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Medicinal herb
Yellow gentian
Gentiana lutea L
Yellow gentian (Gentiana lutea) is a tall mountain perennial with yellow flowers in whorls; it is protected and slow growing. The root is used, among the most bitter we have. Traditionally used for poor appetite and slow digestion.
About the herb
What yellow gentian is
the root of gentian (Gentianae radix)
Yellow gentian (Gentiana lutea) is a tall mountain perennial with large opposite leaves and yellow flowers in whorls on an upright stem. It grows on alpine pastures and meadows above a thousand metres and is long lived; ten years can pass before it first flowers.
The root is used, dug in autumn from cultivated plants. In Slovenia the yellow gentian is protected and is not dug up in the wild; preparations use root from controlled cultivation or imported with its origin confirmed.
Young plants can be mistaken for white hellebore (Veratrum album), which is strongly poisonous and has similar leaves, though set alternately rather than opposite. Gentian root is the most bitter ingredient in the collection; in Ašič's collection it appears in Appetite Tea.
Use and evidence
The EMA recognises traditional use to relieve mild dyspepsia and temporary loss of appetite. It does not treat diseases of the liver, the lungs or the nerves. EMA 1, EMA 2.
Safety and precautions
Bitters can make irritation of the stomach worse; gathering in the wild is problematic both because the species is protected and because of the danger of a mix-up.
These notes are general and do not replace advice from a doctor or a pharmacist, above all in pregnancy, while breastfeeding, in children and alongside medicines.
Products containing this herb
Where you will find it in the range
2 products from Ašič's pharmacy contain yellow gentian. The composition is listed with every product.
Frequently asked questions
What people ask about Yellow gentian
Which products is yellow gentian in?
Yellow gentian is an ingredient of these products: Appetite Tea, Nosopret.
How is a tea from this plant made?
The instructions differ from blend to blend. For Appetite Tea they are: Pour 3 decilitres of boiling water over two teaspoons of the blend. Leave it covered for 10 minutes, then strain. Drink it freshly made, several times a day, within 2 hours of brewing. If you like, enrich the tea with a spoonful of apple cider vinegar.
Are there any warnings about its use?
The product is no substitute for a varied, balanced diet and a healthy way of life. Its use is no substitute for treatment with prescribed medicines. Ask a doctor about use during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
How do I find out which blend is the right one for me?
Ring the pharmacist on +386 1 78 77 065 (Mon, Wed, Fri 8.00–14.00). Tell him what is troubling you and he will tell you what is traditionally used for it.
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