View photos of the medicinal plant Frasera speciosa [Swertia radiata] (Green gentian), profiled in Medicinal Plants of the Western Mountain States.

Swertia is best described as a biannual with perennial tendencies. In its formative years, the plant is known for its central floppy basal leaf growth. Unlike most plants though – it remains non-flowering year after year (anywhere from several to dozens when found in poor conditions) until an adequate root mass/storage is achieved.

At heights of sometimes 6’-7’, stalk development is impressive. The sleigh-bell sized flower buds open to reveal light-green with purple spotted 4-parted flowers. Like Agave, after Swertia develops a stalk, flowers, and sets seed, it dies.

The roots are non-woody and a lot like a daikon radish in texture (not taste!).

In the Gentian family, but weaker than Gentiana, Swertia root is really best dried and used as a tea, or prepared as a fluidextract. It’s stimulating to mainly gastric secretions, some intestinal, and other-visceral too. Taken before meals it will help the once-upon-a-time vegan with the gastrointestinal disorder of protein/meat reintroduction. It’s a mild bitter tonic, that for most people, will do just fine as a Gentian root replacement. And if you don’t want to dig the roots, try the leaf tea. It’s about half the strength of the roots.

A passage from Medicinal Plants of the Western Mountain States:

Green gentian’s effect on the liver/gallbladder regions are secondary; however, they align well with its stimulatory nature. As an augmentor of bile synthesis and release, constipation and intestinal stasis from poor secretory response are often improved. In fact, Green gentian can be thought of as a ‘pre–laxative’: try it before resorting to other directly laxative herbs – Senna, Aloe, Buckthorn, etc.