Spurred-gentian / ji ma ze
Halenia elliptica
Tibetan
Photo credit: Vinayaraj
Safety information
Safety information
Toxicity: Low-uncertain at traditional doses; not fully characterised.
Contraindications: Pregnancy data insufficient; caution in biliary obstruction.
Interactions: Not well documented.
Pregnancy & breastfeeding: Pregnancy data insufficient.
Evidence level
Preclinical
Supported by laboratory or animal studies; not yet confirmed in humans.
Preparations
powder · whole herb
Part used: whole herb
Evidence:Preclinical
pill · whole herb
Part used: whole herb
Evidence:Preclinical
decoction · whole herb
Part used: whole herb
Traditional use: bile/heat-clearing liver-and-gallbladder drug; hepatitis-type and jaundice complaints, fever, inflammation
Proposed mechanism: xanthones (1-hydroxy-2,3,5-trimethoxyxanthone and related) and secoiridoid glycosides — hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory/antioxidant
Evidence:Preclinical
Associated conditions
Nutritional notes
Not nutritional; bioactives are xanthones + secoiridoids.
Healing traditions
Tibetan
Sources (2)
- Li et al. 2018, Tibetan liver-disease review (PMID 29441019)
- Chi et al. 2021, Gentianeae in Tibetan medicine review (PMID 34834747)