Centaury
Latin name: Centaurium minus, formerly Centaurium erythraea
Genus: Gentian plants (protected!)
Common names: Fever herb, stomach herb, sanctuary herb
Plant description
From a Taproot a leaf rosette grows and from this one 30 to 40 cm high square stem. Lancet-like leaves, on the upper part of the plant, numerous, small, red-purple to reddish flowers. They open up in a star shape when the sun is shining.
Flowering time: July to September.
Occurrence: With us on natural sunny Meadows and forest areas with moist soil. Also found in North Africa and North America.
Plant parts used medicinally
The Herb without the leaf rosette. We usually get the centaury from other countries where it is cultivated in cultures. With us it is allowed wild not collected become.
ingredients
Bitter substances, flavonoids, sterols.
Medicinal effect and application
Bitter substance drug with the usual areas of application Loss of appetite, Stomach weakness, Indigestion, insufficient gastric juice production, Flatulence, Stomach cramps. The drug works stimulating on the mucous membrane, favors the digestive processes and alleviates the symptoms mentioned above. At a Reluctance to eat of the young girls (Anorexia nervosaCentaury tea can complement the treatment.
Not applied is centaury at heartburn and acid regurgitation and gastrointestinal ulcers.
preparation
Centaury tea: 1 heaped teaspoon ¼ l of cold water is poured over the cut drug, and this approach is allowed to take off overnight. Then you strain off and heat to drinking temperature. One drinks the tea unsweetened before meals.
Combination with other medicinal plants
In folk medicine one also knows the so-called Centaury wine. Of this "Medicinal Wine" If necessary, a small glass should be drunk before the main meal. It should strengthen, stimulate the appetite and promote digestion.
Preparation: You mix each time 20 g dried peppermint and centaury, cut an untreated lemon with the peel into cubes and pour a dry white wine over everything. You can leave this approach Stand for 10 days and pours through a sieve. Store in bottles.
Side effects
None to be expected in the usual dosages.
