A small perennial herb with a stout rhizome bearing decumbent flowering stems, each with 1-4 blue flowers. Leaves radical and cauline, the former oblong-lanceolate and tufted, and the tatter linear and in pairs united at the base into a tube.

Stimulates the liver and increases the secretion of gastric juices (plant); purifies blood, anthelmintic, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, bitter tonic, cholagogue, emmenagogue, febrifuge, refrigerant, stomachic (root).

Plants for a Future

Gentiopicroside and 6.7-di-meocoumarin (plant).

Increasing the secretion of gastric juices, urinary troubles and as a tonic (plant); fevers, abdominal pain and for purifying blood (root). Best strengtheners of the human system, stimulating the liver, gall bladder and digestive system; taken internally in the treatment of liver complaints, indigestion, gastric infections, anorexia, gout, torpid liver, spleen enlargement, anaemia and worms. It should not be prescribed for patients with gastric or duodenal ulcers.

Chandel et al., Biodiversity in Medicinal and Aromatic Plants in India.