Herbs - Gentian - Ailments / Situations Where Used

Gentian root is one of the most intensely bitter agents around. It is used as a digestive tonic to stimulate the appetite and increase digestive juices, thus improving digestion, appetite, gastritis, heartburn, nausea and gas.

Due to the bitter properties, gentian root is a good agent for destroying worms. Gentian increases the flow of bile and is helpful in jaundice, hepatitis, constipation, and most liver conditions. It is also very helpful in gastrointestinal inflammation, as one of the alkaloids, gentianine, has anti-inflammatory actions. This is a wonderful plant in controlling many fevers and is a generally remarkable human body strengthener.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), it is said that Gentian clears heat (toxins) from the lower and middle parts of the body and is used in herpes, anal itch, rash, vaginal discharge and itch, urinary tract infections and in helping to clear discharges. Gentian is given to people with coldness and weakness, general debility, and is used to strengthen the liver and memory.