Gentian is part of a group of herbaceous plants belonging to the Gentian family. It is a lata plant from 50 cm to 1.30 m, with small yellow flowers and with a root with a strong and recognizable smell.
Gentian: Properties and Benefits
The part of the plant that is used is precisely the brownish yellow root on the outside and orange yellow on the inside.
Gentian root has a characteristic taste immediately sweetish, then bitter and persistent.
From the root of gentian you can get numerous bitter substances such as bitter glucoside and gentiopicrima that stimulate the production of gastric juices, thus facilitating digestion.
The characteristic active ingredients of gentian are: bitter substances (gentiopicrin, amarogentina, sverziamarina, sveroside), sugars (genzionose, gentiose, sucrose), coloring substances, pectins, essential oil and alkaloids (gentianine). Bitter glucosides are the most important active ingredients within Gentian.
These constituents act on digestion and the production of gastric mucus, increase the amount of gastric juice since they affect the secretion of chlorine and peptines by the stomach and the motility of the digestive tract.
Gentian is therefore used in the treatment of anorexia, gastric atonias, long and laborious digestions and children's disappetence.
For internal use it is used in physiotherapy for its bitter-tonic, eupeptic, invigorating and febrifuge properties.
Gentian: Preparation
Bring to ebolition an amount of water equal to a tea cup. Turn off and leave to infuse for 10-15 minutes while covered. Strain and drink 2-3 cups a day between meals.