--- title: "Centaury: Benefits, Uses & Side Effects | Herbadex" description: "Centaury herb tea is traditionally used for mild indigestion and temporary loss of appetite; do not confuse it with St John's wort." language: en url: https://herbadex.com/en/herb/centaury/ source: Herbadex (https://herbadex.com) --- [Dried Herb & Tea](https://herbadex.com/en/form/dried-herb-tea/) # Centaury Centaurium erythraea T Traditional use Centaury herb tea is traditionally used for mild indigestion and temporary loss of appetite; do not confuse it with St John's wort. [Digestion](https://herbadex.com/en/for/digestion/) Image: Herbadex Botanik Stüdyosu · Özel Üretim Pregnancy **⚠ Avoid** Breastfeeding **⚠ Avoid** Children **⚠ Avoid** Drug interactions **No recorded interactions** ## At a glance The EMA classes the aerial parts of Centaurium erythraea as a traditional herbal medicine for mild indigestion and temporary loss of appetite. This bitter herb is not the same as St John's wort (Hypericum), which is known for drug interactions; in Turkish both can be called 'kantaron'. **Parts used:** aerial-parts **Key constituents:** Bitter Secoiridoids (Swertiamarin) Updated: October 15, 2026 ✓ This herb record is backed by official European Medicines Agency (EMA HMPC) herbal monographs. ## What is it used for? - T Traditional use Traditionally used for mild indigestion and stomach complaints and for temporary loss of appetite. \[1\] ## How is it used? ### Tea Pour 200 ml of boiling water over 1–4 g of chopped dried herb. **Amount:** Up to 4 times daily **Duration limit:** See a doctor if no better after 2 weeks \[1\] ## Safety & interactions Minimum age: 18 years - Do not use with a stomach ulcer. - St John's wort (Hypericum perforatum) is a different plant. - Not recommended under 18. Not recommended in pregnancy or breastfeeding because safety has not been shown. \[1\] ### Drug interactions No recorded interactions ### Side effects - None known according to the monograph; report any unexpected effect to a doctor #### ⚕ When to see a doctor - If high fever, shortness of breath or purulent/bloody phlegm develops - If symptoms do not improve within 1–2 weeks or worsen - If severe abdominal pain, jaundice, rash or allergic reaction occurs ## Did you know? Centaury stimulates appetite through bitterness; despite sharing a Turkish name with St John's wort, it is a different plant. \[1\] ## Frequently asked questions Is centaury the same as St John's wort? No. Centaury is Centaurium erythraea; St John's wort is Hypericum perforatum, which has serious drug interactions. Does centaury improve appetite? The EMA accepts centaury as a traditional remedy for temporary loss of appetite. How do I make centaury tea? Pour 200 ml of boiling water over 1–4 g of chopped herb; drink up to 4 times a day. Who should not use it? People with a stomach ulcer, under-18s, and pregnant or breastfeeding women. ## Sources 1. [European Union herbal monograph on Centaurium erythraea Rafn s.l., herba](https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/herbal-monograph/european-union-herbal-monograph-centaurium-erythraea-rafn-sl-herba_en.pdf) EMA HMPC · 2015 ### Cite This Page Centaury (Centaurium erythraea). Herbadex — Doğal Şifa Rehberi (2026). https://herbadex.com/en/herb/centaury/ ## Related guides and comparisons - [Same Name, Different Plants](https://herbadex.com/en/guide/same-name-different-plants/) - [St John's Wort and Centaury](https://herbadex.com/en/compare/st-johns-wort-vs-centaury/) ## On this page At a glance What is it used for? How is it used? Safety & interactions Did you know? 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If you take medication, are pregnant, or have a health condition, talk to your doctor or pharmacist before use.