Centaury is a plant found widely in Europe. In Russia, it is traditional to combine this herb with vodka to make a decoction, a wine glassful of this mixture is drunk as a liver and gall bladder tonic. The whole plant is used in herbal medicine.
Medicinal Properties of Centaury
Centaury contains compounds known as bitters, which improve digestive function and encourage a healthy appetite. They stimulate the secretion of digestive juices in the stomach, duodenum and liver. Centaury is also analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antipyretic (reduces perspiration) and a mild sedative.
Centaury Herbal Remedies
Our herbalists recommend Centaury for:
Heartburn
Hiatus hernia
Centaury has also been used by herbalists for the follow disorders:
General digestive tonic
Indigestion
Mild liver problems
Nausea
Other Centaury Information
Centaury is available as tablets, capsules, but the tincture is probably the best choice for digestive problems.
Side Effects of Centaury
Generally, there are no side effects or contra-indications from using Centaury herbal remedies, however people with ulcers and inflammatory bowel disorders should consult a doctor or naturopath before using Centaury.
The safety of Centaury during pregnancy or lactation has not been sufficiently investigated, so it is best avoided until more is known.
When this article was written there were no well-known negative drug interactions with the herb Centaury.
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