Genziana : the plant with high digestive properties

Genziana​ : the plant with high digestive properties Genziana is a plant used since ancient times thanks to its root.​ Let's find out what properties it gives and how to prepare an excellent amaro

Genziana is a plant native to the Gentianaceae family which includes about 400 species. Its name derives from Gentius, king of Illyria from 180 to 167 BC. According to Dioscorides, he was the one who introduced the plant in medicine, appreciated and ​used in the preparation of healing substances and especially of tonics​. In the past, throughout Europe, it was widely used as a febrifuge before the introduction of quinine. In folk

remedies, gentian was used to combat dog fever. ​The root is used to make one of the strongest and most bitter tonics of plant origin​.

Genziana Lutea uses the dried root​ which has a characteristic bitter taste given to it by some bitter substances contained in it, in particular from gentiopicrin​. ​It has stomachic, tonic-stimulating, vermifuge, and anti-fermentative properties. ​The ​Genziana​ root taken before meals, in water or wine maceration, has a tonic-aperitif function, taken after meals facilitate digestion​, fights constipation and diarrhea; it also stimulates the production of leukocytes useful for fighting fatigue and convalescence from diseases.

The use of ​Genziana has been officially approved to stimulate appetite and for the treatment of dyspeptic disorders​, such as the feeling of fullness and flatulence. Gentian has proved very useful in treating ailments due to its ​high content of bitter substances​. These substances, in fact, are able to provoke a stimulation of the taste receptors, the consequence of which is the increase in the secretion of saliva and the increase in the secretion of gastric juices. All this, therefore, translates into an increase in appetite and an improvement in the digestive processes of any dyspeptic disorders. Generally, for the treatment of the aforementioned disorders, it is recommended to take ​a daily dose of about 2-4 grams of the root. In the event that gentian tincture is used, however, the dose of the product usually recommended is about 1-4 ml, to be taken three times a day.

But be ​careful not to collect it in the meadows, it is a protected herb, its root can be conveniently purchased in herbal medicine. ​Here are the ingredients to prepare an excellent digestive amaro based on Genziana​ root at home: 1 bottle of alcohol for liqueurs at 95 ° C, 40 grams of dried gentian root, 1 organic lemon, a stick of cinnamon, 1 tablespoon of nutmeg in pieces,

1 tablespoon of cloves, 1 piece of ginger, 200 grams granulated sugar, 1 liter of water. In a container, macerate the pieces of ​Genziana root, the lemon zest, the peeled ginger, and the spices in alcohol for 15 days in the dark, taking care to shake well every day. Filter and in the meantime dissolve the sugar in the water, add the filtered solid part, boil for 20 minutes and filter again. Add the solution of sugared and macerated water to the alcoholic preparation and mix. Pour into a bottle and let the liqueur rest for at least a month before drinking it. ​This amaro is an aromatic digestive for after meals.