-IBIS-1.7.0-
rx
herb
Gentiana lutea (Gentian)
Botanicals

definition

botanical name(s): Gentiana lutea

synonyms: gentian, yellow gentian, bitter root, bitterwort, pale gentian, enzianwurzel, bitterwurz, fieberwurzel, racine de gentiane, gleber enzian, genciana

part(s) used: root

qualities: bitter, cold, dry

affinities: liver, gall bladder, intestines

actions: anthelmintic, antiseptic, bitter tonic, cholagogue, emmenagogue, febrifuge, gastric tonic/stimulant, sialagogue

dosage:

» tincture: 0.3 - 1 ml.

specific indications: sense of epigastric depression with physical and mental weariness; atony of stomach and bowels, with imperfect digestion (Felter and Scudder, p. 390)

therapy: promote appetite; improve digestion; anorexia; dyspepsia of malarial origin; subacute gastritis; intestinal catarrh (Felter and Scudder, p. 390); achylic and atonic conditions (Weiss, p. 41); atonic dyspepsia, gastrointestinal atony (British Herbal Pharmacopoeia, p. 100)

toxicity: 2

» contraindicated for patients with hypertension, or a tendency towards gastric inflammation or irritation (Duke, pp. 207-208)

» caution is advised during pregnancy (Duke, pp. 207-208)

» as a gastrointestinal irritant, it may cause nausea, vomiting and diarrhea (Ellingwood, p. 268); patient may complain of pulsating headache (Felter and Scudder, p. 390)

» contraindicated in stomach or duodenal ulcers (Brinker, Felter and Lloyd) as well as stomach irritability or inflammation (Wichtl, De Smet) due to increase in acid secretion caused by its bitter substances

constituents: iridoids, xanthones, alkaloids, sugars, volatile oil

footnotes

British Herbal Medical Association. 1983. British Herbal Pharmacopoeia. West Yorks, England: The British Herbal Medical Association.

De Smet PAGM et al. (eds.). 1993. Adverse Effects of Herbal Drugs 2, Berlin: Springer-Verlag

Duke, J.A. 1985. C.R.C. Handbook of Medicinal Herbs. Boca Raton, FL: The C.R.C. Press.

Ellingwood, F. 1898. American Materia Medica, Therapeutics, and Pharmacognosy. Portland, OR: Eclectic Medical Publications.

Felter, H. W., and Lloyd, J. U. 1983. King's American Dispensatory, Vols. I and II. Portland, OR: Eclectic Medical Publications.

Felter, H.W. & Scudder, John K., 1922. The Eclectic Materia Medica, Pharmacology and Therapeutics. Cincinnati, Ohio. Reprinted in 1985 by Eclectic Medical Publications, Portland, OR.

Weiss, R.F. 1988. Herbal Medicine. Gothenburg, Sweden: Ab Arcanum; Beaconsfield, England: Beaconsfield Publishers, Ltd.

Wichtl M (ed.). 1994. Herbal Drugs and Phytopharmaceuticals, Boca Raton: CRC Press.