Senburi vs Aucklandia lappa

Annual of Japanese mountain meadows; one of the bitterest herbs in Japanese folk medicine — named for needing 1,000 infusions before losing bitterness.

Fragrant TCM herb that moves liver and spleen qi; used for abdominal pain and digestive stagnation.

swertiamarin, gentiopicroside, sweroside, mangiferin, amino acids

costunolide, dehydrocostus lactone, aplotaxene, cynaropicrin, inulin

Digestive disorders and liver conditions in Japanese folk medicine, Fever reduction, Hair loss treatment (topical), Classic stomach bitter in Japanese medicine

abdominal pain, digestive stagnation, nausea, liver qi stagnation

Digestive bitter, Hepatoprotective, Hair growth (topical research), Antimicrobial

carminative, antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory, prokinetic

0.5–1 g dried herb as tea; 1–2 mL tincture 2–3x daily; topical tincture for hair

1.5-6g dried root or 200mg extract daily

Pregnancy, Hypoglycemia conditions

yin deficiency heat, excessive fire conditions

Hypoglycemia, GI upset

GI upset, generally safe at therapeutic doses