Bitter flavors gladden the heart and stimulate digestion
Hippocrates and Hildegard von Bingen both valued centaury, and it remains a respected medicinal plant today. Belonging to the gentian family, this bitter herb is primarily used to treat digestive problems. Legend has it that centaury got its name from a wealthy man suffering from heartburn who promised a thousand guilders to anyone who could bring him a remedy for his ailment. Centaury grows as an annual or biennial plant, reaching heights of 20 to 50 centimeters. Its square stem bears a cluster of simple, star-shaped, pinkish-red flowers that appear from June to September and only open at a temperature of 20°C. The medicinal properties of centaury are found in the dried stems, leaves, and flowers. To prepare it as a tea, pour ¼ liter of boiling water over two teaspoons of the herb and steep for five to ten minutes. Strain. Drink before meals for loss of appetite and after meals for digestive problems. Compresses: Pour 100 ml of boiling water over three grams of the herb and strain after 5 minutes. Soak a cloth in the infusion and apply it to the affected area. The compresses are beneficial for skin conditions. Bath additive: Helps with fatigue and blemished skin. Soak three tablespoons of the herb in one liter of water for 12 hours, strain, and add to warm bathwater.
Natural habitat: Centaury is not very common in Europe and is a protected species. It occurs sporadically in sunny, semi-dry to moist meadows and forest clearings up to altitudes of about 1200 m.
