ENGLISH NAME: Lesser centaury
LATIN NAME: Centaurium umbellatum (also known as Centaurium
erythraea)
LOCAL NAMES:
Czechia: Zeměžluč okolíkatá
Turkey: Kılıç otu / Küçük kantaron
Bulgaria: Червена тинтява (Chervena
tintyava)
Georgia: წითელი კენტავრიუმი (Tsiteli kentavriumi)
COUNTRY: Bulgaria, Czechia, Turkey, Georgia
WHERE TO FIND IT:
Region: Southern Moravia (Czechia), Western Anatolia (Turkey), Strandzha
(Bulgaria), Kvemo Kartli (Georgia)
Elevation: 100–1400 meters
Terrain: Dry grasslands, forest clearings, roadsides, and sunny meadows
DESCRIPTION:
An annual or biennial herb with a slender stem, opposite pairs of narrow
leaves, and a flat-topped cluster of small, star-like, pink to reddish-purple
flowers. The plant is upright and delicate, usually 10–40 cm tall. It has a
distinctly bitter taste, which contributes to its medicinal use.
USABLE PARTS: Aerial parts –
flowering tops and leaves
MEDICINAL
PROPERTIES:
Primarily known as a bitter tonic that stimulates appetite and supports
digestion. Used for liver and gallbladder complaints, indigestion, and mild
constipation. Also noted for its detoxifying and mildly febrifuge
(fever-reducing) effects.
UNDESIRED EFFECTS:
Should not be used in cases of gastric or duodenal ulcers due to high
bitterness. May cause nausea in sensitive individuals if overdosed.
COMBINING WITH
OTHER MEDICINES:
Often blended with gentian, wormwood, or yarrow in traditional bitter formulas.
Can be combined with peppermint for digestive comfort.
PREPARATION:
Best used as an infusion or tincture. Aerial parts are harvested and dried,
then steeped in hot water for tea or extracted in alcohol for tinctures. Taken
before meals to stimulate digestion.
HARVEST TIME:
Mid to late summer, during peak flowering (July–August).
HARVEST METHOD:
Cut the entire upper portion of the plant when most flowers are open. Harvest
on dry days and avoid collecting from polluted areas.
CONSERVATION
(STORAGE):
Dry quickly in a dark, ventilated area. Store in airtight containers away from
light and heat. Best used within one year.