13) Gentian Root
Ginger Root is one of the most useful bitter vegetable tonics. It is specially useful for conditions of exhaustion resulting from chronic disease, and in cases of general debility, weakness of the digestive organs, and want of appetite. Gentian is one of the best strengtheners of the human system.
Official Latin Name: Gentiana lutea
Gentian, also known as Bitterroot, Bitterwort, Gentian Root, Yellow Gentian, Pale Gentian, and Felwort, comes from meadows in Europe and Turkey. It is also cultivated in North America.
The rhizome and roots are collected in Autumn and dried; the root is used medicinally.
Gentian root and other highly bitter plants have been used for centuries by herbalists in Europe as digestive aids (the well-known Swedish bitters often contain Gentian).
Gentian contains some of the most bitter substances known, particularly the glycosides gentiopicrin and amarogentin.
The taste of these can be detected even when diluted 50,000 times.
Besides stimulating secretion of saliva in the mouth and hydrochloric acid in the stomach, gentiopicrin may protect the liver.
Gentian root and other highly bitter plants have been used for centuries in Europe as digestive aids.
Other folk uses included topical use on skin problems, decreasing fevers, and treatment of diarrhea.
Its ability to increase digestive function, including production of stomach acid, has since been validated in modern times.
Besides being unrivalled as a stomachic tonic, Gentian possesses febrifuge, emmenagogue, anthelmintic and antiseptic properties, and is also useful in hysteria and female weakness.
Several other similar species can be used interchangeably - Gentiana purpurea, Gentiana pannonica, Gentiana punctata and Gentiana acaulis are European gentians having similar medicinal properties to Gentiana lutea and are used indiscriminately with each other.
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