What are the effects of centaury?
The above-ground parts of the flowering centaury (Centaurii herba) contain, among other things, many bitter substances. These cause the body to release more gastric juice and bile. In addition, appetite-increasing and digestive effects have been proven for the medicinal plant. Therefore, centaury is recognized as a traditional herbal medicine for the treatment of:
- loss of appetite
- dyspeptic complaints (upper abdominal complaints such as heartburn, bloating, flatulence, mild cramps in the digestive tract)
Folk medicine also uses centaury for many other diseases and ailments, such as fever, wounds, urinary bladder problems, liver disorders, obesity, for blood purification and as a tonic, as well as for the prevention of biliary colic. So far, effectiveness in these areas has not been sufficiently proven scientifically.
However, the effectiveness of centaury as an antipyretic when used internally and as a wound-healing agent when used externally is plausible according to recent pharmacological studies.
How is centaury used?
There are several ways to use centaury.
Centaury as a home remedy
For the hot water extract, pour 150 milliliters of boiling water over a full teaspoon (about 1.8 grams) of dried, cut centaury and strain the plant parts after about 10 to 15 minutes.
For the cold water extract, mix a heaped teaspoon of the herb with a cup of cold water, let it steep for six to ten hours, stirring occasionally, then strain and warm the extract to drinking temperature.
For both methods of preparation, you can drink a cup of centaury tea two to three times a day. The recommended daily dose is six grams of medicinal drug. To stimulate appetite, drink one cup at a time half an hour before meals, while for digestive problems, drink it after meals.
Home remedies based on medicinal plants have their limits. If your complaints persist for a long period of time, do not improve or even get worse despite treatment, you should always consult a doctor.
Ready-made preparations with centaury
What side effects can cause centaury?
No side effects are known for the application with centaury.
What you should be aware of when using centaury
- Do not use centaury if you have stomach or duodenal ulcers.
- All parts of the plant and also the tea made from it taste quite bitter.
- There are no studies on the use and dosage of centaury in pregnant women, nursing mothers and children – please ask your doctor or pharmacist whether you should take the medicinal plant during this time.
How to obtain centaury products
You can get the dried centaury herb and ready-made preparations based on the medicinal plant in pharmacies and some drugstores.
Before use, please read the respective package insert and ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Centaury: What is it?
Centaurium erythraea is a biennial, herbaceous, rather inconspicuous plant of the gentian family (Gentianaceae). It occurs with numerous subspecies in almost all of Europe, as well as in North Africa, North America and western Asia and is protected in our country, so it may not be collected.
After pollination, the flowers develop elongated capsule fruits with numerous small seeds.
The genus name Centaurium is derived from the Greek word “kentaureion”, which translates as “belonging to the centaurs”. The centaurs were mountain and forest dwellers who were skilled in healing. Later, the genus name was mistakenly attributed to the Latin term “centum aurei” (100 gold pieces), which is why the plant used to be called hundred guilder herb.
The name probably alluded to the healing power of the plant, which could not be paid for. From exaggeration, it became the thousand-gold herb.
