| | | | Common Name | | | Centaury
| | | Botanical Latin Name / Classification | | | Erythreae centarium
| | | Parts Used | | | Herb and leaves.
| | | Other Names | | | Centaury Gentian, Century, Red Centaury, Filwort, Centory, Christ's
Ladder, Feverwort.
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| | | Scientific Name / Nomenclature | | | N.O. Gentianaceae
| | | Description | | | The Red Centaury (Erythraea centaurium, Pers.) is an annual, with a
yellowish, fibrous, woody root, the stem stiff, square and erect, 3 to 12
inches in height, often branching considerably at the summit. The leaves
are of a pale green colour, smooth and shiny, their margins undivided. The
lowest leaves are broader than the others, oblong or wedge-shaped,
narrowed at the base, blunt at the end and form a spreading tuft at the
base of the plant, while the stalkless stem-leaves are pointed and
lance-shaped, growing in pairs opposite to one another at somewhat distant
intervals on the stalk, which is crowned by flat tufts (corymbs) of
rose-coloured, star-like flowers, with five-cleft corollas. The stamens
are five in number: the anthers have a curious way of twisting themselves
round after they have shed their pollen, this being one of the distinctive
points between the plants of this genus and those of the genus Gentiana,
with which it has much in common, having by some earlier botanists been
assigned to that genus, under the name of Gentiana centaurium, or Centaury
Gentian. The flowers open only in fine weather and not after mid-day:
Gerard chronicles their love of light, saying that they 'in the day-time
and after the sun is up, do open themselves and towards evening do shut up
again.' A variety is sometimes found with white corollas.
Centaury
varies a great deal according to) its situation, and some botanists
enumerate several distinct species, namely: E. pulchella (Dwarf Centaury),
a minute plant, 2 to 8 inches high, with an exceedingly slender stem and a
few stalked flowers (often only one); this is found on the sandy seashore,
especially in the West of England, and has been picked at Newquay,
Cornwall; E. littoralis (Dwarf Tufted Centaury), a stunted plant, with
broad leaves, and flowers crowded into a kind of head; this occurs on
turfy sea-cliffs, and E. latifolia (Broadleaved Centaury), which has even
broader leaves than the last, and bears its flowers in forked tufts, the
main stem being divided into three branches. There are other minute
differences, for which the student may consult more scientific
works.
Besides the English species, others from the south of
Europe, the Azores, etc., with yellow or pink flowers, are occasionally
grown in gardens.
The plant is a native of Europe and North Africa.
Though common in this country in dry pastures and on chalky cliffs, it
cannot be easily reared in a garden, and for its medicinal use is,
therefore, collected in the wild state.
The Saxon herbalists
prescribed it largely for snake-bites and other poisons, and it was long
celebrated for the cure of intermittent fevers, hence its name of
Feverwort.
The herb formed the basis of the once famous Portland
Powder, which was said to be a specific for gout.
Centaury is given
with Barberry Bark for jaundice. It has also been much employed as a
vermifuge, and a decoction of the plant is said to destroy body
vermin.
The green herb, bruised, is reputed to be good as an
application to wounds and sores.
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| | | Indications | | | Burns, Diabetes (Type I / Type II), Gastritis / Gastric Juices, Gastrointestinal Disorders, Hemorrhages, Ulcers
Other Indications: Hypochloridia, Indigestion
Insomnia
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| | | Actions | | | Astringent, Depurative, Nervine, Sedative, Tonic
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| | | Constituents / Nutrients | | | Centaury contains a bitter principle, Erythro-centaurin, which is
colourless, crystalline, non-nitrogenous, reddened by sunlight; a bitter
glucoside, Erytaurin; Valeric acid, wax, etc.
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| | | Scientific Research and Pharmacologicial Actions | | | Aromatic bitter, stomachic and tonic. It acts on the liver and kidneys,
purifies the blood, and is an excellent tonic.
The dried herb is
given in infusion or powder, or made into an extract. It is used
extensively in dyspepsia, for languid digestion with heartburn after food,
in an infusion of 1 OZ. of the dried herb to 1 pint of water. When run
down and suffering from want of appetite, a wineglassful of this infusion
Centaury Tea - taken three or four times daily, half an hour before meals,
is found of great benefit. The same infusion may also be taken for
muscular rheumatism.
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| | | Precautions / Contraindications | | | None documented.
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| | | Interaction with Medications | | | None documented.
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| | | Possible Side Effects | | | None documented.
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| |
| | 6 total products | | | Centaury (Read all about Centaury.)
Botanical Latin Name: Erythreae centarium
Plant Part: Herb and leaves. | |
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Centaury - Health - Cholesterol Maintenance Complex Powder - Boldo, Centaury, Fumitory and More
4 oz / 114 g
17.74 US
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Centaury - Health - Cholesterol Maintenance Complex Powder - Boldo, Centaury, Fumitory and More
1 oz / 28 g
9.54 US
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Centaury - Health - Cholesterol Maintenance Complex Tea (Loose) - Boldo, Centaury, Fumitory and More
4 oz / 114 g
11.33 US
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Centaury - Health - Cholesterol Maintenance Complex Tea (Loose) - Boldo, Centaury, Fumitory and More
8 oz / 227 g
16.87 US
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Centaury - Health - Cholesterol Maintenance Complex Tea - Boldo, Centaury, Fumitory and More
25 tea bags
11.40 US
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Centaury - Health - Cholesterol Maintenance Complex Tea - Boldo, Centaury, Fumitory and More
50 tea bags
17.23 US
More Info
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These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Products are intended to support general well being and are not intended to treat, diagnose, mitigate, prevent, or cure any condition or disease. If conditions persist, please seek advice from your medical doctor.
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