gentian Health Article

Generic name(s):

gentian

Brand name(s):

What is the most important information I should know about gentian?

Do not take gentian without first talking to your doctor if you have a stomach disorder, a stomach ulcer, or high blood pressure.

Gentian has not been evaluated by the FDA for safety, effectiveness, or purity. All potential risks and/or advantages of gentian may not be known. Additionally, there are no regulated manufacturing standards in place for these compounds. There have been instances where herbal/health supplements have been sold which were contaminated with toxic metals or other drugs. Herbal/health supplements should be purchased from a reliable source to minimize the risk of contamination.

What is gentian?

The use of gentian in cultural and traditional settings may differ from concepts accepted by current Western medicine. When considering the use of herbal supplements, consultation with a primary health care professional is advisable. Additionally, consultation with a practitioner trained in the uses of herbal/health supplements may be beneficial, and coordination of treatment among all health care providers involved may be advantageous.

Gentian is also known as gentianine, seamless gentian, yellow gentian, bitter root, bitter wort, pale gentian, and gall weed.

The oral form of gentian has been used to improve appetite and digestion.

Gentian has not been evaluated by the FDA for safety, effectiveness, or purity. All potential risks and/or advantages of gentian may not be known. Additionally, there are no regulated manufacturing standards in place for these compounds. There have been instances where herbal/health supplements have been sold which were contaminated with toxic metals or other drugs. Herbal/health supplements should be purchased from a reliable source to minimize the risk of contamination.

Gentian may also have uses other than those listed in this product guide.

Who should not take gentian?

Do not take gentian without first talking to your doctor if you have a stomach disorder, a stomach ulcer, or high blood pressure.

Talk to your doctor before taking gentian if you have any other medical conditions, allergies (especially to plants), or if you take other medicines or herbal/health supplements. Gentian may not be recommended in some situations.

Do not take gentian without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant or could become pregnant. It is not known whether gentian will harm an unborn baby. Do not take gentian without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby. It is also not known whether gentian will harm a nursing infant. There is no information available regarding the use of gentian by children. Do not give any herbal/health supplement to a child without first talking to the child's doctor.

How should I take gentian?

The use of gentian in cultural and traditional settings may differ from concepts accepted by current Western medicine. When considering the use of herbal supplements, consultation with a primary health care professional is advisable. Additionally, consultation with a practitioner trained in the uses of herbal/health supplements may be beneficial, and coordination of treatment among all health care providers involved may be advantageous.

If you choose to take gentian, use it as directed on the package or as directed by your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.

Standardized extracts, tinctures, and solid formulations of herbal/health supplements may provide a more reliable dose of the product.

Do not use different formulations (e.g., tablets, topical formulations, teas, tinctures, and others) of gentian at the same time, unless specifically directed to do so by a health care professional. Using different formulations together increases the risk of an overdose of gentian.

Store gentian as directed on the package. In general, gentian should be protected from light and moisture.