Gentian

Herbal Medicine 3
Luke Clews
Gentiana Lutea
Yellow Gentian
Bitter Root
Bitterwort
Centiyane
Genciana
(Wikipedia 2011)
Gentianaceae
A large genus with over 400 species,
although not many are used medicinally
A notable member is Centaury, one of the
38 Bach flower remedies (like Gentian)
Parts used medicinally
Root and rhizome
(Bone 2007)
Active constituents
 Bitter secoiridoids (amarogentin, gentiopicrin)
 Xanthones
 Phenolic acids
 Gentianose (bitter trisaccharide)
 Vitamin F (LA & ALA), niacin, inositol (Naturopathy
Digest 2010)
Body system affinities
Digestive
Integumentary (Skin) (Braun & Cohen
2010, p. 479)
Herbal actions
Bitter tonic
Sialagogue
Cholagogue
Anthelmintic, antiseptic, anti-
inflammatory (Braun & Cohen 2010, p.
479)
Emmenagogue, hepatic, tonic (Hoffman
1996)
Therapeutic applications
Digestive stimulant
◦ A small human study demonstrated increased
secretion of saliva, gastric juice and bile, thereby
stimulating appetite and digestion (ESCOP 2003,
p.175)
◦ Another study using a combination of four herbs
(including Gentian) or rhubarb and gentian alone
produced statistically significant improvements in
the loss of appetite, dyspepsia and constipation
for patients suffering mild to moderate GIT
dysfunction (Borgia et al. 1985)
Therapeutic applications
Antioxidant
◦ An in vivo experiment determining the
antioxidant properties of a gentian extract on
rats demonstrated a significant reduction in
experimentally-induced oxidative damage
(Amin 2008)
◦ Another study using electron spin resonance
spectrometry demonstrated free radical
scavenging capabilities (Kusšar et al. 2006)
Therapeutic applications
Promotion of wound healing
◦ Secoiridoids (gentiopicroside, sweroside and
swertiamarine) have demonstrated improved
wound healing characteristics in animal
models, probably due to increased stimulation
of collagen production and mitosis (Ozturk et
al. 2006)
Therapeutic applications
Other uses include:
◦ Treatment of experimentally-induced gastric ulcers in
rats via dose-dependent down-regulation of gastric
secretions (Niiho, Y et al. 2006). However, the use of
gentian is contraindicated in humans suffering gastric
or duodenal ulcers (Bone 2007, p. 36, Braun & Cohen
2010, p. 480)
◦ Treatment of vaginal yeast infections via a topical
ointment or treatment of systemic Candida albicans
infections with internal preparations (lozenges,
tinctures etc.) (Chen 1998)
◦ Animal studies have demonstrated the ability of
amarogentin to ameliorate or eliminate Leishmania
infections (Medda, S, Mukhopadhyay, S & Basu, M
1999)
Synergists
For digestive weakness – Ginger
For flatulent dyspepsia – Cardamon, St
Mary’s thistle, Chamomile
For liver insufficiency – Dandelion root,
St Mary’s thistle
For cachexia – Korean ginseng
Contraindications/interactions
Pepticor duodenal ulcer disease and
hyperacidity (Braun & Cohen 2010, p.
480)
Dosage
5-15 mL/week (1:2 liquid)
300 – 400 mg/day (tablet)
Habitat
The Yellow Gentian is a native of the
Alpine and sub-alpine pastures of central
and southern Europe
It does not reach the northern countries of
the Continent, nor the British Isles. At an
elevation of from 3,000 to 4,500 feet, it is
a characteristic species of many parts of
France and Switzerland (Gentian
Research Network 2003)
Traditional uses
Gentian has been used as a medicinal by
various cultures for more than 3,000
years. Historically, it was used by Greek,
Egyptian and Roman healers to increase
appetite, cleanse sores, and treat stomach
and liver ailments (Naturopathy Digest
2010)
Traditional uses
According to Culpeper (2003, p. 137), gentian:
'comforts the heart and preserves it against faintings and swoonings: the
powder of the dry roots helps the biting of mad dogs and venomous
beasts. . . when Kine (cows) are bitten on the udder by any venomous
beast, do but stroke the place with the decoction of any of these and it will
instantly heal them.'
Traditional uses
 Gentian has been used in alcoholic beverages (as an
aperitif) and is a component of liqueurs such as
Angostura bitters, Cinzano and Campari (Gentian
Research Network 2003). It is also included in the
Bundaberg Brewing Company’s, “Australian Lemon,
Lime and Bitters” (Wikipedia 2011)
Folklore
 Gentiana lutea takes its name from Gentius (second
century BC), the king of Illyria, who was said to have
first discovered the medicinal value in this plant
 However, an Egyptian papyrus, found in a tomb at
Thebes and dated about 1,000 years before Gentius,
describes medicines containing plants of the gentian
family (Medicinal Herb Info 2009)
Folklore
Bulgaria has also immortalised Gentiana Lutea
in a postal stamp (c.1974):
Herbal energetics
Bitter
Cold
◦ Gentian serves to stimulate appetite while
simultaneously decongesting the liver (thereby
reducing liver heat) (Hall, 2001, p.164).
The person picture
 The Gentian person is very sensitive to trauma (physical, emotional or
otherwise) and responds by losing all desire for food. There is great ennui
and depression with evident liver effects
 A full plate of food can cause dismay (especially at the end of a stressful
day) and eating with a person they dislike can cause dyspepsia
 Quotes: “I’ve got a nervy stomach”, “I can’t swallow all that emotion” or,
“I’m a worry-guts”
 Digesting food and emotions simultaneously is nearly impossible
(Hall 2001, p.165)
Gentian as a Bach
 In terms of Bach herbs Gentian is all about faith. It is designed for people
who would like to believe but cannot. This lack of belief, in oneself as well
as external (higher) aspects limits the Gentian person, restricting their
souls.
 The Gentian person typically overanalyses everything and is pessimistic
because they cannot grasp that which is just out of their reach.
 Gentian is very useful in depressive circumstances of a known origin.
 (Scheffer 1990, p.86)
A personal comment
Bitterness is subjective. It is both a taste
and an emotion. If bitterness is felt,
perhaps it is within
Pain and adversity are difficult
emotions/situations but one can learn
great things from them and then turn them
to their advantage
References
 Amin, A 2008, Ketoconazole-induced testicular damage in rats reduced by Gentiana extract, Exp. Toxicol. Pathol., 59 (6), pp. 377-84
 Bone, K 2003, A Clinical Guide to Blending Liquid Herbs, Elsevier Health Sciences
 Bone, K 2007, The Ultimate Herbal Compendium: A Desktop Guide For Herbal Prescribers, Phytotherapy Press, Warwick
 Borgia M, et al. 1985, Studio policentrico doppio-cieco doppio-controllato sull'attivita terapeutica di una nota associazione di erbe medicamentose, Clin Ter, 114,
pp. 401–9
 Braun, L & Cohen, M 2010, Herbs and Natural Supplements: An Evidence-based Guide. 3rd Edition, Churchill Livingstone
 Chen, Y 1998, Method of treating candida and Cryptococcus fungal infections by administering gentian, US Patent 5,837,254
 Chinese Medicine Tools 2010, Long Dan Cao, viewed 20/3/2011, <http://tcm.health-info.org/Herbology.Materia.Medica/longdancao-properties.htm>
 Culpeper, N 2003, Culpeper’s Complete Herbal, reprint, Kessinger Publishing, Whiefish
 ESCOP 2003, Gentianae Radix in: European scientific co-operative on phytomedicine (ESCOP), 2nd Edition, Thieme, Stuttgart
 Gentian Research Network 2003, Gentiana lutea, viewed 19/3/2011, <http://gentian.rutgers.edu/species/sp_Gent_lute.htm >
 Grieve, M 2010, A Modern Herbal, viewed 19/3/2010, < http://botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/mgmh.html>
 Hall, D 2001, Dorothy Hall’s Herbal Medicine, Wild & Woolley, Glebe
 Hoffman, D 1996, New Holistic Herbal, Element Books
 Kusšar, A et al. 2006, Free radical scavenging activities of yellow gentian (Gentiana lutea L.) measured by electron spin resonance, Hum. Exp. Toxicol., 25 (10), pp.
599-604
 Mills, S & Bone, K 2000, Principles & Practices of Phytotherapy, Harcourt Publishers
 Medda, S, Mukhopadhyay, S & Basu, M 1999, Evaluation of the in-vivo activity and toxicity of amarogentin, an antileishmanial agent, in both liposomal and
niosomal forms, J. Antimicrob. Chemother., 44, pp. 791-4
 Medicinal Herb Info 2009, Gentian, viewed 20/3/2011, <http://medicinalherbinfo.org/herbs/Gentian.html>
 Naturopathy Digest 2010, Gentian (long dan cao), viewed 19/3/2011,< http://www.naturopathydigest.com/nutrition_herbs/herbs/gentian.php >
 Niiho, Y et al. 2006, Gastroprotective effects of bitter principles isolated from Gentian root and Swertia herb on experimentally-induced gastric lesions in rats, j. Nat.
Med., 60 (1), pp. 82-88
 Ozturk, N et al. 2006, Effects of gentiopicroside, sweroside and swertiamarine, secoiridoids from gentian (Gentiana lutea ssp, symphyandra), on cultured chicken
embryonic fibroblasts, Planta. Med., 72 (4), pp. 289-94
 Wikipedia 2011, Gentiana lutea, viewed 19/3/2011, <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gentiana_lutea >