Price of Alpine Gentian Root per Jin, Benefits of Drinking It as Tea, and the Four Best Herbs to Brew with It

Gentian root, also known as gall grass, bitter gall grass and so on, is a herbaceous plant commonly found on hillsides, grasslands and in thickets. Because its roots and stems have effects such as clearing heat and detoxifying, strengthening the stomach and boosting immunity, it is widely used as a medicinal material. It is currently sold on the market, and the price is a little on the expensive side, so what is the market price of gentian root per jin? What are the benefits of drinking it as tea?

1. What is the market price of gentian root per jin?

The price of gentian root mainly depends on regional differences, but the price fluctuations are still not large. At present, the price of high-quality gentian root on the market is mostly between 40 and 75 yuan. For example, gentian root in the Yunnan region is priced at 42 yuan or 57 yuan per kilogram, while gentian root in the Northeast region is priced at 73 yuan, 62 yuan and 58 yuan per kilogram. Of course, gentian root comes in different regional packaging specifications, so its price naturally varies as well.

2. What are the benefits of drinking gentian root as tea?

Benefit 1: Sedative and blood pressure-lowering: Gentian root contains a certain amount of gentianine, and after this substance enters the body it can have a sedative effect. If taken in large doses, it also has a certain anesthetic effect. In addition, the gentianine and gentian tincture contained in gentian root can have a certain blood pressure-lowering effect, so drinking gentian root as tea is very suitable for patients with high blood pressure and can effectively support good health.

Benefit 2: Antibacterial and anti-inflammatory: After drinking gentian root as tea, it can effectively promote good health, and it also has a certain inhibitory effect on many kinds of pathogenic bacteria. Through research, scientists have found that after the gentianine in gentian root enters the body it can have a certain anti-inflammatory effect, and the effect greatly exceeds that of sodium salicylate. Normally, a moderate amount of gentian root tea can be taken, because this substance can improve the ability of phagocytes in the body, especially greatly enhancing the phagocytic ability against inflammatory cells.

Benefit 3: Stomach-strengthening effect: Taking a scientific amount of gentian root can effectively promote the secretion of gastric juice and gastric acid in the body. This is because this Chinese medicinal material contains a certain amount of gentiopicroside, and this substance can speed up gastrointestinal peristalsis. Scientifically drinking gentian root as tea can promote digestion in the body and play a stomach-strengthening role, but it must absolutely not be used in large doses. This is because taking a large amount of gentian root will continuously suppress the secretion of gastric acid and gastric juice in the body, which will reduce the body's digestive capacity, and appetite will also decline.

3. What is gentian root best brewed with as tea?

1. With coptis: Both medicines have a bitter and cold flavor. Coptis has a very notable detoxifying effect and is good at clearing heart fire. Gentian root is good at purging excess fire of the liver and gallbladder, and is wonderfully effective for heat pathogens in the liver meridian. When the two medicines are used together, their efficacy is powerful and pronounced. They are good at purging fire of the liver and gallbladder, and mainly treat red, swollen and painful eyes, deafness and tinnitus.

2. With bupleurum: Gentian root is bitter, cold, and sinking in nature, and purges excess fire of the liver and gallbladder. Bupleurum is aromatic, light and clear, and rises and disperses, soothing the qi of the liver and gallbladder. When the two medicines are used together, one sinks and one rises and disperses, purging fire and clearing yang, and stagnation is dispersed.

3. With angelica: Gentian root is bitter and cold, and purges excess fire of the liver and gallbladder. Angelica is sweet and warm, nourishes blood and benefits yin to harmonize the liver. When the two medicines are used together, the intention is that there is tonification within purging, and within dispersion it can also prevent damage to yin fluids caused by excess liver and gallbladder fire, so as to remove pathogens without harming healthy qi.

4. With yinchen: It clears and disinhibits damp-heat of the liver and gallbladder and reduces jaundice, treating distention and fullness in the chest and hypochondrium, bitter taste in the mouth, and dry throat.

4. What side effects does gentian root have?

1. Excessive dosage: Gentian root has a mild stimulating effect on the gastrointestinal tract, which is beneficial for food digestion, but taking it in large doses hinders digestion and may cause headache, facial redness, dizziness and slowed heart rate.

2. Medicine not matching the syndrome: Gentian root is a very cold item with a strong fire-purging effect, and it easily damages yang qi. If used improperly, adverse reactions will appear. For example, gentian root has a cholagogic effect and is often used clinically to treat gallstones. This disease generally has a long treatment course, and long-term purging with gentian root often causes dizziness, fatigue and mental weariness. This is an adverse reaction caused by the bitter and cold gentian root damaging healthy qi.