Centaury true

Centaury, also known as Centaurium erythraea or centaury (see also the many common names), is a plant in the genus Centaurium, which botanically belongs to the gentian family. The plant is protected in Germany. It is found in almost all of Europe, with the exception of north-western Scandinavia. Its high content of bitter substances is of medicinal interest.

The herb, consisting of stems, leaves and flowers, as well as a few capsules ( Centaurii herba) are used phytotherapeutically.

The centaury grows as a deciduous and maximum biennial plant that reaches heights of 20 to 60 cm. The upright stem of the plant is hollow on the inside. The glabrous foliage leaves stand together in a rosette and are distributed along the stem. The flowering period of centaury is from June to September. During this time a dense, umbel-like inflorescence is formed, the individual flowers of which are mostly bright red, pink or white in colour. The capsule fruit of the plant is enclosed in a calyx and is between 7 and 9 mm in size.

Centaurium erythraea is the parent plant of Centaurii herba, the dried aerial parts of the flowering plant.

Uses: indigestion of the stomach, weakness of the liver, decreased bile flow, flatulence.

The centaury was voted medicinal plant of the year in 2004.

1. https://arzneipflanzenlexikon.info/tausendgueldenkraut.php

2. Wenigmann M.(2017) Phytotherapy medicinal drugs phytopharmaceuticals application. Urban & Fischer: 5.108 Stonecrop (Meliloti herba) pp 203-204.