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Dietary supplement

Gentian Ingredients & Drug Interactions

by Herb Pharm

Liquid Category: Botanical
Most serious interaction: Moderate
The interaction bottom line Most serious interaction: Moderate

Gentian is a dietary supplement by Herb Pharm with 1 active ingredient. Its ingredients are commonly taken for loss of appetite, indigestion and bloating, digestive bitter tonic.Based on those ingredients, 172 medications have a known interaction with it, the most serious rated moderate. The ingredients most likely to interact are GENTIAN. Use the checker below to test your specific medication, or read the full HelloPharmacist Interaction Report.

HelloPharmacist Scorecard of Gentian by Herb Pharm

Our pharmacy team’s full take, with four database checks built into the cards below — a summary of what is known, not a grade of the product itself.

From our pharmacy team — supplement deep dive

What’s inside

Low disclosure
Ingredient Transparency · database check
Low

Most active ingredients don't disclose an individual amount — you can't tell how much of each you're getting.

Why this rating?
  • The label discloses an exact amount for 0 of its 1 active ingredient.

Gentian is a single-ingredient liquid extract made from gentian root. It comes suspended in certified organic grain alcohol and distilled water.

Does it work?

Not established
Evidence for Intended Use · database check
By FDA rules, dietary supplements can’t claim to treat, cure, or prevent disease — so labels speak in careful marketing language. We discern each product’s intended use from its name, label claims, and label statements, then grade the clinical evidence for that use. How these ratings are computed
Not established

The graded evidence we hold for these ingredients covers different conditions than the ones this product is marketed for, so there's no established rating for its stated use — see Gentian's own graded uses on its monograph.

Why this rating?
  • The label markets this product for: digestive bitter tonic and appetite support.
  • We looked for evidence on: Flatulence, Gastritis, indigestion, dyspepsia.
  • The closest evidence on file: Gentian is rated "Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate" for Flatulence (Natural Medicines).
  • Also on file: Gentian is rated "Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate" for Gastritis.

The evidence for gentian's effectiveness isn't established in the data we hold. Studies have looked at it for wound healing, weight loss, sinus inflammation, and stomach irritation, but the evidence is insufficient to rate how well it actually works for any of these.

The evidence, ingredient by ingredient Gentian

How safe is it?

Well-documented data
Safety Information · database check
Well characterized

Adverse-effect, pregnancy, and general safety data are on file for most of these ingredients.

Why this rating?
  • We hold adverse-effect (side-effect) data for 1 of the 1 matched ingredient.
  • Pregnancy & breastfeeding safety ratings cover 1 of 1.
  • General safety write-ups exist for 1 of 1.
  • Remember: this measures how much safety information exists. Thin data is not the same as being safe.

Gentian is generally well tolerated in small amounts by healthy adults, though it can upset your stomach. It hasn't been studied thoroughly at higher doses.

Because there isn't enough safety data, avoid it during pregnancy and while breastfeeding — talk with your doctor or pharmacist for personalized guidance. In a trial, some people taking gentian combined with turmeric and ginger experienced nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and bloating — though it's unclear whether gentian alone was responsible.

If you notice stomach upset, stop and check with your pharmacist.

Side effects, ingredient by ingredient Gentian

Meds to double-check

Moderate interaction found
Known Interaction Concern · database check
Moderate identified

The most serious documented interaction for these ingredients is Moderate. Check your medications for a personalized result.

Why this rating?
  • 1 of the 1 matched ingredient can interact with medications — Gentian.
  • The most serious interaction on file is rated Moderate.
  • For scale: 172 individual medications appear in the full list. A big number alone doesn't make a product dangerous — what matters is whether YOUR medication is on it, so run yours through the interaction checker on this page.

Blood pressure medications (antihypertensives) are the key ones to check. Gentian may lower your blood pressure further, raising the risk of dizziness or lightheadedness.

Run your exact medications through the search tool on this page or talk with your pharmacist before combining.

Check your own medication Run your meds through the checker above

The bottom line

Scorecard at a glanceFormula with limited ingredient disclosure with no established evidence rating for its marketed use. Moderate medication interactions have been identified, and safety information is well characterized.

Gentian is a single-herb extract with a long traditional history, but we don't have strong evidence it works for the conditions it's used for. The main concern is its effect on blood pressure — if you take any blood pressure medication, you'll want to confirm it's safe with your doctor or pharmacist before you start.

Educational only — not medical advice; always confirm with your pharmacist. Our editorial policy · How we use AI

Assessment coverage: 1 of 1 active ingredient matched to our full ingredient reviews (monographs). Based on the product label dated Jul 25, 2013.

This Scorecard evaluates available label information, ingredient evidence, and known medication-safety considerations. It does not independently verify product identity, purity, potency, contamination, or manufacturing quality. How these ratings are computed

At a glance

General information

Key facts about Gentian, straight from the product label.

Brand Herb Pharm
Net contents 8 fl. Oz.
Market status On market
Date entered into DSLD Jul 25, 2013
DSLD ID 23954
Product type Botanical
Supplement form Liquid
Dietary claims / uses All Other
Intended target group(s) Adult (18 - 50 Years)
From the label
Everything in this section is reproduced from the manufacturer’s own product label — it’s the label speaking, not HelloPharmacist. We show it so you can see exactly what the maker states; we don’t verify or endorse those statements.

Supplement Facts

The label details for Gentian by Herb Pharm, sourced from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database.

Supplement Facts

Daily Value (DV) Target Group(s):
Adults and children 4 or more years of age
Minimum serving Sizes:
30 Drop(s)
Maximum serving Sizes:
40 Drop(s)
IngredientAmount% DV
GENTIAN0 NP--

Other ingredients: certified organic Grain Alcohol, distilled Water, Gentian extractives

Tap any ingredient to jump to its full detail below.

Label statements
These statements are the manufacturer’s wording, reproduced from the product label — the label is saying it, not HelloPharmacist. We don’t verify or endorse them.
Suggested/Recommended/Usage/Directions

Shake Well Before Dispensing From This Bottle

SUGGESTED USE Shake Well Before Using Two or three times per day take 30 to 40 drops in a little water. Best taken 15 to 20 minutes before meals.

Precautions

Keep Out of the Reach of Children

General

003

General Statements

LIQUID HERBAL EXTRACT

We prepare our Gentian Extract from the rhizome & roots of Gentiana lutea plants which are Certified Organically Grown without the use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides or herbicides. To assure optimal extraction of Gentian's bioactive compounds, the rhizome & roots are hand-harvested only in the autumn, are carefully shade-dried and are then thoroughly extracted. Our Gentian is never fumigated or irradiated.

401259-1F42

FDA Statement of Identity

HERBAL DIETARY SUPPLEMENT

See for yourself

Gentian by Herb Pharm label

The label scan from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database. Tap to enlarge.

What’s inside

The Ingredients in Gentian by Herb Pharm

This is the 1 active ingredient this product is made of. Select it to open its full monograph.

Serving size30 Drop(s) Dosage formLiquid Amounts shown are per serving.

GENTIAN

Interacts with
172 drugs
0 NP per serving

Gentian is a very bitter root traditionally used to stimulate appetite and ease mild digestive complaints, often as part of "bitters" before meals. Th...

GENTIAN monograph & interactions

Other (inactive) ingredients: Certified organic Grain Alcohol, Distilled Water, Gentian extractives. These complete the product’s ingredient list but are not active constituents.

Interaction report

Gentian by Herb Pharm Drug Interactions

Want to check YOUR meds against Gentian?

Ask about interactions with your drugs in plain English — “Can I take it with lisinopril?” — and we find you the answer in seconds, ingredient by ingredient.

Go to the checker
172Drugs
172 Moderate

Ingredients driving the most interactions

GENTIAN 172

Each ingredient & the kinds of drugs it affects

For each ingredient in Gentian with known interactions, here are the types of medications it can affect. Open any type for the detail — or search your exact drug in the checker above.

GENTIAN1 drug type · 172 drugs

Antihypertensive Drugs

Theoretically, taking gentian with antihypertensive drugs might increase the risk of hypotension.
In vitro research shows that gentian can cause vasodilation and lower blood pressure.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
The maker

Brand information

Manufacturer and brand details for Gentian, from the product label.

Herb Pharm

See all Herb Pharm products
Name
HERB PHARM
City
WILLIAMS
State
OR
ZipCode
97544
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Gentian by Herb Pharm: Common Questions

Does Gentian by Herb Pharm interact with any medications?
Yes. Based on its ingredients, Gentian has a known interaction with 172 medications. Use the checker to see how it interacts with a specific drug.
How can one product interact with so many drugs?
Gentian contains a single active ingredient, and that one ingredient can interact with many different medications on its own. We check it against each medication and show the mechanism responsible.
Where does this information come from?
The product label data comes from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database (DSLD); the interaction data is built on the Natural Medicines database and reviewed by HelloPharmacist pharmacists.
Can I take Gentian if I'm pregnant or breastfeeding?
No — there isn't enough safety data, so it's best avoided during pregnancy and while breastfeeding. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist about whether it's right for you in either situation.
What does gentian actually do?
Traditionally it's been used for wound healing, weight loss, sinus inflammation, and stomach upset, but the evidence in our data is insufficient to say how well it works for any of these.
Does gentian cause side effects?
It can upset your stomach — nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and bloating have been reported, especially when gentian was combined with turmeric and ginger. It's generally well tolerated in small amounts, but hasn't been well studied at higher doses.
Is this safe for everyone?
It's generally well tolerated by healthy adults in small amounts, but avoid it during pregnancy and breastfeeding. If you're on blood pressure medication, check with your pharmacist first.

Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy

Not sure if Gentian is safe with your meds?

Our pharmacists answer your medication & supplement questions — free.

Ask a pharmacist

Label information is sourced from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database and reflects the product version on file; always read your actual product label. This page is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Confirm with your pharmacist or doctor before combining supplements and medications.

Gentian label
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Gentian's label data comes from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database; the ingredient interaction data is from the Natural Medicines database, reviewed by our pharmacists.

Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists. See our data sources and editorial standards for how this information is built and checked.

The 5 references behind this product’s interaction data

Every citation that drives the interaction findings for this product’s ingredients, from the evidence-graded Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) database. Open an ingredient to browse its citations — links open the study on PubMed or the publisher’s site.

Gentian 5 references
  1. Neubauer N, Marz RW. Placebo-controlled, randomized, double-blind, clincal trial with Sinupret sugar coated tablets on the basis of a therapy with antibiotics and decongestant nasal drops in acute sinusitis. Phytomedicine 1994;1:177-81.
  2. Marz RW, Ismail C, Popp MA. Action profile and efficacy of a herbal combination preparation for the treatment of sinusitis. Wien Med Wochenschr 1999;149:202-8.
  3. Uncini Manganelli RE, Chericoni S, Baragatti B. Ethnopharmacobotany in Tuscany: plants used as antihypertensives. Fitoterapia 2000;71:S95-100. PubMed
  4. Baragatti B, Calderone V, Testai L, et al. Vasodilator activity of crude methanolic extract of Gentiana kokiana Perr. et Song. (Gentianaceae). J Ethnopharmacol 2002;79:369-72. PubMed
  5. Sanatani M, Younus J, Stitt L, et al. Tolerability of the combination of ginger (Zingiber officinalis), gentian (Gentiana lutea) and turmeric (Curcuma longa) in patients with cancer-associated anorexia. J Complement Integr Med. 2015;12(1):57-60.

See these in context on the Gentian monograph →

Parts of this content are provided by the Therapeutic Research Center, LLC.

DISCLAIMER: Currently this does not check for drug-drug interactions. This is not an all-inclusive comprehensive list of potential interactions and is for informational purposes only. Not all interactions are known or well-reported in the scientific literature, and new interactions are continually being reported. Input is needed from a qualified healthcare provider including a pharmacist before starting any therapy. Application of clinical judgment is necessary.

© 2021 Therapeutic Research Center, LLC

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