Evidence supporting the use of: American Centaury
For the health condition: Appetite (deficient)

Links: Go back one page, Tool main page, Ingredients list, Health conditions list, Body systems list

Synopsis

Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 2

American Centaury (Sabbatia angularis) has been traditionally used in North American herbal medicine, particularly as a bitter tonic to support digestion and stimulate appetite when deficient. Historical records from 19th- and early 20th-century herbalists describe its use as an “appetizer” or “stomachic,” with practitioners recommending it for individuals experiencing poor appetite, indigestion, or general debility.

The rationale behind this use is rooted in the general principle of “bitters” in herbalism: tasting bitter compounds is thought to trigger reflexive production of digestive juices, including saliva and gastric secretions, thereby enhancing appetite. American Centaury, like its European cousin Centaurium erythraea, contains bitter glycosides (notably swertiamarin) believed to be responsible for these effects.

However, there is limited direct scientific research specifically on American Centaury for appetite stimulation. The evidence supporting its use is mostly anecdotal or based on traditional herbal texts rather than controlled clinical studies. Some of the general pharmacological actions of bitters in herbal medicine have been examined, providing a plausible mechanism, but data specific to Sabbatia angularis are lacking. Therefore, the use of American Centaury for deficient appetite is justified by tradition, with weak but plausible supporting evidence extrapolated from the broader use of bitter herbs.

More about American Centaury
More about Appetite (deficient)

Other ingredients used for Appetite (deficient)

5-Hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP)
acid protease
allspice
apricot
ashwagandha
bamboo
barberry
basil
beet
myrobalan
betel
black cumin
black pepper
radish
bovine liver
rice
bасора
cannabis sativa oil
carrot
cassia bark
chamomile
chen pi
cinnamon
citrus oil
clove
dandelion
dog rose
fennel
fenugreek
fu ling
garlic bulb
gentian root
ginger
ginseng
gooseberry
onion
HCL
horseradish
Indian gum arabic tree
iron
quassia
jujube
l-tryptophan
lemon
licorice root
liquid liver fractions
lovage
mango
marshmallow
milk
mint
orange
oregano
oregon grape
papain
parsley
perilla
phytocannabinoids
pineapple
platycodon root
plum fruit
pollen
prebiotic blend (proprietary)
protein
pumpkin
rhizome
rosemary
slippery elm bark
spearmint leaf
triphala
vitamin B
watercress
zinc
chickweed
catnip
oryza
tangerine
cardamom
atractylodes
papaya
shen-chu
capsicum
Indian bael
neem tree
nut grass
alpinia galangal
clerodendrum indicum
hedychium spicatum
inula racemosa
anise
caesalpinia crista
fumaria parviflora
swertia
blessed thistle
boxthorne
bile salt
prickly ash
lemongrass
myrrh
root tuber
flowering quince
cistanche
dioscorea
dodder
sweet flag
hyacinth bean
trichosanthes
zanthoxylum
caraway
aster root
yerba mate
peach
goji berry
hypothalamus
paw paw
herbal blend (proprietary)
Sichuan pepper
algae
cayenne pepper
Alcohol
Avens
Apple Cider Vinegar
Agastache
Ambergris
Ardisia
Angelica
Agrimony
Amomum
Aletris
Agarwood
Asam gelugor
Angostura
Arrowroot
Areca
Agrimonia pilosa
Asteracea
Algal protein
Allium tuberosum
Amor seco
Arani
Atractylone
Animal protein
Buttermilk
Butter
Bai Ji
Baliospermum
Blackthorn
Blepharis
Balsam
Bishop's Weed
Bayleaf
Belleric myrobalan
Butea monosperma
Black galingale
Beef
Beef liver
Berberis (unspecified)
Bitter Grass
Bael
Butternut
boldo
Black Gram
Baccharoides anthelmintica
Bur-Reed
black salt
Bombax
Buddha's Hand
Borassus aethiopum
Bitter principals
Bacteria
Baobab
Bupleurum
Bergenia
Boerhavia diffusa
Borneol
Bird's nest
Cumin
Centaury
Coconut
Casearia esculenta
Cinnamomum
Carqueja
Chervil
Capsinoids
Codonopsis
Coriander
Chive
Cactus
Cynomorium
Cape Aloe
Centaurium erythraea
Capillary Artemisia
Cyathula
Citron
Citrus
Capsaicin
Cannabinol
Cowherb
Carvone
Cymbopogon Martini
Coca
Capers
Colombo
Chicken
Centipeda
Common madia
Cubeb
Chirata
Cornus
Chaenomeles lagenaria
Carlina
Calamus
Chestnut
Cinnamaldehyde
Costus
cola nut
Celosia
Clerodendrum indicum
Culvers Root
Dendrobium
Deer Root
Dodeca-2E, 4E-Dienoic Acid Isobutylamide
Durian
Dill
Dopamine
Date
Dichrostachys glomerata
English Horsemint
Egg
Endive
Embelia
Fig
Galangal
Lotus
Little ironweed
Milk Protein
Orchid
Pistachio
Quince
Rose
Sumac
Sweet Orange alcohol
Vervain
Vinegar
Wheat
Wormseed
yohimbine
Zucchini

Products containing American Centaury

We currently have no products on Vitabase that contain this ingredient.