American columbo

Weak, atonic digestion with poor appetite and a pale, flabby, coated tongue

Slow recovery of appetite and strength during convalescence following an acute illness

Overview. American columbo is a tall, striking biennial or triennial member of the gentian family, native to open woods and prairies of the eastern and midwestern United States. The large, thick yellow taproot is the part used, and it was highly valued in nineteenth century American herbal practice as a pure bitter tonic, occupying a place in the physiomedicalist and eclectic materia medica similar to that of European gentian. It has largely fallen out of modern use but remains documented in historical American herbal literature as a reliable digestive bitter.

Overview. American columbo is a tall biennial or short-lived perennial of the gentian family, native to rich woodlands and meadows of eastern and central North America. Its thick, yellowish taproot was dug in the plant's first year, before the tall flowering stalk arose, and dried for use as a simple bitter tonic. It held a firm place in nineteenth century eclectic and physiomedical practice as a home-grown substitute for imported gentian and other foreign bitters.

Clinical Notes. American columbo was reached for in the older American tradition much as gentian is used today, as a simple bitter to rouse a sluggish, atonic digestion and to support appetite and strength during a slow convalescence.

Clinical Notes. Frasera is used exactly as one would use gentian or other simple bitters: a small dose taken before meals to rouse a sluggish appetite and support weak, atonic digestion, particularly in convalescent or debilitated patients whose stomach has lost its tone.