Gentian
Gentiana lutea
Other names: Gentian
Edible plantPhoto credit: Bernd Haynold
Safety information
Safety information
Toxicity: Mild. | May cause headaches in predisposed persons.
Contraindications: Avoid with acid indigestion or peptic ulcer. | Contraindicated in pregnancy and in gastric/duodenal ulcers.
Interactions: None specifically noted. | None specifically reported.
Pregnancy & breastfeeding: Contraindicated in pregnancy.
Evidence level
Supported by laboratory or animal studies; not yet confirmed in humans.
Preparations
decoction · rhizome and root
Part used: rhizome and root
Traditional use: Traditionally used as an intensely bitter digestive tonic to stimulate appetite and digestive secretions for poor appetite, sluggish digestion, dyspepsia and flatulence.
How to prepare (traditional): Decoction: put half a teaspoon of shredded root in 1 cup of water and boil 5 minutes; drunk warm 15-30 minutes before meals.
Dosage note (descriptive only): Taken warm 15-30 minutes before meals. Commission E: 2-4 g root daily.
tincture · rhizome and root
Part used: rhizome and root
Traditional use: Bitter digestive tonic.
How to prepare (traditional): Tincture at 1:5 in 40% alcohol.
Dosage note (descriptive only): 1-2 ml three times a day, 15-30 minutes before meals.
tincture · root
Part used: root
Traditional use: Traditionally taken as a bitter to stimulate appetite and digestion.
How to prepare (traditional): Tincture of the root taken with water before meals.
Dosage note (descriptive only): For poor appetite, the book suggests 2–5 drops with water before meals.
decoction · root
Part used: root
Traditional use: Traditionally taken for weakened digestion and iron-deficiency anemia.
How to prepare (traditional): Decoction of the root.
Dosage note (descriptive only): For anemia and weakened digestion, the book suggests 5 tsp three to five times a day.
Associated conditions
Edibility
Edible parts: Bitter flavouring in aperitifs/bitters (e.g. Angostura); not a food | used as bitter flavoring in some aperitifs
Nutritional notes
Not a food.
Healing traditions
Sources (2)
- Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine (book, p.99) — Andrew Chevallier, English, 2016
- Hoffmann D., Medical Herbalism (2003) — materia medica, Gentiana lutea