Centaury (Centaurium erythraea)

Centaury is an herb. People dry the parts that grow above the ground and use them as medicine.

Centaury is used for loss of appetite (anorexia) and upset stomach (dyspepsia).

In beverages, centaury is used as a flavoring.

How does it work?

Centaury contains chemicals that help improve the appetite.

Loss of appetite.
Stomach discomfort.

The appropriate dose of centaury depends on several factors such as the user's age, health, and several other conditions. At this time there is not enough scientific information to determine an appropriate range of doses for centaury. Keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe and dosages can be important. Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult your pharmacist or physician or other healthcare professional before using.

Centaury is safe when used in food amounts and seems safe for most people when used in medicinal amounts.

Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Centaury is safe for pregnant and breast-feeding women in food amounts.

But larger medicinal amounts should be avoided until more is known.