A plant record

Centaury (Ti santore)

Centaurium erythraea

EnglishCentaury

KreyòlTi santore

FrançaisPetite centaurée

BotanicalCentaurium erythraea

Centaury (Ti santore) — Centaurium erythraea, used in Haitian and Caribbean herbal tradition

Traditionally used

Appetite stimulant (bitter tonic). Digestive aid (dyspepsia, bloating, sluggish digestion). Fatigue recovery.

Prepared as

Aerial parts (flowering)

Chemistry

Iridoid bitter glycosides (gentiopicroside, swertiamarin, centapicrin) — bitter receptors → increased gastric acid, bile, and saliva secretion reflexively.

In three languages

Kreyòl — Stimile apeti (tonik amè). Ede dijestion (dyspepsi, vant make). Rekiperasyon fatig. Ti santore kòm amè tradisyonèl ewopeyèn disponib nan famasi dyaspora pou apeti fèb ak dijestion difisil.

Français — Stimulant de l'appétit (tonique amer). Aide digestive (dyspepsie, ballonnements, digestion lente). Récupération après fatigue. La petite centaurée est un amer traditionnel européen disponible dans les pharmacies de la diaspora haïtienne pour l'appétit faible et la digestion difficile.

Safety

Safety notes for this plant are still being written. Until they are, treat it with a cautious hand.

Plants can look similar and be misidentified — always verify with a local herbalist or guide before use.

Kept alongside

LicoricePineapplePeacock flowerCalotropePapayaRingworm senna

More on Haitian plant medicine