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CENTAURY
CENTAURIUM ERYTHRAEA (ERYTHRAEA CENTAURIUM)

Family: Gentianaceae

---Synonyms---Centaury Gentian. Century. Red Centaury. Filwort. Centory. Christ's Ladder. Feverwort.
---Parts Used---Herb and leaves.

---Centaury contains a bitter principle, Erythro-centaurin, which is colourless, crystalline, non-nitrogenous, reddened by sunlight; a bitter glucoside, Erytaurin; Valeric acid, wax, etc.

---Medicinal Actions and Uses---: Aromatic bitter, stomachic and tonic. It acts on the liver and kidneys, purifies the blood, and is an excellent tonic.

It opens obstructions of the liver, gall and spleen. It help jaundice and ease pains in the sides and hardness of the spleen. Used outwardly it has very good effect in agues. It help those with the dropsy, or the green sickness, and kills worms in the belly. A decoction of the tops with the leaves and flowers is good against the colic, helps bring down women's courses and void the dead birth and also eases the pains of the mother. It is effectual in all pains of the joints, such as the gout, cramps or convulsions.
The decoction dropped into the ears cleanses them from worms, foul ulcers and spreading scabs of the head. Washing with the decoction takes away all freckles, spots and marks in the skin.