Is centaury the same as the cornflower-type centaurea?

No. They share a common name and not much else. Gut Ease contains Centaurium erythraea.

The secoiridoid compounds in the plant are among the most bitter known. Bitterness is a feature in this class of herbs.

Is centaury safe with a stomach ulcer?

The monograph lists an active peptic ulcer as a contraindication, so please speak to your GP or practitioner first.

Can I take it if I have no appetite?

The monograph covers temporary loss of appetite. A lasting loss of appetite needs a GP to find out why.

How long does centaury take to work?

There is no clinical answer. Bitters are usually taken before meals for a couple of weeks and the effect judged then, in line with the monograph's two-week review point.

Can I grow my own centaury?

It grows wild in Britain and can be grown from seed, though I would buy dried herb from a reputable supplier for medicinal use, because correct identification matters.

Is centaury safe in pregnancy?

Safety is not established, so the monograph does not recommend it without sufficient data. The EarthWise guidance advises against Gut Ease in pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Centaury: What It Is, How It Works, and When to Use It

Sarah Burt

Oct 14

5 min read

Centaury (Centaurium erythraea) is a small, pink-flowered wayside plant and one of the most bitter herbs in the European tradition. It is traditionally used to support appetite and to ease mild indigestion, and it has a long history in both folk medicine and the herbalist's cabinet. There is very little modern clinical research on it, which makes it a useful example of a herb that rests almost entirely on tradition. It is one of the four herbs in the EarthWise Gut Ease tonic.

Purple spiky flower in bloom against a dark green blurred background, creating a soft, delicate mood

What it is

Centaury belongs to the gentian family (Gentianaceae) and is native to Europe, North Africa and western Asia, including grassy places, dunes and woodland edges in Britain. It is an annual or biennial that reaches about 30 cm, with a rosette of leaves at the base and flat clusters of small, starry pink flowers in summer. The flowers close in dull weather and in the afternoon.

The part used is the herb, meaning the flowering aerial parts, picked while in bloom and dried. The name is tied to the myth of the centaur Chiron, famed for his medical knowledge in Greek legend, who is said to have used the plant on a wound. I regard the story as folklore, and it is the origin of the name and not evidence of anything.

A buyer's note worth reading. Check that the label names the aerial parts and gives the Latin name Centaurium erythraea. Other plants share the common name centaury, including the cornflower-type Centaurea species, which have different chemistry and a different traditional use. If a product does not name the species and the plant part, I would keep looking.

The active compounds

Centaury contains bitter secoiridoid glycosides, including gentiopicroside, swertiamarin and centapicrin, together with flavonoids, xanthones and phenolic acids.

The main proposed mechanism: bitters. The secoiridoids are intensely bitter, and bitter compounds stimulate taste receptors and the digestive secretions that follow, including saliva and gastric juice. That is the usual explanation for the herb's traditional use for appetite and digestion. It is a proposed mechanism drawn mostly from laboratory work and the wider study of bitters, and I know of no human trials that test it for centaury specifically.

How it is traditionally used

The EU herbal committee (HMPC) published a monograph on centaury herb in 2016, and a periodic review is under way. It recognises centaury as a traditional herbal medicine for mild indigestion and other stomach and gut disorders, and for the temporary loss of appetite. It rests exclusively on long-standing use and not on clinical trials.

The monograph is for adults and the elderly only, and it does not recommend use under 18. It lists an active peptic ulcer as a contraindication, and it advises seeing a doctor or qualified practitioner if symptoms last more than two weeks. In the version I could read in full, no adverse effects were known and no interactions were reported. An earlier version of the monograph gave a herbal tea amount of 1 to 4 g of herb per dose, up to four times a day.

In Western herbal practice, centaury is a classic bitter tonic. It is often taken before meals, and it is combined with other digestive herbs, which is how it appears in Gut Ease alongside Globe Artichoke, Calendula and Chamomile.

Sarah's clinical perspective

[I use centaury in Gut Ease as a tincture at a 1:4 ratio in 25% ethanol, alongside Globe Artichoke, Calendula and Chamomile. It is one of the two bitters in the formula, and its job is to prime the digestive secretions.

I suggest that anyone with active gastric ulcers or a known sensitivity to bitter herbs starts with half the recommended dose.

Practical guidance

Dose. There is no trial-tested dose. An earlier version of the EU monograph gave a traditional adult amount of 1 to 4 g of herb as a tea per dose, up to four times a day. That is a traditional amount, and it is not a dosing instruction for any particular product.

Format. A tincture is the practical choice, since a tea is very bitter. Many people find the taste hard going, which is part of the point, because the bitterness is thought to do the work.

Time to effect. There is no clinical timeline. The monograph advises seeing a doctor or practitioner if symptoms last more than two weeks.

Timing. Bitters are traditionally taken shortly before meals.

What it does not replace. Centaury does not replace medical investigation of a poor appetite that lasts. Unexplained weight loss, persistent loss of appetite, blood in the stool or vomit, or difficulty swallowing need a GP.

For how to take the EarthWise tonic specifically, the dose and full safety information are on the product page.

Common questions

Is centaury the same as the cornflower-type centaurea? No. They share a common name and not much else. Gut Ease contains Centaurium erythraea.
Why is it so bitter? The secoiridoid compounds in the plant are among the most bitter known. Bitterness is a feature in this class of herbs.
Is centaury safe with a stomach ulcer? The monograph lists an active peptic ulcer as a contraindication, so please speak to your GP or practitioner first.
Can I take it if I have no appetite? The monograph covers temporary loss of appetite. A lasting loss of appetite needs a GP to find out why.
How long does centaury take to work? There is no clinical answer. Bitters are usually taken before meals for a couple of weeks and the effect judged then, in line with the monograph's two-week review point.
Can I grow my own centaury? It grows wild in Britain and can be grown from seed, though I would buy dried herb from a reputable supplier for medicinal use, because correct identification matters.
Is centaury safe in pregnancy? Safety is not established, so the monograph does not recommend it without sufficient data. The EarthWise guidance advises against Gut Ease in pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Where centaury appears in the EarthWise range

Centaury is one of the four herbs in Gut Ease, Sarah's formula for digestive support, where it sits with Globe Artichoke, Calendula and Chamomile.

If you are not sure which formula fits, the EarthWise health quiz is the best place to start. Full safety information is on each product page.

When to seek professional support

Centaury is a mild herb with few known problems. Check with a practitioner first in these situations:

Active stomach or duodenal ulcers. The EU monograph lists an active peptic ulcer as a contraindication.
Known sensitivity to bitter herbs. The EarthWise guidance suggests starting with half the dose.
Medication for acid reflux, bile problems or liver conditions. Check with your GP or pharmacist first.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding. Not recommended, as safety has not been established.
Persistent loss of appetite or unexplained weight loss. These need a GP.
Persistent or worsening digestive symptoms. Blood in the stool or vomit, or difficulty swallowing, need a GP promptly.
Under 18. The monograph says centaury should only be used in adults and the elderly.

Sarah Burt is a registered naturopath, medical herbalist and iridologist with 25+ years of clinical experience. All EarthWise tonics are formulated by Sarah based on her clinical protocols.

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This article is for informational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat or cure any health condition. Always consult a qualified health practitioner before making changes to your health regimen.