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Maria Treben's AuthenticTMDescription
Latin (botanical) name: Gentiana Lutea
Common names: Gentian, Bitterroot, Bitterwort, Gentian Root, Yellow Gentian, Pale Gentian, Felwort
Plant Description: The Yellow Gentian is a native of the Alpine and sub-alpine pastures of central and southern Europe, frequent in the mountains of Spain and Portugal. It also grows in meadows in Europe and Turkey and is cultivated in North America. All the known species of Gentian are remarkable for the intensely bitter properties residing in the root and every part of the herbage. The root is long and thick, generally about one foot long and an inch in diameter, but can grow as large as 3 feet or more long and 2 inches in diameter. The root is yellowish-brown and has a very bitter taste. The stem grows 3-4 feet high, and has pairs of leaves opposite at each joint. The lowest leaves have short foot-stalks, but the upper ones are stalkless. They are yellowish-green, oblong in shape, pointed, and somewhat stiff with five prominent veins on the underside. The flowers are large, orange-yellow clusters with wheel-shaped corollas, usually 5-cleft. They often have tiny brown spots on them which make them look almost red.
Use: Make a tea by pouring approximately 2 cups of boiling water over 2 heapedtspof herb. Let steep for 3-5 minutes. In general, sip a cup before breakfast, and another 2 hours after dinner.
Cautions & Interactions: Keep out of reach of children.