Subscribe to our Newsletter
  • Contacto
  • App
    Contacto
  1. Home
  2. Encyclopaedia of Plants
  3. CENTAURY
  • centaurea-planta-soria-natural

CENTAURY

Erythraea centaurium Pers o Centaurium erythraea Rafn o Centaurium minus Moench o Centaurea centaurium o Centaurium umbellatum Gilib o Centaurium linariifolium Gbeck

Description

This plant grows up to approximately 30 cm. It’s biennial and after the first year a basal rosette with elliptic and spatulate leaves springs. The root is fusiform, thick and white. The stem springs at the second year, cylindrical, hollow, from pale green to dark brown. It is branched only at the upper side and has longitudinal divisions. Leaves are sessile and entire, small caulinary and opposite, displayed in a decussate way. The limb is oval-shaped and lanceolate of up to 3 cm long. Both faces are glabrous green and brownish-green. Flowers are pink grouped in flat corymbose inflorescence. The green calyx is tubular and has five lanceolate and acuminate teeth. The corolla is formed by a whitish tube divided in five pink lobes, elongated and lanceolate of approximately 5 to 8 mm long. The five stamens are fastened to the uppermost part of the corolla tube. The ovary grows above the corolla and has a short style. The stigma is wide and bifid with many ovules film-like shape. There are often found cylindrical capsules of approximately 7 to 10 mm long with small, brown seeds very rugose. The fruit is in an oblong capsule. It’s sessile with two valves containing tiny seeds. It belongs to the Gentianaceae family.

This plant blooms in late spring and the flowers open only in fine weather and if the sun is shining. It is not very common in gardens and hills. It prefers deep soil. It’s harvested in October. The plant grows in almost all Europe, north of Africa and western Asia.

Part used

The apex is used.

Indications

Internal use

  • Lack of appetite, anorexia.
  • Digestive disorders: digestive atony, heavy digestions, flatulence, meteorism, spasms, dyspepsia, diarrhea, etc.
  • Biliary dyskinesia, gallbladder disorders.
  • Diabetes.
  • Febrile diseases, common cold, flu, malaria.
  • Nervous fatigue, convalescences.

External use

  • Rheumatism, gout.
  • Blepharoconjunctivitis.
  • Skin disorders: wounds, lesions, sores, ulcers and eczemas.

Some authors recommend long term treatments with break periods.

Bibliography

Real Farmacopea Española, 2ª edición. 2002.

Herbal Drugs and Phytopharmaceuticals. Norman Grainger Bisset (Ed). Max Wichtl. CRC Press. 1994.

Plantas Medicinales y Drogas Vegetales para infusión y tisana. Edición española a cargo de: Salvador Cañogueral, Roser Vila, Max Wichtl.1998.

Matière Médicale. RR Paris- H. Moyse. Masson 1981.

The Complete German Commission E Monographs. Therapeutic Guide To Herbal Medicines. Mark Blumenthal. American Botanical Council 1998.

Pharmacognosy, Phytochemistry, Medicinal Plants. Jean Bruneton. Lavoisier Publishing.

Fitoterapia Aplicada. J.B. Peris, G. Stübing, B.Vanaclocha. Colegio Oficial de Farmacéuticos de Valencia 1995.

El libro de las Plantas Medicinales. M. Pahlow. 

Fitoterapia: Vademecum de Prescripción. Plantas Medicinales. Colaboran: Asociación española de médicos naturistas. Colegio Oficial de Farmacéuticos de Vizcaya.

Jean Bruneton. Farmacognosia. Fitoquímica Plantas Medicinales. 2ª Edición. 2001. Ed Acribia. S.A.

Plantas Medicinales.  Margarita Fernandez y Ana Nieto. Ed Universidad de Navarra.  EUNSA 1982.

Guía de Campo de las Flores de Europa. Oleg Polunin. Ediciones Omega S.A. Barcelona, 1977.

Guía de las Plantas Medicinales. Paul Schauenberg y Ferdinand Paris. Ediciones Omega S.A.

El gran libro de las Plantas Medicinales. Editorial Everest. S.A.

Plantes Médicinales des Régions Tempérées. L. Bézanger-Beauquene, Pinkas, Torck, Trotin.

Plantas Medicinales. Thérapeutique-Toxicité. Christiane Vigneau. Masson, Paris 1985.

Pharmacognosy, Phytochemistry, Medicinal Plants. Jean Bruneton. Lavoisier Publishing.

Plantas Medicinales. El Dioscórides Renovado. Pio Font Quer.

Pharmacopée Française IX Édition.

Farmacognosia 2ª Edición. Jean Bruneton. Ediciones Acribia S.A. 2001.

Bulletin officiel Nº 90/22 bis. Ministère des Affaires Sociales et de la Solidarité.

French Public Health Code.

Bross B. Plantas y sus aceites esenciales. Ed. Omega, 1994.

Muñoz F. Plantas Medicinales y Aromáticas. Estudio, cultivo y procesado. Ed. Mundi-Prensa, Madrid, 1987.

Related products

  • natusor-01-hepavesical-soria-natural
    Natusor 01 - Hepavesical

    Blend of chicory, fumitory, boldo, rosemary, centaury and...