Family: Gentianaceae

Energetics: cool, dry, tonifying

Taste: bitter

Parts used: flowers and leaves

Affinities: digestive system, especially the stomach

Actions: bitter, alterative, draining, stomachic, cholagogue, anti-parasitic, diaphoretic

Preparations: decoction, tincture

Cautions: No known cautions. Generally regarded as safe.

Therapeutic Uses:

• Centaury is an extremely bitter herb that greatly improves digestion. It stimulates the production of digestive fluids, strengthens the stomach, and helps the body absorb more nutrients from the food being digested.
• Helps stimulate the appetite and is useful for anorexia or other issues causing a lack of appetite.
• Has anti-parasitic properties and is useful for intestinal worms and other parasites especially when paired with other anti-parasitic herbs such as wormwood.