Gentian is the root of various plants in the Gentianaceae family. It is named for its bitter taste, which resembles bile. It is distributed throughout the country and is often used as an ornamental flower. It is typically harvested in autumn, dried, and cut into sections. It is used in its raw form.
I. Efficacy of Gentian:
Gentian root tastes bitter and is cold in nature. It belongs to the liver, gallbladder, and stomach meridians. Its functions includeClearing heat and drying dampness, purging liver and gallbladder fireEspecially effective in clearing excess heat from the liver and gallbladder.
Commonly used inDamp-heat jaundice, swelling and itching of the genitals, damp-heat leukorrhea, eczema and itching, red eyes due to liver fire, tinnitus and deafness, hypochondriac pain and bitter taste in the mouthtreatment of conditions such as
Summary of Famous Works by Renowned Authors:
The Classic of Materia Medica: "It governs cold and heat between the bones, convulsive epilepsy and pathogenic factors, heals fractures, stabilizes the five zang organs, and kills parasitic toxins."
Bie Lu: "It eliminates hidden heat in the stomach, seasonal warm-heat, heat-induced diarrhea and dysentery, benefits the qi of the liver and gallbladder, and stops fright and palpitations."
Zhen Zhu Nang: "To remove yellowing in the eyes, redness and swelling of the eyeballs, elevated fleshy growths, and unbearable pain."
Method and Image of Medicinal Use: "Clears pathogenic heat from the liver meridian, eliminates damp-heat swelling in the lower jiao, and purges fire from the bladder."
Jade Carving Medicine Explanation: "Gentian removes liver and gallbladder stagnant heat, treats eye swelling and redness with pain, elevated fleshy growths, treats jaundice and yellowing, bladder heat and astringency, and alleviates various symptoms of throat swelling and pain."
"Compendium of Materia Medica": "Extremely bitter, extremely cold, descending with heavy yin. Benefits the liver and gallbladder and purges fire, also enters the bladder and kidney meridians. Removes damp-heat from the lower jiao; when steeped in wine, it can also move outward and upward. Treats cold and heat between the bones, convulsions and epilepsy with pathogenic factors, seasonal warm-heat diseases, dysentery with heat, jaundice, beriberi due to cold-dampness, wind-heat in the throat, red eyes with pterygium, abscesses, sores, and scabies."
II. Compatibility and Application of Gentian:
1. For liver-gallbladder excess heat, presenting with hypochondriac pain, headache, bitter taste in the mouth, red eyes, deafness, and swelling and itching of the genitals. Gentiana scabra is highly effective in draining liver-gallbladder excess heat, making it an essential herb. To treat the above symptoms, it is often combined with Bupleurum, Scutellaria baicalensis, and Gardenia jasminoides, namelyLongdan Xiegan Wan。
Zhang Xichun said, "It can enter the liver and gallbladder, nourish liver blood, benefit bile, and reduce the heat of the liver and gallbladder to prevent it from flaring upward. It can cure all diseases such as eye disorders, hematemesis, epistaxis, bleeding from the two lower orifices, and convulsive diseases caused by heat in the liver and gallbladder. Its ability to purge excess heat from the liver and gallbladder is several times greater than that of peony root, but it is not as effective as peony root in restraining and clearing deficient heat from the liver and gallbladder."
Liu Yuansu said, "Bupleurum is the main ingredient, Gentian is the adjuvant, essential medicine for eye diseases."
2. Used for damp-heat jaundice, swelling and itching of the genitals, yellow vaginal discharge, eczema, and other conditions. Gentian has the effects of clearing heat, purging fire, and drying dampness. For treating jaundice, it is often combined with herbs such as Artemisia capillaris and Gardenia.
For the treatment of yin swelling, yin itching, damp-heat leukorrhea, and eczema, it is often combined with herbs such as Sophora flavescens, Phellodendron amurense, and Plantago asiatica.
III. Usage and Dosage of Gentian:
Gentian is often used in decoctions, as well as in pills and powders. The usual dosage in decoctions ranges from a few grams to over ten grams.
IV. Application Notes for Gentian
Gentian root tastes bitter and is cold in nature, making it a medicine for purging fire, thusContraindicated for those with spleen and stomach deficiency cold。
The New Compilation of Materia Medica: "Gentian is used to treat jaundice, but it often fails to produce results. Why is that? Jaundice is not solely caused by damp-heat; there are also cases of jaundice that arise without heat, which are not suitable for treatment with gentian. Gentian purges heat within dampness but cannot purge dampness that is not accompanied by heat."
Huang Yuanyu said, "Those with internal cold should not take it."
Wang Ang said: "Excessive consumption harms the stomach."
