This product is derived from the roots of perennial herbaceous plants of the Chinese Gentian family, including Gentian (Gentiana macrophylla Pall.), Twisted-flower Gentian (G. straminea Maxim.), Thick-stemmed Gentian (G. crassicaulis Duthie ex Burk.), or Small Gentian (G. dahurica Fisch.). The first three types are commonly referred to as "Gentian" and "Twisted-flower Gentian" based on their characteristics, while the latter is commonly known as "Small Gentian". It is primarily produced in Shaanxi, Gansu, Inner Mongolia, Sichuan, and other regions. The roots are harvested in spring and autumn, dried, the crown removed, and then sliced for use.

bubble_chart Properties and Meridians

Bitter and acrid, slightly cold. Act on stomach, liver and gallbladder meridians.

bubble_chart Efficacy

Dispelling wind and dampness, relieving pain, reducing deficiency heat, and clearing dampness-heat.

bubble_chart Indications

1. Used for wind-dampness arthralgia, muscle spasms, and limb paralysis. This product can dispel wind-dampness, relax tendons, and facilitate joint movement. It is also a moistening agent among wind-dispelling herbs, making it suitable for various wind-dampness arthralgia. However, due to its cold nature and heat-clearing properties, it is more appropriate for heat arthralgia. If there is joint fever with swelling and pain, it is often used with Honeysuckle Stem, Stephania Tetrandra, Phelloendron Bark, etc. For wind-cold-dampness impediment with cold and painful limbs that worsen with cold, it can be combined with Gastrodia Tuber, Notopterygium, Chinese Angelica, Sichuan Lovage Rhizome, etc., such as in the Yixue Xinwu Gentian Gastrodia Tuber Decoction.
2. Used for steaming bone fever and tidal fever. This product can reduce deficiency heat and eliminate steaming bone fever, often used with Anemarrhena, Chinese Wolfberry Root-bark, turtle carapace, etc., such as in the Gentian Turtle Carapace Decoction.
3. Used for dampness-heat jaundice. This product can clear and drain damp-heat and reduce jaundice, often combined with Virgate Wormwood, Gardenia, Polyporus, etc. It can also be used alone, as in the "Haishang Jiyan Fang," where it is used singly to treat jaundice.

bubble_chart Documentation

1. Benjing: "Mainly treats cold pathogenic heat, cold-dampness migratory impediment, limb joint pain, promotes urination, and facilitates urination."
2. Bielu: "Neck armpit carbuncle (acute pyogenic axillary lymphadenitis) swelling, headache, induces sweating, benefits the large and small intestines."
3. Bencao Gangmu: "For paralysis of hands and feet, jaundice, and diseases of vexation and thirst, it is necessary to use it to remove dampness-heat from the Yangming. If there is dampness in the Yangming, the body will have aching pain and burning heat; if there is heat, there will be late afternoon tidal fever and steaming bone fever."
4. Bencao Zheng: "It has a strong and fierce nature, is good at expelling water evil and phlegm drool, and purges dampness-heat distention and fullness."

bubble_chart Usage and Dosage

Decoct and take orally, 5-15g. Large doses can be used up to 30g.

bubble_chart Modern Pharmacology

Gentian contains three types of alkaloids, namely Gentian alkaloid A, B, and C, with Gentian alkaloid A being the most abundant. It also contains volatile oils and sugars.

1. It is used in experimental arthritis to alleviate symptoms and accelerate the reduction of swelling. The mechanism is through the indirect influence on the pituitary gland via the neurohumoral system, which enhances the function of the adrenal cortex and increases the secretion of corticosteroids.
2. It also has sedative, analgesic, antipyretic, hyperglycemic, antibacterial, and diuretic effects.
3. The aqueous extract of Gentian has varying degrees of inhibitory effects on skin fungi, and the ethanol extract has inhibitory effects on anthrax bacillus, paratyphoid bacillus, dysentery bacillus, staphylococcus, and pneumococcus.