Calumba Root vs Centaurium Minus Herb

Side-by-side comparison of medicinal herbs

Herb

Calumba Root

Jateorhiza palmata

Digestive

Centaurium erythraea subsp. majus

Digestive

Calumba Root

❌ Not recommended in pregnancy

❌ Not recommended while nursing

Centaurium Minus Herb

❌ Not recommended in pregnancy

❌ Not recommended while nursing

Description

East African and Malagasy plant root used as a bitter digestive tonic in European pharmacy for centuries.

Smaller centaury species with similar bitter constituents used in folk medicine for the same digestive conditions.

Active Compounds

jateorhizine, columbamine, palmatine, columbin, chasmanthin

swertiamarin, gentiopicrin, xanthones, flavonoids

Traditional Uses

Mozambique digestive herb, European bitter tonic, 19th century pharmacy staple

digestive bitter tonic in European folk medicine, treatment of appetite loss, liver support remedy

Modern Uses

digestive bitters, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, appetite stimulant

digestive bitter, hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory

Adult Dosage

0.3-1g dried root daily

1-3g dried herb as tea or 2ml tincture before meals

Contraindications

pregnancy, inflammatory bowel conditions, peptic ulcers

peptic ulcers, pregnancy

Side Effects

GI irritation, nausea in excess

nausea

Drug Interactions

0 known interactions

Reviewed by: HerbAlly Editorial Team, Medical herbalists and healthcare professionals

Sources: WHO Monographs · NCCIH · PubMed · Commission E