gentian

Illnesses and Causes

inattentive withdrawal – accidents
loss of interest – fainting, coma, any form of unconsciousness
lack of attention – eye problems, hearing problems

Origin and Specification of the Plant

Binomial Name: Gentiana amarella
Kingdom: Plantae
Family: Gentianaceae
Genus: Gentianella
Species: G.amarella
Origin: Europe and Asia
Shade: Purple
Other names: Autumn gentian, Autumn dwarf gentian, Autumn felwort, Bitterwort
Elements/Compounds contained by the plant: Gentiopicrin, Gentiamarin, Amarogentin, Gentiin
Height: 30cm
Description: a late-flowering biennial plant in the Gentian family that displays pretty, mauve, tube-like flowers atop its reddish stems
Flowering season: July to early October
Qualities and preferences/Areas of growth: in grass, often on lime-rich soil (in England typically on chalk). It grows on dry, sandy or calcareous soils, but also on wet peat or marl soils and thus thrives in bog meadows

Gentian and Centary flowers are both part of the same Gentian family (Gentianaceae).

The Gentian flower contains a bitter compound called Gentiopicrin, which is an anticonvulsant agent with potential antiaddiction and antianxiety properties, is also known as gentiopicriside. It also has anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial activities, can reduce programmed cell death (apoptis) and could potentially protect the liver against failure.

The gentian flower also contains another bitter compound called Amarogentin, which is one of the most bitterest substances ever known, having a bitterness index value of about 58,000,000. This particular substance is active against the tropical disease leishmaniasis, a parasitic infection spread by sandflies.

Specification of remedy

Group: The first 12 essence
Emotional Group: Uncertainty
Personality: Dispirited
Virtue: Understanding
Failing: Discontented
Method of extraction: Sun

Dr Bach first prepared the Gentian remedy in Kent in the year of 1931. Gentian is the Bach flower remedy for those who are discouraged after a setback. We take this remedy when we have suffered a disappointment or something has gone wrong, leaving us feeling disheartened but not entirely without hope. Moreover, Gentian can also be used as the remedy to help school-children.

Comparison between other flowers

Gorse:
People in a Gorse state have decided to give up. They refuse to be encouraged, and even if they seek a solution they will do so grudgingly, assuring everyone that there is no use trying. People in a Gentian state are less pessimistic and more prepared to try again.

Mustard:
The depression a Gentian person experiences is always from a known cause. Thus it differs from the intense gloom of Mustard which descends upon a person with no apparent reason.

The images above show a zoomed in aspect of the Gentian flower.