Evidence supporting the use of: Gentian root
For the health condition: Appetite (deficient)

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Synopsis

Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 4

Gentian root (Gentiana lutea) has a long history of traditional use as a bitter tonic to support appetite, particularly in cases of deficient appetite or indigestion. This use is rooted in European herbal medicine, where gentian is a key ingredient in many classic "bitters" formulations and aperitifs designed to stimulate digestive secretions and enhance appetite before meals. The bitter compounds in gentian, primarily secoiridoid glycosides such as gentiopicroside and amarogentin, are thought to act by stimulating taste receptors on the tongue, leading to a reflex increase in saliva, gastric juice, and bile production. This "bitter reflex" is widely cited in traditional herbal texts and pharmacopoeias, and gentian remains a common component in herbal bitters and digestive tonics to this day.

While robust modern clinical trials are limited, some experimental and observational studies support the physiological basis for this bitter-induced digestive stimulation. The German Commission E, a respected authority on herbal medicines, recognizes gentian root for its efficacy in treating loss of appetite. Overall, the historical and traditional evidence for gentian's role in supporting deficient appetite is strong, and its use is considered both safe and effective within the context of traditional medicine, meriting a high evidence rating based on longstanding use and pharmacological plausibility.

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