Centaury

Western Bulk Herbs – Centaury

Western Bulk Herbs Centaury is primarily a gastric stimulant, helping to combat loss of appetite as well as strengthen the liver and improve sluggish digestion. Brewed into a tisane (tea), this herb can move things along in the digestive tract and help make your meal look more attractive.

Latin Name:
Centaurium erythraea

Common Name:
common centaury, European centaury, feverfoullie, gentian, feverwort

Parts Used:
Dried Aerial Parts

Properties:
Bitter, aromatic, mild nervine, gastric stimulant, appetizer, cholagogue, diaphoretic, digestive, emetic, weakly febrifuge, hepatic, stomachic, tonic

Traditional Uses:
Centaury has been used in brews and medicines throughout Europe since at least the 6th century.

Internal Applications:
Brew this herb into a tisane for relief from poor digestion. As the bitter acids work through your digestive tract, it will help stimulate bile production and improve the breakdown of food.

Topical Uses / Applications:
This herb is said to be helpful for wounds and sores and pairs well with chamomile in this respect.

Culinary Uses:
This herb is often added to liquors and brews as a flavoring for its bitter qualities.

Chemical Properties:
Phenolic acids, including ferulic and sinapic acids, as well as sterols (as brassicasterol and stigmasterol), secoiridoid and the glycosides, swertiamarin and sweroside.

Folk Lore:
It is said that this herb was named after centaurs who would use it to heal their wounds, but there is a lack of reliable citation for this folklore.

Cautions:

*Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

Resources:

David Hoffman’s The New Holistic Herbal
https://www.academia.edu/19680273
https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Centaurium+erythraea