America.
Medicinal Parts
Flowering herb, plus stems and flowers, gathered from June to August.
Historical Properties & Uses
Centaury is one of the traditional European (and North American, to some extent) panaceas. It is has been used for everything, making exceedingly difficult to determine which uses are valid and reliable.
Some of the most important uses are the following: cholagogue, digestive aid, carminative, tonic, bitter, glandular, febrifuge. It is said to stimulate the digestive juices throughout the gastrointestinal tract, as do most bitters. Belonging to the family of gentianaceae, it is not surprising its action resembles that of gentian root. However, here we are talking about the herb, not the root.
This herb has approval status by the German Commission E for loss of appetite and peptic discomfort.
References:
Blumenthal, M (Ed.): The Complete German Commission E Monographs: Therapeutic Guide to Herbal Medicines. American Botanical Council. Austin, TX. 1998.
Method of Action
Centaury has Gastrointestinal Actions
The presence of bitter substances in centaury would account for most of the gastrointestinal effects reported, including the choleretic or cholagogue properties.
These bitter substances, though weaker than gentian, are known to stimulate the salivary glands, and the secretion of stomach acids, as well as the flow of bile into the small intestine.
Centaury is found in over a dozen proprietary preparations in Germany alone. Some of these are cholagogues, some anti-diabetics, and some urinary disinfectants. This list demonstrates how diverse the actions of centaury are.
In the British Pharmacopoeia, centaury is listed as a bitter, aromatic and stomachic, and used to treat anorexia and dyspepsia. It is the British choice for anorexia, especially childhood anorexia involving gastric and hepatic weakness. It is combined with filipendula, roman chamomile and marshmallow in dyspepsia. An anorexigenic preparation would combine centaury with barberry and yellow dock.
Drug Interactions & Precautions
No data available.
Safety Factors & Toxicity
Centaury is nontoxic in therapeutic doses.
This herb has approval status by the German Commission E.
References:
Blumenthal, M (Ed.): The Complete German Commission E Monographs: Therapeutic Guide to Herbal Medicines. American Botanical Council. Austin, TX. 1998.
Preparation & Administration
Use three times a day
Infusion
use 2-4g of dried herb
Liquid Extract
use 2-4ml of 1:1 in 25% alcohol
This herb has approval status by the German Commission E.
Recommended daily dosages in Germany are as follows:
6 g herb.
1 - 2 g extract.
References:
Blumenthal, M (Ed.): The Complete German Commission E Monographs: Therapeutic Guide to Herbal Medicines. American Botanical Council. Austin, TX. 1998.
Note: This Herbal Preparation information is a summary of data from books and articles by various authors. It is not intended to replace the advice or attention of health care professionals.
References
Blumenthal, M (Ed.): The Complete German Commission E Monographs: Therapeutic Guide to Herbal Medicines. American Botanical Council. Austin, TX. 1998.
Braun, H. & Frohne, D. Heilplanzen-Lexikon Fuer Aerzte und Apotheker. Gustav Fisher Verlag, Stuttgart, New York, 1987.
British Herbal Pharmacopoeia, British Herbal Medicine Association, 1983.
Chabrol, E. & Charonnat, R. Les agents therapeutiques de la secretion biliarire. Ann. de Medecini, 37(1), 131-142, 1935.
Mowrey, Daniel B., Ph.D. Exper. Psych., Brigham Young University. Director of Nebo Institute of Herbal Sciences. Director of Behavior Change Agent Training Institute. Director of Research, Nova Corp.
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