Gentian

GENTIAN s. (lat. gentiana; after Gentius, king of Illyria who first made known the medicinal properties of this plant, in the second century BC). Bot. genus in the family Gentianaceae, which includes a large number of species of perennials plants, most of them indigenous.
The Great Yellow Gentian (gentiana lutea), common in almost all mountainous regions of France, often reaches more than one metre in height. Its very bitter root has tonic, as well as febrifuge, vermifuge and stomachic properties, which makes it quite a sought-after plant for medical purpose, to restore general strength and fight dyspepsia, scurvy, chlorosis, and conditions that depend on a depressed digestive tract. From 8 to 15 grams in decoction, in one liter of water; 4 to 20 grams of extract. It is also administered in powder, wine, tincture, syrup or elixir. Other species, such as purple gentian, spotted gentian, cross gentian, stemless gentian, present similar properties.
 
Extract from the Trousset encyclopedia, 1886 – 1891.