Gentiana, Gentian, Long Dan Cao 龙胆草

Ghaafis (Unani)
related species:
–In TCM G. gabra (Long Dan Cao)
–In Ayurveda, G. kurroo (Trayamana)
–In Tibet G. robusta (Kyi Che)
Greater and Lesser Gentians
Della Materia Medicinale, Andrea Valuassori, 1562

Gentiana lutea
Flora Medica, Royal College of Physicians, 1829
Gentiana purpurea
Flora von Deutschland (16), Kohler, 1884
YELLOW GENTIAN ROOT
1. Root with numerous leaf bases. 2. Deep wrinkles. 3, Annulate rhizome portion.
4. Curved and twisted root. 5, Cross-section of root showing dark cambium zone.
Squibb's Atlas of the Official Drugs, Mansfield, 1919
Wild Sichuan Gentian root (Adam, 2016)
Botanical name:
Gentiana lutea; G. purpurea was used in Northern Europe synonymously, and was regarded as equally strong.
Various related species are used.

Parts used:
Root

Temperature & Taste:
Cold (Warm in the West), dry. Bitter

Classifications:
2A APERIENT MEDICINES.    2B ATTENUATERS.    2F. PURIFYING.    2M. DRAWING.    2T. GLUTINATE
3B. FEBRIFUGE & ANTIPYRETIC.    3C. ALEXIPHARMIC
4e. STOMACHIC.    4f. SPLENETIC.    4g. HEPATIC.    4i. UTERINE

Uses:
1. Clears Heat and Damp, opens obstructions of the Liver and Spleen (West, TCM, Ayurveda, Tibet):
-clears Bile (Choler)
-Jaundice, Scrofula, Cholecystitis, and Hepatitis

2. Clears Heat, Resists Poison (West, TCM, Ayurveda, Tibet):
-Fevers (esp Intermittent); Epidemic disease; Plague (West, Ayurveda)

3. Benefits the Stomach, Stimulates Digestion:
-benefits a weak Stomach
-‘Strengthens the Stomach exceedingly, helps digestion... restores the appetite’ (Culpeper)

4. Clears Heat and Damp, Promotes Urine:
-Edema
-difficult, painful or burning Urination; Gravel

5. Clears Heat and Damp, Eases Pain:
-chronic Joint pain with Heat and Inflammation; Pain and numbness of the Joints
-Arthritis, Rheumatism

6. Kills Worms (West, Ayurveda)

7. Moves the Blood, Promotes Menstruation:
-it ‘dissolveth and scattereth Congealed Blood’ (Gerard); usually taken in wine
-Amenorrhea; suffocation of the Womb

8. Externally:
-Wounds
-applied with Treacle to Rabid Bites
-root is chewed to help stop Smoking
-root powder or infusion has been applied to infants thumbs to stop thumb-sucking

Main Combinations:
1. To clear Heat from the Liver, for Damp-Heat, and to open Obstructions:
i. Gentian with Centaury.
ii. Gentian with  ... available in PRO version
iii. Gentian with  ... available in PRO version
2. Liver pain, Jaundice, Gentian with  ... available in PRO version
3. Jaundice:
i. Gentian with  ... available in PRO version
ii. Gentian with  ... available in PRO version
4. Edema, Gentian with  ... available in PRO version
5. Digestive debility with Liver congestion, Gentian with  ... available in PRO version
6. Aromatic Bitters:
i. Gentian with  ... available in PRO version
ii. Gentian with ... available in PRO version
7. Intermittent Fever, form Pills with Gentian ... available in PRO version
8. Pernicious Anemia, Gentian with  ... available in PRO version
9. Rickets, Gentian with  ... available in PRO version
10. To protect from infection and Poison:
i. Gentian with  ... available in PRO version
ii. Gentian with  ... available in PRO version
11. Cough, Asthma, Gentian with  ... available in PRO version
12. To strengthen the Heart and resist Poison in Epidemics, Gentian with  ... available in PRO version
13. Poor nervous tone, Gentian with  ... available in PRO version
14. To benefits Memory, Gentian with  ... available in PRO version
15. Hysteria, Nervous exhaustion, Gentian with  ... available in PRO version
16. Epilepsy, Apoplexy, Paralysis, Madness, Migraine, Asthma, Gentian with  ... available in PRO version
17. Arthritis, Joint Pain:
i. Gentian with  ... available in PRO version
ii Gentian with  ... available in PRO version
18. Rheumatoid Arthritis, Gentian with  ... available in PRO version

TCM (Long Dan Cao):
1. Liver Heat, or Damp-Heat, Gentian Long Dan Cao with Scutellaria Huang Qin
2. Jaundice from Damp-Heat, Gentian Long Dan Cao with Artemisia Yin Chen Hao
3. Genital Itching from Damp-Heat, Gentian Long Dan Cao with Phellodendron Huang Bai, Plantain seed (Che Qian Zi)

Major Formulas
Compound Infusion of Gentian
Bitter Decoction
Aromatic Bitter Decoction
Decoction for the Liver (Nicholas)
Powder for Hysteria
Powder for Gout of the Duke of Portland
Theriac of Four Ingredients (Diatessaron)
Electuary for Asthma of Andrezeos
Electuary of Centaury (Zenon)
Antidote of Seven Things (Paulus Aegineta)

TCM (Long Dan Cao):
Long Dan Xie Gan Tang
Dang Gui Long Hui Wan

Cautions:
1. Cold in TCM, therefore not used in Cold conditions.
2. Avoid large doses or long-term use

Main Preparations used:

History:
From Pliny:
From Culpeper:
'Gentian was first discovered by Gentius, king of Blyria. It is a plant to be found everywhere, but that of Dlyria is the finest. It has a leaf like that of the ash, but equal in size to a lettuce-leaf : the stem is tender, about the thickness of the thumb, hollow and empty, and covered with leaves at regular intervals. This stem is sometimes three cubits in length, and the root is flexible, swarthy, and inodorous. It is found in the greatest abundance in humid localities at the foot of the Alps. The root and juice are the parts of it that are used: the root is possessed of certain warming properties, but it should never be taken by women in a state of pregnancy.'
"Gentian strengthens the stomach exceedingly, helps digestion, comforts the heart and preserves it against faintings and swoonings. The powder of the dry roots opens obstructions of the liver and restores appetite. The herb, steeped in wine, and the wine drank, refreshes such as be over-weary with travelling... is an excellent remedy for such as bruises by falls. It provokes urine and the terms exceedingly, therefore let it not be given to women with child... It helps agues of all sorts, and the yellow jaundice."