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Centaurium erythraea plant at Ankerstraat, Oostende, Belgium
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| Common Names |
| Centaury , Erythraea centaurium,bitterherb, centaury gentian |
| Botanical Name |
| Centaurium erythraea |
| Family |
| GENTIANACEAE Gentian family |
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"Of all the bitter appetizing wild herbs which serve as excellent simple tonics, the Centaury is the most efficacious, sharing the antiseptic virtues of the Field Gentian and the Buckbean."(Grieve, M.) Centaury is closely related to gentian, and shares the same bitter tonic effect on the digestive system. A gentle laxative, and an excellent remedy for heartburn. Like many bitter tonics centaury is effective in reducing fever and has been used in place of quinine. Mabey, Richard ,60 |
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Prep Methods :Usually taken as a tea or tincture before or after meals
 Remedies using Centaury
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| Rheumatism | | Research confirms the plant's potential for treating rheumatism and gout, for the alkaloid gentianine has exhibited strongly anti-inflammatory properties. 1295
(Mabey, Richard p59) | | The dried herb is given in infusion or powder, or made into an extract. It is used extensively in dyspepsia, for languid digestion with heartburn after food, in an infusion of 1 OZ. of the dried herb to 1 pint of water. When run down and suffering from want of appetite, a wineglassful of this infusion Centaury Tea - taken three or four times daily, half an hour before meals, is found of great benefit. The same infusion may also be taken for muscular rheumatism. 1296
(Grieve, Maude ) |
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Koehler's Medicinal-Plants 1887
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 The name of the genus to which it is at present assigned, Erythraea, is derived from the Greek erythros (red), from the colour of the flowers. The genus was formerly called Chironia, from the Centaur Chiron, who was famous in Greek mythology for his skill in medicinal herbs, and is supposed to have cured himself with it from a wound he had accidentally received from an arrow poisoned with the blood of the hydra.
(Grieve, M.) |
Common Typos:
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